LaPorte County, Indiana court records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. LaPorteCourt.us will help you navigate publicly available information about county court cases. Additionally, you can use the MyCase system, the official portal of the Indiana judiciary, or contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court in person or by phone.
LaPorte Court System Overview
LaPorte County is part of a judicial administrative district that also includes Pulaski and Starke counties, as noted on the Indiana Judicial Branch page for LaPorte County. The county's court system consists of the Circuit Court and several divisions of the Superior Court, each with defined jurisdiction. The Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction and serves as the primary court of the county. Superior Court 1 primarily handles civil cases and cases related to Michigan City.
The courthouse is located in the city of La Porte:
The clerk's office hours are typically Monday through Friday, during standard business hours. For specific hours, contact the respective court directly.
Courts Serving LaPorte
Residents of LaPorte County are served by several courts at the state and federal levels.
Indiana State Courts
Federal Court
LaPorte County falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division.
What Types of Cases LaPorte Courts Hear
LaPorte County courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal cases — felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations (infractions, traffic violations)
- Civil lawsuits of various scales, including small claims cases
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support
- Probate cases — wills, guardianships, estate administration
- Juvenile cases — offenses and child protection
- Adoptions
The specific court and division depend on the type of case and its jurisdictional parameters.
District Court Cases in LaPorte
In the Indiana system, the term "district court" is not used in the classical sense — the court of general jurisdiction at the county level is called the Circuit Court. The LaPorte Circuit Court handles serious criminal cases (felonies), civil lawsuits exceeding the jurisdictional limit of lower courts, and appeals from the Superior Court. Cases reach the Circuit Court through the filing of an indictment by the prosecutor or a complaint by a party. The Circuit Court judge presides over all stages — from preliminary hearings to sentencing. Additionally, the Circuit Court handles family law and probate cases.
Magistrate Court Cases in LaPorte
In Indiana, there are no separate "magistrate courts"; instead, magistrates work within the Circuit or Superior Court and hear certain categories of cases as assigned by a judge. In LaPorte County, Superior Court 1 focuses on civil cases and misdemeanors. Typical cases that go to a magistrate or Superior Court include:
- Misdemeanors of classes A, B, C, and infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil cases within the jurisdictional limit
- Small claims — up to $10,000 according to Indiana law
- Traffic violations and DUI cases
To search for a specific case, use the MyCase portal.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in LaPorte
Family Law. Divorce cases, child custody, child support, paternity establishment, and protective orders are handled by the family law division of the Circuit Court. To obtain a copy of a marriage or divorce certificate, contact the appropriate Indiana state resource or the county clerk's office.
Probate. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains records of all wills and trust cases. The Circuit Court handles estate administration, appointment of guardianships, and conservatorships. To file inheritance tax documents, three copies must be provided.
Juvenile Matters. Juvenile delinquency cases and Child in Need of Services (CHINS) cases are confidential. Access to these records is strictly limited by Indiana law.
How Cases Move Through the LaPorte Court System
- Case Initiation — filing a criminal complaint, civil lawsuit, or petition with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
- Judge Assignment — the case is allocated to the Circuit Court or Superior Court depending on type and jurisdiction.
- Initial Hearings — in criminal cases, this is the arraignment; in civil cases, the scheduling conference.
- Pretrial Phase — parties file motions, conduct discovery, and engage in plea negotiations in criminal cases.
- Trial or Resolution — jury trial or bench trial, settlement, plea agreement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment — sentencing, filing an appeal, enforcement of the court's decision.
The status of any case can be tracked via MyCase.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in LaPorte
The administration of LaPorte County courts is conducted by the judges of the Circuit Court and Superior Court with the participation of court administrators. For Superior Court 1, the administrator is Dawn Ulicni-Couturier — contact information is available on the Superior Court 1 page.
Local court rules and the case allocation plan can be found on the Indiana Judicial Branch page for LaPorte County, which also includes a link to the district governance plan.
Public Access to Records. According to the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records, most court records are public. However, Rule 5 specifies categories of records excluded from public access — including juvenile cases, sealed records, and certain personal information. The Indiana Judicial Branch: Public Records page provides general guidance on finding and requesting records.
Attending Hearings. Hearings are generally open to the public. For information on remote participation, contact the respective court's clerk's office.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in LaPorte
- Online Case Search — the MyCase system allows searching for non-confidential cases from all Indiana courts by party name or case number.
- Clerk of the Circuit Court — the official clerk's page contains information on filing documents, obtaining copies, and licenses.
- County Recorder — the County Recorder provides public access to recorded documents: deeds, mortgages, liens, etc. The county accepts electronic recordings through the Avid Land Records system.
- Transcript Requests — to obtain a transcript of a court hearing, contact the official court reporter via the Circuit Court page or Superior Court 1.
- Criminal History — the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History Search allows checking arrest records for felonies and class A misdemeanors within the state. The result is provided in PDF format and is valid for 14 days.
- Inmate Search — the Indiana Department of Correction Incarcerated Database allows finding information about individuals in state correctional facilities.
- Crime Statistics — the ISP page for LaPorte County contains NIBRS data on the county's crime statistics.
- Vital Records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates can be requested through the Indiana Department of Health, Division of Vital Records.
- Sheriff's Office — the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office (phone La Porte: 219-326-7700; Michigan City: 219-879-3530) is responsible for law enforcement and court order execution.
- Online Payments — fines for traffic violations, probation fees, and other payments can be made through the county online payment portal.
For additional assistance in finding records, LaPorteCourt.us regularly updates information on available public resources in the county.