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St. Joseph County, Indiana public records

In St. Joseph County, deeds are recorded by the St. Joseph County Recorder; property values come from the St. Joseph County Assessor; court files are split between the St. Joseph County Clerk and the St. Joseph Probate Court.

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. Other records at the county
  14. Good to know about St. Joseph County records
  15. Office addresses, phones and hours
  16. Records that are not online: public records requests
  17. Questions people ask
  18. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  19. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsSt. Joseph County Recorder6Search deeds234Free search, fee for copies$1 per page; larger than 11x17 $5.00 per page5
Property values and ownersSt. Joseph County Assessor7Property search7—
Property tax billsSt. Joseph County Treasurer8Tax bill search8—
Court casesSt. Joseph County Clerk9
St. Joseph Probate Court10		St. Joseph Circuit Court9
St. Joseph Superior Court9		Copies of court orders $1 per page; child support pay history 5 cents per year11
Marriage recordsSt. Joseph County Clerk9——
Divorce recordsSt. Joseph County Clerk9——
Birth certificatesSt. Joseph County Department of Health, Vital Records Unit13—$20.00 each (regular size); $21.00 wallet size with pouch; fee schedule effective 11-01-2612
Death certificatesSt. Joseph County Department of Health, Vital Records Unit13—$20.00 each (certified and non-certified)12
Probate and willsSt. Joseph Probate Court10——
Business names (DBA)Assumed business name (DBA) and dissolution forms filed with the County Recorder5——

Deeds and land records

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

Online search
instjoseph.fidlar.com/…23Free search, fee for copies
Cost
Free limited index search; Tapestry $8.95 per search from July 1, 2026, image printing $1.50 first page and $1.25 each page after; Laredo $60-$500 per month4
Who runs it
Fidlar Technologies (DirectSearch, Tapestry, Laredo), linked from the Recorder's Land Records Search page14
Years online
Laredo: index and digital images of all documents recorded on or after January 199214
Copy fee
$1 per page; larger than 11x17 $5.00 per page5
Certified copy fee
$5.00 certifying a document5
Recording fee
Deeds and other documents $25.00; mortgages $55.00; each additional page over 8.5x14 $5.00 (effective July 1, 2017)5
How to order
Mail or eFile documents to 227 W Jefferson Blvd, Rm 321; public computers in office by appointment (one-hour sessions)6
Transfer fee
Auditor deed transfer fee $10 per parcel (Assessor and Recorder fees also apply)15

How deeds work in Indiana

Property values, owners and tax bills

The St. Joseph County Assessor sets property values7; the St. Joseph County Treasurer bills and collects the tax8.

Property search
engage.xsoftinc.com/stjoseph (Property Record Card Search, linked by the Assessor)7
Tax bill search
lowtaxinfo.com/sjcounty (tax bills, e-billing; linked by the Treasurer and Auditor)8
Parcel map (GIS)
sjcgis-stjocogis.hub.arcgis.com (GIS Map HUB); Assessment Neighborhood Map7
Appealing a value
Appeals to the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals (PTABOA); the County Assessor is its secretary7
Tax due
One bill each spring with both coupons; 2025 due dates Monday May 12, 2025 and Monday November 10, 20258
Online payment fees
E-check/ACH $1.25 (additional fee over $10,000); debit/credit 2.40%, minimum $2.008

How property tax works in Indiana

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
St. Joseph Circuit CourtAlmost exclusively civil (contract, injury, collection, divorce, child support, protective orders, estates, administrative appeals); criminal limited to nonsupport and welfare fraud; grand jurySt. Joseph County Clerk (Clerk of the Circuit Court)public.courts.in.gov/mycase Indiana MyCase, linked by the Clerk as "Case Search"9
St. Joseph Superior Court (Civil, Criminal, Traffic & Misdemeanor, Small Claims divisions)Civil cases with the Circuit Court; criminal cases (felony courthouse), traffic & misdemeanor, small claimsSt. Joseph County Clerk (Clerk of the Circuit Court)public.courts.in.gov/mycase9
St. Joseph Probate CourtEstates, wills, trusts, guardianship, adoptions, paternity; family court (divorce, child support, visitation); all juvenile mattersSt. Joseph Probate Court (Clerk Probate Division at the Juvenile Justice Center)—
Fees
Copies of court orders $1 per page; child support pay history 5 cents per year11
Daily dockets
public.courts.in.gov/CourtCal (Circuit and Superior Court daily dockets)16
Courthouses
Courthouse 1 Circuit & Superior Civil; Courthouse 2 Traffic & Misdemeanor and Small Claims; Courthouse 3 Felony Court16

