Knox County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Knox County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Knox County, Indiana, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. KnoxINRecords.us provides a directory of resources and publicly available information related to court records maintained by Knox County courts and the Indiana judicial system. The information available through official sources may include case filings, docket entries, hearing schedules, judgments, and related court documents, subject to applicable access restrictions under Indiana law.
Record categories that members of the public may encounter include:
- Civil court filings and judgments
- Criminal case records and dispositions
- Family law matters, including dissolution of marriage and custody orders
- Probate filings and estate records
- Small claims case information
- Traffic and infraction records
- Juvenile records (subject to significant access restrictions)
Court records in Knox County may be searched through five primary methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Knox County Clerk of Courts maintains the official record for all trial court cases filed within the county. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person to request case files, docket sheets, or copies of filed documents. Providing the full case number, party name, or approximate filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Knox County courthouse for in-person case searches. These terminals allow members of the public to search case information without staff assistance during regular business hours.
3. Online Court Search The Indiana Supreme Court operates MyCase, a statewide public access portal that allows users to search court case information by party name, case number, or attorney. MyCase provides docket-level information for cases filed across Indiana's trial courts, including Knox County.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains a local court information page for Knox County that provides links to court contacts, case search tools, e-filing access, and court statistics.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Knox County Clerk of Courts. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a return mailing address. Copy fees apply to records provided by mail.
Knox County Clerk of Courts
111 North 7th Street
Vincennes, IN 47591
Phone: (812) 885-2521
Clerk of the Courts – Knox County
Are Court Records Public In Knox County
Court records in Knox County are public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, codified at Ind. Code § 5-14-3, which establishes the right of members of the public to inspect and copy public records maintained by government agencies, including courts. The Indiana Supreme Court's Administrative Rule 9 further governs public access to court records and defines which records are accessible and which are excluded from public inspection.
Records that are public and accessible include:
- Case docket entries and hearing schedules
- Party names (plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents)
- Filed pleadings, motions, and responses in civil and criminal matters
- Court orders and final judgments
- Sentencing entries and probation orders
- Dissolution of marriage decrees and custody orders (with some redactions)
- Probate filings and estate inventories
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child in need of services (CHINS) records
- Adoption records and related filings
- Mental health commitment proceedings
- Records sealed by court order
- Expunged criminal records under Ind. Code § 35-38-9
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth (redacted under Administrative Rule 9)
- Certain domestic violence protective order details
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While docket-level information is available through the MyCase portal, full document images are not always accessible online. Certified copies and complete case files are obtained through the clerk's office in person or by written request.
What Are Court Records in Knox County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In Knox County, court records are created from the moment a case is initiated—through the filing of a complaint, petition, or charging information—and are updated continuously through each stage of litigation until final disposition and any subsequent appeal.
The distinction between a docket entry and a full case file is significant. A docket is a chronological index of all actions taken in a case, listing filing dates, hearing dates, motions filed, and orders entered. A full case file contains the actual documents underlying those docket entries, including pleadings, exhibits, transcripts, and orders.
Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, covering matters such as contract disputes, personal injury claims, and property actions. Criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the State of Indiana against an individual charged with a criminal offense, from initial charging through sentencing or acquittal.
Filed pleadings are the documents submitted by parties to initiate or respond to litigation. Final judgments are the court's official resolution of a case. Public filings are accessible to members of the public under Administrative Rule 9, while sealed or restricted filings require a court order to access.
Trial court records are maintained by the Knox County Clerk of Courts. Appellate records, arising from appeals of trial court decisions, are maintained by the Indiana Court of Appeals or the Indiana Supreme Court, depending on the nature of the appeal.
The Knox County Circuit Court is the primary trial court of general jurisdiction in the county, and its records are administered through the clerk's office.
What's Included in a Knox County Court Record?
A court record in Knox County may contain a range of documents and data entries depending on the case type, the stage of proceedings, and applicable public-access rules. The following categories of information may appear within a court record:
- Case identification: Case number, court name and division, filing date, and case type designation
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and other named parties
- Case status: Open, closed, pending appeal, or transferred
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all filings, hearings, rulings, and administrative actions
- Hearing information: Scheduled and completed hearing dates, continuances, and trial settings
- Filed documents: Complaints, petitions, answers, motions, responses, notices, affidavits, and supporting exhibits (where not sealed)
- Court orders and judgments: Interlocutory orders, final judgments, sentencing entries, custody decrees, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, guilty pleas, convictions, acquittals, and civil judgments
- Financial and administrative data: Filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Records that are excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged criminal matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers, and certain exhibits containing sensitive information. The Indiana Supreme Court's Administrative Rule 9 governs the redaction of protected information from publicly accessible court records.
Types of Courts in Knox County
Knox County is served by a court structure established under the Indiana judicial system, which organizes trial courts by jurisdiction and case type. The courts currently operating in Knox County include:
- Knox County Circuit Court – A court of general jurisdiction presided over by Hon. Monica Gilmore. The Circuit Court hears felony criminal cases, civil matters, family law proceedings, probate matters, and appeals from lower courts.
