Court records of Vigo County, Indiana, are maintained by the Clerk of the Vigo Circuit Court and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. VigoCourt.us will help you find public information about the court records of this county. Additional access points include the Indiana MyCase portal, the Vigo County court records page, and in-person visits to the court office at the Vigo County Courthouse.
Vigo Court System Overview
Vigo County is part of the Indiana judicial system and is served by several courts of general jurisdiction. The main court is the Vigo Circuit Court, a court of general jurisdiction that handles the broadest range of cases. In addition, there are divisions of the Vigo Superior Court, which distribute the caseload by case categories. The Indiana Judicial Branch page for Vigo County contains current contact information and a list of judges. All county courts are located in the Vigo County Courthouse building.
Office hours are typically Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. It is recommended to call in advance to confirm.
Courts Serving Vigo
Residents of Vigo County are served by several courts of different levels of jurisdiction:
State Courts
Vigo Circuit Court
Vigo Superior Court Division 1
Vigo Superior Court Division 2 — primarily handles family law and probate cases.
City Court
Terre Haute City Court — handles violations of city ordinances and some minor offenses.
Federal Court
Vigo County falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Terre Haute Division.
What Types of Cases Vigo Courts Hear
Vigo County courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil claims: general civil cases, small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support, paternity establishment
- Probate cases: inheritance, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile cases: offenses, child protection cases, adoption
- Traffic violations and DUI
A detailed review of each category is in the following sections.
District Court Cases in Vigo
The Vigo Circuit Court serves as the general jurisdiction court for the county. It handles criminal felony cases, large civil claims, and appeals from lower court decisions. A criminal case typically begins with an indictment by the county prosecutor, after which the Circuit Court judge conducts the process from the initial hearing to sentencing. Civil cases exceeding the small claims jurisdictional limit are also heard here. Superior Court Division 1 takes on part of the criminal and civil caseload, relieving the Circuit Court. Case distribution among judges is done according to local court rules.
Magistrate Court Cases in Vigo
Indiana does not have a separate magistrate system in the classical sense — instead, county courts use magistrates (magistrates or commissioners) appointed by judges. In Vigo County, magistrates can conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases, hear misdemeanors, infractions, and traffic violations. Small claims cases in Indiana are limited to $10,000. Terre Haute City Court separately handles violations of city ordinances. DUI cases begin with the defendant's first appearance before a judge or magistrate, where bail is set, and the next hearing date is scheduled.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Vigo
Family Law. Divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders, and paternity establishment are primarily handled by Vigo Superior Court Division 2. To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate or divorce decree, contact the clerk of the court in the county where the marriage took place.
Probate Cases. Superior Court Division 2 also handles inheritance, guardianship, and conservatorship cases. If a person died owning real estate or assets in Vigo County, the probate case is opened here.
Juvenile Matters. Proceedings involving juveniles — offenses, child protection cases (CHINS), and adoptions — are conducted separately, and records are confidential under Indiana law. For inquiries regarding juvenile cases, contact the court office directly at (812) 231-4499.
How Cases Move Through the Vigo Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with a complaint or indictment by the prosecutor. A civil case starts with the filing of a complaint or petition with the clerk's office.
- Judge Assignment. The clerk registers the case and assigns it to judges according to local rules.
- First Hearing. In criminal cases — arraignment (announcement of charges and setting of bail). In civil cases — scheduling conference to set the process timeline.
- Pre-Trial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Trial or Settlement. The case concludes with a jury verdict, judge's decision, settlement, or plea agreement.
- Post-Judgment. Sentencing, filing an appeal, or enforcement of the court's decision.
You can check the status of a specific case through the MyCase system.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Vigo
The administration of Vigo County courts is conducted by the Circuit Court judge in conjunction with the court administrator. Local court rules are approved by the Indiana Supreme Court — current information about them can be found on the Indiana Judicial Branch page for Vigo County.
Public Access to Records. Under Indiana law, most court records are public. However, some categories are restricted — including juvenile cases, sealed, and expunged records. Indiana Administrative Rule 9 defines which records are subject to restriction. Public record requests from law enforcement agencies are governed by the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (IC § 5-14-3).
Attending Hearings. Court sessions are generally open to the public. Some hearings may be held remotely — check the possibility of participation by contacting the office by phone.
Contact for administrative matters:
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Vigo
- Online Case Search. The MyCase portal allows searching for case information from all Indiana courts, including Vigo County courts. Some documents are available for direct download.
- Request Court Records. To obtain copies of court documents, contact the Court Records department of the clerk's office or call (812) 231-4499.
- County Public Records. The Vigo County Public Records page contains links to vital records, Recorder's Office documents, and court contacts.
- Recorder's Office. The Vigo County Recorder maintains real estate documents — deeds, mortgages, liens. Access to the index and document images is provided through a partnership with Doxpop.
- Criminal History. The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History — an online search containing felonies and Class A misdemeanors within the state.
- County Inmate Lookup. The Vigo County Sheriff's Office provides an Inmate Lookup tool, as well as bail information.
- State Offender Search. The Indiana Department of Correction Incarcerated Search allows finding individuals serving sentences in state correctional facilities.
- Public Document Requests from Sheriff's Office. Requests can be submitted via the online public document request form in accordance with APRA.
- City Court Information. The Terre Haute City Court publishes case information online, although some categories are restricted under Indiana law.
For an overview of available resources and to search for information on county court records, use VigoCourt.us.