Boone County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Boone County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Boone County, Indiana, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. BooneINRecords.us provides a directory of resources and publicly available information related to court records maintained by Boone County courts and the Indiana judicial system. Depending on the case type and applicable access rules, users may find information such as:
- Criminal case filings, charges, and dispositions
- Civil complaints, judgments, and orders
- Family court matters, including divorce decrees and custody orders
- Probate filings and estate records
- Traffic and infraction case records
- Small claims filings and judgments
Court records in Boone County may be searched through five primary methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Boone County Clerk of Courts maintains official case files and docket records for all courts operating within the county. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person to request access to case files, obtain copies of documents, or verify case status. Requesters should provide the full name of a party, a case number, or the approximate filing date to assist staff in locating records.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Boone County Courthouse for in-person case searches. These terminals allow members of the public to search case indexes and review docket entries without charge during regular business hours.
3. Online Court Search The Indiana Judicial Branch operates MyCase: Indiana Courts Case Search, a statewide online portal through which members of the public may search for case information by party name, case number, or attorney. MyCase provides docket-level information for cases filed in participating courts across Indiana, including Boone County.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains additional resources for locating court records at the state level. The Indiana Judicial Branch public records page provides guidance on how to request certified copies, locate specific court offices, and understand what records are available through official channels.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Boone County Clerk of Courts. Written requests should include the full name of the party, the case number if known, the type of record requested, and a return mailing address. Fees for copies and certified documents apply and must be submitted with the request.
Boone County Clerk of Courts
212 Courthouse Square
Lebanon, IN 46052
Phone: (765) 482-3510
Boone County Courts – Indiana Judicial Branch
Are Court Records Public In Boone County
Court records in Boone County are subject to public access under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, Indiana Code § 5-14-3, which establishes the right of the public to inspect and copy public records maintained by government agencies, including court offices. In addition, Indiana Supreme Court rules and administrative orders govern access to judicial records specifically.
Under current law, the following categories of court records are accessible to the public:
- Case docket entries, including filing dates, hearing dates, and case status
- Party names (plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents)
- Filed pleadings, motions, complaints, and petitions in non-restricted cases
- Court orders, judgments, and final decrees
- Sentencing entries and conviction records in criminal cases
- Civil judgment amounts and creditor/debtor information
Certain records are confidential, sealed, or restricted from public access under Indiana law and court rules. These include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child in need of services (CHINS) records, which are confidential under Indiana Code § 31-39-1-2
- Adoption records, which are sealed by statute
- Mental health commitment proceedings
- Records subject to expungement orders under Indiana Code § 35-38-9
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings
- Sealed filings ordered by a court upon motion
As the Indiana Judicial Branch notes, "Official records of court proceedings may only be obtained directly from the court maintaining a particular record." There is a distinction between courthouse inspection and online access: while docket-level information is available through MyCase, full document images are not always accessible online and may require an in-person visit or written request to the clerk's office.
What Are Court Records in Boone County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court or its clerk in connection with judicial proceedings. In Boone County, court records are created from the moment a case is initiated—through the filing of a complaint, petition, or charging document—and are updated continuously as the case progresses through hearings, motions, orders, and final disposition.
A docket entry is a chronological log of all actions taken in a case, while a full case file contains the actual documents filed with the court. Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, and include matters such as contract disputes, personal injury claims, and landlord-tenant actions. Criminal court records document the prosecution of individuals charged with violations of state law, from initial charging through sentencing or acquittal.
Filed pleadings are the formal documents submitted by parties to initiate or respond to litigation, while final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter. Public filings are accessible to any member of the public under applicable law, whereas sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public inspection by court order or statute.
Trial court records are maintained by the Boone County Clerk of Courts and remain at the trial court level unless a case is appealed. Appellate records are maintained by the Indiana Court of Appeals or the Indiana Supreme Court, depending on the nature of the appeal. The Indiana Judicial Branch provides guidance on locating both trial and appellate court records.
What's Included in a Boone County Court Record?
A Boone County court record may include a range of documents and data entries depending on the case type and applicable public-access rules. The following information is commonly found within a court record:
- Case number assigned at filing
- Court name and division (e.g., Boone Superior Court 1, Boone Circuit Court)
- Filing date and case initiation information
- Party names, including plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and attorneys of record
- Case type and current status (active, closed, appealed, dismissed)
- Docket entries reflecting all actions taken in the case
- Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduled proceedings
- Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, and responses
- Court orders, judgments, decrees, and minute entries
- Outcome information, such as dismissals, guilty pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, or appellate decisions
- Administrative and financial information, including filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Certain materials are excluded or restricted from public court records. Sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, and protected personal data are not available for public inspection. Some exhibits, particularly those containing sensitive personal information or subject to protective orders, may also be withheld from the public record.
