Union City, Indiana Public Records

The Randolph Superior Court (phone: 765-584-7070) exercises concurrent jurisdiction over civil cases, criminal misdemeanors and felonies, small claims disputes (up to $10,000), family law matters, protective orders, and mental health hearings. Union City does not operate its own municipal court; all criminal and civil matters are adjudicated at the county level. Indiana residents can search court records through the Indiana Judicial Branch's online portal, Mycase.IN.gov, which provides free access to case information including party names, case numbers, filing dates, docket entries, judgments, and hearing schedules for cases filed in Randolph County courts. Records date back several years depending on when the county implemented electronic filing. For certified copies of court documents, fees are established by Indiana statute: typically $1.00 per page for uncertified copies and an additional $6.00 certification fee per document. Record searches conducted by court staff may incur a separate research fee if extensive time is required. In-person requests can be made at the Clerk's Office at the courthouse during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Property owners and researchers can search parcel data online through the Indiana Gateway portal at gateway.ifionline.org, which provides access to property records including parcel numbers, owner names, mailing addresses, legal descriptions, assessed values (land and improvements separately), property characteristics (square footage, year built, acreage), sales history, and tax district information. The online database is free to search and provides comprehensive information for most parcels. The Randolph County Recorder's Office, also at 100 South Main Street, Winchester, IN 47394 (phone: 765-584-1459), records and maintains official documents affecting real property titles including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages and releases, liens (mechanics' liens, tax liens, judgment liens), easements, rights-of-way, and other instruments. Indiana is a race-notice recording state, meaning properly recorded documents provide constructive notice to subsequent purchasers. Many counties in Indiana, including Randolph County, have digitized land records available through third-party vendors or county websites; users can typically search by grantor/grantee name, parcel number, or document type, with images of recorded documents viewable and printable for a per-page fee. The Randolph County GIS system may offer a parcel viewer with aerial imagery and property boundaries overlaid on maps, accessible through the county website or the Beacon system (randolphcounty.in.gov). Copies of recorded documents can be obtained in person at the Recorder's Office for statutory fees: typically $1.00 per page for copies.

Healthcare and social services provide employment through local clinics and care facilities. The agricultural sector remains significant, with corn, soybeans, and hog farming prevalent throughout Randolph County. Retail and service businesses along the Deerfield Road/State Line corridor serve both Indiana and Ohio residents, creating a unique cross-border commercial district. Median household income in Union City is estimated in the mid-$40,000 range, below both Indiana and national averages, reflecting the town's rural character and limited large-scale employment opportunities. The town has faced population decline over recent decades as young residents migrate to larger employment centers, though its affordability and small-town quality of life continue to attract families and retirees. Union City's economic fortunes are closely tied to broader Randolph County trends, as Winchester (the county seat) and rural townships share similar agricultural and light manufacturing bases. Recent years have seen efforts to stabilize the local economy through downtown revitalization initiatives and support for small business development, though growth remains modest compared to Indiana's larger metropolitan areas.

The Union City Police Department, located at 115 North Columbia Street, Union City, IN 47390 (phone: 765-964-4911), provides law enforcement services to the Indiana side of Union City. The department handles calls for service, traffic enforcement, and criminal investigations within city limits. To request police reports or incident records, residents can visit the department in person during business hours or call to inquire about specific cases. Written requests under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3-1 et seq.) may be submitted for accident reports, incident logs, and other non-confidential law enforcement records; response time is typically within a reasonable period as defined by state law, though some records may be exempt during active investigations. The Randolph County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 213 South Main Street, Winchester, IN 47394 (phone: 765-584-1523, website: randolphcountysheriff.com), provides countywide law enforcement services including patrol in unincorporated areas, warrant service, court security, and operation of the county jail. The Sheriff's Office maintains jurisdiction throughout Randolph County and assists Union City Police when needed. To search for arrests and jail bookings, the Randolph County Jail maintains an inmate roster accessible through the Sheriff's Office or through the Indiana Department of Correction's Offender Search at in.gov/apps/indcorrection/ofs/ofs. The roster typically displays current inmates' names, booking dates, charges filed, bond amounts, and expected release dates. Under Indiana public records law (IC 5-14-3), arrest records and jail booking logs are generally public unless sealed by court order, and citizens can request copies of arrest reports by submitting written requests to the appropriate law enforcement agency, which must respond within a reasonable time period.

