I own a home in Indiana
Homestead deductions, tax caps, assessments, and deeds.
INDIANA GUIDE
Life in Indiana comes
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Know what comes next.
From constitutional tax caps and homestead deductions to township trustees, tornado season, and starting a business, CountyOffices gives you clear Indiana-specific guidance for the things that matter.
Reviewed against official Indiana government sources • Updated as laws and requirements change
What brings you here today?
I own a home in Indiana
Indiana's Constitution caps property tax on your primary residence at 1% of gross assessed value - if your home is assessed at $300,000, your total property tax bill can never exceed $3,000, regardless of local levies, thanks to a "circuit breaker" credit that automatically reduces any bill exceeding the cap. Before that cap even applies, the Standard Homestead Deduction removes up to $48,000 (or 60% of assessed value, whichever is less) from your home's taxable value, with a further 40% supplemental deduction on what's left - file this once through your county Auditor and it applies going forward, no annual reapplication needed unless ownership changes. Property tax bills come in two installments each year, due May 10 and November 10. Deeds are recorded with the county Recorder, but property transfers actually touch three separate offices: the Auditor (who processes the deduction and updates tax records), the Recorder (who files the deed), and the Treasurer (who bills and collects the tax).
Sources: Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance, county Auditor and Recorder offices, Indiana Constitution Article X
I'm buying or selling property
Closings, title searches, deeds, sales disclosures, and property records.
I'm buying or selling property
Indiana closings typically go through a title company, with deeds recorded by the county Recorder. Before that recording happens, Indiana requires a Sales Disclosure Form to be filed with the county Assessor, capturing the actual sale price and terms - this form is what lets the Assessor track real market activity for future assessments, and it's a required step distinct from simply recording the deed. A title search through the Recorder's records confirms there are no outstanding liens before closing. Once you buy and move in, file for the Standard Homestead Deduction through the county Auditor if you'll occupy the home as your primary residence - it removes up to $48,000 (or 60% of assessed value) from your taxable value plus a 40% supplemental deduction, and it never transfers with the sale, so new owners must file their own application. Note that Indiana eliminated the separate mortgage deduction as of the 2023 assessment year (taxes payable 2024); it's now folded into the homestead deduction rather than claimed separately.
Sources: county Recorder and Auditor offices, Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance
I'm preparing for tornado season
Safe rooms, weather alerts, insurance documents, and county resources.
I'm preparing for tornado season
Indiana sits at the eastern edge of Tornado Alley, with risk peaking in spring through early summer, though tornadoes can occur nearly any time of year. In much of unincorporated Indiana, your township - not the county directly - is responsible for fire protection and emergency response coordination, so know whether your area is served by a township-run fire department or a contracted one before a storm hits. Weather alert systems vary by county, so check with your specific county Emergency Management Agency for how warnings reach you (sirens, apps, reverse-911). After a tornado, your county Assessor can reassess storm-damaged property, and your county Recorder holds the property records you'll need for insurance and any FEMA claims if a federal disaster is declared. If you're displaced and need emergency assistance with shelter or basic needs, Indiana's township trustees provide "last resort" emergency assistance as a distinct, separate resource from county or FEMA aid.
Sources: Indiana Dept. of Homeland Security, FEMA, county Emergency Management offices
Someone passed away
Probate, wills, estates, and county filing steps.
Someone passed away
Probate in Indiana is filed with the Circuit or Superior Court in the county where the deceased lived. Indiana offers a small estate affidavit process for estates under a statutory value threshold, letting heirs collect certain assets without opening full probate, and Indiana's version of unsupervised administration allows a relatively streamlined process for straightforward, uncontested estates when the will authorizes it or all interested parties agree. Whether an estate needs full, supervised administration depends on its size, whether there's a will, and whether there's disagreement among heirs. If the deceased owned a home with the Standard Homestead Deduction applied, that deduction doesn't transfer automatically to heirs - whoever inherits and occupies the home needs to file their own application with the county Auditor. Property records for any real estate in the estate are held by the county Recorder, a separate office from the court handling the probate case.
Sources: Indiana Courts, Indiana Code Title 29 (Probate)
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses, divorce filing, name changes, and official records.
