Westport, Indiana Public Records

Decatur Superior Court primarily handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, small claims (up to $8,000), evictions, and protective orders. Indiana courts operate on a unified trial court system, and Westport residents may have cases assigned to either court depending on case type and filing time. Court records can be searched online through the Indiana Odyssey Case Management System (mycase.in.gov), which provides free public access to case information including party names, charges or claims, filing dates, hearing schedules, and case dispositions. Some documents are available for viewing online, while others require in-person or mail requests. The Decatur County Clerk's Office at 150 Courthouse Square, Suite 3, Greensburg, IN 47240 (phone: 812-222-6124) maintains the official court records and can provide certified copies for a fee. As of current schedules, certified copies cost $1 per page after the first page, and exemplified copies (needed for out-of-state use) cost an additional $5. Marriage licenses are also issued through the Clerk's Office for $18, with no waiting period in Indiana. Court records are generally public unless sealed by court order, and requests are processed under Indiana Access to Public Records Act guidelines.

Property tax information and assessments can be searched online through the Indiana Gateway portal at indianagateway.in.gov, which provides free access to parcel data by address, owner name, or parcel number. The county also maintains a GIS mapping system accessible through Beacon (https://beacon.schneidercorp.com), which allows users to view parcel boundaries, aerial imagery, and property characteristics. The Decatur County Recorder's Office, located at 150 Courthouse Square, Suite 5, Greensburg, IN 47240 (phone: 812-222-6122), maintains all recorded documents affecting real property, including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage releases, liens, lis pendens notices, easements, and plats. Indiana law requires most real estate transfers and encumbrances to be recorded to provide public notice and establish chain of title. Recorded documents can be searched online through the county's remote access system at decaturcountyin-web.legalgov.com, which provides searchable document images dating back several decades. There is no fee to search, though the Recorder charges $26 for the first page and $1 for each additional page to record new documents. Certified copies cost $1 per page. All Westport property owners can access their property records, tax history, and recorded documents through these online systems or by visiting the courthouse in person.

Agriculture remains the dominant economic activity in the surrounding Sand Creek Township, with family farms producing corn, soybeans, wheat, and livestock. Many Westport residents commute to larger employment centers including Greensburg (12 miles southeast), where employers include Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (a major automotive facility employing thousands), Decatur County Memorial Hospital, and various manufacturing and distribution facilities. Columbus, located about 20 miles northwest, offers additional employment opportunities with Cummins Inc. (diesel engines and power generation) and numerous automotive suppliers. The median household income for Westport is estimated at approximately $48,000-$52,000, somewhat below the Indiana state median, reflecting the town's rural character and aging population. Recent economic development has been modest, with most growth concentrated in Greensburg's industrial parks rather than in Westport proper. The town maintains a small commercial district along Main Street with essential services including a post office, convenience stores, and service businesses. Westport's economic character is typical of small Indiana towns that serve as residential communities for workers employed in nearby larger municipalities, while maintaining connections to the agricultural heritage that shaped the region.

Law enforcement services for Westport, Indiana are provided primarily by the Decatur County Sheriff's Office, located at 150 Courthouse Square, Suite 6, Greensburg, IN 47240 (phone: 812-222-5150). The Sheriff's Office maintains jurisdiction over unincorporated areas and provides contract services to towns like Westport that do not maintain their own police departments. Residents can request incident reports, accident reports, and other law enforcement records by contacting the Sheriff's Office directly during business hours or submitting a written request under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3-3). The statute requires agencies to respond to public records requests within a reasonable time, typically within 24 hours for simple requests, though the agency may deny requests for records that are part of an active investigation or contain confidential information. The Decatur County Jail, operated by the Sheriff's Office at the same address, maintains an inmate roster that can be accessed by calling the jail or visiting in person; however, Decatur County does not currently offer a comprehensive online inmate search portal. Booking information typically includes the arrestee's name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and booking photo when available. For state-level arrest records and criminal history checks, the Indiana State Police maintains records accessible through the state's Limited Criminal History system. Residents can also contact the Greensburg Police Department at 314 West Main Street, Greensburg, IN 47240 (phone: 812-663-2121) for incidents occurring within Greensburg city limits, though Westport-specific incidents fall under the Sheriff's jurisdiction.

