Access Kokomo Probate Court Records

Kokomo probate court records are maintained by Howard County, not the city itself. If you need a will, estate case file, guardianship petition, conservatorship record, or any other probate document for a Kokomo resident, the right place to go is the Howard County Clerk at the courthouse on North Buckeye Street. Kokomo is the county seat of Howard County, so the courthouse is right in the city. You can also search Kokomo probate court records online for free through the Indiana MyCase portal to look up case names, parties, and docket entries before making the trip in person.

Which Court Handles Kokomo Probate

Kokomo is the county seat of Howard County. All probate matters for Kokomo residents go to the Howard County Circuit Court or Superior Court. Indiana does not operate city-level probate courts. The Howard County Clerk's office, located on North Buckeye Street in Kokomo, is where all estate and guardianship filings are maintained.

Under IC 29-1-7-1, Indiana sets probate venue as the county where the decedent lived at the time of death. For Kokomo residents, that means Howard County. If the person had property in multiple Indiana counties, additional filings may occur elsewhere, but the primary case stays in Howard County.

The Kokomo City Clerk handles city administrative records. That office, located at 100 S. Union St., maintains Common Council records, processes council packets, and handles city administrative operations. City Clerk Diane Howard oversees that work. None of those records relate to probate. Contact the Howard County Clerk directly for estate and will records.

Howard County Clerk Contact

The Howard County Clerk maintains all probate court records for Kokomo and the rest of Howard County. The office is open weekdays and is located in downtown Kokomo.

• Address: 104 N. Buckeye St, Room 202, Kokomo, IN 46901
• Phone: (765) 456-2000
• Fax: (765) 456-2267
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The courthouse is centrally located in Kokomo. Parking is available nearby. When you visit, bring a valid ID and the name of the decedent or ward. Have any case number ready if you know it. Staff can search by name and will pull the file for you. Cash or check is typically accepted for copy fees.

Search Kokomo Probate Records Online

Indiana's free MyCase portal provides public access to Howard County court records, including probate cases. You can search by name, case number, or filing date without any charge. The portal shows case dockets, party names, hearing schedules, and case status. This is the fastest way to check whether a probate case exists before contacting the clerk.

To search, visit public.courts.in.gov/mycase and enter the decedent or ward's name. Filter by Howard County and choose probate as the case type. Older records may not be in the digital system, in which case you will need to contact the clerk directly for a manual search.

Probate records belong to the Howard County Clerk, not the city clerk shown here.

Historical records that predate digital systems may be held by the Indiana State Archives. Researchers looking for 19th and early 20th century Howard County estate records sometimes find them there.

Types of Probate Records in Kokomo

The Howard County Circuit Court maintains all probate record types for Kokomo. These records are generally open to the public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Common types you may encounter include:

• Wills submitted for probate after a death
• Estate administration files (supervised and unsupervised)
• Letters testamentary and letters of administration
• Guardianship petitions and orders for minors and adults
• Conservatorship records
• Trust registrations filed with the court
• Small estate affidavits under IC 29-1-8-1

Small estates that fall under Indiana's statutory value limit can skip the full probate process and use an affidavit instead. For larger or contested estates, the Howard County court oversees administration. If you are not sure which process applies to a specific case, the clerk's office can help you find that out.

Probate Filing Fees

Indiana statutes set court fees for probate filings. IC 33-37-4-7 sets the Probate Costs Fee at $120. Additional required fees bring the standard total for an estate filing in Howard County to roughly $177. The exact amount can differ based on the case type and any motions or supplemental filings.

Standard copies are $1 per page under IC 33-37-5-1. Certified copies cost $3 extra per document under IC 33-37-5-3. These fees apply at the Howard County Clerk's window. Court payments can be submitted online at publicaccess.courts.in.gov/pay.

How to Get Copies

Howard County probate records are available to the public three ways. All standard estate and guardianship files are open. Records sealed by court order, like adoption files, require a judge's authorization to access.

In person: Go to the Howard County Clerk at 104 N. Buckeye St., Room 202, in Kokomo. Provide the case name or number. Staff will locate the file and make copies. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays. Pay with cash or a check made payable to the Howard County Clerk.

By mail: Send a written request with the decedent or ward's full name, approximate filing date, and your return address. Include a check or money order. Allow extra time for processing and mailing.

Online: Search for free on MyCase at public.courts.in.gov/mycase. Certified copies require a direct request to the clerk. Pay court fees at publicaccess.courts.in.gov/pay.

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

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