Hebron, 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 Porter Circuit Court (phone: 219-465-3440) also handles criminal, civil, family, and juvenile matters. Traffic citations issued in Hebron are typically processed through the Porter Superior Court Traffic Division. Indiana offers an online case search portal through the Indiana Judicial System's Mycase website at www.mycase.in.gov, where residents can search court records statewide by party name, case number, or attorney. The system provides access to case dockets, filings, judgments, and hearing schedules for most civil and criminal matters, though some sensitive family law and juvenile records are restricted. To obtain certified copies of court documents, requesters must contact the Porter County Clerk's Office at 155 Indiana Avenue, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (phone: 219-465-3450). Filing fees vary by document type: certified copies typically cost $1.00 per page after the first page, exemplified copies cost $1.00 per document, and small claims filing fees are approximately $85.00 for claims under $6,000 and $160.00 for claims between $6,000 and $10,000. Civil case filing fees range from approximately $156.00 to $186.00 depending on case type, while criminal filing fees are set by statute.

The Assessor's online database at www.portercountyassessor.com allows free public searches by owner name, parcel number, or property address, displaying assessed land and improvement values, property characteristics, tax district information, sales history, and assessment history. Property tax bills and payment status can be searched through the Porter County Treasurer's website. The Porter County Recorder's Office, also located at 155 Indiana Avenue, Room 105, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (phone: 219-465-3525, website: www.porterco.org/recorder), maintains the official record of all land transfers, mortgages, liens, easements, and other documents affecting real property titles in Porter County. The Recorder provides a free online search portal at https://recording.porterco.org where users can search recorded documents by grantor/grantee name, document type, or legal description dating back to 1998. Certified copies cost $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. To conduct a property search, residents can visit the Assessor's website and enter a Hebron street address (such as properties on Main Street or Sigler Street) to retrieve parcel information, or use the Recorder's grantor/grantee index to trace ownership history. Porter County also offers a GIS mapping system at https://gis.porterco.org/portal providing interactive parcel maps, aerial photography, zoning information, flood zones, and property boundaries. Users can search by address, parcel number, or click directly on map features to view detailed parcel data.

The Hebron Public School Corporation, serving Hebron and surrounding areas, is a significant local employer operating Hebron Elementary School, Hebron Middle School, and Hebron High School. Many Hebron residents commute to larger employment centers including Valparaiso (home to Valparaiso University and Porter Regional Hospital), Merrillville, Portage, and the greater Chicago metropolitan area. The proximity to Interstate 65 and US Highway 231 facilitates commuting and has attracted some distribution and logistics operations to the broader region. According to U.S. Census data, the median household income in Hebron is estimated at approximately $65,000 to $75,000, slightly above the state median. Recent years have seen continued residential development as families seek affordable housing with small-town character while maintaining access to Chicago-area employment. Retail and service businesses along State Road 2 and Main Street serve local residents, and the annual Hebron Popcorn Festival draws visitors each September, providing a boost to local businesses. Hebron's economy is closely tied to Porter County's overall economic profile, which includes a mix of heavy industry near Lake Michigan (steel production in Portage and Burns Harbor), higher education (Valparaiso University), healthcare, and agriculture in southern county areas.

The Hebron Police Department, located at 903 N. Main Street, Hebron, IN 46341 (phone: 219-996-3731), provides law enforcement services within the incorporated town limits of Hebron. Residents can request police reports, accident reports, and incident records by visiting the department in person during business hours or by submitting a written request. The department maintains records of calls for service, arrests, and criminal investigations, subject to disclosure under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3-3). Some investigative records may be withheld if their release would compromise ongoing investigations or reveal confidential informants. The Porter County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 2755 Indian Boundary Road, Portage, IN 46368 (phone: 219-477-3000, website: www.porterco.org/sheriff), has jurisdiction over unincorporated areas of Porter County near Hebron and provides backup support to the Hebron Police Department. The Sheriff's Office handles county-wide warrants, civil process, courthouse security, and operates the Porter County Jail. For arrests and jail bookings throughout Porter County, the Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate search at www.porterco.org/sheriff/inmate-inquiry, where the public can search current detainees by name or booking number. The roster typically displays booking photos, charges filed, bond amounts, booking dates, and expected release dates. Under Indiana Code 5-14-3, known as the Access to Public Records Act (APRA), law enforcement agencies must respond to public records requests within a reasonable time, though they may charge fees for copying and research time. Records that are typically available include crash reports, non-confidential incident reports, and arrest logs, while investigative records and certain personnel files may be exempt from disclosure.

