Richmond Probate Court Records Search

Richmond probate court records are filed and maintained through Wayne County, not the City of Richmond directly. All probate matters for Richmond residents go through the Wayne County Circuit Court, which is located right in the city since Richmond serves as the county seat. The Wayne County Clerk at 301 East Main Street handles wills, estate administrations, guardianship petitions, trust registrations, and adoption cases. You can search Richmond probate court records online through Indiana's MyCase portal or the Doxpop subscription system. For certified copies or older documents not yet digitized, visit the Wayne County Clerk's Office in person during courthouse hours.

Which Court Handles Richmond Probate

Richmond is the county seat of Wayne County. All probate matters for Richmond residents are handled by the Wayne County Circuit Court and filed with the Wayne County Clerk. Because Richmond is the county seat, the courthouse is right in the city at 301 East Main Street. The county-level probate system is the only probate court in Indiana for all counties except St. Joseph. Richmond's city government has no role in probate records.

Karen Chasteen is the Richmond City Clerk, located at 50 N. 5th Street. Her office handles city ordinances and municipal government matters only. For wills, estate cases, or guardianship records, you need the Wayne County Clerk at 301 East Main Street, just a few blocks away.

Wayne County is notable in Indiana for using two online systems: Odyssey/MyCase and Doxpop. Most Indiana counties use only MyCase, but Wayne County residents have the option of searching through either platform. Additionally, cell phones and smart devices are NOT permitted in many areas of the Wayne County courthouse. Plan accordingly before visiting.

Wayne County Clerk Contact Information

The Wayne County Clerk at the Richmond courthouse handles all probate record requests for Wayne County including Richmond.

• Address: Wayne County Courthouse, 301 East Main St., Richmond, IN 47374
• Phone: (765) 973-9541
• Email: clerkrecordrequest@waynecounty.in.gov
• County Website: co.wayne.in.us
• Hours: Monday through Friday, standard business hours
• Note: Cell phones and smart devices are NOT permitted in many courthouse areas

Wayne County offers mail requests with a self-addressed stamped envelope. This is helpful for those who cannot visit in person. Send your request to the clerk at 301 East Main Street with the decedent's name, approximate year, specific documents needed, and payment or a request for a fee quote. The email address clerkrecordrequest@waynecounty.in.gov is also available for record inquiries.

Wayne County also has its own Court Case Search page which provides an additional search interface beyond MyCase.

Search Richmond Probate Records Online

Richmond residents have two online options for searching Wayne County probate cases. The first is the Indiana MyCase portal, the statewide free search tool. Search by decedent name, case number, or attorney. MyCase shows docket entries, party listings, and some document images for Wayne County cases.

The second option is Doxpop, a subscription-based court records service. Wayne County participates in Doxpop in addition to the state MyCase system. Doxpop can be useful for legal professionals or researchers who need frequent or bulk access to court records. For most individual searches, MyCase is sufficient and free.

Wayne County also has its own Court Case Search page. For historical records, the Indiana State Archives hold older Wayne County estate files. The archives are at 6440 E. 30th Street in Indianapolis, phone (317) 591-5222.

Types of Probate Records in Richmond

Wayne County maintains the following types of probate records for Richmond and all Wayne County residents:

• Wills and testaments: Filed for probate after the testator's death; deposited wills are kept before death but not publicly accessible until probate opens
• Estate administration: Supervised and unsupervised proceedings, including asset inventories, creditor notifications, accountings, and final distributions
• Guardianships: Court-appointed protection for minors and incapacitated adults
• Conservatorships: Court-supervised financial management
• Trust-related filings: Trust petitions and court actions on trust administration
• Marriage licenses and divorce decrees: Maintained by the clerk alongside other case records

Under IC 29-1-7-1, probate venue is set by the decedent's county of residence. Richmond residents' estates are Wayne County cases. Estate and guardianship records have permanent retention under Indiana court rules. Files from decades past are still available through the Wayne County Clerk.

Probate Filing Fees in Wayne County

Filing a probate case in Wayne County costs $177, the statewide standard under IC 33-37-4-7. The fee includes: $120 Probate Costs Fee, $20 Automated Record Keeping, $20 Judicial Salaries, $5 Court Administration, $5 Document Storage, $5 Public Defense Administration, $1 Judicial Insurance Adjustment, and $1 Pro Bono Legal Services.

Copy fees are $1.00 per page under IC 33-37-5-1. Certification adds $3.00 per document under IC 33-37-5-3. Wayne County accepts mail requests with SASE. For mail payments, check or money order is safest. Online payments are available through Indiana's court payment portal.

How to Get Copies of Richmond Probate Records

Wayne County offers multiple ways to get copies of probate records for Richmond cases.

In person: Visit 301 East Main St. in Richmond. Note that cell phones and smart devices are not permitted in many courthouse areas, so leave them in your car or a secure location. Standard weekday hours apply. Have the decedent's name and any case details ready.

By mail: Send a written request to the Wayne County Clerk at 301 East Main St., Richmond, IN 47374. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope, the decedent's name, the type of documents needed, and payment or a fee inquiry. Email requests can also be sent to clerkrecordrequest@waynecounty.in.gov.

Online: Search through MyCase or Doxpop. The Wayne County Court Case Search at co.wayne.in.us also provides case lookup. For certified copies, contact the clerk directly after identifying your case online.

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

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