Miami County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Miami County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Miami County, Indiana, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. MiamiCountyRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to court records maintained by Miami County courts and affiliated state judicial systems. Records that may be available through official sources include civil case filings, criminal case dockets, family court matters, probate proceedings, small claims actions, and traffic citations. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on case type, filing date, court jurisdiction, and applicable confidentiality rules under Indiana law.
Court records in Miami County may be searched through the following methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Miami County Clerk of Courts maintains the official record for cases filed in the Miami Circuit Court and Miami Superior Court. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person to request case files, docket sheets, or certified copies. 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 Miami County Courthouse for in-person case searches. These terminals allow members of the public to search case information without charge during regular business hours.
3. Online Court Search The Indiana Courts' statewide case search system, MyCase, provides online access to publicly available case information for courts across Indiana, including Miami County. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains court-specific information for Miami County, including local court rules and contact information for the relevant courts.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Miami County Clerk of Courts. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a return mailing address. Fees for copies apply and must be submitted with the request.
Miami County Clerk of Courts
Miami County Courthouse
25 N. Broadway
Peru, IN 46970
Phone: (765) 472-3901
Miami County Government
Are Court Records Public In Miami County
Court records in Miami County are subject to the public access provisions of Indiana law. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act establishes the right of the public to inspect and copy public records maintained by government agencies, including court records. 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 accessible to the public include:
- Case docket entries
- Party names and case numbers
- Hearing dates and court calendars
- Filed pleadings, motions, and orders
- Final judgments and sentencing entries
- 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 proceedings
- Mental health commitment records
- Expunged criminal records under Indiana Code § 35-38-9
- Records sealed by court order
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While a broader range of records may be inspected in person at the clerk's office, online systems such as MyCase may display only a subset of publicly available information, as certain document images are not available electronically. As the Indiana Supreme Court has stated, "Official records of court proceedings may only be obtained directly from the court maintaining a particular record."
What Are Court Records in Miami County?
Court records are the official documents and data generated by the judicial system in connection with cases filed, heard, and decided by a court of law. In Miami County, court records are created when a party initiates a legal action by filing a complaint, petition, or charging document with the clerk of court. The record grows 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 by parties and issued by the court. Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records document the prosecution of individuals charged with offenses under state law. Filed pleadings are the initial documents submitted by parties, whereas final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter.
Public filings are accessible to any member of the public under applicable law, while sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public inspection by court order or statute. Trial court records are maintained by the clerk of the originating court, while appellate records are maintained by the Indiana Court of Appeals or the Indiana Supreme Court, depending on the level of review.
The Miami Circuit Court and Miami Superior Court serve as the trial courts of general jurisdiction in Miami County. The Miami County Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of records for these courts. The Indiana Supreme Court's Administrative Rule 9 governs the maintenance, access, and confidentiality of court records statewide.
What's Included in a Miami County Court Record?
A court record in Miami County may contain a range of documents and data depending on the case type, the stage of proceedings, and applicable public access rules. The following information may appear within a publicly accessible court record:
- Case number assigned at the time of filing
- Court name and division, such as Miami Circuit Court or Miami Superior Court
- Filing date and case initiation information
- Party names, including plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and attorneys of record
- Case type and current status, such as active, disposed, or appealed
- Docket entries listing all actions taken in chronological order
- Scheduled hearing dates, continuances, and trial settings
- Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, orders, judgments, notices, minute entries, decrees, and similar filed documents
- Outcome information, including dismissals, guilty pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Administrative and financial information, such as filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly displayed
Certain information is excluded or restricted from public court records. Sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, and mental health commitment proceedings are not available for public inspection. Protected personal identifiers, including Social Security numbers and financial account numbers, are redacted from publicly accessible documents pursuant to Indiana Supreme Court Administrative Rule 9. Some exhibits, particularly those containing sensitive personal information or proprietary data, may also be withheld from public access.
Types of Courts in Miami County
Miami County is served by two trial courts of general jurisdiction operating under the Indiana unified court system: the Miami Circuit Court and the Miami Superior Court. Both courts are located at the Miami County Courthouse in Peru, Indiana. The Indiana Judicial Branch provides current information on local court rules and judicial assignments for Miami County.
The Miami Circuit Court and Miami Superior Court share jurisdiction over a broad range of case types. The Miami County Clerk of Courts maintains the official record for all cases filed in both courts.
