New Castle, Indiana Public Records

New Castle does not maintain a separate municipal court; traffic and minor ordinance violations are typically processed through the county courts or handled administratively. Indiana offers a statewide case search system called MyCase through the Indiana Judiciary (mycase.in.gov), where residents can search court records by name, case number, or party for free, accessing dockets, filings, judgments, and case histories from courts across the state including Henry County. Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the Henry County Clerk's Office at the courthouse (phone: 765-529-4101) with fees typically $1 per page for copies and $6 for certification. Filing fees vary by case type: civil cases generally require fees ranging from $85 to $157, small claims filings cost approximately $84, and certified copies of marriage licenses or other vital records maintained by the Clerk cost around $8 to $10 each.

The Assessor's online database allows free public searches by owner name, parcel number, or property address, displaying current assessments, tax district information, property transfers, and improvement details. The Henry County Recorder's Office, located at 101 South Main Street in the courthouse (phone: 765-529-5025), is the official repository for recorded documents including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage releases, liens, easements, right-of-way agreements, and other instruments affecting real property title. Indiana law requires most real estate conveyances to be recorded to establish priority and public notice. The Recorder's Office provides online access to recorded documents through a subscription-based service or onsite public terminals at the courthouse where residents can search and view documents free of charge, with printing fees typically $1 per page and certified copies costing $6 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page. Henry County also offers a GIS mapping system accessible through the county website, providing interactive parcel maps, aerial photography, zoning information, and property boundary overlays that can be searched by address or parcel identification number, helping residents conduct thorough property research.

Manufacturing remains significant with facilities producing automotive components, industrial equipment, and consumer products. Chrysler High School (now New Castle High School), one of the largest high school gyms in the world seating over 9,000, reflects the community's basketball tradition and serves as an economic and cultural anchor. The New Castle-Henry County Public Library and New Castle-Henry County Economic Development Corporation actively work to attract new businesses and support entrepreneurship. According to recent census estimates, Henry County's median household income is approximately $48,000 to $52,000, slightly below the Indiana state median, reflecting the area's working-class industrial and agricultural character. The city's proximity to Interstate 70 and State Road 3 provides transportation advantages for distribution and logistics businesses. Recent economic development efforts focus on downtown revitalization, supporting small businesses along Main Street and Broad Street, and leveraging the community's historic character and motorsports heritage to attract visitors and new residents seeking affordable housing within commuting distance of Indianapolis and Richmond.

The New Castle Police Department, located at 100 South Main Street, New Castle, IN 47362 (phone: 765-529-2020), provides law enforcement services within city limits and maintains records of incidents, arrests, accident reports, and police activity. Residents can request police reports in person at the department or by submitting a written request; the department website may offer limited online reporting options. The Henry County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 301 S. Main Street, New Castle, IN 47362 (phone: 765-529-4901, website: henrycountyin.gov), holds jurisdiction over unincorporated areas of the county and provides countywide services including operating the Henry County Jail. To search for recent arrests and jail bookings, the Henry County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate roster accessible through their website, displaying current detainees, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and in some cases booking photographs. Public records requests in Indiana are governed by the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3), which requires agencies to respond to requests within a reasonable time, typically within 24 hours for simple requests and up to seven days for more complex ones. Requesters may be charged copying fees but not research time unless specified. Both the New Castle Police Department and Henry County Sheriff's Office accept written requests under this statute, and certain records such as ongoing investigation files or confidential informant information may be exempt from disclosure under specific provisions of Indiana law.

