Vigo County Probate Court Records

Vigo County probate court records are maintained by the County Clerk in Terre Haute, Indiana, and cover estate filings, wills, guardianships, trusts, adoption cases, and related matters handled by the Circuit and Superior Courts. These records are public and open to anyone. You can search Vigo County probate records online through the Indiana MyCase portal to find case dockets, party names, and filing information at no cost. For certified copies or physical case documents, visit the Clerk's Office at the Vigo County Courthouse on South 3rd Street in Terre Haute or submit a written request by mail to the courthouse.

Vigo County Clerk and Probate Court Records

The Vigo County Clerk's Office is the official keeper of all probate court records in Terre Haute. The Clerk is a constitutional officer under Indiana law with responsibility for maintaining the records of the Circuit Court and Superior Courts. Every probate matter filed in Vigo County goes through this office. Estate petitions, will admissions, guardianship appointments, trust registrations, and adoption orders are all maintained in the Clerk's records. Staff process filings, keep the docket, store case files, and assist the public with document and certified copy requests.

The Vigo County Clerk, LeAnna Moore, oversees operations at the Clerk's Office located at 33 S 3rd St, Terre Haute, IN 47807. The office phone is (812) 462-3211. The main Vigo County government website is at vigocounty.in.gov. The Clerk's specific department page is at vigocounty.in.gov/department/index.php?structureid=3. That page has contact details, office information, and a description of the Clerk's duties including probate record maintenance.

Vigo County uses the Odyssey case management system. Probate cases filed in Terre Haute are tracked in Odyssey and flow into the Indiana MyCase public search portal. Cases filed after the county's Odyssey adoption are searchable online. Older filings may require direct contact with the Clerk or an inquiry to the Indiana State Archives.

Note: The state judicial directory for Vigo County courts is at in.gov/courts/local/vigo-county/.

How to Search Vigo County Probate Records Online

The Indiana MyCase portal is the primary tool for searching Vigo County probate records online. The portal is free and does not require an account. You can search by party name or case number. Results show the case type, filing date, parties, and docket entries. Active cases may also show scheduled hearing dates and recent court orders. The system covers all Indiana counties including Vigo, and you can filter results by county to narrow your search to Terre Haute specifically.

To run a search, go to public.courts.in.gov/mycase/. Enter the decedent's name, a guardian's name, a ward's name, or any other party to the probate matter. You can also search by case number if you already have it. Most probate estate and guardianship cases filed in Vigo County will appear here. This is the fastest way to check whether a case exists and review the docket without visiting the courthouse on S 3rd St.

Additional court information for Vigo County is available at vigocounty.in.gov/department/division.php?structureid=67, which covers specific divisional services within the county court system.

Types of Probate Court Records Maintained in Vigo County

Vigo County probate court records cover all case types under the Circuit Court's probate jurisdiction. Estate proceedings are the most frequent. When a Terre Haute or Vigo County resident dies owning assets in their own name, heirs or the named executor need to open a probate case here. IC 29-1-7-1 fixes venue in the county where the decedent last lived, which means Vigo County residents' estates are probated in Terre Haute. Supervised and unsupervised administration are both available depending on the size of the estate and whether heirs are in agreement.

Guardianship cases are a major part of the probate docket in Vigo County. When an adult becomes unable to manage their affairs due to illness, disability, or age, or when a minor child needs a court-appointed guardian, the Circuit Court takes jurisdiction. The case file includes the petition, medical evidence, the order of appointment, and annual reports filed by the guardian. These records are public unless the court seals a particular case.

Will records are also part of the Vigo County probate record set. Under IC 29-1-7-3.1, a person may deposit their will with the Circuit Court Clerk during their lifetime. When the testator dies, that will is retrieved and filed as the start of the estate case. Vigo County also maintains trust registration records, conservatorship cases, and adoption orders.

Fees for Vigo County Probate Filings and Copies

Filing a probate estate in Vigo County requires a case initiation fee paid at the time of petition. The standard probate filing fee in Indiana is $177. This applies to most estate cases filed with the Vigo County Clerk in Terre Haute. Extra fees may apply for certain motions, hearings, or steps in the estate process.

Copies of Vigo County probate court records cost $1.00 per page under IC 33-37-5-1. Certified copies require an additional $3.00 per document under IC 33-37-5-3. In-person requests are handled at the Clerk's Office at 33 S 3rd St, Terre Haute, during regular business hours. Mail requests are accepted. Include the case name, case number if you have it, and the specific documents you need. Send payment by check or money order payable to the Vigo County Clerk along with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Note: Contact the Vigo County Clerk at (812) 462-3211 to confirm current turnaround times and payment requirements before submitting a mail request.

Historical and Archived Vigo County Probate Records

For Vigo County probate records that predate the Odyssey system, the Indiana State Archives is the right resource. The Archives holds historical court records from Indiana counties, including old will books, estate inventories, and guardianship files. Researchers doing genealogy work or searching for older Terre Haute estate cases should check the Archives catalog at researchIndiana.iara.in.gov. Searches can be filtered by county, record type, and date range.

Some Vigo County records at the Archives may be digitized and viewable online. Others require a visit to the Archives at 6440 E. 30th St, Indianapolis, or a written research request. Contact the Archives directly for help with specific older Vigo County probate cases not found in the digital system.

The Indiana courts public records page at in.gov/courts/public-records/ provides statewide guidance on accessing probate and other court records across all 92 Indiana counties.

Cities in Vigo County

Probate court records for Terre Haute residents are filed with the Vigo County Clerk. All probate matters in Indiana are handled at the county level, not through city offices.

Nearby Counties

Probate court records from counties near Vigo are maintained by each county Clerk through the Indiana Circuit Court system.