Uniondale, Indiana Public Records

Both courts serve all Wells County residents, including those in Uniondale and Harrison Township. Indiana trial court records are maintained by the Wells County Clerk's Office in the Courthouse and include case filings, judgments, dockets, and orders. Indiana residents may search court records online through the Indiana judiciary's public access portal, Mycase.in.gov, which provides free searchable access to case information from Wells Circuit and Superior Courts. Users can search by party name, case number, or attorney, and view docket entries, case summaries, and some filed documents. However, certain sensitive records—such as juvenile cases, sealed records, and some family law documents—are restricted from public view. To obtain certified copies of court documents, requesters must contact the Wells County Clerk's Office in person, by mail, or by phone. As of 2025, certified copy fees in Indiana trial courts are typically $1.00 per page, with a minimum fee often around $2.00 to $5.00, though fees may vary by document type and court. The Clerk's Office can provide exact fee schedules and processing times for document requests.

Residents can search by parcel number, property address, or owner name to view assessed values, property characteristics, tax district information, and assessment history. Wells County also maintains a GIS mapping system (Beacon and other platforms) that allows users to view interactive parcel maps, aerial imagery, and detailed property information online at no charge. The Wells County Recorder's Office, located at 102 West Market Street, Suite 101, Bluffton, IN 46714; phone: (260) 824-6471, maintains recorded land documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, assignments, and other instruments affecting title to real property in Wells County. Indiana law requires that most real estate transactions and encumbrances be recorded to provide public notice and establish priority. The Recorder's Office offers an online document search through its website and via third-party services such as Fidlar and Laredo, allowing users to search by grantor, grantee, document type, or legal description. Many historical records have been digitized and are viewable online for free or a small fee; certified copies and full document images may require payment. Walk-in services are available during business hours, and staff can assist with property history research, title searches, and document retrieval. Recording fees are set by Indiana statute and vary by document type.

Local family farms remain a cornerstone of the community's economic base, though consolidation and modernization have reduced the total number of farm operations over recent decades. The Uniondale Christian School is a significant local institution and employer, serving families from Uniondale and surrounding townships. Beyond agriculture, many Uniondale residents commute to nearby employment centers including Bluffton (10 miles south), Decatur (15 miles north), and the Fort Wayne metropolitan area (approximately 25 miles northwest), where manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and professional services provide diverse job opportunities. Wells County's median household income is estimated at approximately $58,000, slightly below the Indiana state median, reflecting the county's rural and agricultural character. Major employers in Wells County include Caylor-Nickel Clinic, Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District, Walmart, and various manufacturing firms in Bluffton. Uniondale itself has minimal commercial infrastructure, with most retail and services accessed in Bluffton or other nearby towns. The community's economy is stable but modest, with limited recent commercial development, and its future is closely tied to trends in agriculture, regional manufacturing, and the broader Fort Wayne metro economy.

Uniondale, as an unincorporated community, does not maintain its own police department. Law enforcement services for Uniondale and Harrison Township are provided by the Wells County Sheriff's Office, located at 211 West Washington Street, Bluffton, IN 46714; phone: (260) 824-3426; website: www.wellscountysheriff.com. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and emergency response throughout unincorporated areas of Wells County, including Uniondale. Residents seeking police reports, incident records, or accident reports must contact the Sheriff's Office directly. Requests can be made in person at the Sheriff's Office during business hours or by submitting a written public records request under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3-1 et seq.). Indiana law requires that public agencies respond to records requests within a reasonable time, and fees may apply for copying or research time.

For arrest and jail booking information, the Wells County Jail maintains an online inmate roster accessible through the Sheriff's Office website and via third-party inmate search portals. The roster typically displays current inmates' names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and expected release dates. Mugshots may be included depending on the database used. The Wells County Jail is housed in the same facility as the Sheriff's Office at 211 West Washington Street. Indiana arrest records are generally considered public unless sealed by court order, and residents may search recent arrests and detentions through the county's online inmate lookup or by calling the jail directly. Historical arrest records and crime logs may require a formal public records request submitted to the Sheriff's Office under Indiana Code 5-14-3.

Indiana birth and death certificates can be ordered online through VitalChek (www.vitalchek.com) for a fee of approximately $28 per certified copy (including processing and service fees), with expedited shipping available for an additional cost. Standard processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail; online orders with rush service may arrive within a few days. Applicants must provide valid identification and proof of eligibility, as Indiana law restricts access to vital records to the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, and other authorized parties under Indiana Code 16-37-1. Marriage licenses for Uniondale residents are issued by the Wells County Clerk's Office, 102 West Market Street, Room 203, Bluffton, IN 46714; phone: (260) 824-6480; website: www.wellscounty.org. Couples must apply in person at the Clerk's Office, and both parties must present valid government-issued photo identification and Social Security numbers. As of 2025, the marriage license fee in Wells County is $18.00 if both applicants complete a pre-marital education program, or $60.00 without the program. The license is valid for 60 days from issuance. Marriage records dating back to the county's founding are maintained by the Clerk's Office and are public records searchable by name and date. Certified copies of marriage certificates are available for a fee. Divorce records are maintained as part of court case files in Wells Circuit or Superior Court and can be accessed through the Clerk's Office or the Indiana Mycase portal; certified copies require a formal request and applicable copying fees.

