Millhousen, Indiana Public Records

The Decatur County Superior Court, phone (812) 663-8216, shares jurisdiction and handles criminal misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims cases (disputes up to $8,000), civil cases, protective orders, and general civil matters. Both courts maintain their own case management systems and public access terminals. Indiana provides online access to court records through the Indiana Judiciary's Mycase portal at www.mycase.in.gov, which allows free searching of case information by party name, case number, or attorney for cases filed in Decatur County courts. The system provides case summaries, docket entries, party information, and judgment details, though some confidential matters (such as certain juvenile, mental health, and adoption records) are sealed from public view. For certified copies of court documents, requesters must visit or contact the Clerk's Office in person. The Decatur County Clerk's Office, located at 150 Courthouse Square, Room 205, Greensburg, IN 47240, phone (812) 222-8900, maintains all court records and charges $1.00 per page for uncertified copies and $7.00 for certification plus copying fees. Research fees may apply for extensive searches. Marriage license applications are also processed through the Clerk's Office with a fee of $18.00, and there is no waiting period in Indiana. Passport application services are available through this office as well.

The Assessor's website provides online access to property data through a searchable parcel database where residents can search by property address, parcel number, or owner name to find assessed valuations, property characteristics (square footage, year built, land acreage), sales history, tax district information, and property tax amounts. The online system typically includes interactive GIS mapping showing parcel boundaries and aerial photography. Property assessments are conducted on a cyclical basis with annual adjustments, and property owners have the right to appeal assessments they believe to be incorrect. The Decatur County Recorder's Office, located at 150 Courthouse Square, Suite 7, Greensburg, IN 47240, phone (812) 222-8910, maintains the official record of all documents affecting real property ownership in the county. Recorded documents include warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages and mortgage releases, liens (mechanics liens, judgment liens, tax liens), easements, rights-of-way, powers of attorney affecting real estate, and other instruments. Indiana law requires that documents affecting real property be recorded to provide constructive notice to subsequent purchasers and creditors. The Recorder's Office provides online access to recorded documents through a subscription-based system or in-office public access terminals where users can search by grantor/grantee name, property address, or document book and page number. Images of recorded documents are typically available from 1990 forward, with earlier records available on microfilm or in bound volumes. Recording fees are established by Indiana Code 36-2-11-15 and vary based on document type, typically $16.00 for the first page and $4.00 for each additional page. The office also maintains military discharge records (DD-214s) in a confidential index accessible only to the veteran or authorized representatives.

Mary's Catholic Church and School function as significant community institutions and local employers, with the parish school providing education for elementary students from Millhousen and surrounding rural areas. Many Millhousen residents commute to employment centers in Greensburg (approximately 10 miles southeast), where major employers include Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (a large automotive transmission plant employing over 2,000 workers), Tree City Metal, Decatur County Memorial Hospital, and the Greensburg Community School Corporation. Batesville, located approximately 15 miles northeast, offers additional employment through Batesville Casket Company (one of the nation's largest casket manufacturers) and Hill-Rom (medical equipment manufacturing). Some residents also commute to Columbus (about 30 miles west), where Cummins Inc. serves as a major employer. Decatur County's median household income is approximately $54,000 according to recent census estimates, with Millhousen's rural agricultural character typically reflecting incomes tied to farming operations and blue-collar manufacturing employment. The community has remained stable in population over recent decades, maintaining its rural small-town character while benefiting from proximity to larger employment centers. The completion of improved State Road connections has enhanced commuting access. Millhousen lacks commercial development beyond small-scale service businesses, with residents traveling to Greensburg or Batesville for retail shopping, healthcare, and professional services. The area's economy benefits from low costs of living, strong agricultural productivity, and access to manufacturing employment within reasonable commuting distance.

