Search Elkhart County Public Records

Elkhart County public records are maintained by county offices in Goshen, Indiana, covering court case files, property documents, marriage licenses, military discharges, and other official records. This page explains how to access Elkhart County public records through the clerk and recorder offices, online databases, and Indiana's statewide court search portal.

Elkhart County Clerk of Courts

The Elkhart County Clerk is at 1905 Reliance Road, Goshen, IN 46526. Phone: (574) 538-3000. The clerk's website is at clerk.elkhartcounty.com. Hours are Monday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Tuesday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The clerk manages all court case records for civil, criminal, family, probate, and small claims matters. Staff can search cases, pull document copies, and issue certified records. Copy fees are typically $1 per page with an additional charge for certification.

Indiana's free MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov/mycase covers Elkhart County cases at no cost. The county uses the Odyssey case management system, and most case types are accessible through MyCase. Search by party name, attorney, or case number to see filing dates, case status, hearing schedules, and parties. For certified copies or document images not shown in MyCase, contact the clerk.

Marriage licenses issued in Elkhart County are searchable through the state Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL for records from 1993 forward. The clerk handles older requests. One detail worth knowing: military discharge records (DD-214 forms) filed with the recorder are confidential under IC 10-17-2-4 and are not available for public inspection.

Recorder's Office and Property Records

The Elkhart County Recorder is at 117 North 2nd Street, Room 205, Goshen, IN 46527. Phone: (574) 535-6756. The recorder's website is at elkhartcounty.com/en/all-departments/recorder. The recorder maintains deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, affidavits, plats, contracts, federal tax liens, and other liens filed in Elkhart County. All documents must be legible, with a minimum 10-point type required for any typed or printed text.

Elkhart County offers two paid online access options for recorder documents. Tapestry EON is a pay-per-view service that gives access to digital document images without a subscription. Laredo is a subscription-based platform used by title companies and law firms that regularly need to pull recorder documents. Both can be accessed through the recorder's website. Recording the DBA form in Elkhart County costs $25.00; checks for recording fees are payable to the Elkhart County Treasurer. A $20.00 fee applies for returned checks.

After documents are recorded, originals are returned to the submitting party. Electronic recording is also accepted. The recorder also offers a free Property Fraud Alert service, which notifies you when a new document is recorded against your property. This is a practical tool for homeowners and investors who want early notice of any changes to their property records.

The Elkhart County Clerk homepage provides access to court records information, office hours, and guidance for requesting documents in Goshen.

The clerk's site lists filing procedures, fee schedules, and links to MyCase for searching Elkhart County court records online.

Recorder Website and Recording Details

The Elkhart County Recorder's site provides detailed information on what types of documents the recorder maintains, recording requirements, and fee schedules. Documents filed with the recorder include not just land records but also contracts, federal tax liens, and a range of other legal documents. Recording fees for standard land documents typically range from $25 to $55 in Indiana, depending on document type and page count.

The Elkhart County Recorder's homepage gives access to online search options and filing guidance for individuals and professionals recording documents with the county.

From the recorder's site, users can access Tapestry or Laredo for online document searches, find recording fee schedules, and learn about the Property Fraud Alert enrollment process.

Sheriff and Law Enforcement Records

The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office maintains its own website at sheriff.elkhartcounty.com. The sheriff handles law enforcement records, inmate information, and other records specific to the sheriff's department. For sheriff records, contact that office directly rather than the county clerk.

The Elkhart County Sheriff website provides access to law enforcement records, inmate data, and other public safety information for the county.

The sheriff's site is the correct source for Elkhart County law enforcement records, warrant information, and inmate searches, separate from the clerk's court records.

Vital Records and Other Searches

Birth and death certificates for Elkhart County are issued by the Indiana Department of Health Vital Records office. Order at in.gov/health/vital-records. Birth certificates cost $10 and death certificates are $8 per the current state fee schedule. You'll need a government-issued photo ID. Some records require documentation of your relationship to the person named on the certificate.

Indiana business entities are searchable for free at inbiz.in.gov. Find LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits by name or registered agent. For local DBA filings in Elkhart County, the recorder's office handles assumed business name registrations. Indiana State Police records are available through in.accessgov.com/isp-apra. For county-level law enforcement records, use the Elkhart County Sheriff website linked above.

Your Rights Under Indiana APRA

Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, IC 5-14-3-1 and IC 5-14-3-3, gives any person the right to inspect or copy most Elkhart County records. No reason is needed. In-person and verbal requests must get a 24-hour response. Written requests have a seven-day window. If a record isn't ready, the agency must give you a timeline. Some records are exempt, including certain law enforcement investigative files, juvenile records, and personnel records.

For disputes or guidance on records access, contact the Indiana Public Access Counselor at in.gov/pac, by phone at 317-234-0906, or by email at pac@opac.in.gov. The PAC is a free advisory service that handles complaints and publishes advisory opinions on Indiana public records issues.

Cities in Elkhart County

Elkhart is the largest city in Elkhart County and has its own public records page. Goshen is the county seat and also one of the county's main communities. Other cities include Nappanee and Middlebury.

• Elkhart

Goshen, while the county seat and an active city, does not have a separate city page. Public records for Goshen and other smaller Elkhart County communities are handled through the county clerk and recorder offices at their respective addresses in Goshen.

Nearby Counties

Elkhart County is in northern Indiana, bordered by five counties with their own public records offices and court systems.