Criminal records and background checks

Summary
Felony cases in Superior Court (Courthouse 3 Felony Court); Clerk felony email [email protected]; case search on MyCase16

How Indiana courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the St. Joseph County Clerk (Clerk of the Circuit Court).9

Marriage license
Pre-apply online, then appear at the Clerk's office (South Bend or Mishawaka); St. Joseph County residents $25 plus $4 per copy; out of state residents $65 plus $4 per copy17
Copies
In person $1 per copy plus $3 per certification at the office that issued the license; online via officialrecordsonline.com ($10.00 convenience fee per transaction)17
Older records
Archives & Records Center offers a Marriage Request Form and non-certified copies18

Indiana marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Kept by the St. Joseph County Clerk (Clerk of the Circuit Court).9

Copies
Divorce decree copies in person or online (same as marriage copies)17
Filing fee
$177.00 filing fee plus $28.00 money order to the Sheriff for summons service17

Indiana divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

St. Joseph County Department of Health (short-form only); long-form only from the Indiana Department of Health13

Fee
$20.00 each (regular size); $21.00 wallet size with pouch; fee schedule effective 11-01-2612
Who may order
Valid state ID plus proof of relationship or direct interest13

Ordering an Indiana birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the St. Joseph County Department of Health, Vital Records Unit.13

Fee
$20.00 each (certified and non-certified)12
Good to know
Out-of-county death certificates issued from January 6, 2026; uncertified copies omit SSN13

Ordering an Indiana death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the St. Joseph Probate Court (Clerk Probate Division at the Juvenile Justice Center).10

Which court
Separate St. Joseph Probate Court (only one in Indiana); one elected judge and three magistrates10
Email
[email protected] (general questions)19

Finding a will or probate case in Indiana

Business names (DBA)

Assumed business name (DBA) and dissolution forms filed with the County Recorder5

Voter records

St. Joseph County Elections and Voter Registration office20

Historical records

Archives & Records Center: genealogy help, divorce, marriage and other genealogy request forms; County Health genealogy search $25.00 for up to 5 names18

Other records at the county

UCC filings

What the office says
Personal-property financing statements filed with the Indiana Secretary of State since July 1, 2007; Recorder UCC filing $25.005

Good to know about St. Joseph County records

  • St. Joseph County is the only Indiana county with a separate Probate Court (operated since 1831); it also handles all juvenile matters and family court21
  • The 1855 courthouse was moved about thirty yards on rolling logs to make way for the 1896 courthouse; both still stand in downtown South Bend21
  • County organized January 29, 1830; Circuit Court in continuous operation since 183022
  • Superior Court established by statute in 190021
  • County Health issues only short-form birth certificates; long-form must come from the Indiana Department of Health13
  • Archives & Records Center serves both St. Joseph County and the City of South Bend18

Office addresses, phones and hours

St. Joseph County Recorder

Address
227 W Jefferson Blvd, Rm 321, South Bend, IN 46601 (County-City Building)6
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm; recording stops at 4:00 pm; public computers by appointment, shut down 4:20 pm6

St. Joseph County Assessor

Address
227 W Jefferson Blvd, 3rd Flr, County-City Building, South Bend, IN 466017
Hours
Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.7

St. Joseph County Treasurer

Address
227 W Jefferson Boulevard, County-City Building 2nd Floor, South Bend, IN 466018
Mail
P.O. Box 4758, South Bend, IN 466348

