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Porter County, Indiana public records

In Porter County, deeds are recorded by the Porter County Recorder; property values come from the Porter County Assessor; court files are kept by the Porter County Clerk of the Courts.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Porter County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Records that are not online: public records requests
  16. Questions people ask
  17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  18. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsPorter County Recorder6Search deeds234Free search, fee for copies$1.00 per page for 11 x 17 or smaller; $5.00 per page larger5
Property values and ownersPorter County Assessor6Property search7—
Property tax billsPorter County Treasurer6Tax bill search8—
Court casesPorter County Clerk of the Courts6Porter Circuit Court9
Porter Superior Courts #1, #2, #4, #59
Porter Superior Courts #3, #69		Clerk document fee: not more than $1 per page for a copy; $1 per certificate10
Marriage recordsPorter County Clerk of the Courts6—Certified copy fee: $4.00 each; cash or card, with a $1.75 card processing fee11
Divorce recordsPorter County Clerk of the Courts6—Certified copy fee: Not more than $1 per page, $1 per certificate (state fee manual)10
Birth certificatesPorter County Health Department, Vital Records Division13—$15 certified birth certificate; paternity or amendment including certificate $30; genealogy $15 per search12
Death certificatesPorter County Health Department, Vital Records Division13—$1712
Probate and willsPorter County Clerk of the Courts6Search probate cases9—
Business names (DBA)Porter County Recorder6——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Porter County are recorded by the Porter County Recorder.6

Online search
inporter.fidlar.com/INPorter/DirectSearch234Free search, fee for copies
Cost
Direct Search free, index only; Tapestry $8.75 per search, viewing images included; Laredo subscription2
Who runs it
Fidlar (Direct Search, Tapestry); Laredo by subscription through the Recorder14
Years online
Index back to early 1978 on Direct Search, 7 days delayed; document images not available there2
Copy fee
$1.00 per page for 11 x 17 or smaller; $5.00 per page larger5
Certified copy fee
$5.005
How to order
Online through Tapestry at $1.00 per printed page plus the search fee, or at the Recorder counter, which has public workstations; questions through the Recorder Inquiry Form14
Recording fees
Effective January 1, 2021: mortgages $55.00; deeds and other instruments $25.00; additional pages over 8 1/2 x 14 $5.00 each5

How deeds work in Indiana

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Porter County Assessor sets property values6; the Porter County Treasurer bills and collects the tax6.

Property search
engage.xsoftinc.com/porter (search bar; advanced search at /porter/AdvancedSearch)7
Tax bill search
lowtaxinfo.com/portercounty (view, print and pay); enoticesonline.com/por (quick pay)8
Appealing a value
Filed with the Assessor; the deadline for the January 1, 2026 assessment was June 15, 2026. You appeal the assessment, not the tax bill.7
Appeal scope
Assessment only7
Auditor: phone
219-465-344516
Auditor: hours
Monday - Friday 8:30am-4:30pm16

How property tax works in Indiana

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Porter Circuit Court—Porter County Clerk of the Courts (Clerk's Office)public.courts.in.gov/mycase9
Porter Superior Courts #1, #2, #4, #5 (Valparaiso)—Porter County Clerk of the Courts (Clerk's Office)public.courts.in.gov/mycase9
Porter Superior Courts #3, #6 (Portage)—Porter County Clerk of the Courts (Clerk's Office)public.courts.in.gov/mycase9
Fees
Clerk document fee: not more than $1 per page for a copy; $1 per certificate10
Civil filing
$157; $185 with sheriff service of process17

Criminal records and background checks

Sheriff
Arrest record check and case/crime report requests through the Sheriff, Reports & Permits18
State
Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History: $15.70 per search for non-subscribers19

How Indiana courts keep their files

Marriage records

Clerk's Office, Records Division, Porter County Courthouse, 16 Lincolnway, Suite 211, Valparaiso11

Certified copy fee
$4.00 each; cash or card, with a $1.75 card processing fee11
Marriage license fee
$25.00 if one or both are Indiana residents; $65.00 for out-of-state residents11
Hours
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM for applications11
Online
mycourts.in.gov/mlpublic starts the application; both parties must still appear11
Statewide index
Marriage License Public Lookup, public.courts.in.gov/mlpl/Search, 1993 to present20

