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Indiana County
Fulton County, Indiana
Rochester and Tippecanoe River lake country - from Rochester's Fulton County Historical Society (one of Indiana's most active county historical organizations, known for its annual Trail of Courage Living History Festival celebrating the Potawatomi heritage of north-central Indiana) to Fulton County's network of natural lakes and the Tippecanoe River (the county's lakes and river corridor support fishing, boating, and seasonal tourism while the surrounding agricultural landscape produces corn, soybeans, and mint - Fulton County is one of Indiana's notable peppermint producing counties).
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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.
Roads: US-31 and SR-14 serve Rochester, the county seat, in north-central Indiana.
Notes: Fulton County was created in 1836, named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat. Rochester was settled in 1835, incorporated as a town in 1853 and as a city in 1909.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Fulton County Courthouse – 815 Main Street, Rochester, IN (built 1895-1896, Richardsonian Romanesque limestone, architects Rush A.W. & Son, built by J.P. Gibson; four-story with a central bell and clock tower; National Register of Historic Places since 2000; the third courthouse building in county history, preceded by an 1837 log cabin and an 1846 structure). The courthouse grounds include a memorial to the Potawatomi Trail of Death, along with a Rochester College cornerstone and two war memorials.
Notes: Fulton County holds a genuinely remarkable paleontological distinction: in 1967, the most complete known specimen of Arctodus, the extinct giant short-faced bear, was discovered in a cornfield near Rochester. The county’s early history was shaped first by French traders (with no remaining French population by the 1830s) and then by New England migrants arriving in the 1820s-30s. The Wideman-Gerig Round Barn, still in use at Rochester’s Round Barn Golf Club, is a distinctive piece of local agricultural architecture.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Fulton County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via co.fulton.in.us.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Fulton County Public Library (Rochester) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: The Wideman-Gerig Round Barn (Round Barn Golf Club), the Rochester Downtown Historic District, and the Potawatomi Trail of Death memorial at the courthouse are the county’s premier heritage attractions.
Notes: The genuine, remarkable 1967 discovery of the most complete known Arctodus (giant short-faced bear) specimen near Rochester is among the standout local paleontological facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Fulton County Assessor’s Office – confirm current contact via co.fulton.in.us.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Confirm current dedicated shelter contact via co.fulton.in.us; Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, (574) 223-2819, for animal control arrangements.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Fulton County Environmental Health – confirm current contact via co.fulton.in.us.
NOTES: Fulton County is the twenty-sixth county completed in Indiana’s Round 3 v2 redo, under the A+ sourced standard established for this project. The genuine, remarkable 1967 discovery of the most complete known Arctodus specimen near Rochester is among the standout local paleontological facts covered anywhere 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 Fulton County
Fulton County is north-central Indiana’s Tippecanoe River and lake country agricultural county – Rochester anchors a rural county known for its Potawatomi heritage, natural lakes, and a diverse agricultural base that includes not only corn and soybeans but also specialty crops like peppermint that distinguish Fulton County within Indiana’s farm economy.
Rochester (the county seat, population ~6,100) is Fulton County’s governmental and commercial hub, providing regional services to north-central Indiana communities between South Bend and Indianapolis.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Fulton County Assessor at 815 Main Street, Rochester, IN 46975, phone 574-223-2911. IN assessed at market value.
Courts & Legal
Fulton County Circuit Court at 815 Main Street, Rochester, IN 46975, phone 574-223-2912, 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)
815 Main St., Rochester, IN 46975
(574) 223-2912
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
815 Main St., Rochester, IN 46975
(574) 223-2912
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Fulton County Circuit Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
The Potawatomi Trail of Death memorial on the courthouse grounds documents a significant chapter in the county’s Native American history.
Local societies
No dedicated Fulton 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
Fulton County Circuit Court 815 Main Street, Rochester, IN 46975 (574) 223-4339
Fulton County was founded in 1836, named for Robert Fulton. The 1895-1896 Fulton County Courthouse (Richardsonian Romanesque, National Register of Historic Places) has grounds that include a memorial to the Potawatomi Trail of Death.
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 Fulton 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 Fulton 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
214 W. 9th St., Rochester, IN 46975
(574) 223-2919
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
815 Main St., Rochester, IN 46975
(574) 223-2912
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Office: Fulton County Health Department – 125 E. 9th Street, Suite 004, Rochester, IN 46975 | (574) 223-2881 | Fax (574) 223-2335.
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Editorial Trust
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Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Rochester
Population: 20,000
Area: 369 sq mi
Established: 1835
Tier: 3
Public Records
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Search public records for Fulton County residents.
