Search Franklin Probate Court Records

Franklin probate court records are maintained by Johnson County, not the city. Franklin serves as the Johnson County seat, so the county courthouse is located right in town, and the Johnson County Circuit Court handles all probate matters there. This covers wills, estate administrations, guardianship petitions, conservatorship filings, and trust cases for all Johnson County residents. You can search Franklin probate court records online through Indiana's MyCase portal without visiting the courthouse in person. For certified copies or original documents, contact the Johnson County Clerk's Office at the Franklin courthouse during regular business hours.

Which Court Handles Franklin Probate

All probate filings for Franklin and the rest of Johnson County go to the Johnson County Circuit Court. There is no city probate court in Franklin. The Johnson County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and related matters for everyone in Johnson County, no matter which city or town they called home.

Indiana Code IC 29-1-7-1 places probate jurisdiction in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Because Franklin serves as the Johnson County seat, the courthouse is centrally located here and handles records for all county residents, including those from Greenwood, Bargersville, Trafalgar, and surrounding towns.

One important note: do not confuse the Johnson County Clerk of Circuit Court with the Franklin City Clerk-Treasurer. The city clerk (Jan Jones, reachable at (317) 736-3609 and jjones@franklin.in.gov) handles municipal records only. Probate goes to the county, not the city.

Johnson County Circuit Court Contact

The Johnson County Clerk of Courts manages all probate records, copy requests, and case filings. The clerk has two office locations in Franklin, including the courthouse and a separate records office on Court Street.

• Court: Johnson County Circuit Court
• Courthouse Address: 5 E Court Street, Franklin, IN 46131
• Records Office: 230 Court Street, Suite 124, Franklin, IN 46131
• Phone: (317) 346-4450 (Clerk) / (317) 346-4400 (Circuit Court)
• Clerk Page: johnsoncounty.in.gov
• Records Page: johnson.countyclerk.us/records
• Court Services: johnsoncountycourtservices.com
• Indiana Judicial Branch: in.gov/courts/local/johnson-county

The clerk's website notes that all public records and indices are available for viewing in the office free of charge. You only pay when you request physical copies.

Search Franklin Probate Records Online

The Indiana courts system provides free online access to Johnson County probate records through the MyCase portal. Johnson County uses the Odyssey case management system, which feeds data into MyCase.

On MyCase, choose Johnson County from the dropdown. Probate estate cases carry the "ES" case type code and guardianship cases use "GU." You can view case documents, docket entries, and party information at no cost. Most active cases have records available online. Older historical cases may require a visit or written request to the clerk.

The Johnson County records page at johnson.countyclerk.us/records offers additional access. Microfilm records are available for $1 per page. The clerk's office also has printed indexes you can review in person at no cost.

Types of Probate Records in Franklin

The Johnson County Circuit Court handles the full range of probate and related case types. All of these are county-level matters and have nothing to do with Franklin city government.

• Estate administrations - probating a decedent's estate, with or without a will
• Will filings - original wills submitted after death
• Intestate proceedings - estates where no will exists
• Guardianships - court appointment for minors or incapacitated adults
• Conservatorships - management of property for incapacitated persons
• Powers of attorney - filed and recorded with the county clerk
• Trust matters - court-supervised trust administration

The clerk charges for "probating wills" as part of its standard fee schedule. This means that even the act of submitting a will for probate carries a filing cost, separate from any attorney fees or estate expenses. The clerk's own description of duties confirms: the clerk "charges and receives court costs... for instance, for making transcripts of records of appeal, certain amounts upon conviction of various classes of charges, probating wills, etc."

Probate Filing Fees in Franklin

Indiana state law governs probate filing fees. The base Probate Costs Fee under IC 33-37-4-7 is $120, and additional court fees bring a standard filing to roughly $177. This amount applies uniformly across all Indiana counties, including Johnson County.

Copy fees are set by IC 33-37-5-1 at $1 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $3 per document under IC 33-37-5-3. Microfilm copies at Johnson County are also $1 per page. Viewing records in person is free; you only pay when you request copies to take with you.

Johnson County may accept credit cards, but the clerk charges a 3.5% processing fee or a minimum of $0.50, whichever is higher, for credit card payments. Cash or money order is often the more cost-effective choice. Confirm payment options at (317) 346-4450 before submitting a mail request.

How to Get Copies of Probate Records

Johnson County gives you several ways to access probate records. In-person visits and mail requests are both accepted, and free online viewing is available through MyCase.

In person: Visit the clerk's records office at 230 Court Street, Suite 124, in Franklin. All public records and their indexes are available to view for free in the office. Bring the case number or the decedent's name. Copies cost $1 per page. The courthouse address (5 E Court Street) handles filings and some record access as well.

By mail: Write a letter describing the records you need. Include the case number or decedent's name, the approximate year of death or filing, and your contact information. Enclose payment (money order preferred) and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail to: Johnson County Clerk, 230 Court Street, Suite 124, Franklin, IN 46131.

Online: Free viewing through the MyCase portal. For court fee payments, use the Indiana courts payment portal at publicaccess.courts.in.gov/pay. Electronic filing (eFiling) is available for new probate cases through approved providers.

Historical Records and State Archives

Old probate records from Johnson County, including cases from the 1800s and early 1900s, may be held at the Indiana State Archives. The State Archives maintains county court records no longer kept at the local courthouse level. You can search at researchIndiana.iara.in.gov.

For full Johnson County probate court information, visit our Johnson County probate records page.

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