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How to Find Public Records in Posey County in 2026
Members of the public seeking publicly available information related to government activities, court proceedings, property transactions, and official documents in Posey County, Indiana may access a range of records through official county and state channels. The directory at PoseyRecords.us aggregates publicly available data that may assist individuals in locating relevant record sources. Records available through official offices may include court filings, property deeds, vital records, tax assessments, and meeting minutes, though the completeness and availability of specific documents depends on the maintaining office and applicable state law.
Records in Posey County may be searched through official court resources, the county clerk's office, public access terminals located at county offices, and authorized online tools.
Online Access:
- The Indiana Courts Case Search (MyCase) portal, maintained by the Indiana Supreme Court, allows members of the public to search civil, criminal, and probate case information statewide, including Posey County proceedings. No registration is required for basic case lookups.
- The Posey County Clerk's Office maintains court records on file and provides information about available documents through its official county web presence.
- Property records and recorded instruments may be searched through the Posey County Recorder's Office portal.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Posey County Courthouse, located at 300 Main Street, Mount Vernon, Indiana 47620, during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM) to inspect records at the relevant office. Requestors should identify the record type sought and the approximate date range or party names to facilitate retrieval.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the appropriate office at 300 Main Street, Mount Vernon, IN 47620. Requests must include a description of the record sought, the requestor's contact information, and any applicable fees. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-9, agencies are required to respond to access requests within a reasonable time.
Phone/Email:
- Posey County Clerk's Office: (812) 838-1306
- Posey County Recorder's Office: (812) 838-1316
What Are Public Records in Posey County?
Public records in Posey County are defined under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-3, as any writing, paper, report, study, map, photograph, book, tape, recording, or other material that is created, received, retained, maintained, or filed by or with a public agency. The following record types are maintained by Posey County offices:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family law): Maintained by the Posey County Circuit Court and accessible via the Indiana Courts Case Search portal.
- Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, easements): Maintained by the Posey County Recorder's Office.
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce): Birth and death certificates are maintained by the Indiana Department of Health; marriage and divorce records are held by the County Clerk.
- Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious business names): Maintained by the County Clerk and relevant state agencies.
- Tax records (property tax, assessment records): Maintained by the Posey County Assessor and Treasurer.
- Voting and election records: Maintained by the Posey County Clerk, who serves as the county's chief election officer.
- Meeting minutes and agendas: Maintained by the Posey County Auditor and individual boards.
- Budget and financial documents: Available through the Posey County Auditor's Office.
- Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports where permitted): Available through the Posey County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions.
- Land use and zoning records: Maintained by the Posey County Plan Commission.
Is Posey County an Open Records County?
Posey County operates in full compliance with Indiana's statewide open records framework. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during regular business hours, with limited exceptions. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA) establishes the presumption that all public records are open unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
As stated in the Indiana Public Access Counselor's guidance, "The Access to Public Records Act provides that any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during regular business hours." This principle applies to all county offices in Posey County, including the Circuit Court, Clerk's Office, Recorder's Office, and Assessor's Office.
The Posey County Circuit Court affirms its mission to provide judicial services in accordance with applicable law, which includes compliance with public access requirements for court records. The Indiana Judicial Branch further notes that members of the public may contact the local court directly regarding copies of documents in a case through the Posey County – Indiana Judicial Branch page.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Posey County?
The current fee structure for public records in Posey County is governed by Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, which sets limits on the fees agencies may charge for providing copies of public records.
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Copying fee (paper, letter/legal size) | $0.10 per page |
| Certification of records | Varies by office |
| Electronic copies | Actual cost of reproduction |
| Inspection of records | No charge |
| Search fees | Not permitted under state law |
- Inspection fees: Members of the public are not charged a fee to inspect public records in person.
- Copy fees: Paper copies are available at $0.10 per page for standard letter or legal-size documents.
- Certification fees: Fees for certified copies vary by office and document type; the County Clerk and Recorder each maintain their own schedules.
- Electronic format fees: Agencies may charge the actual cost of reproducing records in electronic format.
- Fee waivers: Agencies retain discretion to waive fees, particularly for indigent requestors or when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest.
Accepted payment methods at Posey County offices include cash, check, and money order. Individual offices may also accept credit or debit cards; requestors should confirm accepted methods with the specific office prior to submitting a request.
Does Posey County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available at Posey County government offices during regular business hours. Under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, no fee may be charged solely for the act of inspecting a public record. The following resources provide free access:
- In-person inspection: Members of the public may inspect records at the County Clerk's Office, Recorder's Office, Circuit Court, and other county offices at no charge.
- Online court records: The Indiana Courts Case Search portal provides free online access to case information for Posey County court proceedings. As noted by the Indiana Supreme Court, "Official records of court proceedings may only be obtained directly from the court maintaining a particular record," but case index information is available at no cost through the portal.
- Property records online: Basic property record searches through the Posey County Recorder's online system are available without charge.
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no fee, obtaining physical or certified copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.
Who Can Request Public Records in Posey County?
Any person may request public records from Posey County agencies under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Eligibility requirements are minimal:
- Residency: Requestors are not required to be Indiana residents or Posey County residents.
- Identification: Agencies may not require requestors to provide identification as a condition of accessing public records, except in limited circumstances involving records that contain personal information about the requestor.
- Statement of purpose: Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for most public records.
- Non-residents: Non-residents retain the same rights of access as residents under state law.
- Requesting your own records vs. others' records: Individuals requesting their own records (such as personal court filings or vital records) may be required to provide identification to verify identity. Requests for records pertaining to other individuals are subject to the same general access rules, with exemptions applying to certain sensitive categories.
Certain record types, such as law enforcement investigative records or records containing personal identifying information, may require additional justification or be subject to partial redaction prior to release.
What Records Are Confidential in Posey County?
Not all records maintained by Posey County agencies are subject to public disclosure. Indiana Code § 5-14-3-4 enumerates categories of records that are either confidential by law or discretionarily exempt from disclosure. The following record types are among those that may be withheld:
- Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
- Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Indiana law.
- Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled as part of an active investigation are exempt from disclosure.
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released documents.
- Medical records: Records protected under HIPAA and state health privacy laws are not subject to public disclosure.
- Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed under Indiana law.
- Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential.
- Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for certain public employee information such as name, compensation, and job title.
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted business records containing trade secrets are protected from disclosure.
- Security plans and infrastructure details: Records detailing security systems or critical infrastructure are exempt.
Agencies applying exemptions are required to identify the specific statutory basis for withholding any record. Requestors who believe a record has been improperly withheld may file a complaint with the Indiana Public Access Counselor.
Posey County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Posey County Recorder's Office
300 Main Street, Room 204
Mount Vernon, IN 47620
(812) 838-1316
Posey County Recorder's Office
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.
Posey County Clerk's Office
300 Main Street
Mount Vernon, IN 47620
(812) 838-1306
Posey County Clerk's Office
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.
Posey County Circuit Court
300 Main Street
Mount Vernon, IN 47620
(812) 838-1330
Posey County Circuit Court
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.