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses are issued by the county Clerk, and Indiana has no residency requirement - you can apply in any county regardless of where you live, though the ceremony must take place in Indiana. There's a three-day waiting period between applying and the ceremony (the clock starts the day after you apply), and once issued, the license is valid for 60 days. Divorce (legally "dissolution of marriage") is filed with the county Circuit or Superior Court, and Indiana requires at least 6 months of state residency plus 3 months of residency in the specific filing county. Indiana imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period from filing before any final hearing can occur - this can't be shortened or waived, even when both spouses agree on everything. Indiana is primarily a no-fault state, using "irretrievable breakdown" as the standard ground, and property division starts from a presumption of an equal 50/50 split, more specific than the "equitable but not necessarily equal" standard many other states use.
Sources: Indiana Courts, county Clerk offices, Indiana Code Title 31
I own farm land
Farmland assessment, drainage, land records, and rural services.
I own farm land
Indiana's constitutional property tax caps apply differently to agricultural land than to a homestead: farmland is capped at 2% of gross assessed value, the same tier as non-homestead residential property, rather than the lower 1% homestead rate. Farmland itself is assessed using a statewide base rate calculated annually by the Dept. of Local Government Finance from agricultural income and soil productivity data, then adjusted by soil type for each specific parcel - a genuinely different valuation method than the market-value approach used for homes and commercial property. Drainage is a distinct and important issue for Indiana farmland: many counties maintain regulated drains through a county Surveyor's office, and property within a drainage district may owe a separate drainage assessment on top of regular property tax. Land records and easements affecting farmland are recorded with the county Recorder, same as any other property, but agricultural-specific questions (drainage, soil assessment, farmland base rates) typically go through the county Surveyor or Assessor rather than the Recorder.
Sources: Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance, county Assessor and Surveyor offices
I need an official record
Birth, death, marriage, court, property, and business records.
I need an official record
Birth and death certificates come from the Indiana State Dept. of Health's Vital Records office, though many local health departments can also process requests for events that occurred in that county. Marriage records are held by the county Clerk where the license was issued. Property records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded and searchable through the county Recorder, generally free to search in person with a fee for certified copies; online availability varies by county. Court records for civil, criminal, and probate cases come from the Circuit or Superior Court Clerk, a separate office from the county Clerk who handles marriage licenses in some counties, or the same office in others, depending on how the county has organized its offices. Business entity records are filed with the Indiana Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property tax and assessment records specifically route through the county Auditor and Assessor, separate from all of the above.
Sources: Indiana State Dept. of Health, county Clerk and Recorder offices, Indiana Secretary of State
I'm starting or running a business
Licenses, permits, EIN, sales tax, and local requirements.
I'm starting or running a business
Registering a business in Indiana starts with the Secretary of State, where you file to form an LLC or corporation and register a trade name. From there, most businesses register with the Indiana Dept. of Revenue for a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate if they'll sell taxable goods or services, and get an EIN from the IRS if they're not a sole proprietor with no employees. County and city requirements come next: many Indiana cities require a local business license or zoning approval, and if you'll own commercial vehicles, remember that Indiana's Bureau of Motor Vehicles handles titling and registration at the state level, with a county excise tax built into your registration fee. Business personal property (equipment, furnishings, inventory) is subject to Indiana's constitutional 3% tax cap, the same as other non-homestead, non-residential property, assessed through your county Assessor. Zoning and building permits for a physical location come from your county or city planning department.
Sources: Indiana Secretary of State, Indiana Dept. of Revenue, Indiana BMV, IRS
How-To Guides for Indiana
How do I access court records?
Read guide →How do I appeal my property tax assessment?
Read guide →How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?
Read guide →How do I find and access senior services?
Read guide →How do I get a business license?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a death certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a marriage license?
Read guide →How do I pay my property taxes?
Read guide →How do I register to vote or check my registration?
Read guide →How to Research Your Family History in Indiana
Read guide →Indiana Statewide Probate Guide
Read guide →Open Records
Read guide →Indiana works differently. Here's what to know.
Tax Caps in the Constitution
Indiana constitutionally caps property tax bills as a share of value, with homesteads capped lowest.
