** HOLIDAY CLOSING**

THE COURTHOUSE WILL BE CLOSED DECEMBER 24, 2020 THROUGH JANUARY 3, 2021.

The most common Family Court cases are Domestic with Children (DC), Domestic without Children (DN), Juvenile Paternity (JP) and Reciprocal Support (RS).  These cases are usually filed in Superior Court.

Filing fees for Family Court cases are as follows, subject to change annually on July 1:

• $176.00 Initial Fee (Domestic Relations with/without children, DC or DN)
• $195.00 Initial Fee (Juvenile Paternity, JP)
• $25.00 sheriff service (one- time fee, first sheriff service before judgment)
• $25.00 post judgment sheriff service (one-time fee, for first sheriff service after judgment)

Hearing Dates

DC and DN cases uncontested hearings (8:00am in Room 126B) dates are scheduled as follows:

• Provisional Hearings are set 30 days out
• Waivers of Final Hearing are set 61 days out (file waiver of final hearing)
• Final Hearings are set 70 days out
• Any other hearings with sheriff service are set 3 weeks (21 days) out
• Any other hearings with certified mail service are set 6 weeks (42 days) out

 JP cases uncontested hearings (9:30 am in Room 126B) dates are scheduled as follows:

• Any other hearings with sheriff service are set 3 weeks (21 days) out
• Any other hearings with certified mail service are set 6 weeks (42 days) out

Filing fees for Civil cases are as follows, subject to change annually on July 1:

• $156.00 Initial Fee (one defendant)
• $156.00 Initial fee plus $50.00 for mortgage foreclosure cases
• $156.00 Initial Fee Civil Name Changes (plus fees the newspaper charges to publish for 3 weeks)
• $156.00 Initial Fee for Foreign Judgment Collection case (file as a miscellaneous case, MI)
• $10.00 for each additional defendant
• $25.00 sheriff service (one- time fee for first sheriff service before judgment)
• $25.00 post judgment sheriff service (one-time fee for first sheriff service after judgment)
• $3.00 Recording a Foreign Judgment (file as a court business case, CB)

Appearance Forms

Appearance forms are to be provided in every lawsuit and must contain the attorney’s identification number, email address, a designation of the type of case filed and name of the party they represent. 

Complaint/Petition Forms

Petition forms are to be provided in every lawsuit.

Summons Forms

Summons forms are to be provided in every lawsuit and served to the defendant(s)/respondent(s) party on the case.

Service by Sheriff or Certified Mail

As of May 5, 2017, service of process is the responsibility of the filer.

To serve by Sheriff, hand-deliver or mail one original and three copies to the Sheriff of the county where the party is to be served.  For the Vanderburgh County Sheriff only, there is also a drop off location within the Clerk’s Office. For out-of-state Sheriff Service, you must contact the Sheriff’s Department of the county you will be serving the defendant in to determine their local cost for this service, as well as their full mailing address.

To serve by certified mail, the domestic return receipt (green card) must have the correct cause number listed along with the clerk's return address (Vanderburgh County Clerk, P.O. Box 3356, Evansville, IN 47732), so the clerk can enter the proper return of service information into the court system.  For more information regarding how to use certified mail (rates, supplies, instructions, etc.), contact the United States Postal Service.

OTHER SERVICE

The requester is responsible for filing the certificate of service (proof of service) with the court.

Self-Service Legal Center (Pro Se Litigants – no attorney representing)

Pro Se Litigants can go to http://www.in.gov/judiciary/selfservice/2333.htm for blank court forms for your use and help with getting you prepared for court.  Not all forms are listed on this website, if you cannot find the appropriate forms for your case, you may want to contact an attorney or go to the Getting Legal Help section on this website.

Self-Service Legal Center offers the following services:

• Representing yourself in court (what you need to know)
• Getting Legal Help (find an attorney)
• Alternatives to court (Mediation)
• Court Forms (with instructions)
• Protective Order (Resources for requesting an order and getting shelter)
• Legal Research (links to laws, rules, procedures and other online resources)