Beverly Shores, Indiana Public Records

The bond and bail process in Indiana allows for the release of detainees pending trial, with specific procedures outlined by the court system. Recently arrested individuals can be located through the jail's online inmate search tool.

The court divisions handle criminal felonies and misdemeanors, civil matters including contract disputes and personal injury cases, family law matters including divorce and child custody, probate and estate administration, small claims cases under $6,000 (heard in Porter Superior Court Small Claims Division at 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 2200, phone (219) 465-3440), and juvenile matters. Traffic violations and minor ordinance violations may also be addressed through Porter Superior Court. Indiana maintains the Odyssey case management system, and Porter County court records can be searched online through the Indiana Courts Public Access portal at www.mycase.in.gov, which provides free access to case information including party names, case numbers, filing dates, docket entries, and case status for civil, criminal, family, and small claims matters. Users can search by party name, case number, or attorney. Certified copies of court documents can be requested from the Porter County Clerk's Office at 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 1100, Valparaiso, IN 46383, phone (219) 465-3450. Fees include $1.00 per page for standard copies and an additional $5.00 certification fee per document. The Clerk's Office also maintains marriage records and is responsible for jury management and court administration across all Porter Superior Court divisions.

The online database displays current assessed values (land and improvements), property characteristics (square footage, year built, number of bedrooms/bathrooms), assessment history, tax district information, and aerial imagery. The Assessor's Office also provides Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping tools at https://gis.porterco.org that display parcel boundaries, zoning, and environmental features. Official recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats are maintained by the Porter County Recorder's Office at 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 104, Valparaiso, IN 46383, phone (219) 465-3525. The Recorder's Office website (www.porterco.org/recorder) provides free online access to recorded documents dating back to the early 1900s, searchable by grantor/grantee name, document type, recording date, or parcel number. Documents can be viewed and printed at no charge through the online system. For certified copies, the Recorder charges $1.00 per page plus an $8.00 certification fee. The Recorder's Office records documents Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and provides public access computers for in-person research.

The town's economy is characterized by high property values driven by lakefront location and proximity to protected natural areas, with many homes serving as vacation properties or second residences for Chicago-area professionals. The dominant "industry" is residential property ownership and management, with supporting services provided by contractors, landscapers, and property maintenance firms operating from outside the town. The National Park Service is a significant presence, managing the Indiana Dunes National Park lands that surround Beverly Shores, and employing park rangers and maintenance staff in the area. The median household income in Beverly Shores is estimated to exceed $80,000, considerably higher than the Porter County median of approximately $70,000, reflecting the town's character as an affluent lakefront community. Recent development has been minimal due to environmental protections, small lot availability, and the town's commitment to preserving its low-density character; most economic activity involves renovation and improvement of existing homes. Beverly Shores contributes to Porter County's tourism economy, as visitors to the Indiana Dunes often pass through or near the town, though the town itself maintains no hotels, restaurants, or retail establishments. The town's tax base is supported entirely by residential property taxes, with no commercial or industrial contribution.

Beverly Shores operates its own Beverly Shores Police Department, located at 240 East State Road 12, Beverly Shores, IN 46301. Residents can contact the department at (219) 879-8325 for non-emergency inquiries. To request police reports, incident records, or accident reports, residents should visit the department in person or submit a written request citing the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3-1 et seq.). The department handles routine patrols, traffic enforcement, and initial response to incidents within town limits, though serious crimes may involve the Porter County Sheriff's Office or Indiana State Police. The Porter County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 2755 Indian Boundary Road, Valparaiso, IN 46383, provides countywide law enforcement support, operates the Porter County Jail, and has jurisdiction throughout unincorporated areas and assists municipal departments. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (219) 477-3000, and their website (www.porterco.org/sheriff) provides information on services and jail operations. To search for arrests and current jail bookings, residents can access the Porter County Jail's inmate roster at www.porterco.org/sheriff, which displays current detainees with information including booking date, charges, bond amount, mugshot photographs, and projected release dates. Under Indiana Code 5-14-3-3, law enforcement agencies must make arrest records and incident logs available for public inspection, though certain investigative records and confidential informant information may be exempt. Requests for older or archived records should be submitted in writing to the specific agency, and agencies may charge reasonable copying fees as specified in IC 5-14-3-8.

