What are Tippecanoe County Public Records?
As defined under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA), public records in Tippecanoe County consist of documents maintained or generated by a public agency during the course of government business. Public records may exist as writing, tape recording, maps, photographs, reports, or electronically stored data. Although the APRA provides broad access to public records, it also gives record custodians the right to restrict access to records that may contain exempted or protected information. Interested parties may be denied access to parts of a record if it is found to contain:
- Private financial information such as social security numbers
- Information detailing protected trade secrets
- Information that has been declared confidential by a court or state statute
- Information revealing license exam or grade transcript scores
- Videos or photographs of autopsies
- Computer applications or filing systems maintained and used by a public agency.
- The protected identity of gift donors
- The investigatory records of local law enforcement agencies
- Information that may jeopardize a security system if released
- Information that may weaken public security by exposing a vulnerability to bad-faith actors
Are Tippecanoe County Criminal Records Public?
Except when protected by law or court order, Tippecanoe county criminal records are open to the public. County residents may inspect or obtain copies of a record by contacting the records keeper. Although a reason for the request isn't generally required, access to some records may require a signed authorization by the subject.
How to Obtain Tippecanoe County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
Tippecanoe County criminal records are maintained by the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office Records Division at the county level and by the Indiana State Police at the State Level. Requesters may also be able to obtain criminal history records online using the Limited Criminal History Request Service offered by the Indiana State Police. Employers who wish to request a criminal background check must get a signed authorization form from the applicant before gaining access to these records. State residents may do a fingerprint-based Criminal Background Records Check by filling and submitting the Criminal Background Record Form to the:
Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office
2640 Duncan Rd Lafayette,
IN 47904
Email: lrmiller@tippecanoe.in.gov
This service comes with a fee. Record seekers may obtain criminal incident reports detailing crimes such as assault, burglary, domestic disturbance, fraud, harassment, murder, and theft at 30 cents for the first page and 5 cents for each additional page.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Tippecanoe County
The Indiana Department of Corrections maintains an online Sex and Violent Offender Registry that provides information on registered offenders within Tippecanoe County and other parts of the state. Users can search for offenders using a known name or internet identifier. Record seekers can also filter searches to reveal results by city, phone number, or within a specific address radius. The information is provided at no cost. Alternatively, residents can obtain information by contacting the state's correction department at:
Indiana Department of Correction
Attn: Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry
302 W. Washington St.
Indiana Government Center South, E329
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2038
How to Find Tippecanoe County Inmate Records
The Tippecanoe Canoe county Sheriff's Office maintains an online listing of inmates housed at the local county correctional facility. The index provides general information such as the inmate's name, charges, and booking record. It also provides an update on the status of their incarceration. Requesters can also obtain inmate information by contacting the facility at:
Tippecanoe County Jail
2640 Duncan Road
Lafayette, IN 47904
Phone: (765) 423-9388
Fax: (765) 423-4155
Court Records
Tippecanoe County houses two major trial courts: the Circuit and the Superior court. Combined, both court systems have general jurisdiction over civil, criminal, family law, probate, and small claim cases. However, the Circuit court has exclusive jurisdiction in all Probate matters. The Superior Court is complex in that it has seven subdivisions.
Tippecanoe Circuit Court
301 Main Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: (765) 423-9343
Fax: (765) 423-9116
Tippecanoe Superior Court 1
301 Main Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: (765) 423-9217
Fax: (765) 423-9133
Tippecanoe Superior Court 2
301 Main Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: (765) 423-9293
Fax: (765) 423-9142
Tippecanoe Superior Court 3
301 Main St., Courthouse, 4th Floor
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: (765) 423-9295
Fax: (765) 423-9155
Tippecanoe Superior Court 4
301 Main Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: (765) 423-9266
Tippecanoe Superior Court 5
301 Main Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: (765) 423-9280
Fax: (765) 423-9375
Tippecanoe Superior Court 6
301 Main Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: (765) 423-9750
Fax: (765) 423-9760
How to Obtain Tippecanoe County Criminal and Civil Court Case Records
The Tippecanoe County Clerk handles In-person and mail requests of court records. To obtain copies of a record, record seekers must fill and submit a Record Request form along with a $1 fee per page to the:
County Clerk Office
301 Main Street
2nd Floor
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: (765) 423-9326
Fax: (765) 423-9194
Email: clerk@tippecanoe.in.gov
The clerk's office accepts cash, money order, cashier's check, and credit/debit card payment methods for in-person requestors. Personal checks are not accepted. Requests sent via mail must include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
What are Tippecanoe County Vital Records?
Vital records provide an official summary of life events that occur within the county, such as divorce records, birth records, and death records. Most of these records can be obtained at the state and county level. For instance, both the Indiana State Department of Health and the Tippecanoe County Health Department maintain Tippecanoe County birth records.