Birth certificates cost $28 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time; death certificates cost the same amount. Indiana allows birth certificates to be ordered online through the state's VitalChek system (vitalchek.com), with additional service fees applying. Applicants must provide valid identification and proof of relationship or legal authority to obtain records, as Indiana restricts birth certificate access to the registrant (if of legal age), parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, or authorized representatives. Death certificates are less restricted and can be obtained by anyone with a direct and tangible interest. Records are typically processed within 3-5 business days for in-person requests and 2-3 weeks for mail orders. Marriage licenses are issued by the Decatur County Clerk's Office at 150 Courthouse Square, Suite 3, Greensburg, IN 47240 (phone: 812-222-6124), and cost $18. Indiana eliminated its mandatory waiting period in 2019, so licenses are issued immediately upon application. Both parties must appear in person with valid government-issued photo ID and their Social Security numbers. Certified copies of marriage records cost $2 each. Divorce records are maintained as court records through the Decatur Circuit Court and can be accessed through the court clerk's office or the Indiana Odyssey online case system. Historical vital records dating to the 1880s are available through the Indiana State Archives, though most digitized records are available through the county health department or online ordering systems for events from the 1950s forward.

For county-level requirements, businesses should contact the Decatur County Building Department at the Decatur County Courthouse. Fictitious business name registrations (also called "Assumed Business Name" or DBA filings) are filed with the Decatur County Clerk's Office at 150 Courthouse Square, Suite 3, Greensburg, IN 47240 (phone: 812-222-6124). Indiana law requires businesses operating under a name other than the owner's legal name to register with the county clerk in each county where they do business. The filing fee is $30 and registrations must be renewed every five years. All formal business entities—corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and nonprofit corporations—must register with the Indiana Secretary of State. Business entity searches can be conducted free of charge through INBiz at inbiz.in.gov, the state's online business portal. The database provides information on entity name, registration date, status (active or dissolved), registered agent, principal office address, and officers or members for LLCs. New businesses can also file their formation documents and annual reports through INBiz. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements, which establish security interests in personal property and business assets, are also filed with the Secretary of State and searchable through the INBiz system. For property tax assessments on commercial real estate in Westport, business owners can search through the Decatur County Assessor's online property database or contact the Assessor's Office at 812-222-6121. Commercial properties are assessed using income and market approaches, and property tax bills are issued by the Decatur County Treasurer at 150 Courthouse Square, Suite 8, Greensburg, IN 47240 (phone: 812-222-6125).

Westport, Indiana voters are served by the Decatur County Clerk's Office, which functions as the county's election authority and voter registration office. The office is located at 150 Courthouse Square, Suite 3, Greensburg, IN 47240 (phone: 812-222-6124, website: decaturcounty.in.gov/clerk.html). Indiana residents can register to vote online through the Indiana Voter Portal at indianavoters.in.gov, which allows new registrations, address updates, and checking of registration status. The deadline to register for any election is 29 days before Election Day. Voters must provide their Indiana driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Indiana requires voters to present government-issued photo ID at the polls, one of the strictest voter ID laws in the nation. As an incorporated town, Westport holds municipal elections for its Town Council during Indiana's municipal election cycle, which occurs in odd-numbered years (most recently 2023, next in 2027). Westport has a five-member Town Council elected at-large to four-year staggered terms. Municipal elections are typically held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd years. Westport residents can find their assigned polling place by using the polling location lookup tool at indianavoters.in.gov or by contacting the County Clerk's office. For the November 4, 2024 general election, Decatur County reported approximately 10,200 votes cast out of roughly 17,500 registered voters, representing a turnout of approximately 58% for the presidential election. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Westport and Decatur County voters will decide several important races. Indiana will elect a U.S. Senator (Class III seat currently held by Todd Young, up for election in 2026), all nine U.S. House seats including Indiana's 6th Congressional District which includes Decatur County, and all 100 Indiana House seats and 25 of 50 Indiana Senate seats (half the Senate is up each cycle). State-level offices on the ballot may include Attorney General, Auditor, and other constitutional offices depending on the election cycle. At the county level, multiple Decatur County offices including County Commissioner, County Council, Sheriff, Assessor, Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer, Clerk, Coroner, and Surveyor positions are up for election in 2026 (county offices are elected on four-year cycles). Election records that are public in Indiana include voter registration lists (available for purchase for lawful election purposes), campaign finance reports filed with the Indiana Election Division or county election boards (searchable at in.gov/sos/elections/campaign-finance), candidate filings and declarations, and precinct-level election results published after each election. Voters can request absentee ballots by mail through written application to the County Clerk at least 12 days before the election, or can vote early in person at the County Clerk's office beginning 29 days before Election Day through noon the day before the election. Indiana offers no-excuse absentee voting by mail for any registered voter. All election information, sample ballots, and candidate lists for Westport voters are available through the County Clerk's office and the Indiana Voter Portal.