Perry County People Search
Perry County people search tools let you look up court cases, property records, and other public files stored in Tell City. This southern Indiana county sits along the Ohio River and has around 19,000 residents. Tell City serves as the county seat, and the courthouse there holds most of the records you would need. Indiana law makes the majority of government records open to the public, so you can search them freely. State tools like MyCase cover court data, while local offices handle property filings and vital records. Most online searches cost nothing to run.
Perry County Quick Facts
Perry County Clerk Office
The Perry County Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps court records for the entire county. The office is inside the Perry County Courthouse in Tell City. Staff manage files for civil cases, criminal charges, family law filings, and small claims. You can walk in and ask to search records by name or case number. The clerk can pull files and make copies for a small charge.
You can also call ahead with a quick question. Staff will check if a case exists and explain what you need to get a copy. In-person visits work best for deeper searches or when you want to look through full paper files. The office keeps normal business hours on weekdays. Basic lookups cost nothing at the counter.
Perry County is part of the 66th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Crawford County. The Circuit Court handles all case types here. There is no separate superior court in Perry County, so one search through the clerk office covers every filing in the county. This makes the process straightforward compared to larger counties with multiple courts.
| Office | Perry County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 2219 Payne Street Tell City, IN 47586 |
| County Seat | Tell City |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Court Records Search
MyCase is the best free tool for searching Perry County court records online. The Indiana courts run this system, and it covers all 92 counties. Go to public.courts.in.gov/mycase and enter a name. Select Perry County from the list to focus your results. You will see case types, filing dates, case status, and the names of all parties.
The tool works on any device. No account is needed. No fee is charged. MyCase shows civil, criminal, family, and small claims cases. Click into a case to read docket entries and see hearing dates. The data comes from the same system court clerks use, so filings appear shortly after they get entered.
Under IC 5-14-3, Indiana's public access law, court records are open to anyone. You do not need to give a reason for your search. Sealed cases and juvenile files are exceptions, but most adult case records in Perry County are available for public viewing. This right applies whether you use MyCase online or visit the courthouse in Tell City.
Very old cases might not be in the digital system. For those, go to the clerk office in person. The staff in Tell City can search through paper records and pull files that predate the online tools.
Perry County Property Records
Property records are a strong source for a people search. They show who owns land and homes in Perry County. Two offices share this data. The Recorder stores deeds, mortgages, and liens. The Assessor keeps tax values and owner info.
The Perry County Recorder files new deeds whenever property changes hands. You can search by owner name to see what land someone holds in the county. Mortgage records show active loans on a parcel. Liens tell you about debts attached to real property. All of this is public under IC 5-14-3. You can visit the office in Tell City or call to ask about a specific document.
The Assessor tracks what each property is worth and who pays taxes on it. These records help connect a person to a physical address. Between the two offices, you can trace someone's property ties in Perry County going back many years. Some of this data may be on the county website or through state GIS tools, though not every rural county has a full online portal for property searches.
State Search Resources
Indiana runs several state-level tools that add depth to a Perry County people search. The Indiana State Police has criminal history checks at in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services. A limited check costs $16.32 and covers arrests and convictions across the whole state. This is broader than what local court records alone can show.
The Department of Correction offender locator at in.gov/idoc/facilities/offender-locator is free to search. It shows anyone who is or was in a state prison. Results include the facility, offense, and sentence details. For Perry County cases that led to state prison time, this tool gives you info that might not show up in the local court file.
Other state tools round out your options. The Indiana Jail Portal shows current jail inmates across the state. The Indiana Vital Records office handles birth and death certificates. Each one covers a different piece of the puzzle. When you combine these with Perry County court and property records, you get a fuller picture than any single source can give you.
Public Records Law
The Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3 covers all government offices in Perry County. The law says public records are open for anyone to inspect and copy. No reason is needed for your request. The clerk, recorder, assessor, and every other county department must follow this law.
Some records have limits. Sealed cases are off the table. Juvenile records stay restricted in most situations. Medical data and some personal details may be blacked out on copies. But the vast majority of court and property records in Perry County are fully open. If an office turns you down, they must cite the law that allows the denial. You can challenge a denial through the Indiana Public Access Counselor.
Tips for Perry County Searches
Start with what you know. A full name gives the best results. If you have a date of birth or an old address, include that too. Extra details help narrow the search, especially when the name is common.
Use more than one tool. Court records show legal filings. Property records show land ownership. State databases show criminal history and prison time. Someone may appear in one system but not the others. Checking multiple sources is the best way to run a thorough people search in Perry County. For anything you can't find online, the courthouse in Tell City is the place to go. The clerk staff there helps with search requests every day.
Cities in Perry County
Perry County has a few small communities. Tell City is the county seat and the largest city, with about 7,505 people. Cannelton is another small town along the Ohio River. All court filings for Perry County go through the clerk office in Tell City. People in smaller towns use the same courthouse and the same record systems.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Perry County. If you are searching for someone who may live near the line, check the next county over too. Records get filed where a person lives.