Rome, Indiana Public Records

Small claims cases with amounts in controversy up to $10,000 are heard in the small claims division of the Circuit Court. Court records can be searched online through the Indiana Judicial System's public access portal, Mycase.IN.gov, which provides free access to case information including party names, case numbers, filing dates, dockets, judgments, and some court documents. Users can search by name, case number, or citation number. Not all historical records have been digitized, and older cases may require in-person research at the Clerk's office. The Perry Circuit Court Clerk's Office, located at the same courthouse address, phone (812) 547-3741, maintains the official court records and processes filings. Fees for certified copies of court documents are typically $1.00 per page plus a certification fee of $1.00 per document, consistent with Indiana statutory fee schedules. Case filing fees vary by case type: civil filings generally require fees ranging from $85 to $156 depending on the amount in controversy, while small claims filings cost approximately $85. Criminal case records are public unless sealed by court order. Divorce records are maintained as part of the court file and are accessible through the Clerk's office, though financial disclosures and certain custody evaluations may be confidential.

Available data typically includes current assessed value, property tax amounts, land and improvement values, property characteristics (square footage, year built, number of rooms), sales history, and assessment history. Property tax bills and payment status can be viewed through the Perry County Treasurer's website. The Perry County Recorder's Office, located at the Perry County Courthouse, 2219 Payne Street, Cannelton, IN 47520, phone (812) 547-6503, maintains all recorded land documents including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage releases, liens (tax liens, mechanics liens, judgment liens), easements, rights-of-way, and plats. Indiana law requires most real estate conveyances to be recorded to establish priority and provide public notice. The Recorder's Office provides online access to recorded documents through a subscription-based system or in-person research; some records may be available free through the Beacon property information system. Document copies cost $1.00 per page for uncertified copies and $5.00 plus $1.00 per page for certified copies. Perry County also offers a GIS mapping system that displays parcel boundaries, ownership, zoning, floodplains, and infrastructure, typically accessible through the county's website or the Assessor's office.

Perry County's largest employers include Tell City Chair Company (furniture manufacturing), Consolidated Aluminum Corporation in Tell City, Westgate@Crane Technology Park (defense contracting and technology), Perry County Community School Corporation, and Perry County Memorial Hospital in Tell City. Agriculture remains significant in the Rome area, with family farms producing corn, soybeans, hay, and livestock; forestry and timber harvesting also contribute to the local economy given proximity to the Hoosier National Forest. Median household income in Perry County was approximately $52,000 according to recent census estimates, though Rome's small population makes specific income data unavailable. The area has limited commercial development, with no significant retail or industrial presence directly in Rome. Tourism and outdoor recreation represent growing economic sectors countywide, with the Ohio River Scenic Byway (State Road 66) attracting visitors to the Rome area for its natural beauty, river access, and proximity to recreational areas. The economy remains closely tied to manufacturing in Tell City and broader regional employment patterns in southern Indiana and northwest Kentucky.

Rome, Indiana, is an unincorporated community with no municipal police department. Law enforcement services are provided by the Perry County Sheriff's Office, located at 2219 Payne Street, Tell City, IN 47586, phone (812) 547-3628. The Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction over all unincorporated areas of Perry County, including Rome and Oil Township, and handles patrol, investigations, and criminal enforcement. Residents can request police reports and incident records by contacting the Sheriff's Office directly in person or by phone during business hours; written requests may be required for certain documents under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, codified at Indiana Code 5-14-3-1 et seq., which establishes the right of any person to inspect and copy public records with limited exceptions. Indiana law requires agencies to respond to public records requests within a reasonable time, typically within seven days, though some records may be withheld if they are part of an ongoing investigation or confidential by statute. Arrest records and jail bookings for Perry County are managed by the Perry County Jail, located at the same address as the Sheriff's Office in Tell City. Inmate searches can be conducted online through the Perry County Sheriff's Office website at www.perrycountysheriff.com or through third-party Indiana inmate locator services. The online roster typically displays current inmates' names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and mugshots where available. For historical arrest records or more detailed information, requests must be submitted to the Sheriff's Office. Indiana State Police Post 64 in Jasper also has jurisdiction over state highways passing through the Rome area and maintains separate records for traffic incidents and criminal investigations on state roads.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek, the state's authorized vendor. The fee for a certified birth or death certificate is $10 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Processing times are typically 4-6 weeks by mail, or expedited service is available for additional fees. Indiana law restricts access to birth certificates to the registrant (if over 18), parents, legal guardians, legal representatives, or those with a direct and tangible interest; valid government-issued photo identification is required. Death certificates are similarly restricted to family members, legal representatives, or those with a property right or claim. Birth records in Indiana are available from October 1907 forward, and death records from 1900 forward. Marriage licenses are issued by the Perry County Clerk's Office, located at the Perry County Courthouse, 2219 Payne Street, Cannelton, IN 47520, phone (812) 547-3741. The marriage license fee in Indiana is $18 if both parties complete a premarital education program, or $60 without the program. There is no waiting period once the license is issued, and it is valid for 60 days. Marriage records are public and can be searched and copied through the Clerk's office. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Perry Circuit Court Clerk at the same address; certified copies of divorce decrees cost $1.00 per page plus certification fees and require proper identification and demonstration of direct interest in some cases.

