Bourbon, Indiana Public Records

Marshall County Superior Court 2, also at the same Government Complex address (phone: 574-936-8656), shares jurisdiction and handles similar case types, with some administrative division of caseloads. For small claims matters (disputes under $8,000 in Indiana), both courts hear such cases. Court hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding holidays. To search court records online, Indiana residents can use the Indiana Odyssey Court System portal at https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase, which provides free public access to case information including parties, charges, case events, judgments, and scheduled hearings across all Indiana counties. The system allows searches by party name, case number, or attorney. For certified copies of court documents, the Marshall County Clerk's Office charges $1.00 per page plus a $1.00 certification fee. Exemplified copies (certified with the court seal for out-of-state use) cost an additional fee. Case filing fees vary: small claims filing is approximately $85, civil complaints range from $156 to $186 depending on case type, and divorce petitions cost approximately $157. Traffic and misdemeanor citations issued by Bourbon Police or Marshall County Sheriff are typically filed in Marshall Superior Court. The Clerk's Office at 211 West Madison Street, Plymouth (phone: 574-935-8515) maintains all court records and processes public access requests in compliance with Indiana Access to Public Records Act and court rules.

The Assessor's online database allows free searching by parcel number, owner name, or property address, displaying assessed values (land and improvements), property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size), tax district, homestead exemptions, and assessment history. The online system typically shows current year assessments and several prior years for comparison. Bourbon properties fall within Center Township for assessment purposes. To conduct a property search, visit the county website and access the Assessor's GIS mapping system or property search portal, which provides detailed parcel information and often includes aerial imagery and zoning data. The Marshall County Recorder's Office, also at 211 West Madison Street, Plymouth, IN 46563 (phone: 574-936-8988), is responsible for recording and maintaining land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgage documents, mortgage releases, liens (mechanics liens, tax liens, judgment liens), easements, plats, and other instruments affecting real property title. Indiana is a race-notice state, meaning proper recording establishes priority. The Recorder's office provides online access to recorded documents through a searchable database, typically free for viewing though printing or certified copies may incur fees (generally $1.00 per page for copies, $5.00 for certified documents). The recording system is indexed by grantor/grantee name, document type, and often parcel number, with images of recorded documents available as PDFs. The Marshall County GIS system integrates Assessor parcel data with mapping tools, allowing users to view property boundaries, ownership, and related recorded documents by clicking on parcels. This system is accessible through the county website and provides a comprehensive view of property information for Bourbon and all Marshall County communities.

Agriculture remains foundational to the local economy, with grain elevators and farm supply businesses serving the extensive corn, soybean, and livestock operations throughout Center Township and eastern Marshall County. Local businesses along Main Street include small retail shops, service providers, and restaurants catering primarily to local residents. Several residents operate home-based businesses or small manufacturing operations. The median household income for Bourbon is estimated around $50,000-$55,000, slightly below the Indiana state median but consistent with rural small-town economies. Bourbon's proximity to larger manufacturing centers means many residents work in the recreational vehicle (RV) manufacturing industry concentrated in Elkhart County, medical device manufacturing in Warsaw (Zimmer Biomet and related companies), or diversified manufacturing in Plymouth and Bremen. Recent economic development in Bourbon has been modest, focused on maintaining existing infrastructure and residential development rather than significant commercial or industrial expansion. The town benefits from Marshall County's overall economic stability, which is anchored by diverse manufacturing (especially automotive components, RV-related production, and food processing), agriculture, and healthcare employment at Plymouth's hospitals. Bourbon functions primarily as a quiet residential community where families value affordable housing, rural character, and access to quality schools, while accepting the need to commute for most employment opportunities. The town's economic character reflects broader trends in rural Indiana: population stability or modest decline, aging demographics, and dependence on regional employment centers rather than locally-concentrated industry.