Millhousen is an unincorporated community without its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services for Millhousen and the surrounding Shelby Township area are provided by the Decatur County Sheriff's Office, located at 150 Courthouse Square, Greensburg, IN 47240. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (812) 222-5141. The department's website provides information on services and public safety initiatives. Residents of Millhousen can request copies of incident reports, accident reports, and other police records by contacting the Sheriff's Office directly, either in person at the courthouse location or by submitting a written request. Indiana State Police Post 43 in Versailles also maintains jurisdiction over state highways passing through the area and can be reached at (812) 689-5000 for records related to state police investigations.

Arrest records and jail bookings for Decatur County, including those involving Millhousen residents, are maintained at the Decatur County Jail. An online inmate search is available through the Decatur County Sheriff's Office website, providing information on current detainees including booking dates, charges filed, bond amounts, and expected release dates. Mugshot photographs are typically included in the online roster. Historical arrest records can be requested through the Sheriff's Office. Public access to law enforcement records in Indiana is governed by the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3), which establishes that most law enforcement records are presumptively public unless they fall under specific exemptions such as ongoing investigations, confidential informant information, or records that would endanger an individual's safety. Requesters should submit formal requests in writing, and agencies typically have a reasonable time to respond, though fees may apply for copying and research time exceeding one hour. Indiana Code 5-14-3-8 allows agencies to charge actual copying costs and labor fees for extensive requests.

The fee is $28.00 for the first certified copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time, with processing taking approximately 10-15 business days for mail requests and immediate issuance for in-person requests. Online orders through VitalChek include additional service fees. Birth records are available from October 1907 forward, and death records from 1900 forward. Indiana law (IC 16-37-1) restricts access to birth and death certificates to the registrant (if of legal age), immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals with a direct and tangible interest, with valid photo identification required. Death certificates follow the same fee structure and ordering process as birth certificates through the State Department of Health. Marriage licenses and marriage records for Millhousen residents are issued and maintained by the Decatur County Clerk's Office at 150 Courthouse Square, Room 205, Greensburg, IN 47240, phone (812) 222-8900. The marriage license fee is $18.00, and Indiana eliminated the waiting period requirement in 2019, so licenses are valid immediately upon issuance and remain valid for 60 days. Both parties must appear in person with valid identification to apply. Certified copies of marriage records can be obtained from the County Clerk for $2.00 per copy. Marriage records maintained by the Clerk date back to the formation of Decatur County in 1822, with older records available on microfilm. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Decatur County Clerk as part of the case file for dissolution of marriage proceedings. Copies of divorce decrees can be obtained through the Clerk's Office at the standard court document copying rate of $1.00 per page plus $7.00 for certification. Indiana divorce records may be restricted based on confidentiality provisions in the dissolution decree or protective orders. For genealogical research, the Greensburg-Decatur County Public Library maintains historical vital records on microfilm and provides access to researchers.

Fictitious business names (Doing Business As or DBA registrations) in Indiana are filed with the Decatur County Recorder's Office at 150 Courthouse Square, Suite 7, Greensburg, IN 47240, phone (812) 222-8910. Businesses operating under a name other than the owner's legal name must file a Certificate of Assumed Business Name with the County Recorder in each county where business is conducted. The filing fee is approximately $30.00 and the registration is valid indefinitely but should be updated if ownership changes. The Recorder maintains an index of assumed business names searchable by the public. Formal business entity formation including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other entities are registered with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The state maintains a free, searchable online database called INBiz at www.inbiz.in.gov where anyone can search for registered business entities by name, registered agent, or business ID number. The database provides information on entity status (active, dissolved, merged), formation date, registered agent name and address, principal office address, and officers or managers depending on entity type. Articles of incorporation or organization, annual reports (called Business Entity Reports in Indiana), and other filings can be viewed through the system. Business Entity Reports are due every two years with a $30.00 fee for LLCs and $30.00 for corporations. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements, which create secured interests in personal property and business assets, are also filed with the Indiana Secretary of State. UCC searches can be conducted through INBiz to identify liens against business assets, providing important due diligence for lenders and purchasers. Commercial property tax assessments for business real estate and personal property (equipment, inventory, fixtures) are managed by the Decatur County Assessor's Office and searchable through the online property database at the same location as residential parcels.