Tax Caps in the Constitution
Most states control property tax through statute, which legislatures can amend relatively easily. Indiana instead wrote its property tax caps directly into the state Constitution, approved by voters in 2010: a primary residence (homestead) can never be taxed more than 1% of its gross assessed value, other residential property and farmland are capped at 2%, and all other property (business, non-homestead) at 3%. If your calculated tax bill would exceed the applicable cap, a "circuit breaker" credit automatically reduces it down to the capped amount - you don't have to apply for this specifically; it's built into how your bill is calculated. Referendum-approved taxes (typically for schools) can sit outside the cap in some cases, so your actual bill can occasionally exceed the percentage if voters in your district approved an additional levy. Because the caps are constitutional rather than statutory, changing them would require another statewide referendum, not just a legislative vote - a much higher bar than most states use for their tax relief mechanisms.
Sources: Indiana Constitution Article X, Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance
Homestead Deductions
Filing once can remove a large share of your home's assessed value from taxation.
Homestead Deductions
Indiana's Standard Homestead Deduction is worth applying for the moment you move into a primary residence: it removes the lesser of $48,000 or 60% of your home's assessed value from taxation, and then a Supplemental Homestead Deduction removes another 40% of whatever assessed value remains after that. Together, these deductions can shelter a substantial share of a typical home's value before your tax bill (and the 1% constitutional cap) are even calculated. Unlike some states' exemptions, you generally only need to file once through your county Auditor - the deduction carries forward automatically as long as you continue to own and occupy the home, with no annual reapplication required. A separate mortgage deduction used to exist alongside the homestead deduction, but Indiana eliminated it starting with the 2023 assessment year (taxes payable 2024); it's now effectively folded into the homestead deduction rather than claimed as its own line item.
Sources: Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance, county Auditor offices
Township Trustees Still Serve
Indiana townships handle emergency assistance and some fire protection.
Township Trustees Still Serve
Indiana retains a layer of local government that most states have phased out: township government, with an elected Trustee overseeing each of Indiana's roughly 1,000 townships, assisted by a three-member Township Board. Township Trustees are legally responsible for two distinctive functions: providing fire protection and ambulance service for unincorporated areas of the township (either by running a township fire department directly or contracting with one), and administering "township assistance," a last-resort emergency relief program for residents who can't otherwise afford basic needs like rent, utilities, or burial expenses. This isn't cash assistance - the trustee pays vendors and landlords directly rather than giving money to applicants - and it requires showing you've exhausted other resources first. Indiana has periodically debated consolidating or eliminating township government, and a 2023 state law reduced the number of township governments in some areas, so check whether your specific township still operates independently or has been merged with a neighboring one.
Sources: Indiana Township Association, Indiana Code Title 36, Article 6
The BMV & County Excise Tax
Plates come from state BMV branches, with a county excise tax built into registration.
The BMV & County Excise Tax
Indiana handles vehicle titling and license plates through a genuinely state-run agency, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), with branches throughout the state rather than a county office handling this function. But your registration bill isn't purely a state fee: it includes a county vehicle excise tax, calculated based on your vehicle's age and value, which is collected by the state alongside registration but then distributed back to your home county. This means your annual registration cost genuinely varies depending on which Indiana county you live in, even though you're paying it at a state BMV branch rather than a local office. Some counties and municipalities also add a wheel tax on top, a flat additional fee that funds local road maintenance. If your registration bill seems higher than a friend's in another county, the county excise tax and any local wheel tax are usually why.
Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance
Three Offices Touch Your Deed
The Auditor, Recorder, and Treasurer each handle part of every property transfer.
Three Offices Touch Your Deed
A single property transfer in Indiana passes through three distinct county offices, each handling a different piece. The Recorder physically records and archives your deed, mortgage, or lien - the office most people think of first. The Auditor processes homestead and other deductions, maintains the property tax duplicate (the county's master tax record), and updates ownership records for tax purposes once a transfer is recorded. The Treasurer bills and collects the actual property tax based on what the Auditor's records show. These are three separate elected offices with three separate responsibilities, not one office wearing different hats - so a homestead deduction question goes to the Auditor, a deed copy request goes to the Recorder, and a tax payment or delinquency question goes to the Treasurer. Knowing which of the three you need before you call saves a redirected phone call or an extra trip to the courthouse.
Sources: county Auditor, Recorder, and Treasurer offices, Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance
Two Tax Installments a Year
Property tax bills come due in spring and fall installments.
