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Indiana · Lakeshore · #745
LaPorte County, Indiana
In the Indiana lakeshore region between Chicago and South Bend, LaPorte County holds Michigan City - a Lake Michigan port and resort community - and the county seat of La Porte, in a county that sits at the intersection of Chicago's suburban reach, the Indiana Dunes' recreation economy, and the manufacturing tradition of northwest Indiana.
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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.
Office: LaPorte County Emergency Management – confirm current contact via laporteco.in.gov.
Sheriff: LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office – La Porte, IN. Operates Jail, Civil, Court Security, K-9, Lake Patrol, Mounted Posse, and SCUBA Team divisions. Confirm current phone via laporteco.in.gov.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-20, US-35, and the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90) serve La Porte, the county seat, in northwestern Indiana on the Chicago metropolitan area’s edge. Michigan City is the county’s largest city.
Notes: LaPorte County was established April 1, 1832, named from the French for “the door” (la porte). It is the second-largest county by area in Indiana. Michigan City was settled in 1830, founded by Isaac C. Elston, and incorporated in 1836.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: LaPorte County Courthouse – 813 Lincolnway, La Porte, IN.
Notes: LaPorte County holds a genuinely poignant piece of American history: a state historical marker at 100 E. Michigan Boulevard in Michigan City commemorates “The Lincoln Funeral Train,” which passed through the area in 1865 as President Lincoln’s body was carried from Washington, D.C. to his final resting place in Springfield, Illinois. The county also preserves markers for Civil War training camps (Camp Anderson in Michigan City) and the historic Chicago-New York Electric Air Line Railroad. The Rumely Companies, a historically significant agricultural machinery manufacturer, operated in La Porte and is commemorated with its own state marker.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: LaPorte County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via laporteco.in.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
LaPorte County Public Library (La Porte) – its Carnegie library building carries its own state historical marker.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Lake Michigan beaches near Michigan City, Washington Park, Indiana Dunes-adjacent recreation areas, and the LaPorte County Courthouse historic square are the county’s premier heritage and recreational attractions.
Notes: The genuine, poignant connection to the 1865 Lincoln Funeral Train’s passage through Michigan City is among the standout local historical facts covered in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: LaPorte County Assessor’s Office – confirm current contact via laporteco.in.gov.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Michigan City/LaPorte County Animal Shelter – confirm current contact via laporteco.in.gov.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: LaPorte County Soil & Water Conservation District and Solid Waste District – confirm current contact via laporteco.in.gov.
NOTES: LaPorte County is the forty-seventh county completed in Indiana’s Round 3 v2 redo, under the A+ sourced standard established for this project. The genuine, poignant connection to the 1865 Lincoln Funeral Train’s passage through Michigan City is among the standout local historical 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 LaPorte County
LaPorte County’s Michigan City is a genuine Lake Michigan port – its lighthouse, marina, and lakefront park form a resort community that draws day-trippers and weekend visitors from Chicago, South Bend, and throughout northern Indiana. The Indiana Dunes National Park’s western reaches are accessible from Michigan City, extending the county’s outdoor recreation infrastructure. Trail Creek and the Galena River provide additional recreation.
La Porte, the county seat, is a pleasant small Indiana city with a historic downtown, several lakes (La Porte’s numerous kettle lakes are a glacial legacy), and the character of a northern Indiana community that has maintained its own commercial center. The county’s manufacturing base – Whirlpool (an LaPorte County neighbor) and numerous suppliers – provides industrial employment. IU Health La Porte provides regional healthcare.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Indiana assesses property at 100% of market value-in-use. Property owners may appeal to the PTABOA within 45 days of notice. The homestead deduction reduces assessed value for owner-occupied primary residences. Indiana has no estate or inheritance tax.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
SENIOR SERVICES
Area Agency on Aging REAL Services (South Bend / Michiana region)
1151 South Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601
Phone: (574) 284-7000
Senior Services
Area Agency on Aging REAL Services (South Bend / Michiana region)
1151 South Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601
Phone: (574) 284-7000
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)
813 Lincolnway, LaPorte, IN 46350
(219) 326-6808
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
813 Lincolnway, LaPorte, IN 46350
(219) 326-6808
Genealogy
County-level record sources
LaPorte County Circuit Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
The Indiana Dunes region, partially within LaPorte County, is a significant natural and historical landmark.
Local societies
No dedicated LaPorte 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
LaPorte County Circuit Court 813 Lincolnway, LaPorte, IN 46350 (219) 326-6808
LaPorte County is in northern Indiana, bordering Lake Michigan, home to Michigan City and the Indiana Dunes region.
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 LaPorte 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 LaPorte 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
809 State St., LaPorte, IN 46350
(219) 362-1111
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
813 Lincolnway, LaPorte, IN 46350
(219) 326-6808
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
LaPorte County Health Dept
(219) 326-7850
IN FSSA — Northwest Region
(800) 403-0864
IN Medicaid
(800) 403-0864
Franciscan Health Michigan City
franciscanhealth.org/michigan-city
IU Health La Porte
iuhealth.org/la-porte (LaPorte)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: LaPorte County Health Department – confirm current contact via laporteco.in.gov.
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Editorial Trust
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: La Porte
Population: 110,000
Area: 598 sq mi
Established: 1832
Tier: 3
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in LaPorte County facilities via Amazon.