The Bourbon Police Department, located at 108 North Main Street, Bourbon, IN 46504 (phone: 574-342-5544), provides primary law enforcement services within Bourbon town limits. The department handles town ordinance violations, traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, and incident response for the incorporated area. To request police reports or incident records from Bourbon PD, residents should contact the department directly during business hours or submit a written request under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3-3). The department maintains records of arrests, accident reports, offense reports, and calls for service. Response times for records requests typically range from several days to two weeks depending on complexity and redaction requirements. For areas outside Bourbon town limits and for county-wide law enforcement, the Marshall County Sheriff's Office serves residents at 211 West Madison Street, Plymouth, IN 46563 (phone: 574-936-3187, website: www.marshallcounty.org). The Sheriff's Office maintains jurisdiction over unincorporated areas of Marshall County, provides court security, operates the county jail, and serves civil process. The Marshall County Jail roster and inmate search can be accessed online at the county website or through third-party databases showing current detainees, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and mugshots. To search for arrests and jail bookings, visit the Marshall County Sheriff's website or contact the jail at 574-936-3187. Indiana Code 5-14-3 (Access to Public Records Act, or APRA) requires law enforcement agencies to provide access to most records unless exempted for investigatory purposes, ongoing cases, or confidential informant information. Requests should be submitted in writing with specific identification of records sought. Most agencies do not charge for inspection but may charge copying fees for documents. Marshall County Sheriff's Office processes APRA requests within a reasonable time, typically within seven business days.

Birth certificates can be ordered online through VitalChek (www.vitalchek.com) with additional processing fees, by mail with completed application and payment, or in person at the state office or local health departments. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail, faster for online orders (approximately 7-10 business days plus shipping). Only eligible parties may request birth certificates in Indiana: the registrant (if 18+), parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, legal representatives, or persons with a court order. Death certificates are also maintained by the Indiana State Department of Health Vital Records Office with the same fees ($28 first copy, $4 additional) and ordering procedures. Death records are available from 1900 forward. Eligible requestors include family members, legal representatives, and persons demonstrating a direct and tangible interest. The Marshall County Health Department, 1001 W. Plymouth Goshen Trail, Plymouth, IN 46563 (phone: 574-936-3740), can assist with vital records information and may provide application assistance. Marriage licenses for Bourbon residents are issued by the Marshall County Clerk's Office, 211 West Madison Street, Plymouth, IN 46563 (phone: 574-935-8515). The marriage license fee is $18 for Indiana residents if both parties complete a premarital education course, or $60 without the course. There is no waiting period once the license is issued, and it is valid for 60 days. Marriage records are public and maintained by the Clerk's office. Divorce records are court records filed in Marshall Superior Court and accessible through the court clerk at the same address. Certified copies of marriage records cost approximately $2.00 per page plus certification fee. Historical vital records (pre-1900s) may be available through county archives or the Indiana State Archives.

The town's planning and zoning administrator can clarify requirements for home-based businesses, commercial operations, and signage permits. Marshall County does not typically require general county-level business licenses, though certain regulated activities (food service, alcohol sales, health-related businesses) require permits from the Marshall County Health Department at 1001 W. Plymouth Goshen Trail, Plymouth, IN 46563. For fictitious business names (operating as "doing business as" or DBA), Indiana businesses register with the county recorder. The Marshall County Recorder's Office at 211 West Madison Street, Plymouth, IN 46563 (phone: 574-936-8988) processes assumed business name certificates. The fee is typically around $30, and the certificate must be filed before conducting business under an assumed name. At the state level, all corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other formal business entities must register with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The Indiana INBiz portal (www.inbiz.in.gov) provides free online access to search existing business entities, file new entity formations, register trademarks, and file annual reports. The database includes entity name, status (active/inactive), registered agent name and address, principal office address, date of formation, and business type. Entity formation fees range from $95 to $150 depending on entity type. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien filings, which perfect security interests in personal property and business assets, are filed with the Indiana Secretary of State and searchable through the INBiz system. Commercial property owners in Bourbon can look up their property tax assessments through the Marshall County Assessor's online database, which shows assessed values for land and improvements, applicable tax rates, and payment history. Indiana's personal property tax on business equipment was largely eliminated for most small businesses, but real property taxes apply to commercial buildings and land.

