Perry County, IN Courts and Public Records
- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
The Clerk of the Circuit Court in Perry County, Indiana keeps the court records for the circuit and superior courts, which hear criminal, civil, juvenile, and probate and adoption cases in the county.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Clerk's Office | Clerk of the Circuit Court, Joan Hess |
| Main Address | 2219 Payne Street, Tell City, IN 47586 |
| Main Phone | 812-547-3741 |
| Courthouse Locations | 1 (Tell City) |
| Handles | Criminal, civil (including small claims), juvenile, and probate and adoption cases; traffic infractions and ordinance violations in the local trial courts |
| Does NOT Handle | Federal cases (the U.S. District Court for Indiana); parking tickets (the citing agency) |
| Online Case Search | MyCase (statewide Indiana public case search) |
| Criminal Records Requests | Clerk of the Circuit Court, 812-547-3741 |
How to Search Perry County Court Records
Have the person's full name, the case number if you know it, and approximate dates ready before you search. Records for Perry County are kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Online
Go to mycase.in.gov to search Indiana's public case system.
Search by name or case number.
MyCase is statewide, not specific to this county.
Best for: Quick lookups of case status
In Person
Go to 2219 Payne Street, Tell City, IN 47586.
Bring the case number and party names if you have them.
Call 812-547-3741 before you visit to confirm the right office.
Best for: Records not available online
By Phone
Call 812-547-3741 to reach the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Ask the clerk what information your request needs.
Ask the clerk which office handles your case type.
Best for: Questions before you visit or request records
Search by Name on INCourts.org
Go to INCourts.org and enter a full name.
Search across record types without a case number.
Confirm results with the court, since they are not official court records.
Best for: Finding leads without a case number
Perry County Court Statistics (2024)
Trial courts in Perry County recorded 3,571 new filings in 2024, rose 13.7% from 3,141 in 2023, according to the Indiana Judicial Service Report. Totals include circuit, superior, county, city and town courts, and ordinance violations.
3,571
Total new filings in 2024
1,061
Criminal filings in 2024
962
Civil filings in 2024 (incl. small claims)
184.8
Filings per 1,000 residents (population 19,320)
| Category | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | 1,061 | 822 | +29.1% |
| Civil violations (infractions and ordinance violations) | 1,212 | 869 | +39.5% |
| Juvenile | 248 | 278 | -10.8% |
| Civil (incl. small claims) | 962 | 1,047 | -8.1% |
| Probate and adoption | 88 | 125 | -29.6% |
| Total new filings | 3,571 | 3,141 | +13.7% |
How Have Court Filings Changed in Perry County?
New filings in Perry County trial courts rose from 3,141 in 2023 to 3,571 in 2024, compared with a statewide change of +4.8%. Figures marked with ~ are estimates based on the other years shown for this county.
| Category | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | 822 | 1,061 | +29.1% |
| Civil violations (infractions and ordinance violations) | 869 | 1,212 | +39.5% |
| Juvenile | 278 | 248 | -10.8% |
| Civil (incl. small claims) | 1,047 | 962 | -8.1% |
| Probate and adoption | 125 | 88 | -29.6% |
| Total new filings | 3,141 | 3,571 | +13.7% |
Indiana statewide new filings, all trial courts, for context:
| Year | Indiana statewide total | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 950,557 | ~+4.8% |
| 2021 | 1,027,497 | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 1,017,793 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 1,092,150 | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 1,144,342 | +4.8% |
The largest change by count was an increase in civil violations (+343), while civil had the largest decrease (-85). Statewide new filings rose 4.8% in 2024 after a +7.3% change in 2023, reaching 1,144,342 cases.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Perry County?
Civil violations filings make up the largest share of Perry County trial court filings in 2024 at 33.9% of the 3,571 total.
| Case Type | Filings 2024 | Share of Total | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil violations (infractions and ordinance violations) | 1,212 | 33.9% | +39.5% |
| Criminal | 1,061 | 29.7% | +29.1% |
| Civil (incl. small claims) | 962 | 26.9% | -8.1% |
| Juvenile | 248 | 6.9% | -10.8% |
| Probate and adoption | 88 | 2.5% | -29.6% |
| Total | 3,571 | 100.0% | +13.7% |
Civil violations grew fastest at +39.5%, while probate and adoption fell fastest at -29.6%.
How Does Perry County Compare With Indiana Overall?
Perry County accounted for 0.31% of the 1,144,342 new filings in Indiana trial courts in 2024 and is home to 0.28% of the state's population.
| Metric | Perry County | Indiana | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total new filings, 2024 | 3,571 | 1,144,342 | 0.31% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | +13.7% | +4.8% | 8.9 points higher |
| New filings per 1,000 residents | 184.8 | 165.3 | 11.8% above state |
| Criminal share of filings | 29.7% | 23.5% | 6.2 points higher |
| Civil violations (infractions and ordinance violations) share of filings | 33.9% | 31.0% | 2.9 points higher |
| Civil (incl. small claims) share of filings | 26.9% | 38.3% | 11.4 points lower |
| Juvenile share of filings | 6.9% | 4.8% | 2.1 points higher |
| Probate and adoption share of filings | 2.5% | 2.4% | 0.1 points higher |
Perry County filed 184.8 cases per 1,000 residents against the statewide 165.3, and its share of statewide filings is 0.4% for criminal, 0.3% for civil violations, 0.2% for civil, 0.4% for juvenile, and 0.3% for probate and adoption filings.