Types of Courts in Boone County
Boone County is served by two trial courts operating under the Indiana unified court system: the Boone Circuit Court and the Boone Superior Court. Both courts are courts of general jurisdiction, meaning they have authority to hear a broad range of civil and criminal matters. The Boone County Clerk of Courts maintains the official records for both courts.
- Boone Circuit Court hears felony criminal cases, civil cases, domestic relations matters, probate proceedings, and juvenile cases.
- Boone Superior Court (which includes multiple divisions) hears felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases, small claims matters, and traffic infractions.
The Boone County Courts page on the Indiana Judicial Branch website provides current contact information and jurisdictional details for each court.
What Types of Cases Do Boone County Courts Hear
Boone County courts hear the following categories of cases:
- Criminal: Felony and misdemeanor prosecutions under Indiana law
- Civil: Contract disputes, personal injury, property disputes, and collections
- Family: Divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, and paternity
- Probate: Estate administration, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings and child in need of services (CHINS) matters
- Traffic: Infractions, ordinance violations, and related matters
- Small Claims: Civil disputes involving amounts at or below the jurisdictional limit
- Appeals: Boone County trial court decisions may be appealed to the Indiana Court of Appeals
Boone Circuit Court and Boone Superior Court
212 Courthouse Square
Lebanon, IN 46052
Phone: (765) 482-3510
Boone County Courts – Indiana Judicial Branch
How to Search Boone County Court Records for Free?
Several methods for searching Boone County court records are available at no cost. The following table summarizes free and fee-based access options:
| Access Method | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-person inspection at clerk's office | Free | No charge to view records |
| Courthouse public access terminals | Free | Available during business hours |
| MyCase online case search | Free | Docket-level information only |
| Copies of documents (paper) | Fee applies | Per-page fee set by statute |
| Certified copies | Fee applies | Additional certification fee |
| Research by clerk staff | Fee may apply | Varies by request complexity |
Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the Boone County Clerk of Courts office without charge. The MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search portal provides free online access to docket-level case information for cases filed in Boone County courts. Courthouse public access terminals are also available at no cost during regular business hours.
Fees apply when requesting paper copies or certified copies of court documents. Under Indiana law, clerk fee schedules govern the cost of copies and certifications. As the Indiana Judicial Branch explains when searching MyCase, "the Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3) and Indiana Supreme Court rules determine the public availability of court cases or records available online."
How Long Does Boone County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Boone County is governed by the Indiana Commission on Public Records and applicable judicial records retention schedules established under Indiana administrative rules. Retention periods vary by case type and record category.
Under current retention schedules:
- Felony criminal case files are retained permanently or for extended periods due to the severity of the offenses involved.
- Misdemeanor and infraction records are retained for a defined period following case closure, after which paper files may be eligible for destruction following imaging or microfilming.
- Civil case files are retained based on the nature of the judgment; cases involving permanent injunctions or real property may be retained indefinitely.
- Probate records, including wills and estate files, are retained permanently in many jurisdictions due to their ongoing legal significance.
- Juvenile records are subject to separate retention rules and confidentiality requirements under Indiana Code § 31-39-1-2.
- Docket books and minute records are retained permanently as the official record of court proceedings.
Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives. The destruction of paper files following imaging or transfer to archival storage does not constitute expungement or sealing; the record remains accessible in its preserved format. Expungement under Indiana Code § 35-38-9 is a separate legal process that restricts access to specific records upon court order and is distinct from routine archival retention or destruction.
How To Find a Court Docket in Boone County
A court docket is the official chronological log of all actions, filings, and proceedings in a specific case. It differs from a full case file in that it records what happened and when, rather than containing the actual documents filed. A docket entry may note that a motion was filed, a hearing was held, or an order was entered, but the docket itself does not reproduce the text of those documents.
Members of the public may locate Boone County court dockets through the following methods:
Online via MyCase The Indiana Judicial Branch's MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search portal is the primary online tool for locating docket information. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name. Search results display docket entries, hearing dates, case status, and party information for cases filed in Boone County courts. Full document images are not available through MyCase for all case types; access to document images may require an in-person visit to the clerk's office.
In Person at the Clerk's Office Members of the public may request docket information directly from the Boone County Clerk of Courts. Staff can provide printed docket sheets or direct requesters to public access terminals within the courthouse. Courthouse terminals allow users to search the case index and view docket entries at no charge.
Hearing Calendars Daily hearing calendars and motion calendars may be available through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse. These calendars list scheduled proceedings by courtroom and date and are separate from the case docket.
A court docket contains hearing dates and continuances, motion filings and responses, minute entries from proceedings, status updates and case milestones, and references to orders and judgments entered. A docket does not include the full text of sealed entries, confidential attachments, exhibits subject to protective orders, or expunged matter. As the Indiana Judicial Branch notes on its how to request public records page, certified copies of specific documents must be obtained directly from the clerk of the court where the case was filed.