Elkhart courts suspend in-person non-essential hearings until May 4

Elkhart courts are suspending in-person non-emergency and non-essential hearings from March 17 through May 4 to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The cases that will not be conducted in-person will either be continued or conducted over the phone.

Non-essential hearings in civil, domestic relations, juvenile and criminal cases, include, but are not limited to: summary domestic relations hearings, routine criminal proceedings such as initial hearings, violation of supervision, financial compliance, status hearings and pretrial conferences, small claims hearings, eviction hearings, foreclosure hearings, collections hearings and proceedings supplemental hearings.

Emergency matters requiring in-person hearings include domestic violence hearings for the protection of life or limb and required evidentiary hearings in criminal cases.

In-custody criminal cases will be conducted by video conferencing, except for initial hearings which will be conducted at the Elkhart County Correctional Facility.

All jury trials set on or before May 4, 2020, will be continued to a new date pursuant to the Emergency Order entered by the Indiana Supreme Court. Court officials will notify you of new trial and hearing dates. Make certain the court has proper email information and address.

Pursuant to the governor's Executive Order, no eviction or foreclosure actions or proceedings may be filed with the Clerk of the Elkhart Circuit and Superior Courts until the state of emergency has terminated.

The Clerk of the Court will be available for filing protective orders, handling child support matters, and providing marriage licenses by appointment only.

The Clerk will have a drop-box in each courthouse for depositing filings which are being made by hand with the respective courts. The Clerk will also have at each courthouse a computer terminal set up to make payments.

Any questions can be directed to the Clerk’s office in Goshen at 535-6430, or the Clerk’s office in Elkhart at 523-2305, or by telephoning the respective court in which your case is pending.

Click here to read the emergency order for further information

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