Court records in Hancock County, Indiana are maintained by the Clerk of the Hancock Circuit and Superior Courts and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. HancockINCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Hancock County. You can also search cases through the state's MyCase portal, visit the Hancock County Courts page on the Indiana Judicial Branch website, or contact the clerk's office directly for documents not available online.
Hancock Court System Overview
Hancock County is part of Judicial District 17 in Indiana, which also includes Johnson and Shelby counties. Indiana's trial court system operates through circuit and superior courts at the county level, rather than a district-and-magistrate structure. Hancock County has a Circuit Court and Superior Courts that together handle the full range of criminal, civil, family, and juvenile matters.
The Hancock County Courthouse is located in Greenfield, the county seat:
Day-to-day court administration falls under the direction of the local judges and a court administrator who coordinates scheduling, staffing, and case management across divisions.
Courts Serving Hancock County
Hancock Circuit Court
Hancock Superior Court No. 1
Hancock Superior Court No. 2
Hancock Superior Court No. 3
Federal — U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana (Indianapolis Division)
Hancock County falls within the Southern District of Indiana. Federal bankruptcy cases are also handled through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana in Indianapolis.
What Types of Cases Hancock Courts Hear
Hancock County's circuit and superior courts collectively handle a broad range of case types:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Infractions (including traffic violations)
- Civil litigation (all dollar amounts)
- Small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protective orders
- Probate — decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trust disputes
- Juvenile — delinquency, status offenses, CHINS (Child in Need of Services)
- Adoptions
- Mental health commitments
Case assignments among the circuit and superior courts are governed by local rules and caseload distribution. The sections below explain which courts typically handle each category.
District Court Cases in Hancock
Indiana does not use a "district court" label at the state level. Instead, Hancock Circuit Court functions as the county's court of general jurisdiction. It hears all case types, including major felonies, high-value civil disputes, and appeals from lower-level proceedings. The circuit court also has original jurisdiction over probate, estate, and guardianship matters.
Cases arrive at the circuit court through direct filing by the prosecutor (criminal) or by a plaintiff (civil). A judge is assigned based on local case-allocation rules. Felony cases proceed through initial hearing, pretrial conferences, and either plea or jury trial. Civil cases follow standard Indiana Trial Rules — complaint, answer, discovery, and trial or settlement.
Magistrate Court Cases in Hancock
While Indiana does not have a separate magistrate court system, Hancock County courts may use magistrates or commissioners to assist with certain case types. Magistrates in Indiana are judicial officers appointed by the court who preside over matters such as:
- Misdemeanor and infraction cases
- Initial hearings and arraignments
- Small claims (up to $10,000 under Indiana law)
- Traffic violations
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Certain family law and juvenile proceedings
Small claims in Indiana have a jurisdictional limit of $10,000. These cases are filed in the appropriate superior or circuit court and are often heard by a magistrate. Parties typically represent themselves, and procedures are simplified compared to standard civil litigation.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Hancock
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, and civil protection order cases are filed in the Hancock County courts. Protective order petitions can be filed at any time the clerk's office is open, and emergency orders may be available after hours through the on-call judge. Family law cases are typically assigned to one of the superior courts based on local allocation rules.
Probate
Probate matters — including decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust disputes — are generally heard in the Hancock Circuit Court. Indiana law gives circuit courts original and exclusive jurisdiction over probate, though local rules may allow superior courts to share this docket.
Juvenile
Juvenile cases, including delinquency proceedings and CHINS (Child in Need of Services) cases, are handled within the Hancock County court system. Juvenile records are confidential under Indiana law and are not accessible through public case search tools. Contact the clerk's office for questions about juvenile proceedings.
How Cases Move Through the Hancock Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A criminal case begins when the prosecutor files charges. Civil cases start with a complaint or petition filed with the clerk. Family and probate matters begin with a petition.
- Case Assignment: The clerk assigns the case to a judge based on local rules and court workload.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear for an initial hearing or arraignment. Civil cases receive a scheduling order or initial conference date.
- Pretrial Phase: Both sides exchange information through discovery. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur. Motions may be filed and argued.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases resolve by plea agreement, bench or jury trial (criminal), settlement, default judgment, or trial (civil).
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing. Civil judgments may be appealed or enforced. Post-conviction relief petitions may be filed in criminal matters.
Most case activity and upcoming hearing dates can be tracked through the MyCase online portal.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Hancock
The judges of the Hancock County courts oversee administration with the support of a court administrator. For questions about court procedures, scheduling, or local rules, contact the Hancock County Courts page on the Indiana Judicial Branch website, which provides links to local court information and contact details.
Local Rules
Hancock County courts operate under the Indiana Rules of Court along with locally adopted rules. Local rules address filing procedures, continuance policies, and courtroom conduct. Check with the clerk's office or the Indiana Judicial Branch website for current local rules.
Public Access
Indiana court records are generally open to the public under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3) and Indiana Administrative Rule 9, which governs access to court records specifically. Certain records are excluded from public access, including:
- Juvenile records
- Adoption records
- Mental health records
- Records sealed by court order
- Certain personal identifiers (Social Security numbers, account numbers)
You can search publicly available case information through MyCase. For documents not available online, contact the clerk's office in Hancock County directly.
Attending Hearings
Most hearings in Hancock County are open to the public. Some proceedings may be available by remote video or telephone — ask the clerk's office or check your case on MyCase for any remote-hearing instructions.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Hancock
- Case Search: Use MyCase to search Hancock County court cases by name, case number, or date. Note that MyCase data may contain errors and is not the official record — official copies must be obtained from the clerk.
- Court Information: The Hancock County Courts page on the Indiana Judicial Branch site provides court contact information, e-filing access, and court statistics.
- Public Records Requests: If a document is not available on MyCase, you can request it through the Indiana Judicial Branch public records page or by contacting the Hancock County Clerk of Courts directly.
- Criminal History Search: The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History tool provides records of felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide.
- Incarcerated Offender Search: The Indiana Department of Correction offender locator allows searches for individuals currently incarcerated in state facilities.
- County Jail Roster: The INjail Public Portal provides current jail booking information for Hancock County and other Indiana counties.
- Tax Records: Property tax information for Hancock County can be verified through the Indiana DLGF Tax Bill Search tool. Contact the county auditor if figures appear incorrect.
- Self-Help Resources: Indiana offers court forms and self-help information through the Indiana Judicial Branch website. If you need assistance with forms or procedures, ask the Hancock County Clerk's office for guidance on available resources.
For additional help locating Hancock County court records, visit HancockINCourt.us.