Washington County Court Docket
Court docket records in Washington County are managed by the Washington Circuit Court in Salem, the county seat in southern Indiana. Judge Larry R. Medlock handles all cases that come through this single circuit court. The clerk's office at 99 Public Square processes filings, keeps docket records, and serves as the main point of contact for anyone who needs case information. You can search Washington County docket entries in person or online through Indiana's free Mycase system.
Washington County Court Docket Quick Facts
Washington County Court System
Washington County has one trial court. The Washington Circuit Court handles everything: civil lawsuits, criminal charges, family law, small claims, probate, and juvenile cases. Judge Larry R. Medlock oversees the entire caseload. For a county of this size, a single circuit court is enough to manage the volume of cases that come in each year.
The advantage of a one-court system is simplicity. There is no question about which court has your case. Every matter filed in Washington County ends up on the same court's docket. The case number identifies the type of case and the year it was filed, but the court is always the same. This makes record searches quick and direct. Whether you go through the clerk's office or use Mycase online, you are looking at the same set of records.
The courthouse sits on the public square in Salem. It holds the courtroom, the judge's chambers, and the clerk's office all under one roof. If you need to attend a hearing, file something, or pull a record, everything happens in the same building.
Note: Washington County's single circuit court means all docket entries are centralized in one court system.
Washington County Clerk Office
The Washington County Clerk is the keeper of all court records. The office handles new filings, maintains existing case dockets, and processes copy requests. Staff members can look up cases by number or name and help you understand what you are looking at. If you call with a question about a specific case, have the case number ready. It will save time for both you and the staff.
| Office | Washington County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 99 Public Square, Salem, IN 47167 |
| Phone | (812) 883-5748 |
| Fax | (812) 883-5566 |
| clerk@washingtoncounty.in.gov | |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM ET |
Standard copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 more per document. These rates follow IC 33-37-4, which applies in every Indiana county. Payment by cash or check works at the window. For mail requests, send a check or money order to the clerk along with a written description of the records you want. Include the case number if you have it. Make the check payable to the Washington County Clerk. Processing times depend on workload but most mail requests get handled within about two weeks.
Note: Arrive before 3:30 PM for in-person copy requests to give staff time to process them before closing.
Searching Washington County Docket Online
The Indiana Mycase portal at public.courts.in.gov/mycase covers Washington County court records. The tool is free. You can search by name, case number, attorney, or date. Select Washington County from the court list and enter your search terms. The system pulls up matching cases and shows the docket entries for each one. This includes dates, filing descriptions, and the parties involved.
The Washington County government website provides basic information about county offices and services. It lists the clerk's address, phone number, and hours. For searching docket records directly, Mycase is the better tool since it connects to the actual court database.
Below is the Washington County government homepage, which links to county departments including the clerk's office.
From this page you can navigate to individual department pages for contact information and office details.
Washington County Public Records Law
Indiana's public records statute, IC 5-14-3, makes court docket records open to anyone. You have the right to inspect and copy these records without giving a reason. The clerk must provide access as long as the record is not subject to a legal exemption. This openness applies to civil cases, criminal cases, and most other matters on the court's docket. The law applies the same way whether you ask in person or search online.
There are exceptions. Administrative Rule 9 from the Indiana Supreme Court requires that sensitive personal data get redacted from public records. Things like social security numbers, dates of birth in some contexts, and bank account numbers are removed before records are released. Juvenile records are restricted under IC 31-39-2. Expunged records under IC 35-38-9 are taken out of the public system entirely. Sealed cases need a judge's order before they can be viewed.
These rules protect privacy without closing off the bulk of court records. For most people doing a standard docket search, the records they need will be fully available. The exemptions exist for specific situations, not as a general barrier to access.
Washington County Filing Procedures
Filing a document with the Washington County court creates a docket entry. The clerk stamps the document with the date and time, assigns it to the case (or creates a new case if it is an initial filing), and logs it on the docket sheet. Each entry gets a line showing the date, a description of the document, and who filed it. Over time, the docket becomes a complete record of everything that has happened in the case.
Attorneys can file electronically through Indiana's e-filing system. This creates automatic docket entries and speeds up the process. People representing themselves usually file in person at the clerk's window. You bring your documents, pay the filing fee, and the clerk takes care of the rest. Filing fees vary by case type and are governed by state law. The clerk can tell you the exact amount when you ask. If you cannot afford the fee, there may be options to request a fee waiver from the judge.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County includes Salem and several smaller towns. None of the cities in the county reach the population threshold for a separate page on this site. All court docket records for Washington County go through the circuit court in Salem.
Nearby Counties
Washington County borders several counties in southern Indiana. Each has its own court and clerk's office. You can search any of their dockets through the Mycase system.