Millhousen voters are served by the Decatur County Clerk's Office, which administers elections for all of Decatur County. The office is located at 150 Courthouse Square, Room 205, Greensburg, IN 47240, and can be reached at (812) 222-8900. The Decatur County Clerk serves as the Circuit Court Clerk and County Election Board administrator, managing voter registration, absentee voting, poll worker recruitment, ballot preparation, and election night vote tabulation. Voters can find additional election information through the county government website.

Indiana residents, including those in Millhousen, can register to vote online through the Indiana Voter Registration Portal at indianavoters.in.gov. The online system allows new voter registration, address updates, and party affiliation changes. Registration deadlines are 29 days before any election. Indiana requires voters to provide their Indiana driver's license number or state identification number when registering. Residents without these documents can register by mail or in person at the County Clerk's Office. Indiana law requires voters to present photo identification at the polls, including an Indiana driver's license, Indiana state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or student ID from an Indiana state school.

As an unincorporated community, Millhousen does not hold municipal elections for mayor or town council, as there is no town government structure. Millhousen residents vote in Decatur County elections for County Commissioner (three members elected to staggered four-year terms), County Council (seven members), County Assessor, County Sheriff, County Clerk, County Treasurer, County Recorder, County Auditor, County Surveyor, and County Coroner. They also participate in elections for Indiana State Senate and Indiana State House of Representatives districts that cover their area, as well as federal elections for U.S. President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives (Indiana's 6th Congressional District).

Millhousen voters can locate their assigned polling place using the Indiana Voters portal at indianavoters.in.gov, which provides a polling place lookup by entering name and date of birth or by address. Shelby Township residents typically vote at consolidated polling locations within the township. Indiana offers early voting at the County Clerk's Office beginning 28 days before an election, with extended hours the week before Election Day. Vote centers may be established in Decatur County allowing any county voter to cast a ballot at any vote center location.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Decatur County recorded approximately 66% voter turnout with roughly 7,000 ballots cast from approximately 10,600 registered voters. The county historically trends Republican in presidential and statewide elections. Precinct-level results are published on the county website following certification.

The November 3, 2026 general election will feature several significant races for Millhousen and Decatur County voters. At the federal level, Indiana's U.S. Senate seat (Class III) will be on the ballot as Senator Todd Young's term expires; all nine U.S. House seats including Indiana's 6th District will be contested. At the state level, all 100 Indiana House of Representatives seats and 25 of the 50 Indiana State Senate seats (half the chamber) will be on the ballot, with Millhousen voters participating in their respective legislative districts. County offices up for election in 2026 include County Auditor, County Assessor, and potentially County Surveyor depending on the election cycle. All elected county officials serve four-year terms with elections held in presidential or midterm years depending on the office.

Indiana offers absentee voting by mail for voters who qualify under specific criteria outlined in Indiana Code 3-11-10-24, including those 65 or older, voters with disabilities, those scheduled to work entire poll hours, traveling outside the county on Election Day, primary caregivers of confined individuals, scheduled for jury duty, confined to a hospital, or members of the military. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Decatur County Clerk's Office by mail, in person, or online through indianavoters.in.gov no later than 11 days before the election. Voted absentee ballots must be received by the County Clerk by noon on Election Day to be counted.

Public election records in Indiana include voter registration lists (available for purchase for election-related purposes under Indiana Code 3-7-26.3), campaign finance reports filed with the Indiana Election Division or county clerks for local candidates, candidate declarations and petitions, precinct-level election results, and poll lists showing who voted in each election. These records are available through the Decatur County Clerk's Office and the Indiana Election Division website at in.gov/sos/elections. Campaign finance data is searchable through the Indiana Campaign Finance portal, providing transparency for contributions and expenditures for candidates and political action committees.