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Daviess County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Daviess County?

Public records in Daviess 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 which is generated on public funds. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of these documents from the appropriate county or state office, subject to applicable exemptions.

The following categories of public records are currently maintained by various Daviess County offices:

  • Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files are maintained by the Daviess County Clerk of Court, which serves as the official custodian of all circuit and superior court documents
  • Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments are held by the Daviess County Recorder's Office; property assessment data is maintained by the County Assessor
  • Vital records — birth and death certificates are issued by the Daviess County Health Department; marriage and divorce records are filed with the Clerk of Court, as noted in the Indiana State Library's Daviess County research guide
  • Business records — assumed business name registrations and certain local permits are recorded through the County Clerk and relevant municipal offices
  • Tax records — property tax records and assessment histories are maintained by the Daviess County Auditor and Treasurer
  • Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results are held by the Daviess County Election Board and Clerk
  • Meeting minutes and agendas — records of the County Commissioners, County Council, and other public boards are filed with the County Auditor and posted publicly
  • Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are maintained by the County Auditor
  • Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Daviess County Sheriff's Office
  • Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and planning documents are held by the Daviess County Plan Commission; environmental permit records may be searched through the IDEM Permit Status Search

Is Daviess County an Open Records County?

Daviess County fully operates under Indiana's statewide open records framework, which mandates public 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 establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that all records are considered public unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Key provisions of Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA) include:

  • Public agencies must respond to a records request within 24 hours if the request is made in person or by telephone, or within 7 days if submitted in writing
  • Agencies may not require a requester to state a reason for inspecting or copying public records, except in limited circumstances involving certain restricted categories
  • Daviess County offices are required to maintain a public records policy and designate an official records custodian for each agency

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, with advance notice and published agendas. Daviess County boards and commissions are subject to these sunshine law requirements. The Indiana Public Access Counselor provides guidance and advisory opinions on compliance matters statewide.

How to Find Public Records in Daviess County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Daviess County records through several channels, depending on the record type and the custodial office involved.

In-person requests:

  • Visit the appropriate county office during regular business hours (typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
  • Present a written or verbal request identifying the record sought with reasonable specificity
  • Staff will locate the record and advise on any applicable fees before copies are produced

Written or mailed requests:

  • Submit a written request by mail or email to the designated records custodian of the relevant office
  • Include the requester's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred method of delivery
  • Agencies must acknowledge written requests within seven business days under current Indiana law

Online access:

Genealogical and historical records:

  • The Indiana State Library maintains a Daviess County research guide that identifies original record sources, including court, vital, and land records held at the county level

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

Standard fees for public records in Daviess County are governed by Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, which sets the maximum permissible charges that public agencies may impose for copying and certifying records.

Current standard fees include:

  • Paper copies: Up to $0.10 per page for standard black-and-white copies on letter or legal-size paper
  • Certified copies: Vital records such as birth and death certificates carry a statutory fee set by the Indiana State Department of Health, currently $10.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time; certified court document copies may carry separate fees established by the Clerk of Court
  • Electronic copies: Agencies may charge for the actual cost of producing records in electronic format, including the cost of the storage medium if applicable
  • Postage and handling: Actual postage costs may be charged when records are mailed to the requester

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county office. Some offices may accept credit or debit card payments. Fee waivers or reductions may be available when the requester demonstrates that disclosure primarily benefits the general public rather than a private interest, as recognized under Indiana's access statutes.

Does Daviess County Have Free Public Records?

Indiana law guarantees the right to inspect public records at no charge. Members of the public may review original documents in person at the custodial office without incurring any fee; charges apply only when copies are requested.

The following free access options are currently available:

  • In-person inspection at the Daviess County Clerk's Office, Recorder's Office, Assessor's Office, and other county agencies during regular business hours — no fee is required to view records on-site
  • Indiana Judicial Branch online portal — the Indiana courts public records system provides free online access to case index information and certain court documents
  • Indiana Department of Correction offender search — the Indiana Incarcerated Database allows free public searches of current and former incarcerated individuals statewide
  • IDEM permit records — environmental permit status information is freely searchable through the IDEM Permit Status Search without charge
  • Indiana State Library genealogy resources — the Daviess County research guide provides free guidance on locating original county records

Who Can Request Public Records in Daviess County?

Under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, any person may submit a public records request to a Daviess County agency, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The statute does not limit access to Indiana residents, and non-residents retain the same rights as county or state residents.

Specific eligibility provisions include:

  • No residency requirement: Requesters need not reside in Daviess County or the State of Indiana to access public records
  • No identification required: Agencies generally 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 the reason for their request for most categories of public records; however, certain restricted records — such as law enforcement investigative files or personnel records — may require the requester to demonstrate a qualifying interest
  • Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal court filings or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity to verify entitlement; this requirement protects personal information from unauthorized disclosure
  • Requesting records about others: Access to records concerning other individuals is subject to applicable privacy exemptions; certain records, including juvenile records and sealed court files, are not accessible to the general public regardless of the requester's identity

What Records Are Confidential in Daviess County?

Not all government documents held by Daviess County agencies are subject to public disclosure. Indiana Code § 5-14-3-4 enumerates specific categories of records that are exempt from mandatory disclosure under the Access to Public Records Act.

The following categories are currently exempt or restricted from public access:

  • Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
  • Juvenile records — case files involving minors in delinquency or child in need of services (CHINS) proceedings are confidential under Indiana juvenile statutes
  • Ongoing law enforcement investigation records — investigative files that, if disclosed, would endanger a person's life, interfere with a fair trial, or obstruct an active investigation are exempt
  • Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from publicly released documents
  • Medical and health records — individually identifiable health information is protected under both Indiana law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • Adoption records — adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute and accessible only through a court order or specific statutory process
  • Child welfare and protective services records — records of the Department of Child Services relating to abuse, neglect, and family case management are confidential
  • Personnel records — employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for certain disciplinary actions involving public safety officers
  • Trade secrets and proprietary business information — confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a public agency may be withheld if disclosure would harm the submitting party's competitive position
  • Security and infrastructure plans — documents detailing security systems, emergency response plans, or critical infrastructure vulnerabilities are exempt from disclosure

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, consistent with the balancing principles recognized under Indiana's access statutes.

Daviess County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Daviess County Recorder's Office serves as the official repository for recorded land instruments, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other documents affecting real property title in Daviess County.

Daviess County Recorder's Office 200 E. Walnut Street, Washington, IN 47501 (812) 254-8664 Daviess County Recorder

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

Daviess County Clerk of Courts 200 E. Walnut Street, Washington, IN 47501 (812) 254-8664 Daviess County — Indiana Judicial Branch

Daviess County Health Department 304 E. Hefron Street, Washington, IN 47501 (812) 254-8666 Daviess County Health Department

Daviess County Assessor's Office 200 E. Walnut Street, Washington, IN 47501 (812) 254-8572 Daviess County Assessor

Daviess County Sheriff's Office 101 S. Main Street, Washington, IN 47501 (812) 254-1060 Daviess County Sheriff

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