Two Tax Installments a Year
Indiana property tax bills come due twice a year, on May 10 and November 10, splitting your annual bill into two roughly equal payments rather than one lump sum or a more frequent schedule. Your county Treasurer mails bills ahead of each due date, and missing either deadline triggers a penalty, typically 5% for the first 30 days delinquent and 10% after that (rates and exact escalation can vary slightly, so confirm with your county Treasurer). Assessments themselves run on a different calendar: Indiana reassesses roughly 25% of parcels each year on a four-year cycle, with annual market-based "trending" adjustments applied in between full reassessments, so your assessed value can shift even in a year your property isn't up for full reassessment. If you disagree with your assessment, appeals go through the county Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals first, with further appeal available to the Indiana Board of Tax Review.
Sources: Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance, county Treasurer offices
The questions Indiana residents actually ask
Indiana county records online availability has improved significantly through the Indiana MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov/mycase, which provides statewide court case searching across counties using the Odyssey case management system. Many county Recorders offer online deed searching through their websites or through the Indiana Recorders Association portal. The Indiana Secretary of State provides free online business entity searching. Vital records require ordering through the Indiana Department of Health. For Indiana county records not available online, the Access to Public Records Act at Indiana Code Section 5-14-3 requires agencies to permit inspection within twenty-four hours.
Indiana birth and death certificates from 1900 onward are maintained by the Indiana Department of Health, Vital Records Division in Indianapolis. Certified copies can be ordered online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at the Indianapolis office. Birth records are restricted to the individual named, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Pre-1900 births and deaths are found in county registers, township records, and church records, with many collections held by the Indiana State Archives and the Indiana State Library. Some Indiana county records for births and deaths before 1900 survive in County Clerk files and church registers at the county level.
Indiana county records for real property are held by the County Recorder in the county where the property is located. The County Recorder maintains deeds, mortgages, plats, and other recorded instruments. Many larger Indiana counties provide online deed searching through the County Recorder's website or through the Indiana Recorders Association statewide portal. Property tax assessment records are held by the County Auditor, not a separate Assessor, and tax payment records are maintained by the County Treasurer. Researchers need to contact the Recorder for title documents and the Auditor for assessment and tax history to build a complete picture of an Indiana property's record.
The Indiana MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov/mycase provides public access to court case information for counties using the Odyssey case management system. Coverage is expanding but not yet statewide for all case types. Case details include party names, charges, hearing dates, and case dispositions. For complete case files, contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Indiana county records for probate matters are part of the Circuit Court's probate jurisdiction and are held by the Circuit Court Clerk. Fees for certified copies of court documents are set by the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure.
The Indiana State Archives in Indianapolis is the primary repository for historical Indiana county records, holding transferred deed books, court minutes, probate files, and county records from many of the state's 92 counties. The Indiana State Library's Genealogy Division holds an extensive collection of county histories, microfilmed vital records, and newspaper archives. FamilySearch has digitized significant portions of Indiana county records microfilm. County libraries and genealogical societies across the state hold local collections. For Quaker family research, the Indiana State Library and county historical societies in Wayne and Randolph counties hold meeting records that supplement official Indiana county records.
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at Indiana Code Section 5-14-3 et seq. provides public access to government records held by all Indiana government agencies including county offices. Submit a written or oral request to the public access counselor or records custodian at the relevant county agency. The agency must permit inspection within twenty-four hours and provide copies within seven days. No reason for the request is required. If a request is denied, the requester may appeal to the Indiana Public Access Counselor, who issues advisory opinions, or pursue the matter in circuit court. The Public Access Counselor's office provides free guidance on accessing Indiana county records.
The Circuit Court Clerk in Indiana maintains one of the broadest record sets of any county officer. Indiana county records held by the Circuit Court Clerk include civil case files, criminal case files, probate and estate matters, family court and divorce records, and marriage licenses and marriage record books. Because the Circuit Court Clerk issues marriage licenses rather than a separate county clerk or recorder, researchers seeking marriage records must contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county of license issuance. The Clerk also handles jury management, court fee collection, and certain administrative functions for all court divisions within the county.
Marriage licenses in Indiana are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the couple applied for the license. To obtain a copy, contact the Circuit Court Clerk with the names of both parties and the approximate marriage date. The Indiana Department of Health holds marriage records from 1958 onward and can provide certified copies. Historical marriage records before 1958 are found in Circuit Court Clerk files and microfilm held by the Indiana State Archives. FamilySearch provides indexed and digitized Indiana marriage records from many counties and periods. Early Indiana county records include marriage registers maintained in territorial and early statehood court books.
