Taswell, Indiana Public Records

Court records for cases filed in Crawford County can be searched through the Indiana Judiciary's online portal, Mycase.in.gov, which provides free public access to case information including docket entries, filed documents, judgments, and case status for most civil, criminal, family, and small claims matters statewide. Users can search by party name, case number, or attorney to locate Crawford County cases. For certified copies of court documents, the Crawford Circuit Court Clerk charges fees established by Indiana Code 33-37-5: typically $1.00 per page for standard copies and $7.00 for certification. Orders, judgments, and decrees require certification for legal purposes such as appeals or official proceedings. Some sealed records, juvenile matters, and certain protective order cases may not appear in public searches per Indiana Access to Court Records rules. In-person record requests can be made at the Clerk's office during regular business hours, and the court accepts written requests for documents with appropriate fees.

Property owners and the public can search assessment information, though online access varies—many Indiana counties provide GIS mapping and parcel search tools, and interested parties should check with the Assessor's office or visit in person for detailed property card information. The Crawford County Recorder's Office, also located at the Crawford County Courthouse, 2500 Hemlock Street, English, IN 47118, phone (812) 338-2565, is responsible for recording and maintaining all land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage releases, liens (tax liens, mechanic's liens, judgment liens), easements, right-of-way agreements, and other documents affecting real property title. Indiana counties have been recording land records since their establishment, with Crawford County records dating to 1818. To conduct a property search by address or owner name, residents can visit the Recorder's office in person where indexed records and deed books are available for public inspection. Some Indiana counties provide online access to recorded documents through subscription services or free portals; Crawford County residents should contact the Recorder at (812) 338-2565 to inquire about current online availability. Indiana law (Indiana Code 36-2-11-15) allows the public to inspect and copy recorded documents upon payment of copying fees, typically $1.00 per page. The county may also maintain a Geographic Information System (GIS) parcel viewer showing property boundaries, addressing, zoning, and related spatial data; availability can be confirmed through the Crawford County GIS office or County Surveyor.

Crawford County's largest employers include the Crawford County Community School Corporation, which operates several schools including Crawford County Junior-Senior High School in Marengo, and the Crawford County government offices. Healthcare services are provided by facilities in surrounding counties, with residents typically traveling to Jasper, Bedford, or even Louisville, Kentucky for major medical needs. Tourism plays a significant economic role in the greater Crawford County area, with attractions such as Marengo Cave (a U.S. National Landmark), Patoka Lake (Indiana's second-largest reservoir), and proximity to the Hoosier National Forest drawing visitors year-round. Some Taswell residents commute to larger employment centers including Jasper (Dubois County), Bedford (Lawrence County), and the greater Louisville metropolitan area across the Ohio River. The median household income for Crawford County is approximately $45,000-$50,000, below the Indiana state average, reflecting the rural character and limited large-scale industrial development. Recent economic development efforts in Crawford County have focused on expanding tourism infrastructure and supporting small businesses, though Taswell itself remains primarily a quiet residential farming community with strong ties to the land and traditional rural livelihoods.

Taswell, Indiana is an unincorporated community and does not maintain its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services for Taswell and the surrounding Jackson Township area are provided by the Crawford County Sheriff's Office, located at 2500 Hemlock Street, English, IN 47118. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (812) 338-3313. The department provides patrol services, criminal investigations, warrant service, and emergency response throughout unincorporated Crawford County. The Sheriff's Office maintains records of incidents, accident reports, and arrests occurring in the Taswell area. To request police reports or incident records, residents must contact the Sheriff's Office directly during business hours or submit a written public records request citing Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3-1 et seq.). This statute establishes that most law enforcement records are public unless they pertain to ongoing investigations or contain information that would compromise law enforcement efforts. Arrest and jail booking records for Crawford County can be accessed through the Indiana Sheriff's Association website and local detention systems. The Crawford County Jail maintains current inmate rosters showing booking dates, charges filed, bond amounts, and housing status. While Crawford County's jail roster information may be available by contacting the Sheriff's Office at (812) 338-3313, statewide inmate searches can be conducted through the Indiana Department of Correction's Offender Database for individuals in state custody. Under Indiana law, arrest records, booking photographs (mugshots), charging documents, and jail logs are generally considered public information accessible upon request, though some information may be redacted to protect victim identities or juvenile records as specified under Indiana Code 5-14-3-4.

