Porter County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Porter County?

Public records in Porter County are defined according to the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA), codified under Indiana Code § 5-14-3. This statute establishes that public records include any material that is "created, received, retained, maintained, or filed by or with a public agency."

Porter County maintains numerous types of public records accessible to citizens, including:

• Court Records: Civil, criminal, family, and probate case files maintained by the Porter County Courts
• Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property transfers recorded by the County Recorder
• Vital Records: Birth and death certificates (limited to immediate family members), marriage licenses, and divorce decrees
• Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name registrations
• Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax sale listings
• Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data and election results
• Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Documentation of county commission and board meetings
• Budget and Financial Documents: County expenditures, budgets, and financial reports
• Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and certain incident reports (with statutory limitations)
• Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning maps, and building permits

The Porter County Clerk's Office maintains court records, marriage licenses, and election records. Property records, including deeds and mortgages, are maintained by the Porter County Recorder's Office. Vital records such as birth and death certificates are available through the Porter County Health Department. The Porter County Assessor maintains property assessment records, while the Porter County Auditor and Treasurer manage tax records.

Citizens can access many of these records through the county's official records portal, which provides centralized information about available records and how to access them.

Is Porter County an Open Records County?

Porter County fully adheres to Indiana's open records laws as established by the Access to Public Records Act (APRA). Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3(a), "any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during the regular business hours of the agency," with certain exceptions as provided by law.

The statute specifically states that "a request for inspection or copying must identify with reasonable particularity the record being requested," and agencies must respond to requests within specified timeframes—typically within 24 hours for in-person requests and within seven days for written requests.

Porter County has implemented policies in compliance with these state requirements. The county maintains transparency through adherence to Indiana's Open Door Law (Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5), which ensures that government meetings are open to the public, with limited exceptions.

Each county department has designated public access officers responsible for responding to records requests in accordance with state law. The county's commitment to transparency is further demonstrated through its online records portal, which provides digital access to many commonly requested documents.

How to Find Public Records in Porter County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Porter County may utilize several methods to locate and obtain the information they need:

1. Online Access: Many records are available through the county's official records search portal. This includes:

   • Property records and tax information
   • Court case records
   • Meeting minutes and agendas
   • GIS mapping data

2. In-Person Requests: Citizens may visit the appropriate county office during regular business hours:

   • For court records: Visit the Clerk's Office at the Porter County Courthouse
   • For property records: Visit the Recorder's Office
   • For vital records: Visit the Health Department

3. Written Requests: Submit a formal written request to the appropriate department. The county provides standardized request forms for various record types.

4. Porter County Open Data Hub: The county maintains a comprehensive data portal with GIS information, maps, and other public datasets.

When making a request, individuals should:

• Identify the specific records sought with reasonable particularity
• Provide contact information for response
• Specify preferred format (electronic or paper copies)
• Include any required identification for restricted records

For court records, the Indiana Courts Portal provides additional search capabilities and case information. Certain records, such as marriage licenses and property deeds, require specific identifying information to facilitate retrieval.

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

Porter County follows fee structures established under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, which governs public records fees throughout the state. Current standard fees include:

• Photocopies: $0.10 per page for black and white copies (standard letter/legal size)
• Color Copies: $0.25 per page
• Certified Copies: Additional $1.00 certification fee per document
• Electronic Records: No charge for emailed documents; $5.00 for records provided on CD/DVD
• Specialized Documents:
  • Birth/Death Certificates: $15.00 for first copy, $4.00 for each additional copy requested at same time
  • Marriage License: $18.00
  • Recorded Documents (deeds, mortgages): $1.00 per page
  • Court Records: $1.00 per page for copies

The county accepts the following payment methods:

• Cash (in-person only)
• Check or money order
• Credit/debit cards (subject to processing fee of approximately 2.5%)

Pursuant to state law, agencies may not charge for inspection of records, only for copies. Fee waivers may be available in certain circumstances where the request serves the public interest, though this determination is made on a case-by-case basis by the custodian of records.

For extensive searches requiring substantial staff time, the county may charge an hourly fee based on the lowest paid employee capable of performing the search, as permitted under state statute.

