Miami, Indiana Public Records

The Miami Superior Court, also at (765) 472-3901, shares jurisdiction over many case types and handles misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims matters up to $6,000, traffic violations, and certain civil cases. Both courts maintain records for cases filed within their jurisdiction dating back many decades, with older records archived. Indiana provides statewide access to court records through the Indiana Judiciary's mycase.in.gov portal, which allows free public searching of case information by party name, case number, or attorney. The mycase system displays case filings, dockets, judgments, and some court documents for Miami County cases, though certain sensitive records such as sealed cases, adoption records, and juvenile matters are restricted. To obtain certified copies of court documents, requesters must contact the Miami County Clerk's Office at the courthouse; fees as of 2025 are typically $1.00 per page for copies plus $1.00 for certification. The Clerk charges filing fees that vary by case type: small claims filing fees range from $87 to $100 depending on claim amount, civil case filings typically cost $156, and divorce petitions cost approximately $157. Certified copies of marriage licenses cost $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Passport services are also available through the Clerk's Office by appointment.

Miami County provides free online property record searching through the Beacon property search system, accessible via the county website at www.miamicounty.in.gov or directly through regional GIS portals. The Beacon system allows searches by owner name, parcel number, or property address, displaying current assessment values, tax information, sales history, property photos, and tax payment status. The Miami County Recorder's Office, also located at 25 North Broadway (765-472-3901), is responsible for recording and maintaining official land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage releases, liens, easements, plats, and other instruments affecting real property. Indiana law requires most real estate documents to be recorded to provide public notice of ownership and encumbrances. The Recorder's Office has digitized many historical records, and some counties in Indiana participate in the statewide Laredo system for online document searching. Miami County provides access to recorded documents through an online subscription service or in-person searching; fees for certified copies are typically $1.00 per page. The county also maintains a GIS mapping system that integrates parcel data with aerial photography, zoning information, and infrastructure layers, useful for property research and development planning. Property tax bills and payment history can be searched through the County Treasurer's office online portal, showing current and delinquent taxes by parcel.

Major employers in the Peru area include Dukes Memorial Hospital (now part of Indiana University Health, employing several hundred), Miami Correctional Facility (a state prison employing correctional officers and support staff), and several manufacturing operations including automotive parts suppliers and industrial equipment manufacturers that have historically anchored the local economy. The Maconaquah School Corporation also provides significant employment for the area. Miami County's median household income as of recent census estimates is approximately $47,000 to $52,000, somewhat below the Indiana state median, reflecting the county's rural and small-town character. The economic base has shifted over recent decades from the manufacturing prominence of the mid-20th century toward more diverse service industries, healthcare, and government employment, though agriculture remains culturally and economically important. The county has experienced modest population decline since its peak in the 1970s, common among rural Indiana counties, though the Peru area maintains relative stability. The proximity to U.S. Highway 31 (the primary north-south corridor through the county) and State Road 19 provides transportation access supporting logistics and distribution businesses. Recent economic development efforts have focused on maintaining existing industries, attracting light manufacturing, and supporting small business growth in a competitive regional environment where larger cities like Kokomo (30 miles south) and Fort Wayne (60 miles northeast) draw commuters and economic activity.

The Miami area of Miami County, Indiana is served by the Miami County Sheriff's Office, located at 2190 North U.S. Highway 31 in Peru, Indiana 46970. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (765) 473-8543 and maintains a website at www.miamicounty.in.gov. As Miami is an unincorporated community without its own police department, the Sheriff's Office provides all law enforcement services including patrol, criminal investigations, and incident response. Residents of Miami can request police reports and incident records by contacting the Sheriff's Office during business hours; requests typically require completion of a records request form, photo identification, and may involve a nominal copying fee. The Peru Police Department, located at 37 East Main Street in Peru (765-473-2323), provides law enforcement within Peru city limits but does not have jurisdiction in the unincorporated Miami area. For arrests and jail bookings, the Miami County Jail operates an online inmate roster accessible through the county website and third-party jail roster services. The inmate search typically displays current detainees' names, booking dates, charges filed, bond amounts, and booking photographs when available. The detention facility, located adjacent to the Sheriff's Office on U.S. 31, processes all arrests made in Miami County. Public records requests in Indiana are governed by the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3), which establishes that public records must be made available for inspection and copying unless specifically exempted by law. Requesters should submit written requests to the Miami County Sheriff's Office identifying the specific records sought; the agency must respond within a reasonable time, typically within 24 hours for simple requests or seven days for more complex searches. Fees are limited to actual copying costs and reasonable staff time for extensive requests.