Online orders through VitalChek (www.vitalchek.com) incur additional processing fees but offer faster delivery (typically 7-10 business days versus 4-6 weeks for mail requests). Indiana law restricts birth certificate access to the registered individual (if age 18+), parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, or legal representatives with proper documentation. Death certificates less than 50 years old require requestors to demonstrate a direct and tangible interest. Marriage licenses for Beverly Shores residents are issued by the Porter County Clerk's Office at 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 1100, Valparaiso, IN 46383, phone (219) 465-3450. The marriage license fee is $18.00 if both parties complete premarital education; otherwise $60.00. Indiana has no waiting period, and licenses are valid for 60 days from issuance. Marriage records are public and can be searched through the Clerk's Office in person or by contacting them directly; records date back to the mid-1800s with varying levels of digitization. Divorce records are maintained as court records through Porter Superior Court and can be accessed via the Indiana Courts portal at www.mycase.in.gov or by requesting certified copies from the Porter County Clerk's Office for a fee of $1.00 per page plus $5.00 certification.

Most businesses in Indiana do not require a general state business license, but specific professions and activities (alcohol sales, food service, healthcare, contracting) require permits from state agencies. Porter County does not maintain a general business license registry, but certain home occupation permits or county-specific licenses may apply depending on location and activity. Fictitious business names (assumed names or DBAs) in Indiana are registered with the county Recorder's Office where the business operates. For Beverly Shores businesses, this is the Porter County Recorder's Office at 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 104, Valparaiso, IN 46383, phone (219) 465-3525. DBA registration costs approximately $30-$50 and must be filed before conducting business under a name other than the owner's legal name. Searches for existing DBAs can be conducted in person at the Recorder's Office. Corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other formal business entities are registered with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The INBiz portal at www.inbiz.in.gov provides free online searching of registered business entities, including current status, registered agent information, principal office address, and filing history. New business entity formation can also be completed online through INBiz. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) filings for secured transactions and liens against business property are also filed with the Indiana Secretary of State and searchable through INBiz. Business owners with commercial real estate in Beverly Shores should consult the Porter County Assessor's Office at (219) 465-3510 to understand property tax obligations; commercial properties are assessed similarly to residential properties but may be classified differently affecting tax rates.

Beverly Shores voters are served by the Porter County Voter Registration and Elections Office, located at 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 104, Valparaiso, IN 46383. The office can be reached at (219) 465-3525, and additional information is available at www.porterco.org/voter-registration. Indiana residents can register to vote online through the Indiana Voter Portal at www.indianavoters.in.gov, which also allows voters to check registration status, view sample ballots, and find polling locations. Registration deadlines are 29 days before any election. To register, Indiana residents must provide their driver's license number or Indiana State ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Beverly Shores conducts municipal elections for its Town Council (five members elected at-large) during Indiana's municipal election years, which occur in odd-numbered years (most recently 2023, next in 2027). The town has no mayor; instead, the Town Council appoints a Town Council President from among its members to serve as the presiding officer. To find specific candidates and local ballot measures for Beverly Shores elections, residents should check with the Porter County Elections Office or visit www.indianavoters.in.gov closer to election dates. Beverly Shores residents vote at assigned polling places determined by precinct; voters can find their specific polling location by entering their address at www.indianavoters.in.gov or by calling the Porter County Elections Office. Indiana makes various election records publicly available under Indiana Code 3-7-26-8, including voter registration lists (available for purchase for lawful purposes), campaign finance reports filed with the Indiana Election Division (searchable at www.in.gov/sos/elections/campaign-finance), candidate filings and declarations, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 presidential election, Porter County reported approximately 62% voter turnout, with over 95,000 ballots cast from approximately 154,000 registered voters; Beverly Shores as a small town contributed several hundred votes to this total. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Beverly Shores and Porter County voters will decide several significant races: Indiana's U.S. Senate seat (Class 1 seat currently held by Mike Braun's seat if he vacates for gubernatorial run, otherwise Class 3 in 2028), all nine U.S. House seats for Indiana including District 1 which covers Porter County, Indiana state legislative seats including State Senate and House districts covering Beverly Shores (portions of State Senate District 6 and House District 15 or 16 depending on redistricting), Porter County offices including County Council, County Commissioners, Sheriff, Assessor, Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, and Surveyor (terms vary), and potentially local questions or referenda. Indiana offers absentee voting by mail for any registered voter; applications can be submitted online through www.indianavoters.in.gov or by mailing a completed application (form ABS-MAIL) to the Porter County Elections Office. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the county office no later than 11 days before the election. Voters can also vote early in person at the Porter County Administration Center beginning 28 days before any election.