Allen County Court Records
Allen County court records are official documents and files related to legal proceedings within the jurisdiction of Allen County. According to Rule 3(a-c) of the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records, a court record is any information, document, data, or item related to a specific case that is in the possession of the court or court clerk. They typically include court orders, hearing dates, legal filings, transcripts of court, etc.
Court records are considered part of Allen County public records. The custodian of court records in Allen County is the Clerk of the Allen Circuit and Superior Courts. The Clerk’s Office is responsible for the management, preservation, and access to court records within the county.
Court records in Allen County offer thorough information about court proceedings and verdicts, serve as historical records of cases, and can be a source of evidence in future proceedings. Generally, public access to court records in Allen County promotes transparency and accountability in the judicial system.
Are Court Records Public in Allen County?
Yes. Per the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, court records in Allen County are available to the public. Pursuant to this Act, any member of the public who so desires may request to inspect or copy any court record in Allen County.
However, as expressly defined in Rule 5 of the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records, a record may be expunged from public access in certain situations. For instance, a record may be restricted from public disclosure if it contains information deemed confidential by statute or court ruling, or contains personal identifying information like social security number or account number, or mental health records compiled for the sole purposes of treatment, etc.
Where to Conduct Allen County Case Lookup
Interested members of the public can conduct a court case lookup in Allen County at the locations listed below:
- Clerk of the Allen Circuit and Superior Courts
- The Indiana Judiciary’s case search portal.
How to Conduct Allen County Case Records Search
There are several options for conducting an Allen County case records search.
- At the office of the Clerk of Allen Circuit and Superior Courts
Individuals can request copies of cases heard in any trial court in Allen County in person, online, or by email. To conduct a records search in person, visit the Central Services Division of the Clerk of Allen County Circuit and Superior Courts Office during the hours of operation, Mondays through Fridays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. at:
Clerk of Allen Circuit & Superior Court
Central Services Division
715 South Calhoun Street
Courthouse Room 201
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
To request case records online, complete and submit the online request form that is available on the clerk’s website. Additionally, an individual can conduct a case record search by sending an email to copyrequest@co.allen.in.us. Typically, an inquirer must provide the first and last name of the party involved, the case number, or the filing date to facilitate record retrieval. Fees of $1 and $3 apply for regular and certified copies of case records, respectively.
- On the state’s Judiciary Case Management Portal
Individuals can find Allen County case records online through the Odyssey Public Access Portal. All courts in Indiana use the Odyssey case management system, which holds records of cases heard in the state’s judicial system.
An individual can conduct a records search on the portal by case, name, or attorney. To locate a record by name, choose search by name, enter the party’s first name, last name, and date of birth, and select Allen County from the court location dropdown and search. To search by case or attorney information, provide the case number or attorney’s first and last name, and select Allen County from the dropdown. If an inquirer chooses, additional information like the case filing date and type of court may be provided to enhance or filter the search result.
Allen County Civil Court Case Records
A civil court case record refers to a collection of documents, information, and materials generated or maintained as a result of non-criminal legal proceedings. In Allen County, both the Allen Circuit Court and the Allen Superior Court hear civil cases.
Records of civil cases, such as those involving disputes over contracts, property rights, personal injury claims, and other non-criminal matters heard in Allen County’s judicial system, can be obtained as follows:
- Go to the office of the Clerk of the Allen Circuit and Superior Court—specifically the Central Services Division—to request copies of civil case records.
- Complete and submit the online request form on the clerk’s website
- Submit a public record request by email to copyrequest@co.allen.in.us.
- Visit and use the state’s Odyssey Public Access Portal to view or copy records of civil cases.
Allen County Criminal Court Case Records
In Allen County, a criminal court case record refers to any document, information, or material filed, generated, recorded, and maintained by the court in relation to a criminal offense trial. The Allen Circuit Court hears felony, OWI, and habitual traffic violator criminal cases, while the criminal division of the Allen Superior Court hears other criminal cases.
To obtain copies of criminal court case records in Allen County, do the following:
- Visit the office of the Clerk of the Allen Circuit and Superior Court to request access to criminal case records.
- Click the “obtain copies of records” dropdown on the ‘online services’ header section of the Clerk of the Allen Circuit and Superior Court’s website to submit online requests for criminal case records.
- Use the “find my case” dropdown on the clerk’s website to access the Odyssey case management portal to search for Allen County criminal case records by name, case, or attorney.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
To get Allen County records online for free, use the Odyssey public access portal to find and view Allen County civil, criminal, family, probate, commercial, or appellate court records online. The service is generally free to inspect or view images or records of court documents. However, a fee may be required to download, print, or copy regular or certified copies of court records.
Alternatively, an individual can use third-party sites that offer court record searches for free. A search on Google will return a list of websites that offer a free court record lookup. However, there may be limited or restricted use on these sites, but with a fee, a more robust service could be available. Searches on these typically require the first and last name of the party involved or case numbers.
Courts in Allen County
Below are the names, contact details, and addresses of the courts in Allen County, Indiana.
Allen Circuit Court
715 South Calhoun Street
Room 300
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone: (260) 449-7602
Fax: (260) 449-7652
Email: info@allencircuitcourt.us
Allen Superior Court
715 South Calhoun Street
Room 308
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone: (260) 449-4246
Email: info@allensuperiorcourt.us
Misdemeanor & Traffic Court
101 East Superior Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Allen Superior Court Small Claims
1 West Superior Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Criminal Division Services
(ACP, Pre-Trial Service, Drug Court)
100 West Columbia Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Allen County Juvenile Center
2929 North Wells Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Allen County CASA
Rousseau Centre
1 East Main Street
Suite 421
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