Birth certificates for births occurring in Indiana cost $28 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously; death certificates cost $20 for the first copy and $4 for each additional. Indiana provides online ordering through VitalChek at vitalchek.com, though this service includes additional processing fees; standard processing time is approximately 10 business days, with expedited service available for higher fees. Birth records are available from October 1907 forward, and death records from 1900 forward. Only eligible persons may request vital records: the registrant (if 18+), parents listed on the record, legal guardians, legal representatives, or those with a court order. Valid government-issued photo identification is required. Marriage licenses for Miami residents are issued by the Miami County Clerk's Office at the Miami County Courthouse, 25 North Broadway, Peru, Indiana 46970, phone (765) 472-3901. The marriage license fee in Indiana is set by state law at $18 if both applicants complete a premarital preparation course, or $60 without the course. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification and social security numbers; there is no blood test requirement, but there is a mandatory waiting period before the license becomes valid. Marriage records are maintained by the County Clerk and are public records searchable in person or sometimes through third-party services. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Miami Circuit or Superior Court where the dissolution was filed, accessible through the court clerk or the mycase.in.gov portal.

Business owners can search existing business entities, file new formations, and access registered agent information through the Indiana Secretary of State website at www.in.gov/sos/business. The INBiz portal (www.inbiz.in.gov) provides one-stop access for business registration, employer tax registration, and various state licenses. Entity searches are free and display business name, entity type, registration date, status (active/dissolved), registered agent, and principal office address. Miami County does not require separate DBA (Doing Business As) registration at the county level; assumed business names in Indiana are registered with the county recorder where the business operates. To file a fictitious business name in Miami County, business owners submit the required form to the Miami County Recorder's Office at 25 North Broadway, Peru, along with the filing fee (typically around $30). These filings are public records searchable at the Recorder's Office. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements, which establish security interests in personal property and business assets, are filed with the Indiana Secretary of State and searchable through the INBiz portal; UCC searches cost approximately $10. Business owners in the Miami area should consult the Miami County Assessor's Office at (765) 472-1134 regarding personal property tax assessments for business equipment and inventory, which are reported annually on Business Tangible Personal Property forms (Form 103). Commercial property tax assessments for business real estate are also available through the Assessor's online property search system.

Voters in Miami, Indiana are served by the Miami County Clerk and Voter Registration Office, located at 25 North Broadway, Peru, Indiana 46970. The Clerk's Office can be reached at (765) 472-3901, and election information is available through the county website at www.miamicounty.in.gov. Indiana residents can register to vote online through the Indiana Voter Registration Portal at indianavoters.in.gov, which is managed by the Indiana Secretary of State's Elections Division. The online registration deadline is 29 days before any election; in-person registration at the County Clerk's office is also available up to the same deadline. To register, Indiana residents must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by the next general election, have lived in their precinct for at least 30 days, and not be currently imprisoned for a criminal conviction. A valid Indiana driver's license or state ID number is required for online registration. As an unincorporated community, Miami does not hold separate municipal elections for mayor or town council; residents vote in county, state, and federal elections. Miami County holds elections for county offices including County Council, County Commissioners, Sheriff, Clerk, Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Assessor, Coroner, and Surveyor on schedules determined by Indiana law (typically on a rotating basis with four-year terms). Miami residents can look up their assigned polling place, view sample ballots, and verify registration status through the indianavoters.in.gov portal by entering their name and date of birth or their voter registration number. In the November 2024 general election, Miami County reported voter turnout of approximately 58-62% of registered voters, consistent with rural Indiana county patterns in presidential election years, with total votes cast around 11,000 to 12,000 county-wide. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election (which falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November), Miami voters will decide several significant races: the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Todd Young is up for election in 2026, all nine U.S. House seats from Indiana including the district covering Miami County (currently Indiana's 2nd or 5th district depending on redistricting), all 100 Indiana House of Representatives seats, half of the 50 Indiana State Senate seats (odd-numbered districts in 2026), and various Miami County offices depending on the election cycle schedule. Indiana does not have a gubernatorial election in 2026 (next in 2024 and 2028). Absentee voting in Indiana is available by mail or in-person at the County Clerk's office; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail, with applications due by the Thursday before Election Day (11 days prior). Common reasons for absentee voting include being away from the county on Election Day, having a disability, being 65 or older, working as a poll worker, being confined due to illness or injury, or religious reasons. Applications are available at indianavoters.in.gov or from the Miami County Clerk's office. Early in-person voting (absentee voting in person) is available at the Clerk's office beginning approximately 28 days before Election Day. Election results for Miami County are posted on election night at the County Clerk's office and published on the county website; precinct-level results become public records available for inspection. Voter registration lists are considered public records in Indiana, though personal information such as birth dates and driver's license numbers are redacted. Campaign finance reports for candidates seeking county offices are filed with the Miami County Clerk and are public records; candidates for state and federal office file with the Indiana Election Division. Candidate filing information, ballot language for local referenda, and precinct results are all accessible as public records through the County Clerk's office.