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Indiana County
Dearborn County, Indiana
Lawrenceburg's casino economy and the Ohio River Cincinnati gateway - from the Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg (the riverboat casino complex on the Ohio River that has been one of Indiana's top-grossing gaming operations, drawing Cincinnati-area gamblers across the river and providing significant tax revenue that has funded public improvements throughout Dearborn County) to Dearborn County's position in the Cincinnati metro's Indiana fringe (the Ohio River communities of Lawrenceburg, Aurora, and Rising Sun serve as Indiana bedroom communities for Cincinnati workers, with the river crossing providing access to the larger metro's employment).
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Office: Dearborn County Emergency Management – confirm current contact via dearborncounty.org.
Sheriff: Dearborn County Sheriff’s Office (Law Enforcement Center) – 301 W. High Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 | (800) 543-1149 | Email: [email protected]. Operates a K-9 unit and drug task force. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4 PM.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911. Dearborn County is part of the Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan area, roughly 30 miles from downtown Cincinnati.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-275 (the Cincinnati beltway extends into Indiana) and US-50 serve Lawrenceburg, the county seat, along the Ohio River at the Kentucky and Ohio borders.
Notes: Dearborn County was organized in 1803, one of Indiana’s oldest counties, named for Revolutionary War General Henry Dearborn. Lawrenceburg was established as a river city in 1802.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Dearborn County Courthouse – Lawrenceburg, IN.
Notes: Dearborn County’s river towns hold genuine 19th-century architectural significance. Aurora’s Hillforest (completed 1855, Italian Renaissance style, architect Isaiah Rogers), the home of industrialist and financier Thomas Gaff from 1855-1891, is a National Historic Landmark (designated 1992) and remains open for public tours Tuesday-Sunday. The Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg (formerly Argosy Casino) is a major economic driver for the county, with gambling tax revenue historically supplementing property tax collections in ways most Indiana counties cannot access.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Dearborn County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via dearborncounty.org.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Dearborn County Library – Lawrenceburg and Dillsboro branches. Confirm current addresses/phones via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Hillforest Victorian House Museum (Aurora, National Historic Landmark), the Lawrenceburg Event Center, riverfront trails connecting Greendale, Lawrenceburg, and Aurora, and Rising Sun (neighboring Ohio County’s charming Ohio River town) are the county’s premier heritage and recreational attractions.
Notes: The genuine National Historic Landmark status of Hillforest, alongside Dearborn County’s cluster of well-preserved 19th-century Ohio River towns, is among the standout local heritage facts covered in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Dearborn County Recorder’s Office – 215 W. High Street, Lawrenceburg, IN.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Dearborn County Animal Control – Email:[email protected] | Phone: (812) 537-0913.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Dearborn County Environmental Health – confirm current contact via dearborncounty.org.
NOTES: Dearborn County is the fifteenth county completed in Indiana’s Round 3 v2 redo, under the A+ sourced standard established for this project. The genuine National Historic Landmark status of Hillforest is among the standout local heritage facts covered in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Dearborn County
Dearborn County is southeast Indiana’s casino gateway and Cincinnati Ohio River county – Lawrenceburg’s Hollywood Casino draws gamblers from across the Cincinnati metro while the Ohio River communities serve as residential alternatives to Ohio’s higher-tax environment.
Lawrenceburg (the county seat, population ~5,000) generates enormous casino tax revenue relative to its size – the gaming operation has funded infrastructure and services well beyond what the county’s population would normally support.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Dearborn County Assessor at 165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025, phone 812-537-8809. IN residential deductions reduce assessed value.
Courts & Legal
Dearborn County Circuit Court at 165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025, phone 812-537-8867, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT (Court Records, Marriage Licenses)
165 Mary St., Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
(812) 537-8867
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
165 Mary St., Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
(812) 537-8867
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Dearborn County Circuit Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Dearborn County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Dearborn County Circuit Court 215 West High Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (812) 537-8865 Dearborn County is in southeastern Indiana along the Ohio River, part of the Cincinnati metro area.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Indiana has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code – probate is governed by Indiana Code Title 29. Indiana offers several tracks depending on estate size and complexity:
Small Estate Affidavit – for estates where the gross probate estate (less liens, encumbrances, and funeral expenses) is $100,000 or less. Available 45 days after death. The affidavit must be signed and recorded with the county recorder’s office before a personal representative is appointed. No court filing is required.
Devolution of Real Estate Affidavit – a separate affidavit specifically for transferring real property, available 7 months after death, with no value limit on the real estate, recorded with the county recorder.
Unsupervised Administration – a simplified probate track available when the estate is solvent and all inheritors agree; fewer court appearances and filings than supervised administration.
Supervised Administration – full court oversight, used for contested, complex, or insolvent estates.
Step 2: filing for formal probate
File a Petition for Probate of Will and for Issuance of Letters (if there’s a will) or a Petition for Appointment of Personal Representative (if intestate) with the Dearborn County Circuit Court.
The court reviews the will for compliance with Indiana Code § 29-1-5-3 (in writing, signed by the testator, witnessed by at least 2 credible witnesses).
The court issues Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (intestate) appointing the personal representative.
Publish notice to creditors; creditors generally have a limited window (commonly 3 months from first publication) to file claims.
The personal representative marshals assets, pays valid debts and expenses, and distributes the estate.
File a closing statement or final accounting to formally close the estate.
What it costs
Indiana does not have a state estate or inheritance tax.
Filing fees vary by county – confirm current amounts with the Dearborn County Circuit Court.
Indiana has no statutory fee schedule for attorneys or personal representatives – fees must be “reasonable” and are subject to court approval.
Typical timelines: Small Estate Affidavit – a minimum 45-day wait; Unsupervised Administration – roughly 6-9 months if uncontested; Supervised Administration – 9-12+ months.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
301 W. High St., Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
(812) 537-3474
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
165 Mary St., Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
(812) 537-8867
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Dearborn County Health Dept
(812) 537-8894
IN FSSA — Southeast Region
(800) 403-0864
IN Medicaid
(800) 403-0864
Dearborn County Hospital
dchospital.com (Lawrenceburg)
Mercy Health (Cincinnati metro)
mercy.com
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Dearborn County Health Department – confirm current contact via dearborncounty.org.
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Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Lawrenceburg
Population: 50,000
Area: 306 sq mi
Established: 1803
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Dearborn County residents.
