Dunreith, Indiana Public Records

Henry Superior Court, phone (765) 521-7060, shares jurisdiction over felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases, family law matters, juvenile delinquency and child in need of services (CHINS) cases, and small claims actions under $10,000. For minor traffic violations and ordinance violations, cases are typically handled through these county courts as well, since Dunreith has no municipal court. Indiana offers a statewide case search system called Mycase.IN.gov, accessible at https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase, which allows free public searching of court records by party name, case number, attorney name, or business name across all Indiana courts, including both Henry County courts. The system displays case summaries, dockets, parties, attorneys, charges or claims, and hearing dates. Certified copies of court documents can be requested from the Clerk's Office at the courthouse, with fees typically $1 per page for copies plus a $7 certification fee per document. Filing fees vary by case type: small claims filings cost approximately $85, civil case filings range from $156 to $185 depending on the amount in controversy, and divorce filings cost approximately $157, though fee amounts are subject to periodic adjustment by statute.

The online system displays assessed values, property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size), tax district information, recent sale dates and amounts, and assessment history. Property tax bills and payment status can also be viewed through the Treasurer's portal. For official land title documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other recorded instruments, residents must access records through the Henry County Recorder's Office, located at 101 South Main Street, New Castle, Indiana 47362 (phone: 765-529-4711). The Recorder maintains the official land records dating back to Henry County's formation in 1822. Indiana County recorders increasingly offer online document images through subscription services or free limited access, and Henry County provides document searching capability through the county website. Recording fees for deeds and mortgages are calculated based on document page count and type, typically around $25 for the first page and $3 for additional pages. Henry County also maintains a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping portal accessible through the county website at https://beacon.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=856&LayerID=15362&PageTypeID=4&PageID=7249, which provides interactive parcel maps, aerial photography, zoning information, and property boundary overlays for all parcels including those in the Dunreith area.

Many working-age residents commute to larger employment centers including New Castle (10 miles northwest), Knightstown (approximately 8 miles west), and Greenfield or Indianapolis in the western direction for manufacturing, healthcare, education, and service sector jobs. Henry County's economy includes manufacturing facilities such as Precision Polymers and Standard Textile in New Castle, which employ county residents. The Blue River Valley School Corporation provides educational services and employment for the Dunreith area. Henry County's median household income is approximately $52,000 according to recent U.S. Census estimates, with the county experiencing modest population decline characteristic of rural Indiana counties as agricultural mechanization reduces farm employment and younger residents migrate toward urban employment opportunities. Dunreith itself has seen minimal commercial development, lacking retail establishments or significant employers within the immediate community boundaries. The area's economy remains intertwined with Henry County's overall economic health, which balances agricultural heritage with efforts to attract advanced manufacturing and distribution facilities taking advantage of proximity to Interstate 70 and Indianapolis metropolitan markets. Recent county economic development efforts focus on industrial park development and broadband expansion to rural areas including communities like Dunreith.

Dunreith is an unincorporated community without its own police department, so law enforcement services are provided by the Henry County Sheriff's Office, located at 126 South Main Street, New Castle, Indiana 47362. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (765) 529-4901, and their website is www.henrycountyin.us/sheriff. The Sheriff's Department has jurisdiction over all unincorporated areas of Henry County, including Dunreith, and handles patrol, criminal investigations, accident reports, and civil process service. To request police reports or incident records for events occurring in Dunreith, residents should contact the Sheriff's Office directly during business hours or submit a written request under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Indiana Code 5-14-3-3 establishes the public's right to inspect and copy public records, with law enforcement agencies permitted to charge reasonable copying fees. Arrest records and jail bookings for Henry County are maintained at the Henry County Jail, also located at 126 South Main Street in New Castle. The Henry County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search tool accessible through their website, where users can search current jail bookings by name, booking date, or charge. The inmate roster typically displays booking photographs, charges filed, bond amounts, booking and release dates, and case numbers. This information is updated regularly and covers individuals currently detained at the Henry County Jail. For historical arrest records or more detailed incident reports, formal public records requests may be required. Indiana Code 5-14-3-4 allows agencies to deny requests for investigatory records that would interfere with ongoing investigations, but most completed incident reports are considered public record available within a reasonable timeframe after request.