Birth certificates cost $28 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously, with online ordering available through VitalChek for an additional service fee. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail or faster if ordered online. Death certificates follow the same process: available from the Crawford County Health Department for local deaths or from the Indiana State Department of Health Vital Records Office, with the same fee structure of $28 for the first certified copy. Indiana law restricts access to birth and death certificates to the registrant (if of legal age), immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals with a direct tangible interest as defined by Indiana Code 16-37-1. Marriage licenses are issued by the Crawford County Clerk's Office, 2500 Hemlock Street, English, IN 47118, phone (812) 338-2565. The marriage license fee in Indiana is $18 if couples complete a premarital education program or $60 without. There is no waiting period once the license is issued, and licenses are valid for 60 days in Indiana. Marriage records are public and maintained indefinitely by the County Clerk. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Crawford Circuit Court Clerk at the same courthouse location, accessible as part of case files under the court's procedures. Certified copies of marriage certificates are available from the County Clerk for $2 per copy, and divorce decrees are available from the Circuit Court Clerk per the court's fee schedule.

Crawford County may require certain business registrations or permits depending on the type of operation; prospective business owners should contact the Crawford County Commissioners' office at (812) 338-2565 or the Crawford County Planning Department to determine local requirements for zoning compliance, building permits, and operating permits for specific business types such as food service, home-based businesses, or health-related services. Fictitious business name registrations (Doing Business As or DBA filings) for sole proprietors and partnerships operating under a name other than their legal name must be filed with the Crawford County Recorder's Office, 2500 Hemlock Street, English, IN 47118, phone (812) 338-2565, where the certificate is recorded as a public document. For formal business entity formation including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and nonprofit corporations, registration is handled by the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The Indiana Secretary of State maintains INBiz (www.inbiz.in.gov), a free online portal where anyone can search existing business entities, check name availability, view registered agent information, review business entity status (active, dissolved, administratively revoked), and access filed documents. Entity formation, annual report filing, and amendments can be completed online through INBiz. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statement searches, which record secured interests in personal property and business assets, are also conducted through the Indiana Secretary of State's UCC division via the INBiz portal. Business property owners in Taswell can look up commercial property assessments through the Crawford County Assessor's Office at (812) 338-2620, which maintains records of assessed values used for calculating property tax obligations. Personal property taxes on business equipment, inventory, and fixtures must be filed annually with the County Assessor by May 15th.

Taswell, Indiana voters are served by the Crawford County Clerk's Office, which administers elections for the county. The Crawford County Clerk is located at 2500 Hemlock Street, English, IN 47118, phone (812) 338-2565. This office handles voter registration, absentee ballot applications, candidate filings, and election administration for all Taswell residents. 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 Election Division. Registration deadlines in Indiana are 29 days before any election. Voters must provide an Indiana driver's license or state identification number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Indiana requires government-issued photo ID to vote in person. Since Taswell is an unincorporated community with no municipal government, there are no city council or mayoral elections specific to Taswell. Residents vote in Crawford County government races, Indiana state legislative races, statewide offices, and federal elections. Taswell voters can find their assigned polling place by using the Indiana Voter Portal at indianavoters.in.gov or by contacting the Crawford County Clerk at (812) 338-2565. Indiana makes certain election records publicly available: voter registration lists can be purchased for political purposes under Indiana Code 3-7-26-7, campaign finance reports are accessible through the Indiana Election Division and county election boards, candidate filings and declarations are public records, and precinct-level election results are published by the county after certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Crawford County reported voter turnout of approximately 60-65% of registered voters, consistent with rural Indiana counties in presidential election years. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Taswell and Crawford County voters will decide several important races: one U.S. Senate seat (Indiana's Class III seat is not up in 2026, but Indiana will not have a Senate race that year—the next is 2028), however voters will elect all Indiana House of Representatives members from Crawford County's district (State House District 73), county offices including County Council members, County Commissioners, County Assessor, County Sheriff (four-year terms typically elected in presidential years, so Sheriff may not be on 2026 ballot depending on cycle), and potentially township trustees and board members for Jackson Township. Indiana does not hold gubernatorial elections in 2026 (next Governor race is 2028). Indiana voters can request absentee ballots by mail by submitting an application to the Crawford County Clerk by mail, email, fax, or in person; applications are available at indianavoters.in.gov. Indiana allows no-excuse absentee voting by mail if the application is received by 11:59 PM the day before the election, though ballots must be received by noon on Election Day to be counted. Traveling voters, those with work conflicts, caregivers, and voters over 65 are specifically entitled to absentee voting under Indiana Code 3-11-10.