Bourbon voters are served by the Marshall County Clerk and Voter Registration Office, located at 211 West Madison Street, Plymouth, IN 46563 (phone: 574-935-8515, website: www.marshallcounty.org). This office administers all aspects of elections for Bourbon and Marshall County, including voter registration, absentee voting, poll worker recruitment, ballot preparation, and election results certification. Indiana residents can register to vote online through the Indiana Voter Registration Portal at www.indianavoters.in.gov, which is operated by the Indiana Secretary of State's office. To register, applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by the next election, have lived in their precinct for at least 30 days before the election, and not currently be imprisoned for a criminal conviction. The deadline to register for an election is 29 days before Election Day. Indiana requires a government-issued photo ID to vote in person; acceptable IDs include an Indiana driver's license, Indiana state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or Indiana university student ID from a state school. Bourbon, as an incorporated town, holds municipal elections for Town Council members (five seats) and other town offices. These elections occur in odd-numbered years, with the most recent municipal elections in November 2023. The next Bourbon town elections will be held in November 2027. Town council members serve four-year terms. Because Bourbon is small, municipal elections typically generate limited candidate competition, with information about candidates available through the Marshall County Clerk's office and local community notices rather than extensive campaign advertising. To find their assigned polling place, Bourbon residents can use the Indiana Voter Portal at indianavoters.in.gov by entering their name and date of birth or address. The system displays precinct, polling location address, sample ballot, and elected representatives. Bourbon voters typically vote at Bourbon Town Hall or nearby school facilities depending on precinct boundaries. Indiana makes several categories of election records publicly accessible: voter registration lists (available by party through county clerks, used primarily for campaign purposes), campaign finance reports (filed with county clerks for local races and with the Indiana Election Division for state races, accessible at www.in.gov/sos/elections), candidate filings and declarations (available through the county clerk), and precinct-level election results (published by the county clerk after certification). In the November 2024 presidential election, Marshall County reported approximately 60-65% voter turnout, with approximately 20,000-22,000 ballots cast out of roughly 33,000 registered voters, reflecting typical presidential year engagement in the county. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Bourbon and Marshall County voters will decide several significant races. Indiana's 2026 ballot will include all three U.S. House of Representatives seats for Indiana's congressional districts (Bourbon is in Indiana's 2nd Congressional District), all 100 Indiana House of Representatives seats (Bourbon is in District 22), and 25 of the 50 Indiana State Senate seats if it is a Senate election year for their district (Bourbon is in Senate District 9). Additionally, 2026 will feature elections for several statewide offices including Indiana Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer. At the county level, various Marshall County offices may be on the ballot depending on the election cycle, potentially including county commissioners, county council members, and other county offices. Local voters should check with the Marshall County Clerk closer to the election for confirmed ballot content and any local ballot measures. Indiana offers absentee voting by mail for registered voters who meet specific criteria: being 65 or older, having a disability, being scheduled to work entire 12 hours polls are open, being a caregiver, being confined due to illness/injury, being a member of military or public safety, being a participant in address confidentiality program, or being unable to vote due to religious observance. Absentee ballot applications are available through the Indiana Voter Portal or from the Marshall County Clerk's office and must be received by the county clerk no later than 11 days before the election (with requests for mailed ballots recommended earlier to ensure delivery). Indiana also offers early in-person voting at the Marshall County Clerk's office and potentially satellite locations, typically beginning 28 days before Election Day and ending at noon the day before Election Day. Bourbon residents can participate in early voting at the Plymouth courthouse location during designated hours, which expand as Election Day approaches.