Perry County Crime Statistics (2025)
These figures are Indiana statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Perry County. Agency reporting may be incomplete, and county crime counts are not available here. Statewide violent and property crimes combined fell 15.1% from 2024 to 2025. In 2025, reporting agencies covered about 87.8% of Indiana's population, so year-over-year changes can partly reflect which agencies reported.
18,415
Violent crimes, Indiana statewide, 2025
76,771
Property crimes, Indiana statewide, 2025 (includes arson)
264.1
Violent crime rate per 100K, Indiana statewide, 2025 (population 6,973,333)
-15.1%
Change in total violent plus property crimes, Indiana statewide, 2025 vs 2024 (95,186 vs 112,089)
| Offense | 2025 | Rate per 100K | 2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 304 | 4.4 | 396 | -23.2% |
| Rape | 2,111 | 30.3 | 2,261 | -6.6% |
| Robbery | 1,948 | 27.9 | 2,371 | -17.8% |
| Aggravated assault | 14,052 | 201.5 | 16,069 | -12.6% |
| Violent crimes total | 18,415 | 264.1 | 21,097 | -12.7% |
| Burglary | 9,580 | 137.4 | 11,511 | -16.8% |
| Larceny-theft | 55,827 | 800.6 | 64,944 | -14.0% |
| Motor vehicle theft | 10,842 | 155.5 | 13,937 | -22.2% |
| Property crimes total | 76,771 | 1100.9 | 90,992 | -15.6% |
Rates use the Indiana 2025 population of 6,973,333. County-level rates are not published, so this section does not compare Perry County with the state. The property crimes total includes arson, so it is larger than the sum of the property offenses listed above.
Perry County Courthouse Locations
Perry County has 1 courthouse location listed in the Indiana court directory, in Tell City. Check your notice or paperwork for the assigned courthouse before you go.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the Circuit Court, Tell City | 2219 Payne Street, Tell City, IN 47586 | 812-547-3741 |
Which Court Handles Your Case in Perry County?
Most Perry County cases are filed in the circuit or superior courts and kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, but some matters go to other courts or agencies.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic ticket | City or town court, or the circuit or superior court, named on your ticket | Traffic infractions are filed in the local courts, so check the court listed on your citation. |
| Parking ticket | The agency that issued the ticket | Parking tickets are handled outside the court by the citing agency. |
| Misdemeanor | Circuit or superior court | Criminal cases, including misdemeanors, are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. |
| Felony | Circuit or superior court | Felony cases are filed in the circuit or superior court and kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. |
| DUI | Circuit or superior court | DUI charges are criminal cases, so check your charging papers for the court listed. |
| Domestic violence | Circuit or superior court | Criminal charges and protective orders are handled by the circuit or superior court. |
| Civil lawsuit | Circuit or superior court | Civil cases are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. |
| Small claims | Circuit or superior court | Small claims are part of the civil docket and are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. |
| Eviction | Circuit or superior court | Eviction cases are civil cases filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. |
| Divorce | Circuit or superior court | Domestic relations cases are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. |
| Child custody or support | Circuit or superior court | Domestic relations and support cases are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. |
| Probate or estate | Circuit or superior court | Probate matters are handled by the trial courts, so confirm the filing office with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. |
| Juvenile case | Juvenile division of the circuit or superior court, where one exists | Juvenile cases are confidential and generally not public. |
| Appeal | Indiana Court of Appeals or Indiana Supreme Court | Appeals go to the appellate courts, not the trial court. |
Are Perry County Court Records Public?
Yes, most Perry County court records are public, with exceptions set by Indiana's Access to Court Records Rules (Indiana Supreme Court Administrative Rule 9).
Public records
Most case records in the circuit and superior courts of Perry County are open to the public unless a rule, statute, or court order makes them confidential. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act covers executive-branch records and does not itself govern court files.
Restricted or confidential records
Juvenile, sealed, expunged, adoption, mental health, and protective-order-restricted records are not publicly available. Some records remain restricted even when the rest of a case file is open.
Online access
MyCase is Indiana's statewide public case search. It is not limited to this county, and it does not show every record, so confirm details with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
In-person access
Visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 2219 Payne Street, Tell City, IN 47586, or call 812-547-3741 to ask about the records you need.
Fees
This section does not list fees. Ask the Clerk of the Circuit Court about any charges for copies before you request records.
How to Search Perry County Court Records Online
Use MyCase, Indiana's statewide public case search, to look up Perry County cases, and ask the Clerk of the Circuit Court for documents that are not online.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family, or juvenile.
- Open MyCase (mycase.in.gov) and choose a search by name or case number.
- Note the case number from the results.