Where and How to Obtain Tippecanoe County Divorce Records
The Office of the Tippecanoe County Clerk receives and processes requests pertaining to divorces and the dissolution of civil unions. Querying parties are required to come in person or apply by mail, as certification requests are not available online. However, information about the date of divorce may be searched online at the state level. In-person requests must include a completely filled marriage dissolution decree form, which should be submitted at:
County Clerk Office
301 Main Street
2nd Floor
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: (765) 423-9326
Fax: (765) 423-9194
Email: clerk@tippecanoe.in.gov
Similarly, requests sent via mail must include a completed copy of the dissolution request form, a stamped self-addressed envelope with the appropriate postage. After the request is received, the Clerk's office sends an automatic notification of the progress to the applicant via email. Once the confirmation email is received, applicants must then proceed to the payment portal to make a payment of $2 per document.
Where and How to Get Public Tippecanoe County Marriage Records
The Office of the Tippecanoe County Clerk maintains records of marriage licenses issued in the county. Marriage certificates may be requested in person or by mail. Both in-person and mail requesters must fill and submit a certified marriage record form with a fee made payable to the Tippecanoe County Clerk. For a marriage license to be issued, requesting parties must appear together at the Clerk's office address.
Where and How to Find Tippecanoe County Birth and Death Records
The Vital Records Division of the Tippecanoe Health Department maintains birth and death records for the County from 1882 to the Present. Record requests may be made in person or by mail. For a Certified Copy to be rendered, proof of relationship or direct interest to the person named on the Record must be provided. Accepted forms of documentation include any one of the following:
- Valid (Non-expired) Driver's License
- Passport
- Birth Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
Requesters must submit a Birth certificate application form or death certificate application form along with a set fee. Each additional copy will incur an extra fee. If the record is not found, the search fee is refunded accordingly. In-person requestors should visit the Vital Record Department at:
629 N 6th Street
Suite A
Lafayette,
IN 47901
Phone: (765) 423-9221
Fax: (765) 423-9797
Requests sent via mail must include a completed Application form, fee and photocopies of accepted documentation sent to the:
Tippecanoe County Health Department,
Attn: Vital Records Staff
629 N 6th Street
Suite A
Lafayette,
IN 47901
Note: Most govt agencies will likely return requests sent without proper identification or documentation without being processed.
Are Property Records Open to the Public in Tippecanoe County?
Per Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, property records in Tippecanoe County are considered public. Anyone interested in Tippecanoe County property records may access desired information online, by mail, or in person. However, some information may be inaccessible to the general public. According to IC 36-1-8.5, record custodians cannot provide the names and addresses of Tippecanoe County "covered persons", such as law enforcement officers, domestic violence victims, and judges.
Where and How to Find Property Records in Tippecanoe County
Property records are available at the Tippecanoe County Assessor's Office. Using guidelines and regulations set by the state, the Assessor's Office determines the values of all real and personal property in the county. The office provides online and offline access to records created from its appraisal function. Interested persons may submit requests by contacting the Assessor's Office using the following details:
Tippecanoe County Assessor's Office
20 N 3rd Street
Lafayette, IN
Phone: (765) 423-9255
Fax: (765) 423-9256
Hours: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Mondays through Fridays
The Tippecanoe Recorder's Office also maintains and preserves records of title to real property, used to determine the legal basis for property ownership. The office also keeps other documents, including deeds and mortgage information. Requestors must provide the document's book and page number or the recording number. A certified copy costs an extra $5. Interested parties should submit requests to the:
Tippecanoe County Recorder's Office
Tippecanoe County Office Building
2nd Floor
20 N 3rd Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
Email: recorder@tippecanoe.in.gov
Phone: (765) 423-9352
Hours: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
How to Look Up Tippecanoe County Property Records
The Assessor's Office provides online access to Tippecanoe County property records through the Beacon website. The site produces information from the county's local assessment database, giving the public updated assessor data. The following search criteria are available:
- Name
- Address
- Street Address
- Parcel ID
- Alternate ID
- Legal Description
- Section / Township / Range
- Neighborhood
- Class code
The online registry contains owner information, tax details, site description, parcel acreage, improvements, valuation, transfer history, sales details, and photographs. The Recorder's Office also allows online access to reported property records. Online records are available through the Tapestry and Laredo platforms for occasional users and subscribers, respectively. Tapestry costs $6.95 per search and a $1 per page print fee. Laredo requires subscriptions between $100 and $350 per month for different subscription plans. All online payments are made via credit cards.
Location of Tippecanoe County Property Assessors
Tippecanoe County Assessor's Office
20 N 3rd Street
Lafayette, IN
Phone: (765) 423-9255
Fax: (765) 423-9256
Hours: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Mondays through Fridays