Indiana marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted21

Certified copy fee
Not more than $1 per page, $1 per certificate (state fee manual)10

Indiana divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the Porter County Health Department, Vital Records Division.13

Fee
$15 certified birth certificate; paternity or amendment including certificate $30; genealogy $15 per search12
Who may order
The person named if 18 or older, a parent, grandparent, sibling 18 or older, or a legal guardian with proof22
Years held
1884 to the present for genealogy22
How to order
Online or printable form; in person with photo ID (cash, money order or official checks, no personal checks); by mail to Valparaiso12
State
State IDOH: $10.00 first certificate, $4.00 each additional23

Ordering an Indiana birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Porter County Health Department, Vital Records Division.13

Fee
$1712
How to order
Online or printable form, in person or by mail, as for birth records12
State
State IDOH: $8.00 first certificate, $4.00 each additional23

Ordering an Indiana death certificate

Probate records and wills

Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the estate case is heard24

Filing fee
$177; $205 with sheriff service of process25
Guardianship
Letters of Guardianship need a completed Guardianship Registry Information Sheet filed with the Clerk9

Finding a will or probate case in Indiana

Business names (DBA)

Kept by the Porter County Recorder.6

Assumed names (DBA)
Assumed business names for individuals, sole proprietors and general partnerships are recorded with the Recorder for $25.00; must be notarized26
Notary
Recorder notaries will notarize documents to be recorded at no charge26
State
Corporations, LLCs and LLPs: state INBiz guide linked by the Recorder15

Voter records

Kept by the Porter County Elections & Registration Office.6

Public or restricted
Voter registration records are generally public under the Access to Public Records Act, with exceptions27

Historical records

Kept by the Porter County Recorder.6

Auditor scans
The Auditor has digitized tract records, plat maps, transfer books and section plat maps, opened through Dropbox links on the county page28
Tract records
Tract records run from the original federal transfer to original settlers28
Genealogy
Birth and death certificates 1884 to present, $15 per genealogy search22
State archives
Indiana State Archives, 6440 E. 30th St., Indianapolis29

Good to know about Porter County records

  • Portage Township has its own assessor, separate from the County Assessor: 3590 Willowcreek Rd., Suite C, Portage, (219) 759-822130
  • Deed transfers must first be reviewed by the Auditor; in-person documents take a minimum of 72 business hours16
  • The Recorder names "Local Records Office" as sending deed solicitation letters offering a deed copy for $99.00; the same copy costs $1.00 at the Recorder31
  • Military discharge records are not public under IC 5-14-3; only listed persons with photo ID may get a certified copy, in person32
  • The Recorder does not perform lien searches. State tax warrants are filed with the Clerk and searchable on the Sheriff site; state tax liens are not recorded with the Recorder33
  • Porter County does not record blanket or multi-transaction documents5
  • Property tax relief may be available for damage from the August 2026 storms and flooding34

Office addresses, phones and hours

Porter County Recorder

Address
155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 210, Valparaiso, IN 4638315
Mail
Porter County Recorder, 155 Indiana Ave., Ste 210, Valparaiso, IN 4638326
Hours
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; no counter recording after 4pm; land conveyance documents routed between offices must arrive by 3pm15

Porter County Assessor

Address
155 Indiana Ave., Suite 211, Valparaiso, IN 4638330
Mail
Porter County Assessor, 155 Indiana Ave., Suite 211, Valparaiso, IN 463837

Porter County Treasurer

Address
155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 209, Valparaiso, IN 463838
Hours
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.8

Porter County Clerk of the Courts (Clerk's Office)

Address
16 Lincolnway, Suite 211, Valparaiso, IN 46383; north county annex 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage, IN 463689
Hours
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; protective orders and marriage license applications only until 4 p.m.; new in-person filings until 4:15 p.m.9

Porter County Clerk of the Courts (Clerk's Office)

Address
16 Lincolnway, Suite 211, Valparaiso, IN 46383; north county annex 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage, IN 463689
Hours
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; protective orders and marriage license applications only until 4 p.m.; new in-person filings until 4:15 p.m.9

Porter County Clerk of the Courts (probate cases)

Address
16 Lincolnway, Suite 211, Valparaiso, IN 46383; north county annex 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage, IN 463689
Hours
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; protective orders and marriage license applications only until 4 p.m.; new in-person filings until 4:15 p.m.9

Porter County Clerk of the Courts (family cases)