St. Joseph County Auditor (Property Tax, Plat Room, Tax Sale, Finance)

Address
227 West Jefferson Blvd, Suite 722, South Bend, IN 4660115
Phone
574-235-9668 (Plat Room Supervisor)15
Hours
Temporary hours: Mon-Thu 8:00 AM-1:00 PM and 2:00 PM-4:30 PM; Fri 8:00 AM-1:00 PM15

St. Joseph County Clerk (Clerk of the Circuit Court)

Address
101 S Main Street, South Bend, IN 46601; Mishawaka office 219 Lincolnway West, Mishawaka, IN 4654419
Hours
Monday-Friday 8 AM-4:30 PM19

St. Joseph Probate Court (Clerk Probate Division at the Juvenile Justice Center)

Address
Juvenile Justice Center, 1000 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601 (Clerk Probate Division)11

St. Joseph County Department of Health, Vital Records Unit

Address
County-City Building, 8th Floor, 227 West Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, IN 46601 (Mishawaka office closed June 20, 2025)13
Phone
(574) 235-9750, Option 313
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; certificate transactions 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.13

St. Joseph County Archives & Records Center

St. Joseph County Elections and Voter Registration

St. Joseph County GIS (Infrastructure, Planning & Growth)

Phone
574-406-6851 (GIS Manager)23

Records that are not online: public records requests

Request page
stjosephcountyin.justfoia.com/… (JustFOIA portal linked from the county home page)24

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in St. Joseph County?

The St. Joseph County Recorder keeps deed records. To order copies: Mail or eFile documents to 227 W Jefferson Blvd, Rm 321; public computers in office by appointment (one-hour sessions). Plain copies: $1 per page; larger than 11x17 $5.00 per page. Certified copies: $5.00 certifying a document.65

Can I search St. Joseph County land records online for free?

Yes, searching is free; copies cost extra. Free limited index search; Tapestry $8.95 per search from July 1, 2026, image printing $1.50 first page and $1.25 each page after; Laredo $60-$500 per month. The official search: instjoseph.fidlar.com/…4

How much is a birth certificate in St. Joseph County?

$20.00 each (regular size); $21.00 wallet size with pouch; fee schedule effective 11-01-26.12

How do I look up who owns a property in St. Joseph County?

Use the property search of the St. Joseph County Assessor: engage.xsoftinc.com/stjoseph7

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 St. Joseph 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, Porter 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. Land Records SearchSt. Joseph County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  3. Land Records Search | St. Joseph County, INSt. Joseph County, Indianachecked November 8, 2026
  4. TapestrySt. Joseph County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  5. Recording FeesSt. Joseph County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  6. RecorderSt. Joseph County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  7. AssessorSt. Joseph County Assessorchecked November 4, 2026
  8. TreasurerSt. Joseph County Treasurerchecked November 4, 2026
  9. ClerkSt. Joseph County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  10. Probate CourtSt. Joseph Probate Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  11. Copies of Court Orders (Child Support)St. Joseph County Prosecuting Attorneychecked November 4, 2026
  12. Department of Health Fee Schedule (effective 11-01-26)St. Joseph County Department of Health (in.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  13. Vital Records Hours & Accessing ServicesSt. Joseph County Department of Health (in.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  14. LaredoSt. Joseph County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  15. AuditorSt. Joseph County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  16. CourtsSt. Joseph County Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  17. Marriage & Divorce InformationSt. Joseph County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  18. Archives & Records CenterSt. Joseph Countychecked November 4, 2026
  19. Clerk Contact UsSt. Joseph County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  20. Elections and Voter RegistrationSt. Joseph Countychecked November 4, 2026
  21. History of St. Joseph County CourtsSt. Joseph County Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  22. Circuit CourtSt. Joseph Circuit Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  23. GISSt. Joseph County Infrastructure, Planning & Growthchecked November 4, 2026
  24. St. Joseph County, IN homeSt. Joseph Countychecked November 4, 2026
  25. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026