Requests can be submitted online through VitalChek (vitalchek.com), by mail, or in person in Indianapolis, with online orders processed within approximately 5-10 business days and mail requests taking 4-6 weeks. Birth records in Indiana are confidential for 72 years, and requesters must prove direct and tangible interest (parent, legal guardian, or the person named on the certificate if of legal age). Death certificates are generally available to immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a documented legal interest. Marriage licenses for Henry County residents are issued by the Henry County Clerk's Office at 101 South Main Street, New Castle, IN 47362 (phone: 765-529-4101), with licenses costing approximately $18 and requiring both parties to appear in person with valid identification. Indiana has no waiting period, and licenses are valid for 60 days from issuance. Certified copies of marriage records maintained by the Clerk cost approximately $2 for the first copy and $1 for additional copies. Divorce records are maintained as court records through the Henry Circuit or Superior Courts and can be accessed through the Clerk's Office or searched via the MyCase online portal, with certified copies available for statutory fees.

Fictitious business name registrations (assumed names or DBAs) for sole proprietorships and general partnerships operating in Henry County are filed with the Henry County Recorder's Office at 101 South Main Street (phone: 765-529-5025), with filing fees approximately $30 and renewals required every five years under Indiana Code 23-15-1. For formal business entities, the Indiana Secretary of State Business Services Division (phone: 317-232-6576, website: in.gov/sos/business) maintains the statewide registry of corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and nonprofit organizations. The INBiz portal (inbiz.in.gov) provides free online searches of business entity status, registered agent information, officers and directors, formation dates, and good standing status, as well as online filing for new entity formations with filing fees ranging from $95 for LLCs to $100 for corporations. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien filings are also maintained by the Indiana Secretary of State and searchable through the INBiz system, showing secured creditor interests in business personal property. Commercial property assessments and business personal property tax records are maintained by the Henry County Assessor's Office (phone: 765-529-5053) and searchable through the county's online property database, allowing business owners to review tax obligations and appeal assessed values if necessary.

New Castle voters are served by the Henry County Voter Registration Office, located within the Henry County Clerk's Office at 101 South Main Street, New Castle, IN 47362 (phone: 765-529-4101, website: henrycountyin.gov). Indiana residents can register to vote online through the Indiana Voters portal at indianavoters.in.gov, which also allows users to check registration status, view sample ballots, and find polling locations. The voter registration deadline in Indiana is 29 days before any election, and applicants must provide an Indiana driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. New Castle holds municipal elections for Mayor and City Council in odd-numbered years, with the next regularly scheduled city elections in November 2027. The Mayor serves a four-year term, and the seven-member Common Council includes six district representatives and one at-large member. New Castle residents can find information about local candidates, ballot measures, and filing deadlines through the Henry County Election Board or the city clerk's office. To locate their assigned polling place, voters can use the polling place lookup tool at indianavoters.in.gov by entering their address, or contact the County Clerk's office directly. Indiana provides early voting at county election board offices and designated satellite locations beginning 29 days before Election Day through noon the day before the election, Monday through Friday and some Saturdays. In the November 2024 presidential election, Henry County reported approximately 11,500 total votes cast out of roughly 30,000 registered voters, representing a turnout of approximately 38-40 percent. On November 3, 2026, New Castle and Henry County voters will decide several significant races: Indiana does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026, but voters will elect a Governor (the gubernatorial election occurs in off-presidential even years), all nine U.S. House seats including Indiana's 6th Congressional District which includes Henry County, all 100 Indiana State House seats, 25 of 50 State Senate seats, and county-level offices including Henry County Council members, County Commissioners, Sheriff, Clerk, Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Assessor, Coroner, and Surveyor. Absentee voting by mail in Indiana requires voters to submit an application to the County Clerk by mail, email, fax, or online through indianavoters.in.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. eleven days before Election Day; applications must cite one of the statutory reasons for absentee voting including being absent from the county on Election Day, having a disability, being over 65, working as an election official, or being confined due to illness or injury. Public election records in Indiana include voter registration lists (available for purchase by candidates and political parties under Indiana Code 3-7-26.3), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and PACs (searchable through the Indiana Campaign Finance portal at indianacampaignfinance.com), candidate declarations of candidacy filed with the County Clerk or Secretary of State, and detailed precinct-by-precinct election results published by the County Election Board and Secretary of State following certification.