What Types of Cases Do Miami County Courts Hear
Miami County courts hear the following categories of cases:
- Criminal matters: Felony and misdemeanor prosecutions brought by the State of Indiana
- Civil matters: Contract disputes, personal injury claims, property disputes, and other civil litigation
- Family law: Dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity, child custody, and child support
- Probate: Estate administration, guardianship, and trust matters
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings and child in need of services (CHINS) cases
- Traffic: Infractions and misdemeanor traffic offenses
- Small claims: Civil disputes involving amounts within the statutory limit for small claims jurisdiction
- Mental health: Involuntary commitment proceedings
The Miami Circuit Court and Miami Superior Court are courts of general jurisdiction, meaning they have authority to hear both limited and complex matters across all of the above categories. Appeals from these courts are directed to the Indiana Court of Appeals and, in appropriate cases, to the Indiana Supreme Court.
Miami Circuit Court and Miami Superior Court
Miami County Courthouse
25 N. Broadway
Peru, IN 46970
Phone: (765) 472-3901
Indiana Judicial Branch – Miami County
How to Search Miami County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may search Miami County court records at no cost through several methods. In-person inspection of court records at the Miami County Clerk of Courts office is available without charge during regular business hours. The courthouse public access terminals also allow free case searches on-site.
The MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search system provides free online access to publicly available case information for Miami County courts. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name without creating an account or paying a fee.
The following table summarizes common access methods and associated costs:
| Access Method | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-person inspection at clerk's office | Free |
| Courthouse public access terminal | Free |
| MyCase online case search | Free |
| Standard paper copies | Per-page fee (set by clerk fee schedule) |
| Certified copies | Additional certification fee |
| Research by clerk staff | May incur research fee |
Fees for copies of court records are established pursuant to Indiana Code § 33-37-5-1, which governs clerk fees in Indiana courts. Members of the public requesting certified copies or large volumes of records should contact the Miami County Clerk of Courts directly to confirm current fee amounts prior to submitting a request.
How Long Does Miami County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Miami 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 record category.
Criminal felony case records are retained for extended periods, with many maintained permanently or for the life of the judgment. Civil judgment records are retained for a minimum period sufficient to satisfy the statutory judgment lien period under Indiana law. Probate records, including estate files and guardianship matters, are retained for lengthy periods given their ongoing legal significance. Traffic infraction records and small claims files are subject to shorter retention schedules.
Docket books and minute records are retained permanently in many jurisdictions as the foundational record of court activity. Paper case files may be destroyed after imaging or microfilming, provided the electronic or microfilm copy satisfies applicable retention requirements. The destruction of a paper file does not constitute expungement or sealing; the record remains accessible in its preserved format.
Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, county archives, or the Indiana State Archives. Expungement under Indiana Code § 35-38-9 is a distinct legal process that results in the restriction of a criminal record from public access, separate from routine archival retention or destruction. Sealing and redaction similarly restrict access without eliminating the underlying record from the court's custody.
Members of the public seeking records from older cases should contact the Miami County Clerk of Courts to determine whether the record is held on-site, in storage, or at an archival facility.
How To Find a Court Docket in Miami 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 the docket lists entries and dates without necessarily containing the full text of each filed document. The docket serves as the index to the case file and is the primary tool for tracking the status and history of a case.
In Miami County, court dockets may be accessed through the following channels:
- MyCase Online: The MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search system displays docket entries for publicly accessible cases in Miami County courts. Users may search by party name or case number to retrieve the docket for a specific matter. The system displays case status, party information, hearing dates, and docket entries, though full document images may not be available for all filings.
- Courthouse Public Access Terminals: On-site terminals at the Miami County Courthouse provide access to docket information for cases maintained by the Miami Circuit Court and Miami Superior Court.
- Clerk of Courts: Members of the public may request a printed docket sheet from the Miami County Clerk of Courts. Staff can provide the docket for a specific case upon request, subject to applicable fees for printed copies.
A court docket entry includes the date of the action, a description of the filing or proceeding, and the name of the party or court that initiated the action. Docket entries reflect hearing dates, continuances, motions filed, orders issued, and status updates through final disposition. A docket does not include the full text of sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits withheld from public access.
Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be separately available through the Miami County Clerk of Courts or posted at the courthouse. The Indiana Supreme Court's Administrative Rule 9 governs the public availability of docket information and specifies which case types and entries are subject to restricted access.