Address
16 Lincolnway, Suite 211, Valparaiso, IN 46383; north county annex 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage, IN 463689
Hours
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; protective orders and marriage license applications only until 4 p.m.; new in-person filings until 4:15 p.m.9

Porter County Sheriff's Office, Records Division

Hours
Administration office Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm18

Porter County Health Department, Vital Records Division

Address
155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 104, Valparaiso, IN 46383; 3590 Willowcreek Rd, Suite C, Portage, IN 4636822
Mail
Mail requests go to the Valparaiso office12
Hours
Both offices Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; arrive by 4:15 p.m.; no Portage vital records service 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.22

Porter County Elections & Registration Office

Address
155 Franklin St., Valparaiso, IN 4638335
Hours
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.35

Porter County GIS (open data hub)

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
County main line 219-465-3400; 155 Indiana Avenue, Valparaiso13

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Porter County?

The Porter County Recorder keeps deed records. To order copies: Online through Tapestry at $1.00 per printed page plus the search fee, or at the Recorder counter, which has public workstations; questions through the Recorder Inquiry Form. Plain copies: $1.00 per page for 11 x 17 or smaller; $5.00 per page larger. Certified copies: $5.00.6145

Can I search Porter County land records online for free?

Yes, searching is free; copies cost extra. Direct Search free, index only; Tapestry $8.75 per search, viewing images included; Laredo subscription. The official search: inporter.fidlar.com/INPorter/DirectSearch2

How much is a birth certificate in Porter County?

$15 certified birth certificate; paternity or amendment including certificate $30; genealogy $15 per search.12

Where do I get a divorce decree in Porter County?

Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted.21

How much does a marriage license cost in Porter County?

$25.00 if one or both are Indiana residents; $65.00 for out-of-state residents.11

How do I look up who owns a property in Porter County?

Use the property search of the Porter County Assessor: engage.xsoftinc.com/porter7

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Porter County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Indiana with a full guide: Allen County, Bartholomew County, Boone County, Clark County, Delaware County, Elkhart County, Floyd County, Hamilton County, Hancock County, Hendricks County, Howard County, Johnson County, Lake County, LaPorte County, Madison County, Marion County, Monroe County, St. Joseph County, Tippecanoe County, Vanderburgh County, Vigo County, Warrick County. Every county in the state: Indiana county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026
  2. Direct SearchPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  3. Direct Search | Porter County, IN - Official WebsitePorter County, INchecked November 8, 2026
  4. Tapestry | Porter County, IN - Official WebsitePorter County, INchecked November 8, 2026
  5. Recorder Fee SchedulePorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  6. DepartmentsPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  7. Assessor resourcesPorter County Assessorchecked November 4, 2026
  8. TreasurerPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  9. Clerk's OfficePorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  10. Indiana Trial Court Fee ManualIndiana Supreme Court, Indiana Office of Court Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  11. Marriage LicensesPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  12. Birth & Death CertificatesPorter County Health Department (in.gov/localhealth)checked November 4, 2026
  13. Porter County homePorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  14. TapestryPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  15. RecorderPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  16. AuditorPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  17. Civil Cases feesPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  18. Sheriff: Reports & PermitsPorter County Sheriffchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Limited Criminal History FAQIndiana State Police / IN.govchecked November 4, 2026
  20. Census & Vital Records (Search Archives Holdings)Indiana Archives and Records Administrationchecked November 4, 2026
  21. Vital Records: MarriagesIndiana Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  22. Vital Records DivisionPorter County Health Department (in.gov/localhealth)checked November 4, 2026
  23. Vital Records: Order CertificatesIndiana Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  24. How to Request Public RecordsIndiana Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  25. Probate Cases feesPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  26. Assumed business namesPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  27. 2026 Indiana Voter Registration GuidebookIndiana Election Divisionchecked November 4, 2026
  28. Historical Property RecordsPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  29. Ordering Records from the ArchivesIndiana Archives and Records Administrationchecked November 4, 2026
  30. Assessor contact (XSoft Engage)Porter County Assessorchecked November 4, 2026
  31. Deed Solicitation LettersPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  32. Military Discharge CopiesPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  33. Lien SearchesPorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  34. Assessor portal (XSoft Engage)Porter County Assessorchecked November 4, 2026
  35. Elections & Registration OfficePorter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  36. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026