Hancock County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Hancock County?

Public records in Hancock County are documents, data, and other recorded information created or received by government agencies in the course of official business and maintained for public access under Indiana law. Pursuant to Indiana Code § 5-14-3-2, a "public record" is defined 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 and which is generated on public funds. The following categories of records are currently maintained and available through various Hancock County offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Hancock County Courts
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments held by the Hancock County Recorder's Office
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the Hancock County Health Department and Clerk of Courts
Business records — assumed business name registrations, licenses, and permits filed with the Hancock County Clerk and relevant municipal offices
Tax records — property tax assessments and payment histories maintained by the Hancock County Assessor and Treasurer
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the Hancock County Election Board
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of the Hancock County Board of Commissioners and other public bodies
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records maintained by the Hancock County Auditor
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports available through the Hancock County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and planning documents maintained by the Hancock County Plan Commission

Is Hancock County an Open Records County?

Hancock County fully complies with Indiana's statewide open records framework, which governs public access to government documents across all counties. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during regular business hours. This statute, commonly referred to as Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA), establishes a presumption of openness: all public records are accessible unless specifically exempted by law. Key provisions of the Act include the requirement that agencies respond to written requests within seven calendar days and that agencies may not require a requester to state a reason for seeking records. Hancock County agencies are bound by these provisions and do not maintain separate county-level ordinances that restrict access beyond what state law permits. 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 meeting notices, agendas, and minutes be made available as public records.

How to Find Public Records in Hancock County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Hancock County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county agency maintains the record — for example, court filings are held by the Clerk of Courts, while property records are held by the Recorder's Office.
Submit an in-person request. Visit the appropriate office during public counter hours and request inspection or copies of the desired records. Most offices accept walk-in requests without an appointment.
Submit a written request. For records not immediately available, submit a written request by mail, email, or fax to the relevant agency. Indiana law does not require a specific form, but requests should identify the records sought with reasonable particularity.
Use online portals. Civil and criminal case information may be searched through the Indiana Courts case search portal, which provides access to publicly available court records statewide. Property and assessment records may be searched through the Hancock County online GIS and assessor portals.
Contact the agency directly. Agency staff can confirm record availability, applicable fees, and estimated response times before a formal request is submitted.

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

Standard fees apply to copies of public records in Hancock County, consistent with the fee schedule established under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8. Current fees for paper copies are generally set at ten cents ($0.10) per page for standard letter- or legal-size documents. Certified copies of vital records and court documents carry higher fees set by the issuing office. The following fee structure currently applies across principal offices:

Standard paper copies: $0.10 per page (black and white, letter or legal size)
Certified copies of court records: fees vary; contact the Clerk of Courts for the current schedule
Certified copies of vital records: fees set by the Indiana State Department of Health and the local health department
Recorded document copies (Recorder's Office): $1.00 per page for standard reproductions
Electronic records: provided at no charge when already maintained in electronic format, unless enhanced access fees apply

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the respective county office. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for requests made by governmental entities, subject to agency discretion. Agencies may not charge fees for the time spent reviewing records to determine which portions are exempt from disclosure.

Does Hancock County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at all Hancock County government offices during regular business hours, as required by Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Members of the public may inspect original records on-site without charge; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following free resources are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Hancock County Courthouse and associated offices — no fee is charged to view records on-site
Indiana Courts case search — the MyCase portal provides free online access to publicly available civil, criminal, and probate case information for Hancock County courts
Hancock County Assessor's online portal — property assessment data and parcel information are available at no cost through the county's online GIS system
Election and voter records — basic voter registration and election result data are available for public inspection through the Hancock County Election Board without charge
Meeting minutes and agendas — posted publicly on the Hancock County government website at no cost

Who Can Request Public Records in Hancock County?

Any person may request public records from Hancock County agencies under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Act does not limit access to Indiana residents, and non-residents retain the same rights as county or state residents. Specific eligibility provisions include the following:

No residency requirement: Requesters are not required to be residents of Hancock County or the State of Indiana
No identification required: Agencies may not require a requester to provide identification as a condition of access, except for records that are restricted to specific individuals by law
No purpose required: Requesters are not obligated to state a reason for seeking records, and agencies may not deny access based on the requester's intended use
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records — such as adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents — are restricted by statute and may only be accessed by parties with a demonstrated legal interest or court authorization
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as criminal history or personnel files, may be required to provide identification to verify identity before restricted personal information is released

What Records Are Confidential in Hancock County?

Indiana law identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from public disclosure, and Hancock County agencies apply these exemptions consistently. Indiana Code § 5-14-3-4 enumerates the following categories of confidential or restricted records:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile delinquency proceedings are confidential under Indiana law
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement investigative records compiled for the purpose of detecting or investigating violations of law are exempt while the investigation is active
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from publicly released documents
Medical records — individually identifiable health information is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed and accessible only by court order or statutory authorization
Child welfare and protective services records — records of the Department of Child Services relating to abuse or neglect investigations are confidential
Personnel records — employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for disciplinary records involving public safety officers
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a public agency is exempt from disclosure
Security plans and infrastructure details — records relating to the security of public facilities or critical infrastructure are withheld to protect public safety

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, agencies are required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, applying a balancing standard consistent with the Act's presumption of openness.

Hancock County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Hancock County Recorder's Office is the primary custodian of recorded land documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting real property in Hancock County. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of recorded documents during regular public counter hours.

Hancock County Recorder's Office 9 East Main Street, Suite 103, Greenfield, IN 46140 (317) 477-1143 Hancock County Recorder

Public Counter Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (local time), excluding state and federal holidays.

Hancock County Clerk of Courts 9 East Main Street, Greenfield, IN 46140 (317) 477-1109 Hancock County Clerk

Hancock County Assessor's Office 9 East Main Street, Suite 201, Greenfield, IN 46140 (317) 477-1102 Hancock County Assessor

Hancock County Health Department 111 American Legion Place, Suite 103, Greenfield, IN 46140 (317) 477-1125 Hancock County Health Department

Hancock County Sheriff's Office 123 East Main Street, Greenfield, IN 46140 (317) 477-1147 Hancock County Sheriff