Aurora, Indiana Public Records

Coordination between the Sheriff's Office and municipal departments is common, particularly in handling major crimes or emergencies that require a unified response across different areas of the county.

Dearborn Superior Court 2 (phone: 812-537-8875) primarily handles family law matters including divorce, child custody, and paternity cases. Indiana provides statewide online court record access through the Indiana Courts' Odyssey Case Management System, known as MyCase (https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase). This portal allows searches by party name, case number, or attorney across all participating Indiana courts, including Dearborn County. Case information includes docket entries, hearing dates, judgments, and some filed documents, though certain sensitive records (juvenile, adoption, mental health) are restricted. Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the Clerk's Office at a fee of $1 per page plus a $1 certification fee. Uncertified copies are also $1 per page. Small claims filing fees are approximately $85-$97 depending on the claim amount. Civil filing fees range from approximately $157 to $187. Criminal case records are generally accessible to the public unless sealed by court order.

Assessment records include land value, improvement value, total assessed value, and property classification. The Dearborn County Recorder's Office, located at 215 W. High Street, Room 23, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (phone: 812-537-8882, website: www.dearborncounty.org), is the official repository for land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, easements, and other documents affecting real property titles. The Recorder maintains an online searchable index of recorded documents, though access to full document images may require a subscription or in-person visit. To conduct a property search, visit the Assessor's online parcel search tool and enter the Aurora street address or owner's last name. For complete title history, the Recorder's document index can be searched by grantor/grantee name or legal description. Dearborn County also offers a GIS mapping system accessible through the county website, providing interactive parcel maps, aerial photography, and property boundary information overlaid with assessment data.

The Aurora Special Education Services Cooperative serves regional school districts. Manufacturing remains present with facilities including contract manufacturers and distribution centers taking advantage of Aurora's access to highway routes and proximity to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky metro area. The median household income in Aurora is approximately $51,000-$55,000, somewhat below state averages, with a mixed economic profile reflecting both historic working-class neighborhoods and recent residential development. Aurora's economy benefits from its location within the Cincinnati metropolitan statistical area, with many residents commuting to employment in the greater Cincinnati region. The riverfront location and historic architecture have supported heritage tourism and antique businesses. Economic challenges include limited flat land for development due to the hilly terrain and competition from larger nearby communities, though the city has worked to preserve its historic character while pursuing selective economic development opportunities. Recent infrastructure improvements and downtown revitalization efforts aim to strengthen the local business climate.

The Aurora Police Department, located at 320 Second Street, Aurora, IN 47001 (phone: 812-926-1234), provides law enforcement services within Aurora city limits. The department maintains incident reports, accident reports, and offense reports which can be requested in person during business hours or by written request. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3) governs public access to police records, though certain investigative materials and juvenile records may be withheld. Requests should specify the date, location, and nature of the incident when possible. The Dearborn County Sheriff's Office, located at 109 W. High Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (phone: 812-537-6020), has jurisdiction over unincorporated areas of the county and provides support services to municipal departments. The Sheriff's Office website (www.dearborncountysheriff.org) includes resources for records requests and general information. For arrest and jail records, the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center maintains an online inmate roster accessible through the Sheriff's Office website and third-party jail roster sites. The inmate search system typically displays current detainees' names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and booking photographs. Records show both pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates. To request historical arrest records or incident reports from the Sheriff's Office, submit a written request identifying the individual and approximate date of arrest. Some records may require proper identification and proof of relationship depending on the sensitivity of the information requested under Indiana law.

Death certificates are also obtained through the Indiana State Department of Health Vital Records office at the same address and fees. Only authorized individuals (family members, legal representatives, or those with tangible interest) can request certified copies with proper identification. Marriage licenses for Aurora residents are issued by the Dearborn County Clerk's Office, 215 W. High Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (phone: 812-537-8870). The marriage license fee is $18 if both parties complete a premarital education program, or $60 without the program. There is no waiting period in Indiana, and licenses are valid for 60 days. Marriage records are public and can be searched through the Clerk's Office. Divorce records (dissolutions of marriage) are maintained as court records through the Dearborn Circuit or Superior Courts and can be accessed through the court system as described in the court records section. Indiana vital records are generally available from 1907 forward at the state level, with some earlier records held by county health departments or clerks' offices.

The filing fee is approximately $30, and assumed name certificates are public records searchable through the Recorder's index. For formal business entity formation, the Indiana Secretary of State Business Services Division maintains the statewide registry of corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other business entities. The INBiz platform (www.inbiz.in.gov) provides free online searching of all registered Indiana businesses, allowing searches by entity name, registered agent, or business ID number. The database shows entity status (active, dissolved, withdrawn), formation date, principal office address, registered agent information, and key officers or members. Annual reports and articles of organization/incorporation can be filed through the INBiz system. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements, which create security interests in personal property and business assets, are also filed with and searchable through the Indiana Secretary of State UCC Division at www.in.gov/sos/business/ucc. For commercial property tax information, the Dearborn County Assessor's searchable database includes business personal property assessments and commercial real estate valuations for properties in Aurora, accessible at www.dearborncounty.org.

Aurora voters are served by the Dearborn County Voter Registration Office, located within the Dearborn County Clerk's Office at 215 W. High Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (phone: 812-537-8870, website: www.dearborncounty.org). Indiana residents can register to vote online through the Indiana Voter Portal at indianavoters.in.gov, which also allows checking registration status and viewing sample ballots. The registration deadline is 29 days before any election. To register, applicants must provide an Indiana driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Aurora holds municipal elections for mayor and city council positions. The Aurora Mayor serves a four-year term, and the Aurora Common Council has five members who also serve four-year terms. Municipal elections are held in odd-numbered years (2023, 2027, etc.), with the next Aurora municipal election scheduled for November 2027. Candidates for local office file their declarations with both the Dearborn County Election Board and Aurora City Hall. Aurora residents can find their assigned polling location by using the Indiana Voter Portal's polling place lookup tool at indianavoters.in.gov or by contacting the County Clerk's office. Indiana makes several categories of election records publicly accessible: voter registration lists (available for purchase for lawful purposes), campaign finance reports filed through the Indiana Election Division and viewable at campaignfinance.in.gov, candidate filings and declarations, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 presidential election, Dearborn County reported approximately 62-65% voter turnout with approximately 31,000 ballots cast out of roughly 48,000 registered voters. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Aurora and Dearborn County voters will decide races including one U.S. Senate seat (Indiana Class III seat currently held by Senator Todd Young, up for election in 2028; Senator Mike Braun's seat is up in 2024, not 2026 - correction: 2026 will feature races for U.S. House of Representatives District 9, Indiana State Senate and House districts, Dearborn County Council, County Commissioner, County Sheriff, County Clerk, County Auditor, County Treasurer, County Recorder, County Assessor, and potentially Aurora city offices if special elections are called). To vote by mail in Indiana, voters must request an absentee ballot application from the County Clerk by completing the ABS-Mail application available at indianavoters.in.gov or in person. Valid excuses include being 65 or older, having a disability, being scheduled to work all 12 hours polls are open, being a caregiver, being hospitalized, being confined due to illness, or being a member of the military. Applications must be received by the County Clerk by 11:59 p.m. eleven days before the election.