Does Porter County Have Free Public Records?

Porter County provides free inspection of public records in accordance with Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8(e), which states that "the right of inspection includes the right to make memoranda and abstracts from the public records during the regular business hours of the agency." This means that while copies may incur fees, viewing records in person is free of charge.

Additionally, the county offers several free online resources:

• The Porter County Open Data Hub provides free access to GIS data, maps, and various public datasets
• County Commissioner and Council meeting agendas and minutes are freely available online
• Basic property information through the Assessor's online database
• Voter registration verification and polling place information
• Public notices and announcements

The Porter County Public Library System also provides free public access to computers where citizens can access online county records without charge. Library staff can assist patrons in navigating public records databases.

For individuals with limited financial resources, certain fee waivers may be available upon demonstration of financial hardship, particularly for records essential to securing government benefits or legal rights.

Who Can Request Public Records in Porter County?

Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, "any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency." This broad eligibility extends to:

• Indiana residents
• Non-residents and out-of-state requestors
• Organizations, businesses, and media outlets
• Government agencies and officials

The law does not require requestors to:

• State a reason or purpose for their request
• Provide identification for most public records
• Be an Indiana resident
• Have a direct interest in the records requested

However, certain exceptions apply to specific record types:

• Vital Records: Birth and death certificates are restricted to immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a direct interest as defined by Indiana Code § 16-37-1-8. Identification is required.
• Voter Registration Records: While basic voter information is public, access to complete voter registration data may be limited to specific authorized entities.
• Juvenile Records: Generally confidential with limited access to parents, guardians, and authorized agencies.
• Medical Records: Protected under HIPAA and accessible only to the individual or their authorized representative.

When requesting records about oneself, identification is typically required to verify identity and prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information. For most general public records, however, no identification is necessary.

What Records Are Confidential in Porter County?

Porter County maintains confidentiality for certain records as mandated by Indiana Code § 5-14-3-4, which establishes specific exemptions from public disclosure. Records that are confidential or exempt from disclosure include:

• Personal Information: Social Security numbers, bank account information, and other personally identifying data
• Medical Records: Health records protected under HIPAA and state privacy laws
• Juvenile Records: Court proceedings, arrest records, and other documents related to minors
• Sealed Court Records: Cases that have been expunged or sealed by judicial order
• Adoption Records: Files related to adoption proceedings and birth records of adopted individuals
• Child Welfare Records: Department of Child Services investigations and case files
• Ongoing Investigations: Law enforcement records related to active investigations
• Attorney-Client Communications: Legal advice and strategy documents
• Personnel Records: Employee evaluations, disciplinary actions, and medical information (basic employment information remains public)
• Trade Secrets: Proprietary business information submitted to government agencies
• Security Information: Details about public facility security systems, emergency response plans, or infrastructure vulnerabilities
• Deliberative Materials: Preliminary drafts and notes that are not part of final agency actions
• Academic Records: Student educational records protected under FERPA

The county applies a balancing test as required by law when determining whether discretionary exemptions apply, weighing the public interest in disclosure against privacy interests and potential harm from release.

Even when records contain confidential information, Porter County may provide redacted versions that protect sensitive data while disclosing the remainder of the record, in accordance with Indiana Code § 5-14-3-6.

Porter County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Porter County Recorder's Office
155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 210
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 465-3465
Porter County Recorder

Regular Office Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

The Porter County Recorder's Office maintains and provides access to:

• Property deeds and transfers
• Mortgages and liens
• Military discharge records (DD-214)
• Subdivision plats
• Mechanic's liens
• Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings

For research assistance, the office maintains public computer terminals available during regular business hours. Staff members are available to assist with locating records, though they cannot provide legal advice or interpretation of documents.

Remote access to certain recorded documents is available through the county's online portal, though some records may only be accessible in person due to confidentiality restrictions or technical limitations.

Lookup Public Records in Porter County

County Records Portal

Porter County Courts Information

Property and Land Records Search

Official County Forms and Documents

Porter County Open Data Hub