Madison County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Madison County?

Public records in Madison County, Indiana, are documents, data, and other recorded information created or received by government agencies in the course of their official duties and made available for public inspection under state law. Under 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 record types are currently maintained and accessible through various Madison County offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Madison County Clerk of Courts and may be searched through the Indiana Courts case search portal
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments are held by the Madison County Recorder's Office
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued through the Indiana Department of Health and the Madison County Health Department
Business records — licenses, permits, and fictitious business name registrations are maintained by the Madison County Clerk and the Indiana Secretary of State
Tax records — property tax assessments and payment histories are maintained by the Madison County Assessor and Treasurer
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results are held by the Madison County Election Board
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of county commission and board proceedings are maintained by the Madison County Auditor
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are available through the Madison County Auditor's Office
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Madison County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and planning documents are held by the Madison County Plan Commission

Is Madison County an Open Records County?

Madison County fully adheres to Indiana's statewide open records framework, which establishes a broad public right of access to government documents. 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), affirms that the policy of the state is that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public servants. Key provisions of the Act include the requirement that agencies respond to written requests within seven calendar days and that denial of access must be accompanied by a written explanation citing the applicable statutory exemption. Madison County agencies are further subject to Indiana's Open Door Law, codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5, which mandates that meetings of governing bodies be open to the public. No county-specific ordinance currently restricts access beyond the limitations established by state statute.

How to Find Public Records in Madison County

Members of the public may obtain Madison County records through in-person visits, written requests, or online portals, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county agency maintains the record in question. Property and land records are held by the Recorder's Office; court documents are maintained by the Clerk of Courts; vital records are issued through the Health Department.
Search online first. Many recorded documents may be located through the search and print recorded documents tool on the Madison County website. Court case information is accessible via the Indiana Courts case search system.
Submit a written request if needed. For records not available online, members of the public may submit a written APRA request to the relevant agency. Requests should identify the record with sufficient specificity to allow the agency to locate it.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records at the relevant office during posted public counter hours without submitting a formal written request for most record types.
Await the agency response. Under current law, agencies must respond within seven calendar days of receiving a written request. If the request is denied, the agency must provide a written explanation.
Appeal if necessary. Denials may be appealed to the Indiana Public Access Counselor, whose office provides advisory opinions and mediates disputes at no cost to the requester.

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

Standard fees apply to the reproduction of public records in Madison County, and the applicable charges vary by record type and the office providing the copies. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, agencies may charge a fee for copies that does not exceed the actual cost of reproduction. Current standard fees include:

Paper copies: Typically $0.10 per page for standard black-and-white reproductions, though individual offices may set rates reflecting actual costs
Certified copies: Fees for certified court documents and vital records are set by statute and currently range from approximately $1.00 to $10.00 per document depending on the record type
Recorded document copies: The Madison County Recorder's Office charges fees established under Indiana recording fee schedules; members of the public may print documents directly from the online portal for a nominal per-page fee
Electronic records: Where records are provided in electronic format, agencies may charge for the cost of the medium or transmission

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order at public counters. Fee waivers are not broadly established by statute for standard public records requests, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in cases involving indigent requesters or requests clearly in the public interest.

Does Madison County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, which guarantees the right to inspect records at no charge during regular business hours. Fees apply only when copies are requested. The following government resources currently provide free access to Madison County records:

The Indiana Courts case search portal allows members of the public to search civil, criminal, probate, and family court case information at no cost
The Madison County Recorder's Office online portal provides searchable access to recorded document indexes without charge
The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains a public records access page with guidance on locating court documents across all Indiana counties at no cost
The Madison County local court information page provides free access to court contact details, jurisdiction information, and procedural guidance

Who Can Request Public Records in Madison County?

Any person, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose, is entitled to request and inspect public records maintained by Madison County agencies. Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3 does not require requesters to be Indiana residents, to provide identification, or to state the reason for their request as a condition of access. The following eligibility principles apply under current law:

Residency: Non-residents of Indiana and Madison County retain the same access rights as county residents
Identification: Agencies may not require requesters to identify themselves as a precondition to inspecting public records, except where a specific statutory exemption applies
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state the purpose of their request for most record types; however, certain restricted records may require the requester to demonstrate a qualifying interest
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as criminal history or personal court filings, follow the same general process but may be required to provide identification to verify identity before restricted personal information is released
Requesting records about others: Access to records concerning third parties is subject to applicable exemptions protecting personal privacy, and certain categories of records may only be released to the subject of the record or their authorized representative

What Records Are Confidential in Madison County?

Certain categories of records maintained by Madison County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Indiana law. Indiana Code § 5-14-3-4 enumerates the classes of records that public agencies are not required to disclose, and in some cases are prohibited from disclosing. Confidential and exempt record types currently include:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile delinquency proceedings are confidential under Indiana Code § 31-39-1-2
Ongoing investigation records — investigatory records compiled for law enforcement purposes are exempt where disclosure would interfere with enforcement proceedings
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released documents
Medical records — 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 by statute
Child welfare and protective services records — records of the Department of Child Services are confidential under Indiana Code § 31-33-18-1
Personnel records — employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for certain categories of public employee information
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — confidential commercial data submitted to agencies in the course of licensing or permitting is exempt from disclosure
Security plans and infrastructure details — records relating to the security of public facilities and critical infrastructure are withheld to protect public safety

Where an agency determines that a record is partially exempt, the non-exempt portions must be segregated and made available to the requester.

Madison County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Madison County Recorder's Office serves as the primary custodian of land records, deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments for the county. Members of the public may visit the office in person, submit requests by mail, or access recorded documents through the county's online search portal.

Madison County Recorder's Office 16 E 9th St, Anderson, IN 46016 (765) 641-9419 Madison County Recorder's Office

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. Members of the public who know the recording information for a specific document may use the search and print recorded documents tool to locate and obtain copies without visiting the office in person. Staff at the Recorder's Office are not authorized to conduct record searches on behalf of requesters or to provide legal opinions regarding recorded instruments.

Madison County Clerk of Courts 16 E 9th St, Anderson, IN 46016 (765) 641-9435 Madison County – Indiana Judicial Branch

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Clerk's Office maintains civil, criminal, probate, and family court records and can advise members of the public on obtaining copies of documents not available through the online case search system.

Madison County Health Department 16 E 9th St, Suite 006, Anderson, IN 46016 (765) 378-9060 Madison County Health Department

Vital records including birth and death certificates are available through the Health Department during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.