Morgan County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Morgan County?

Public records in Morgan County, Indiana, are defined under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-2 as any writing, paper, report, study, map, photograph, book, card, tape recording, or other material that is created, received, retained, maintained, or filed by or with a public agency and is generated on public business or in pursuit of a public purpose. The following categories of records are currently maintained and accessible through various county offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Morgan County Circuit and Superior Courts. Members of the public may search Indiana court case information through the MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search portal.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments are recorded and maintained by the Morgan County Recorder's Office.
Vital records — Birth and death certificates are issued through the Indiana Department of Health; marriage and divorce records are maintained locally by the Morgan County Court and Marriage Records department, which preserves these documents on microfilm, disc, and digital PDF format.
Business records — Licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations are processed through the Morgan County Clerk's Office and relevant state agencies.
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are maintained by the Morgan County Assessor and Treasurer's offices.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are administered by the Morgan County Clerk's Office.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of county commission and board proceedings are available through the Morgan County government portal.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are public documents maintained by the Morgan County Auditor's Office.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Morgan County Sheriff's Office.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and planning documents are maintained by the Morgan County Planning Department.

Is Morgan County an Open Records County?

Morgan County fully complies with Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, commonly referred to as APRA. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during the agency's regular business hours. This statute establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access, placing the burden on the agency to demonstrate that a record qualifies for an exemption rather than on the requester to justify access. The law applies to all county offices, boards, commissions, and agencies operating within Morgan County. Members of the public may submit a formal public records request through the county's public records request portal, which operates in accordance with IC 5-14-3-1 and the Morgan County Code of Ordinances. Indiana's Open Door Law, codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5, further requires that meetings of public agencies be open to the public, and that agendas and minutes be made available as public records.

How to Find Public Records in Morgan County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Morgan County public records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought.

Online search — Court case records are currently searchable at no cost through the Indiana Courts Case Search system maintained by the Indiana Supreme Court. Property and land records may be searched through the Morgan County Recorder's online portal.
In-person inspection — Individuals may visit the relevant county office during posted public counter hours to inspect records on-site. No appointment is required for general public records inspection under current Indiana law.
Written or online request — Formal requests for copies of records may be submitted using the county's official public records request form, available through the Morgan County Action Center.
Mail request — Requests may also be submitted by mail to the appropriate county office, with a written description of the records sought and the requester's contact information.
Court and marriage records — Requests for court and marriage documents should be directed to the Morgan County Records Department, which maintains these materials in microfilm, disc, and digital formats. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Agencies are required under APRA to respond to public records requests within 24 hours for requests made in person or by telephone, and within seven calendar days for written requests.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Morgan County?

Standard fees apply to the reproduction of public records in Morgan County, consistent with the fee schedule authorized under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8. Current fees are as follows:

Paper copies — Agencies may charge up to $0.10 per page for standard black-and-white copies on letter or legal-size paper.
Certified copies — Fees for certified copies of vital records and court documents vary by record type and are set by the issuing office.
Electronic records — Agencies may charge for the actual cost of reproducing records in electronic format, including the cost of the storage medium.
Enhanced access fees — Where an agency provides electronic access to records through a dedicated system, additional fees may apply as authorized by the Indiana Access to Public Records Act.

Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, money order, or credit card. Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Indiana law, though individual agencies retain discretion to waive or reduce fees in appropriate circumstances, such as when the request serves a demonstrable public interest.

Does Morgan County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under Indiana law. Agencies are not permitted to charge for the act of inspecting records on-site during regular business hours; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following free resources are currently available:

Indiana Courts Case Search — Civil, criminal, probate, and other court case information for Morgan County may be searched at no cost through MyCase, the official public access portal of the Indiana Supreme Court. Official certified copies of court records must be obtained directly from the court of record.
Morgan County Court and Marriage Records — Members of the public may inspect court and marriage records maintained by the county Records Department during office hours without charge.
Morgan County Recorder's Office — Property records, deeds, and related instruments may be inspected in person at the Recorder's Office at no cost. Staff are not authorized to conduct record searches on behalf of requesters or to provide legal opinions.
Morgan County Indiana Judicial Branch — General court contact information and local court directories are available through the Morgan County Indiana Judicial Branch page maintained by IN.gov.

Who Can Request Public Records in Morgan County?

Under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, any person may request access to public records maintained by Morgan County agencies. Eligibility requirements are intentionally broad under current law:

Residency — Requesters are not required to be Indiana residents or Morgan County residents to access public records.
Identification — Agencies may not require a requester to provide identification as a condition of inspecting public records, except in limited circumstances involving records that contain personal information about the requester.
Purpose — Requesters are generally not required to state the purpose of their request. Agencies may ask for the purpose but may not deny access solely because a purpose is not provided.
Restrictions by record type — Certain categories of records, such as adoption records, juvenile records, and sealed court files, are subject to access restrictions regardless of who is requesting them.
Non-residents — Non-residents of Indiana retain the same rights of access as residents under APRA.
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records that contain their own personal information may be entitled to access records that would otherwise be withheld from third parties, subject to verification of identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Morgan County?

Indiana law identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from public disclosure. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-4, the following types of records are currently exempt from mandatory disclosure:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Indiana law.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement investigatory records compiled for the purpose of an ongoing investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would harm the investigation.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar personal data are protected from disclosure.
Medical records — Health and medical records are protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and related records are confidential by statute.
Child welfare records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are exempt from public disclosure.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for records relating to public employees' compensation and job titles.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a public agency may be withheld.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records containing information about the security of public facilities or critical infrastructure are exempt.

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, agencies are required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder of the document.

Morgan County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Morgan County Recorder's Office is the primary custodian of property-related public records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting real property in the county. As noted on the official Recorder's Office page, it is the primary duty of the County Recorder to review documents submitted for recording; staff are not authorized to search public records on behalf of requesters or to provide legal opinions.

Morgan County Recorder's Office 180 S. Main Street, Suite 129, Martinsville, IN 46151 (765) 342-1048 Recorder / Morgan County, Indiana

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

Morgan County Clerk's Office (Court and Marriage Records) 180 S. Main Street, Martinsville, IN 46151 (765) 342-1025 Court and Marriage Records / Morgan County

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Morgan County Circuit and Superior Courts 180 S. Main Street, Martinsville, IN 46151 (765) 342-1068 Morgan County – Indiana Judicial Branch