Eligible applicants (parents, legal representatives, persons with direct interest) can order online through VitalChek.com with additional service fees, by mail with completed application and proper identification, or in-person at the Indianapolis office. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail, immediate for walk-in requests if the record is on file. Birth records in Indiana are available from October 1907 forward, and death records from 1900 forward. Marriage licenses for Union City residents are issued by the Randolph County Clerk's Office, 100 South Main Street, Winchester, IN 47394 (phone: 765-584-1223). Couples must apply in person with valid government-issued photo identification and Social Security numbers; the marriage license fee is approximately $18.00 and there is no waiting period in Indiana. The marriage license is valid for 60 days from issuance. Marriage records and certified copies of marriage certificates are also available from the County Clerk for a statutory fee. Divorce records are maintained as court records through the Randolph Circuit or Superior Court and can be searched via Mycase.IN.gov; certified copies of divorce decrees must be requested through the Clerk of Court. Indiana law restricts access to vital records to eligible parties; proper identification and proof of relationship or legal interest are required for certified copies.

At the county level, Randolph County does not require a separate county business license for most operations, though specific regulated activities may require county permits. Fictitious business names (Doing Business As or DBA) are registered with the Randolph County Clerk at 100 South Main Street, Winchester (phone: 765-584-1223). At the state level, all corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other business entities must register with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The Indiana INBiz portal at inbiz.in.gov provides a comprehensive free searchable database where users can look up business entity names, registration status, registered agent information, business addresses, officers and directors, formation dates, and entity type. The system includes corporations, LLCs, non-profits, and trademarks registered in Indiana. Formation fees vary: typically $95 for LLCs and $90 for corporations, with annual report fees of $32-50 depending on entity type. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements and lien searches are also filed with the Indiana Secretary of State and searchable through INBiz, providing information on secured interests in business personal property. For commercial property tax information, business owners can search assessed values and tax obligations through the Randolph County Assessor's online database or by contacting the Assessor's Office directly. Commercial properties are assessed based on market value and taxed according to Indiana property tax statutes.

Union City voters participate in elections administered by the Randolph County Clerk's Office, Elections Division, located at 100 South Main Street, Suite 2, Winchester, IN 47394 (phone: 765-584-1223). The Clerk serves as the chief election official for Randolph County and manages voter registration, polling place assignments, absentee ballot processing, and election administration. Indiana residents can register to vote online through the Indiana Voter Registration Portal at indianavoters.in.gov, which also allows users to check registration status, find polling locations, view sample ballots, and track absentee ballot applications. Voter registration deadlines are 29 days before Election Day for most elections. Acceptable forms of ID include an Indiana driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or other government-issued photo identification with name and expiration date. Union City holds municipal elections for mayor and city council seats; these are typically conducted in conjunction with Indiana's municipal election cycle, which occurs in odd-numbered years (most recently November 2023, next in November 2027). The mayor serves a four-year term, as do council members representing the Indiana side of town. Voters should verify current officeholders and election schedules through the Randolph County Clerk or the Union City Clerk-Treasurer's Office. To find their assigned polling place, Union City residents can use the Indiana Voter Portal at indianavoters.in.gov by entering their name and date of birth, or call the County Clerk's Office. Under Indiana's public records law, voter registration lists are available for lawful purposes including political and election activities; candidate filings and campaign finance reports for local and county candidates are public and accessible through the County Clerk. Precinct-level election results are posted by the Clerk following certification. In the November 2024 general election, Randolph County recorded voter turnout of approximately 60-65 percent of registered voters, consistent with rural Indiana participation rates in presidential elections. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Union City and Randolph County voters will decide several key races: Indiana does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026, but voters will elect candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives (Union City is in Indiana's 6th Congressional District); all 100 Indiana House seats and 25 of 50 Senate seats will be contested; and Randolph County offices including Sheriff, Clerk, Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Assessor, Surveyor, and County Council members will be on the ballot depending on the electoral cycle. Voters should monitor local news and the County Clerk's website for candidate filing information as the 2026 primary and general elections approach. Indiana offers absentee voting by mail for qualified voters: applications are available at indianavoters.in.gov or through the County Clerk's Office, and must be received by the Clerk by 11:59 p.m. the day before Election Day (for mailed ballots, applications are due earlier to allow processing and mailing time). Absentee ballots must be returned by noon on Election Day to the County Clerk's Office either in person or by mail (postmark does not count—ballots must be received by the deadline).