Marion County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Marion County?

Public records in Marion County, Indiana, are defined under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-2 as any writing, paper, report, study, map, photograph, book, card, tape recording, or other material that is created, received, retained, maintained, or filed by or with a public agency and which is generated on public funds. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of these documents subject to specific statutory exemptions.

The following categories of records are currently available through various Marion County offices:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family law matters) — maintained by the Marion County Clerk's Office, which is established by the Indiana Constitution as the official record keeper for the Circuit Court
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments) — maintained by the Marion County Recorder's Office
Property assessment records — maintained by the Marion County Assessor's Office and accessible through the Marion County Assessor Property Cards portal
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — birth and death records are held by the Indiana Department of Health and the Marion County Health Department; marriage and divorce records are maintained by the Marion County Clerk's Office
Business records (licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations) — maintained by the Marion County Clerk's Office and relevant municipal agencies
Tax records (property tax assessments and payment histories) — maintained by the Marion County Auditor's Office and Assessor's Office
Voting and election records — maintained by the Marion County Election Board
Meeting minutes and agendas (county commission, boards, and councils) — maintained by the respective governmental body
Budget and financial documents — maintained by the Marion County Auditor's Office
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law) — maintained by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development

Is Marion County an Open Records County?

Marion County fully complies with Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA), codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-3, which establishes the right of any person to inspect and copy public records of public agencies. Under current law, public agencies are required to respond to records requests within 24 hours for requests made in person or by telephone, and within seven calendar days for written requests. The statute affirms that a "fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of representative government is that government is the servant of the people and not their master," and that public records shall be open to inspection and copying by any member of the public.

The Marion County Public Records Commission oversees the retention, management, and lawful disposition of government records within the county. Pursuant to Indiana state law, a public official or agency "may not mutilate, destroy, sell, loan, or otherwise dispose of any government record, except under a retention schedule or with the written permission of the Commission." Marion County does not impose additional local ordinances that restrict access beyond what state law permits, and all city-county agencies are bound by the same APRA provisions applicable statewide.

How to Find Public Records in Marion County in 2026

Members of the public may access Marion County records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which agency maintains the record being sought. Court records are held by the Marion County Clerk's Office or the relevant court division; property records are held by the Recorder's Office; vital records are held by the Health Department or Clerk's Office.
Search online portals first. Many records are accessible without a formal request. Members of the public may use MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search to locate court case information, and the Marion County Assessor's property card portal to view assessment data at no cost.
Submit a formal public records request. For records not available online, members of the public may submit a public records request through the Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County portal. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by email, or through the online form.
Request court record copies directly. To obtain certified or paper copies of court documents, members of the public should follow the process outlined for requesting copies of court records through the Marion County Clerk's Office.
Submit a public information request to the City of Marion. Residents seeking records from the City of Marion specifically may complete and submit the public information request form by email or in person.
Allow the statutory response period. Agencies must acknowledge and respond to written requests within seven calendar days under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-9.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Marion County?

Standard fees apply to the reproduction of public records in Marion County, consistent with the fee limitations established under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Under current fee schedules:

City-county records cost $0.04 (four cents) per page for standard paper copies
Agencies may not charge a fee for members of the public to inspect records in person
Non-standard materials such as maps, surveys, audio recordings, and electronic media may be subject to higher reproduction fees reflecting the actual cost of duplication
Certified copies of court records carry additional certification fees set by the Marion County Clerk's Office
Vital record certified copies (birth and death certificates) are subject to fees established by the Indiana State Department of Health

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Members of the public are advised to confirm accepted payment forms with the specific custodial office prior to submitting a request. Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8 governs the maximum fees that public agencies may charge for reproduction and prohibits agencies from imposing fees that exceed the actual cost of copying.

Does Marion County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled, under current Indiana law, to inspect public records at no charge. Agencies may not impose a fee solely for the act of viewing records in person. Several Marion County records are also freely accessible online through official government portals:

Court case information is available at no cost through Indiana's MyCase court search portal, which provides public access to case summaries, hearing dates, and party information
Property assessment data may be viewed and printed at no cost through the Marion County Assessor Property Cards online tool
Indiana Judicial Branch public records guidance, including how to locate records by county, is available through the Indiana Judicial Branch public records page
Marion County court information, including local court contacts and procedures, is accessible through the Marion County Courts page on the Indiana Judicial Branch website

Fees apply only when physical or certified copies are requested.

Who Can Request Public Records in Marion County?

Any person may request public records in Marion County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3 provides that any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during regular business hours. Requestors are not required to:

Be a resident of Indiana or Marion County
Provide government-issued identification (unless accessing records that require identity verification, such as certain vital records)
State the reason or purpose for the request

Certain record types carry additional access requirements. Individuals requesting their own vital records, such as birth or death certificates, must provide proof of identity and demonstrate a qualifying relationship as defined by Indiana law. Requests for records pertaining to third parties may be subject to redaction of exempt personal information. Non-residents retain the same rights of access as Indiana residents under the APRA. Members of the public seeking their own court records may access case information through the MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search portal or by contacting the Marion County Clerk's Office directly.

What Records Are Confidential in Marion County?

Not all government records in Marion County are subject to public disclosure. Indiana Code § 5-14-3-4 enumerates specific categories of records that are either confidential by law or discretionarily exempt from disclosure. The following records are currently withheld from public access:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Indiana law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — investigatory records compiled for law enforcement purposes are exempt where disclosure would harm the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records
Medical and health records — protected under both Indiana law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order or specific statutory procedures
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under Indiana child protection statutes
Personnel records — employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions involving public safety officers
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to agencies in confidence and exempt from disclosure
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodial agency is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. Agencies bear the burden of demonstrating that a specific exemption applies before withholding any record.

Marion County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Marion County Recorder's Office maintains permanent public records of property transactions and makes those documents available to members of the public during regular business hours.

Marion County Recorder's Office 200 E. Washington St., Suite W122, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 327-4020 Marion County Recorder's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Marion County Clerk's Office 200 E. Washington St., Suite W122, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 327-4740 Marion County Clerk's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Marion County Courts – Indiana Judicial Branch 200 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 327-4740 Marion County Courts Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Marion County Public Records Commission 200 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 327-4740 Marion County Public Records Commission