Indiana offers online ordering through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com with expedited processing available for additional fees, though online orders include service fees that increase the total cost. Only eligible persons can request vital records in Indiana: the registrant (if of legal age), parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, legal representatives, or those with a documented direct and tangible interest. Birth records are available from October 1907 forward, and death records from 1900 forward at the state level. For records less than 75 years old, requesters must provide valid photo identification. The Porter County Health Department, 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 705, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (phone: 219-465-3525), also issues certified birth and death certificates for events occurring in Porter County for the same state-mandated fees. Marriage licenses are issued by the Porter County Clerk's Office, 155 Indiana Avenue, Room 204, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (phone: 219-465-3450, website: www.porterco.org/clerk). The marriage license fee is $18.00 if both parties complete a premarital education program, or $60.00 without the program. There is no waiting period, and the license is valid for 60 days. Marriage records are public and searchable at the Clerk's Office. Divorce records are filed with the Porter County Clerk and can be accessed through the court system; certified copies of divorce decrees are obtained from the Clerk for $1.00 per page after the first page, though complete divorce case files are maintained by the courts.

Fictitious business name registrations (doing business as or DBA filings) in Indiana are filed with the county recorder; for Porter County, DBAs are registered through the Porter County Recorder's Office at 155 Indiana Avenue, Room 105, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (phone: 219-465-3525). The filing fee is typically $30.00 for the initial registration, and business owners must publish notice of the DBA in a local newspaper of general circulation. State-level business entity registration is handled by the Indiana Secretary of State's office. Corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other formal business entities must register through the Indiana Secretary of State Business Services Division. The free online business search portal at www.in.gov/sos/business allows users to search existing corporations and LLCs by business name, registered agent, or business ID number, displaying entity status (active, dissolved, etc.), formation date, principal office address, registered agent information, and annual report filing status. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are also filed with the Indiana Secretary of State; the UCC search portal at www.in.gov/sos/business/ucc allows searches of secured transactions and liens on personal property. For business owners in Hebron, commercial property tax information is available through the Porter County Assessor's Office at www.portercountyassessor.com, where business real estate and personal property assessments can be searched by parcel number or owner name. The Porter County Treasurer's office manages business property tax payment and delinquency records.

Hebron voters are served by the Porter County Voter Registration & Election Board, located at 155 Indiana Avenue, Room 206, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (phone: 219-465-3475, website: www.porterco.org/voter-registration). This office administers all federal, state, county, and local elections for Hebron residents, maintains voter registration records, provides absentee ballots, and certifies election results. Indiana residents can register to vote online at www.indianavoters.in.gov, the official state voter registration portal maintained by the Indiana Secretary of State. The registration deadline is 29 days before any election. To register, applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by the next election, and residents of their precinct for at least 30 days. Indiana does not require party registration for primary elections; voters declare party preference when requesting a primary ballot. Hebron operates under a town council form of government with five council members elected from districts. Town council elections are held in the fall of odd-numbered years (2025, 2027, etc.), with the next regular municipal election scheduled for November 2027. The Hebron Town Clerk-Treasurer maintains information about local candidates and local issues on the ballot. Hebron voters also participate in Porter County elections for County Commissioner, County Council, Sheriff, Assessor, Auditor, Treasurer, Clerk, Recorder, Surveyor, and Coroner, as well as state legislative races for the Indiana House and Senate. To find their assigned polling place, Hebron residents can use the polling place lookup tool at www.indianavoters.in.gov by entering their name and date of birth or residential address. The tool provides the polling location address, hours (typically 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Election Day), and sample ballot. Under Indiana law, registered voter lists are public records available for purchase from the county election board or the Indiana Secretary of State for lawful purposes; the lists include names, addresses, and voting history (which elections a person voted in, but not how they voted). Campaign finance records for state and local candidates are filed with the Indiana Election Division and county election boards, searchable at www.indianacampaignfinance.com. Candidate filings and declarations are public records maintained by the county election board. Precinct-level election results are posted by the Porter County Election Board after certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Porter County reported approximately 59% voter turnout, with about 55,000 ballots cast out of roughly 93,000 registered voters. On November 3, 2026, Hebron and Porter County voters will decide several significant races: the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Todd Young is not up in 2026 (Indiana U.S. Senate races are in 2024 and 2028), but voters will elect all nine U.S. House seats including Indiana's 1st Congressional District which includes Porter County; all 100 Indiana House seats and 25 of 50 Indiana Senate seats; countywide offices including County Commissioners (two seats), County Council seats, and potentially other county constitutional officers depending on term schedules. The Indiana Governor's race occurs in even years divisible by four (2024, 2028), so 2026 will not feature a gubernatorial election. Indiana offers absentee voting by mail for any registered voter who requests a ballot; applications are available at www.indianavoters.in.gov or through the Porter County Election Board. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the county election office by 11:59 PM eleven days before Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must be received by noon on Election Day to be counted. Indiana also offers early in-person voting at the Porter County Election Board office and potentially satellite locations beginning 28 days before Election Day through noon the day before Election Day. Voters must present photo ID to vote in person in Indiana, as required by Indiana Code 3-11-8-25.1; acceptable IDs include Indiana driver's license, Indiana state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, or other government-issued photo ID.