Indiana criminal history records are maintained by the Indiana State Police, Indiana Data and Communication System (IDACS). The public can request a criminal background check through the State Police online portal for a fee. Individual county-level criminal case records within Indiana county records are accessible through the Indiana MyCase portal or by contacting the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was heard. Certified criminal history information requires a formal State Police request. Some Indiana records may be restricted or expunged under Indiana's expungement statutes upon successful petition to the Circuit Court.
Free access to Indiana county records for land varies by county. Many counties participate in the Indiana Recorders Association statewide portal, with some records available free and others requiring a subscription. Larger counties including Marion, Hamilton, and Allen provide free or low-cost online deed searching through county websites. Searching in person at the County Recorder's office is generally free. The Indiana State Archives provides free in-person access to historical Indiana county records including transferred deed books. FamilySearch provides free online access to digitized Indiana land records and vital records from many counties.
Uni-Gov is the consolidated city-county government created in 1970 that merged Indianapolis city government with Marion County government. Under Uni-Gov, the Mayor of Indianapolis and a City-County Council govern both the city and county together. However, constitutional county officers including the County Recorder, Auditor, Treasurer, Assessor, and Circuit Court Clerk remain as separate elected positions operating under state law. Indiana county records for Marion County are maintained by these constitutional officers and by city departments depending on the function. Researchers working on Indianapolis or Marion County matters need to identify whether the relevant records are held by a county constitutional officer or a city department within the Uni-Gov structure.
Fees for Indiana county records vary by record type and county. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act limits copying fees to the actual cost of reproduction. Certified copies of deeds and recorded instruments carry per-page fees set by state statute. The Indiana Department of Health charges fixed fees for certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates. Circuit Court fees for copies of case documents are set by the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure. County Auditor fees for certified tax records vary by county. Contacting the relevant office before submitting a request is the best way to confirm current fee schedules and available delivery options.
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Important Deadlines in Indiana
Indiana's property tax installments are due May 10 and November 10 each year - genuinely fixed dates worth marking on your calendar, since missing either brings a 5% penalty (rising to 10% if still unpaid 30 days later).
Important Deadlines in Indiana
Indiana's property tax installments are due May 10 and November 10 each year - genuinely fixed dates worth marking on your calendar, since missing either brings a 5% penalty (rising to 10% if still unpaid 30 days later). The Homestead Standard Deduction, which can reduce your home's taxable assessed value by up to 60%, is a one-time filing with your county Auditor that renews automatically - but if you're filing based on a deed recorded that same year, the deadline is December 31; if you're filing on a previously recorded deed, you generally have until January 15 of the following year. A deduction or exemption in place on January 1 of any year stays in effect for that entire tax year even if ownership or use changes afterward. If you're married, both spouses' information (including the last five digits of Social Security numbers and driver's license or state ID) is required on the homestead application, even if only one spouse is on the title. If you disagree with your assessed value, appeal deadlines generally run 45 days from your assessment notice - confirm your specific county's exact date, since timing can shift year to year.
Sources: Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance, county Auditor and Treasurer offices, Indiana Code §6-1.1
Assessment Appeals in Indiana
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Indiana generally gives you 45 days from the date your assessment notice is mailed to file an appeal - start by filing with your county Assessor, since Indiana's process typically begins with an informal review at that level before escalating further.
Assessment Appeals in Indiana
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Indiana generally gives you 45 days from the date your assessment notice is mailed to file an appeal - start by filing with your county Assessor, since Indiana's process typically begins with an informal review at that level before escalating further. Bring genuine supporting evidence: comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or documentation of a factual error in your property's characteristics (square footage, acreage, condition). If informal resolution doesn't work, your case moves to the county Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals (PTABOA), a citizen panel distinct from the Assessor's office. Successfully challenging an assessment can lead to a genuinely permanent reduction in your tax bill going forward, not just a one-year adjustment, making the appeal worth pursuing if your valuation seems disproportionately high compared to similar properties. If you disagree with the PTABOA's decision, further appeal to the Indiana Board of Tax Review, and beyond that to the Indiana Tax Court, remains available. Because Indiana's constitutional tax caps already limit your total bill as a percentage of assessed value (1% for homesteads, 2% for other residential and farmland, 3% for other property), a successful appeal reducing your assessed value can have real compounding benefit if you're near your cap threshold.