- Knox County Superior Court – Handles a range of civil, criminal, and family law matters concurrent with the Circuit Court.
- Knox County Small Claims Court – Hears civil disputes involving limited monetary amounts under Indiana's small claims rules.
The Indiana Judicial Branch's Knox County page provides current information on court contacts, case search access, and court statistics for all courts serving the county.
What Types of Cases Do Knox County Courts Hear
Knox County courts hear a broad range of case types across their respective jurisdictions:
- Criminal: Felony and misdemeanor prosecutions brought by the State of Indiana
- Civil: Contract disputes, personal injury, property claims, and collections
- Family law: Dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity, custody, and support
- Probate: Estate administration, wills, guardianships, and trusts
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings and child in need of services (CHINS) matters (restricted access)
- Traffic and infractions: Moving violations and civil infractions
- Small claims: Civil disputes up to the jurisdictional monetary limit
- Appeals: Review of decisions from lower courts and administrative agencies
The Circuit Court functions as a court of general jurisdiction, meaning it has authority to hear any case type not exclusively assigned to another court. Limited-jurisdiction courts, such as small claims, are restricted to specific case types and monetary thresholds.
Knox County Circuit Court
111 North 7th Street
Vincennes, IN 47591
Phone: (812) 885-2521
Circuit Court – Knox County
How to Search Knox County Court Records for Free?
Several methods for searching Knox County court records are available at no cost to members of the public.
Free access methods include:
- In-person inspection at the clerk's office: Members of the public may inspect court records at the Knox County Clerk of Courts during regular business hours without charge. No fee is assessed for viewing records on-site.
- MyCase online portal: The Indiana Supreme Court's MyCase case search provides free docket-level access to court case information statewide, including Knox County cases. Users may search by party name or case number at no cost.
- Courthouse public access terminals: Computer terminals located at the Knox County courthouse allow free in-person case searches during business hours.
Services that require payment include:
| Service | Typical Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard paper copies | $1.00 per page (standard Indiana clerk fee) |
| Certified copies of court documents | $1.00 per page plus certification fee |
| Copies provided by mail | Copy fee plus postage |
| Electronic document access (where applicable) | Varies by request |
Fee authority for clerk copy charges is established under Ind. Code § 33-37-5-1, which governs clerk fees in Indiana trial courts. Members of the public seeking certified copies for legal purposes should contact the clerk's office directly to confirm current fee schedules prior to submitting a request.
How Long Does Knox County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Knox County is governed by the Indiana Commission on Public Records and the Indiana Supreme Court's records management policies. Retention periods vary by case type and the nature of the record.
Under Indiana's judicial records retention schedules, the following retention periods apply:
- Felony criminal case files: Retained permanently or for an extended period following case closure
- Misdemeanor and infraction records: Retained for a defined period following disposition, subject to applicable retention schedules
- Civil case files: Retention varies based on case type and judgment status; judgment records may be retained for extended periods due to enforcement implications
- Probate records: Retained permanently in many instances due to their historical and legal significance
- Docket books and minute records: Retained permanently as the official record of court proceedings
- Juvenile records: Subject to separate retention rules and access restrictions; some records are sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood
Paper case files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the record has been preserved in an approved format. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing or expungement. A sealed record continues to exist but is restricted from public access. An expunged record, under Ind. Code § 35-38-9, is treated as though it does not exist for most purposes, though the physical record may be retained in restricted form.
Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, county archives, or the Indiana State Archives, depending on the age of the case and the preservation practices in effect at the time of filing.
How To Find a Court Docket in Knox County
A court docket is a chronological index of all actions taken in a specific case. It differs from a full case file in that it records what happened and when—filings, hearings, rulings, and orders—without necessarily containing the full text of each underlying document. The docket serves as the official procedural history of a case.
Members of the public may access Knox County court dockets through the following methods:
Online via MyCase: The Indiana Supreme Court's MyCase portal is the primary online tool for accessing court dockets in Knox County. To locate a docket:
- Navigate to the MyCase case search portal.
- Enter the party's name (last name, first name) or the case number in the search fields.
- Select the appropriate court or county to narrow results.
- Review the case summary and docket entries displayed for the selected case.
MyCase provides docket entries including filing dates, hearing dates, motion filings, and order entries. Full document images are not available through MyCase for all case types; the portal notes that "official records of court proceedings may only be obtained directly from the court maintaining a particular record."
In person at the clerk's office: Members of the public may request a printed docket sheet from the Knox County Clerk of Courts. Staff can retrieve docket information by case number or party name.
Courthouse public terminals: Docket information is accessible through the public access terminals located at the Knox County courthouse.
A docket entry may not include the full text of sealed filings, confidential attachments, exhibits admitted under seal, or entries restricted by court order. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be separately available through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse.
The Indiana Judicial Branch's Knox County court page provides direct links to case search tools, court contacts, and e-filing access for cases pending in Knox County courts.