Specific regulated businesses such as food service, alcohol sales, and certain contractors require permits from the Perry County Health Department (for food establishments) at 2219 Payne Street, Suite B, Tell City, IN 47586, phone (812) 547-6537, or from the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission for liquor licenses. Fictitious business names (Doing Business As or DBA) and assumed business names are registered at the county level; businesses in Rome would file with the Perry County Clerk's Office at the Perry County Courthouse, 2219 Payne Street, Cannelton, IN 47520, phone (812) 547-3741. The filing fee for a business certificate (assumed name) is approximately $30, and registrations must be renewed. All formal business entities including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and non-profits must register with the Indiana Secretary of State. The Indiana Secretary of State's Business Services Division maintains a free, searchable online database called INBiz at www.inbiz.in.gov, where users can search for existing business entities, view entity status (active, dissolved, merged), registered agent information, business addresses, officers and directors for corporations, and filing history. New business entity filings can also be completed online through INBiz. Fees vary: LLC formation costs $95 online ($100 by mail), and corporation formation costs $90 online ($95 by mail). UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements, which are liens on personal property and business assets, are also filed with the Indiana Secretary of State and searchable through INBiz. Property tax records for commercial properties in Rome can be searched through the Perry County Assessor's Office using the same property search tools available for residential properties; business personal property tax returns are filed annually with the county assessor.

Rome, Indiana voters are served by the Perry County Clerk's Office, which administers elections for all county residents. The Perry County Clerk is located at the Perry County Courthouse, 2219 Payne Street, Cannelton, IN 47520, phone (812) 547-3741. The office handles voter registration, election administration, candidate filings, and maintenance of election records. Rome residents can register to vote online through the Indiana Voters Portal at indianavoters.in.gov, which is maintained by the Indiana Secretary of State. The registration deadline is 29 days before any election. New registrants must provide an Indiana driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Indiana also offers same-day voter registration during the early voting period. Because Rome is an unincorporated community with no municipal government, there are no city council or mayoral elections specific to Rome. Voters participate in federal elections (President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives), state elections (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, other state officers, Indiana General Assembly), county elections (County Council, County Commissioners, Sheriff, Clerk, Assessor, Recorder, Treasurer, Coroner, Surveyor), and township elections (Township Trustee and Board members for Oil Township). Rome voters can look up their assigned polling place, view sample ballots, and check voter registration status through the Indiana Voters Portal at indianavoters.in.gov by entering their name and date of birth or county and voter registration number. Indiana maintains statewide voting equipment and procedures; Perry County uses electronic voting machines with paper audit trails. In the November 2024 presidential election, Perry County reported voter turnout of approximately 62-65% of registered voters, consistent with rural Indiana counties in presidential election years. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Rome and Perry County voters will decide several key races. Indiana's U.S. Senate Class III seat will not be on the ballot in 2026 (next up in 2028), but one U.S. House seat for Indiana's 8th Congressional District will be contested. All 100 seats in the Indiana House of Representatives and half of the 50 Indiana Senate seats will be on the ballot, including the state legislative districts covering Rome. Perry County offices up for election in 2026 will likely include County Clerk, County Assessor, County Recorder, County Sheriff (four-year terms), and potentially County Council or Commissioner seats depending on district rotation. Oil Township Trustee and Board positions may also appear on the ballot. Absentee voting in Indiana is available by mail or in-person during the early voting period. Any registered voter can vote absentee in person at the County Clerk's office beginning 28 days before an election through noon on the day before Election Day, with extended weekend hours. To vote by mail, voters must request an absentee ballot application from the County Clerk, complete it with an acceptable excuse (including being over 65, having a disability, being a caregiver, traveling on business or vacation, working during all polling hours, or having a religious obligation), and return it at least 12 days before Election Day. Mail-in ballots must be received by noon on Election Day. Indiana election records that are public include voter registration lists (available for purchase for political purposes), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political action committees (searchable through the Indiana Campaign Finance database), candidate filings and declarations, and precinct-level election results. These are accessible through the County Clerk's office or the Indiana Secretary of State's Elections Division website at www.in.gov/sos/elections/.