Read the full property tax appeal guide →
Sources: Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance, county Assessor and Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals offices, Indiana Code §6-1.1-15
Public Records Access in Indiana
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA) presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records.
Public Records Access in Indiana
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA) presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records. Agencies must respond within a reasonable time (24 hours for a specific record request in some circumstances, longer for broader requests), and cite a specific statutory exemption if a request is denied - common exemptions include certain law enforcement investigative records, personnel and medical information, and other categories the legislature has carved out. Indiana genuinely splits real estate paperwork across three distinct county offices: the Auditor tracks property tax deductions and ownership transfers, the Recorder handles the actual deed recording, and the Treasurer bills and collects tax - every property transfer genuinely touches all three before it's complete. Court records for civil, criminal, and probate matters come from the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Business entity records are filed with the Indiana Secretary of State, searchable statewide. If a records request is denied, you can appeal to the Indiana Public Access Counselor, a dedicated state office that reviews access disputes and issues advisory opinions.
Read the full open records guide →
Sources: Indiana Public Access Counselor, Indiana Code §5-14-3 (Access to Public Records Act), county Auditor, Recorder, and Treasurer offices
Storm & Recovery Help in Indiana
Indiana faces genuine tornado risk with peak season running spring through early summer, and the state's flat terrain in central and northern Indiana means storms can move fast with limited natural barriers to slow them.
Storm & Recovery Help in Indiana
Indiana faces genuine tornado risk with peak season running spring through early summer, and the state's flat terrain in central and northern Indiana means storms can move fast with limited natural barriers to slow them. Know your county's warning system and, if you have one, your safe room location before severe weather season starts. Indiana's township trustees genuinely play a role here too - beyond their usual emergency assistance duties, some townships provide fire protection, so know whether your specific township runs its own fire service or contracts with a neighboring department. Your county Emergency Management Agency coordinates local response and maintains current warning information during active weather events. After a tornado or storm causes damage, your county Assessor can adjust your property's valuation to reflect the damage, and if a federal disaster is declared, FEMA assistance becomes available for both individual homeowners and local government recovery costs. Insurance claims should be filed promptly with documentation (photos, a written inventory, receipts for emergency repairs), since claim processes carry their own timelines. Building permits for storm repairs and rebuilds go through your county or city building department, and rules can differ depending on whether you're rebuilding in a floodplain versus simply repairing storm damage elsewhere.
Sources: Indiana Dept. of Homeland Security, FEMA, county Emergency Management Agency and Assessor offices
New to Indiana?
As a new Indiana resident, check with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle - BMV handles both, with a county excise tax built directly into your registration fee.
New to Indiana?
As a new Indiana resident, check with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle - BMV handles both, with a county excise tax built directly into your registration fee. If you've purchased a home, file the Homestead Standard Deduction with your county Auditor - it's a one-time filing that reduces your taxable assessed value by up to 60% and renews automatically, but the deadline depends on timing: December 31 if filing alongside a deed recorded that year, or January 15 of the following year if filing on a previously recorded deed. Remember your property tax bill arrives in two installments, due May 10 and November 10 - mark both dates, since penalties apply immediately after each. Register to vote through your county Voter Registration office or online through the Indiana Secretary of State. Property paperwork here touches three separate county offices - Auditor (deductions and transfers), Recorder (deeds), and Treasurer (billing) - so know which one you need. If you're in a rural township, your township trustee may provide emergency assistance and, in some areas, fire protection - worth knowing as a local resource beyond just county government.
Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance, county Auditor and Recorder offices, Indiana Secretary of State
Find the services available in your county
Indiana laws apply statewide, but offices, services, procedures and local requirements can vary by county. Select your county for verified local offices, services and official resources.
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Sources and References
- Indiana Access to Public Records Act, Indiana Code Section 5-14-3 et seq.
- Indiana State Archives: in.gov/iara/state-archives
- Indiana Department of Health, Vital Records: in.gov/isdh/vital-records
- Indiana MyCase Portal: public.courts.in.gov/mycase
- Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services: sos.in.gov/business
- Indiana Gateway for Government Units: gateway.ifionline.org
- Indiana State Police, Criminal History: in.gov/isp
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