- Review the case details shown for status and parties.
- Call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-547-3741 to request documents that are not online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | MyCase | Case information and status | Documents may require the clerk |
| Traffic | MyCase | Case information where the case is in the statewide system | Local city or town court tickets may not appear; confirm with the court on your ticket |
| Civil | MyCase | Case information and status | Documents may require the clerk |
| Small claims | MyCase | Case information and status | Documents may require the clerk |
| Family law | MyCase | Case information for domestic relations cases | Confidential details and protective-order records are restricted |
| Juvenile | Clerk of the Circuit Court, 812-547-3741 | Limited information through the clerk | Juvenile cases are confidential and not in the public search |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Perry County
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the office to contact about fines and citations in Perry County.
- By phone: Call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-547-3741 to ask how to pay a fine or citation.
Tickets for city and town court cases may be paid through that local court. Parking tickets are handled by the agency that issued them, not by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Perry County Court Records FAQ
How do I search court records in Perry County?
Search by name or case number in MyCase, or call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-547-3741 for records not found online.
Are Perry County court records public?
Most are public under Indiana's Access to Court Records Rules, but juvenile, sealed, expunged, and other confidential records are restricted.
How do I find a criminal case?
Search by name in MyCase, or call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-547-3741 for help locating a case.
How do I find a court date?
Check your notice or citation first, then call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-547-3741 to confirm the date.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-547-3741 to ask how to pay. Tickets from city or town courts may be paid through that local court.
How many cases are filed in Perry County each year?
Trial courts in Perry County recorded 3,571 new filings in 2024, rose 13.7% from 3,141 in 2023, according to the Indiana Judicial Service Report.
What is the most common type of case?
Civil violations filings were the largest category in 2024, with 1,212 cases or 33.9% of the 3,571 total.
Is crime in Perry County rising or falling?
County crime counts are not available here. Statewide, reported violent crimes fell 12.7% to 18,415 in 2025 from 21,097 in 2024, and property crimes fell 15.6% to 76,771 from 90,992, as reported to the FBI. These are Indiana statewide figures, and reporting coverage changed between years.
Courts in the County
Perry County Circuit CourtMore Info
| Address: | 2219 Payne St., Tell City, IN, 47586 |
| Phone Number: | 812-547-7048 |
| Fax: | 812-547-5424 |
| Website: | http://www.perrycounty.in.gov/departments/circuit-court/ |
Useful Links
- IN.gov - Public Record Search . Access Indiana's MyCase portal for free access to court case records and information for Perry County.
- Perry County Courts: State of Indiana . Official website offering resources and information about Perry County court services, schedules, and contact details.
- Indiana Supreme Court: State of Indiana . Visit for high court opinions, orders, rules, and case docket information from Indiana’s highest judicial authority.
- Self-Service Legal Center, State of Indiana . Provides legal resources, forms, and assistance for individuals representing themselves in Indiana court matters.
- Protection Order Forms: Indiana Judiciary . Find and complete necessary forms for obtaining protection orders in Perry County, Indiana.
- Indiana Court Case Search . Use case number or party information to search for court cases across all counties including Perry County.
- Circuit Court Clerk: Perry County Government . Offers information on court records, filing procedures, and jury duty for Perry County Circuit Court.
- Indiana Judicial Administration . Provides oversight and information concerning the administrative operations of Indiana's judicial system.
- Indiana Legal Services, Inc. . A nonprofit organization providing legal assistance to eligible low-income residents in Indiana, including Perry County.
- Access to Court Records: Indiana Courts . Information on rules and procedures for public access to court records within Indiana.
- Perry County Courts Directory | CourtReference.com . A comprehensive directory of court locations in Perry County for public access to judicial services.
- Indiana Legal Help . Offers legal resources and referral information to help residents navigate court services in Indiana.
- Indiana Self-Service Legal Center: Constructive Index . A complete guide for accessing self-help legal resources and community services across Indiana.
- Indiana Judicial Branch: Probation . Find probation information, procedures, and resources for dealing with probation-related matters in Indiana.
- Indiana Judicial Branch: Press Releases . Stay informed about recent news, updates, and announcements from Indiana's Judicial Branch.
- Court Publications: Indiana Judicial Branch . Access various official publications, reports, and statistical data concerning the operations of Indiana’s judiciary.
- Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education . Supports the core legal education needs of Indiana lawyers and legal providers with comprehensive resources and information.
- Indiana State Bar Association . Provides support and resources for legal professionals and can offer directory assistance for finding legal assistance in Indiana.
- Indiana Judicial Branch: Technology . Explores the use of technology within the state court system to improve case management and public services.
- Legal Services Corporation . Offers nationwide legal assistance to low-income individuals, funds legal aid organizations across Indiana.
Table of Contents
- Perry County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Perry County Court Records
- Perry County Court Statistics (2024)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Perry County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Perry County?
- How Does Perry County Compare With Indiana Overall?
- Perry County Crime Statistics (2025)
- Perry County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Perry County?
- Are Perry County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Perry County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Perry County
- Perry County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links