The fee is $28 for a certified birth certificate, with an additional $10 fee for online orders, and processing time is typically 5-10 business days for mail requests or immediate for in-person requests. Death certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $4 for additional copies ordered simultaneously, available through the same channels. Indiana law restricts access to birth records for 72 years and death records for 25 years unless the requester is an immediate family member, legal representative, or other qualified party with demonstrable direct interest; government-issued photo identification is required for all requests. Marriage licenses are issued by the Henry County Clerk's Office at the Henry County Courthouse, 101 South Main Street, Suite 201, New Castle, Indiana 47362 (phone: 765-529-4000). Couples must apply in person, with both parties present, and provide valid photo identification and Social Security numbers; the marriage license fee is $18. There is no waiting period, and licenses are valid for 60 days from issuance. Marriage records dating back to the county's formation in 1822 are public record and can be searched at the Clerk's Office. Divorce records (Dissolutions of Marriage) are court records maintained by the Henry Circuit Court Clerk at the same courthouse location, accessible through case file requests or the Mycase.IN.gov online system, with copies available for fees noted above. Marriage and divorce records more than 75 years old may also be available through the Indiana State Archives.

Businesses operating under a name other than the owner's legal name must file a Assumed Business Name Certificate (DBA - "doing business as") with the Henry County Recorder's Office at 101 South Main Street, New Castle, Indiana 47362 (phone: 765-529-4711). The DBA filing fee is approximately $30 and must be renewed every five years under Indiana Code 23-15. The Recorder maintains DBA records that are public and searchable at the office. For formal business entities including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other registered business organizations, registration and searches are conducted through the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The state maintains INBiz at www.inbiz.in.gov, a comprehensive online portal offering free business entity searches by business name, registered agent, or business ID number. The database displays entity status (active, dissolved, merged), formation date, registered agent name and address, principal office address, and filed annual reports. New business entity registration can also be completed online through INBiz. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) lien searches, used to identify secured interests in business personal property, are also conducted through the Indiana Secretary of State's UCC search system at www.in.gov/sos/business/ucc-division. For commercial property tax assessments affecting business owners in Dunreith, the Henry County Assessor's online database (noted above) allows searches of commercial parcels showing assessed values used to calculate property tax obligations. Business personal property (equipment, inventory, furniture) must be reported annually to the Henry County Assessor by May 15 for assessment and taxation.

Dunreith residents participate in elections administered by the Henry County Clerk's Office, which serves as the county's election authority. The Henry County Clerk and Voter Registration Office is located at 101 South Main Street, Suite 201, New Castle, Indiana 47362, phone (765) 529-4000, with election information available at www.henrycountyin.us/clerk. Indiana residents can register to vote online through the Indiana Voters portal at www.indianavoters.in.gov, which allows new registrations, address updates, and voter status verification. The registration deadline is 29 days before any election. Voters must provide an Indiana driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Indiana requires photo identification to vote in person; acceptable IDs include Indiana driver's licenses or state ID cards (current or expired within the previous four years), U.S. passports, military IDs, or other government-issued photo identification. Because Dunreith is unincorporated with no municipal government, residents do not vote in mayoral or town council elections; instead, they participate in county, township, state, and federal elections. Township board members for Stoney Creek Township are elected in municipal election years. Dunreith residents can locate their assigned polling place by using the Polling Place Lookup tool at www.indianavoters.in.gov or by contacting the County Clerk's office. Polling locations are assigned based on precinct boundaries, with Dunreith-area voters typically assigned to local schools or community buildings in nearby communities. In the November 2024 presidential election, Henry County reported approximately 13,500 total votes cast from roughly 31,000 registered voters, representing approximately 44% turnout, consistent with rural Indiana county patterns. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Dunreith and Henry County voters will decide several significant races. Indiana's U.S. Senate seat currently held by Todd Young is not up for election in 2026 (next election 2028), but Indiana voters will elect a new Governor to succeed Eric Holcomb, who is term-limited. State legislative races will include all 100 Indiana House seats and 25 of 50 Senate seats (those in even-numbered districts). Henry County voters will elect county-level offices including County Council members, County Commissioners (if the staggered term schedule includes 2026), and various county department heads depending on the election cycle. Stoney Creek Township offices including Township Trustee and Township Board may also appear on the ballot. Specific candidate filings for 2026 races will be available through the County Clerk beginning in early 2026 after the candidate filing deadline in February. Indiana election records that are public include voter registration lists (available for purchase for political purposes under Indiana Code 3-7-26-8), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and committees (searchable at www.in.gov/sos/elections/campaign-finance), candidate declarations and petitions, and precinct-level election results published by the County Clerk after each election. Absentee voting in Indiana is available by mail or in-person at the County Clerk's office. To vote by mail, voters must submit an application (available at www.indianavoters.in.gov) citing one of the qualifying reasons under Indiana Code 3-11-10-24, which include being 65 or older, having a disability, being absent from the county on election day, working as an election officer, being hospitalized, confined due to illness or injury, prevented by religious discipline or practice, or serving as a member of the military or public safety officer. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the County Clerk by 11:59 PM on the day before the election (for mail ballots) or voters can vote absentee in person at the Clerk's office during the 28-day period before election day, ending at noon on the day before the election. Completed mail ballots must be received by the County Election Board by noon on election day to be counted.