Allen County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of the Allen Circuit and Superior Courts

The elected Clerk is Christopher M. Nancarrow. The office describes the Clerk as a county elected official who serves as an officer of the court and the manager of court information. The Clerk administers official court records for all trial-court cases with jurisdiction in Allen County and prepares the permanent historical record for the courts. Nancarrow began his first term in 2019 and is identified as the first attorney to serve as Clerk in the county.

The scale is large. The office manages a staff of more than 50 people, assists the Circuit and Superior Courts with over 60,000 new cases a year, and is responsible for more than $107 million in financial transactions annually.

The image below shows the Clerk's records-type page.

This screenshot is from the Clerk's types of records page.

That page notes public records access, MyCase coverage, and records dating back to 1824.

The Clerk's role is often misread. The office does not decide cases or give legal advice. It manages the paperwork and money that keep the courts running, from the moment a case is filed to the day it closes. Staff can pull a record, sell you a certified copy, and explain a process, but they cannot tell you how to win a case or which form to file for your situation. For legal advice, the office points people to counsel or to self-help legal resources instead.

What the Allen County Clerk Does

The Clerk's duties run well beyond storing files. The office collects money, issues documents, and supports the courts day to day. The list below covers the core jobs.

• Receipt filing fees, fines, and court costs for all cases.
• Collect and disburse child support payments.
• Process marriage applications and issue marriage licenses.
• Prepare certified copies of documents.
• Issue warrants, commitments, protective orders, and writs.
• Maintain the judgment docket and oversee microfilming of records.
• Generate jury-duty notices and serve on the county Election Board.

The office files and processes civil, criminal, family relations, probate, and small claims cases, which is why it sits at the center of the county's court system.

Court Records and Copies

Copies come from the Central Services Division. It sits in Room 201 of the courthouse, with copies available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Records Management Division in Room 202 holds general indexes for marriage licenses and older, non-automated court records. Use the contact card below to reach the copy desk.

The image below shows the Clerk's copy-request page.

This screenshot is from the Clerk's obtain copies of records page.

How to Request a Certified Copy

A certified copy is the version courts, employers, and agencies accept. The Clerk takes requests in person, by mail, by email, or online. Mailed requests need payment and a stamped return envelope. Follow these steps.

1. Identify the case and the document you need.
2. Contact Central Services by phone, email, the online form, or in person.
3. Give the party names, case number, and a date range if known.
4. Say whether you need a certified copy.
5. Pay by check or money order made out to Clerk of Allen Circuit Court, and include a stamped return envelope for mail.

The image below shows the Clerk's copy-cost instructions.

This screenshot is from the Clerk's cost and how to request records page.

Copy Request Fields

A clear request gets a faster copy. The Clerk asks for the same core details whether you call, mail, or use the online form. The table below lists them.

For court records you can read online first, the Allen County court records page covers the MyCase search.

Allen County Clerk Fees

The Clerk publishes flat copy rates. A plain copy is $1.00 per page under IC 33-37-5-1, and certification adds $3.00 per document under IC 33-37-5-3. Marriage-license and certified-copy fees are listed separately. The table below shows the common amounts.

Copies of older, pre-1980 marriage licenses may cost a different amount, so confirm with the Clerk first.

Marriage Licenses Through the Clerk

The Clerk issues marriage licenses at the Central Services Division. Couples can start an optional online pre-application, but both applicants must finish in person. Indiana residents need at least one Allen County applicant, while out-of-state couples may apply only if the ceremony happens in the county. The license is valid for 60 days.

The full process, required documents, and lookup are on the marriage and divorce records page. One courthouse rule catches many applicants off guard: cell phones, cameras, and other electronic devices are banned inside and may be confiscated, so plan to leave a phone in the car before you head to Room 201.

Judgment Docket, Elections, and Jury Notices

The Clerk does more than court copies. It maintains the Judgment Docket and the Record of Judgments and Orders, and it links to Indiana's online judgment docket. The office generates jury-duty notices and, because the Clerk serves on the county Election Board, ties court administration to elections too. In 2026 the office noted proposed local civil rules and approved vote centers for the primary.

To follow a money judgment, the Allen County court dockets page explains the judgment docket. For the courts the Clerk serves, see the Circuit and Superior Courts page. The office has also modernized steadily, adding online payments for civil, traffic, and felony matters, electronic filing, and a public marriage-license lookup.