Home-based businesses and small enterprises in Uniondale typically do not need county-level licenses unless they fall into specific regulated categories, but owners should verify current requirements with the Wells County government offices in Bluffton. Businesses operating under a name other than the owner's legal name must file a fictitious business name (Assumed Business Name or DBA) with the Wells County Clerk's Office, 102 West Market Street, Room 203, Bluffton, IN 46714; phone: (260) 824-6480. DBA filings are public records and can be searched at the Clerk's Office. For formal business entity formation—corporations, LLCs, partnerships, nonprofits—Indiana businesses must register with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The state maintains a free online business entity search at www.in.gov/sos/business, where users can search by business name, registered agent, or entity number to verify active status, view officers and directors, check registration dates, and access annual reports. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien filings, which secure interests in personal property and business assets, are also filed with the Indiana Secretary of State and searchable online. Property owners and business operators in Uniondale can look up commercial property tax assessments through the Wells County Assessor's online portal, which provides assessed values and tax information for all taxable real estate in the county.

Uniondale voters are served by the Wells County Clerk and Voter Registration Office, located at 102 West Market Street, Room 203, Bluffton, IN 46714; phone: (260) 824-6480; website: www.wellscounty.org. Indiana residents may register to vote online through the Indiana Voter Portal at indianavoters.in.gov, which also allows users to check registration status, update addresses, and request absentee ballots. The voter registration deadline in Indiana is 29 days before any election. New voters must provide an Indiana driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Residents may also register in person at the County Clerk's Office, at the BMV when obtaining or renewing a driver's license, or by mailing a completed Indiana Voter Registration Application. Indiana law requires voters to present a valid government-issued photo ID at the polls.

Uniondale, as an unincorporated community, does not hold its own municipal elections for mayor or town council. Voters in Uniondale participate in Wells County, state, and federal elections. County offices on the ballot typically include County Commissioner, County Council, Sheriff, Clerk, Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Assessor, and Coroner, with terms varying by office. Indiana state legislative elections for the General Assembly (State Senate and House of Representatives) are held every two years, and Uniondale is part of legislative districts covering Wells and adjacent counties. At the federal level, voters elect a U.S. Representative from Indiana's 3rd Congressional District.

On November 3, 2026, Uniondale and Wells County voters will participate in the midterm general election. Races on the ballot are expected to include the U.S. Senate seat (Indiana's Senate Class III seat, currently held by Todd Young, is up for election in 2026), U.S. House of Representatives (Indiana's 3rd District), Indiana state legislative seats (State Senate and House districts covering Wells County), and various county offices depending on term schedules. Indiana does not hold gubernatorial elections in 2026, as the Governor is elected in presidential years (next in 2028). The Wells County Clerk's Office will publish a complete candidate list, sample ballots, and local ballot measures (if any) on its website and at the Courthouse prior to the election.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Wells County reported a voter turnout of approximately 70-75%, consistent with Indiana's rural counties in high-interest presidential cycles. Turnout for the 2026 midterm is expected to be lower, as is typical for non-presidential elections. Uniondale voters can find their assigned polling place by using the Indiana Voter Portal's polling place lookup tool (indianavoters.in.gov), entering their residential address. Polls in Indiana are open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time on Election Day.

Indiana offers absentee voting by mail for voters who meet specific criteria, including those who will be absent from the county on Election Day, have a disability, are over 65, work as an election official, are scheduled to work during poll hours, are confined due to illness or injury, are a member of the military, are a serious sex offender, or have a religious obligation. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Wells County Clerk's Office by mail, in person, or online via the Indiana Voter Portal. The application deadline is 11 days before Election Day (or earlier for mail ballots). Completed absentee ballots must be received by the County Clerk by noon on Election Day to be counted. Early in-person voting is available at the Wells County Clerk's Office and sometimes at additional satellite locations in the weeks leading up to Election Day; dates and times are published on the county website.

Election-related public records in Indiana include voter registration lists, precinct-level election results, campaign finance reports, and candidate filings. Voter registration lists may be obtained by qualified requesters (political parties, candidates, researchers) from the County Clerk or the Indiana Secretary of State, though use is restricted by Indiana Code 3-7-26.3. Campaign finance disclosures for state and local candidates are filed with the Indiana Election Division and searchable online at campaignfinance.in.gov. County-level election results, including precinct-by-precinct vote totals, are published by the Wells County Clerk following certification and are available on the county website and through the Indiana Secretary of State's election results portal.