Ind. Code ch. 5-15-3

Ind. Code ch. 5-15-3
in effect

Ind. Code § 5-15-3-1 Damage to judicial records; transcription order

Sec. 1. Whenever any civil order book, probate order book, judgment docket, entry docket or other record book in which are kept any of the records and proceedings of any circuit, superior or criminal court in this state have been or shall be damaged by fire or otherwise to the extent, that, in the opinion of the judge or such court, it is necessary in order to preserve and perpetuate the contents thereof, to transcribe the same into a new book, such judge shall make an order to be entered in the civil order book of such court ordering and directing the clerk of such court to transcribe the contents of such damaged book into a new book of like size and form, to be provided for that purpose by the county in which such court is held. Formerly: Acts 1893, c.19, s.1.

Ind. Code § 5-15-3-2 Transcription by clerk

Sec. 2. (a) The clerk of the court shall promptly, under the direction of the court, transcribe the contents of a damaged book described in section 1 of this chapter into a new book of like size and form, in plain, legible handwriting. The clerk shall certify that the transcription is a full, true, correct, and complete transcript of the contents of the damaged book. (b) The judge of the court shall examine the record transcribed and certified by the clerk. If the judge finds the record to be a correct transcript of the original, the judge shall certify the judge's finding, at the end of the transcript immediately after the certificate of the clerk. The judge shall include the date of the judge's certification. Formerly: Acts 1893, c.19, s.2. As amended by P.L.171-2015, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 5-15-3-3 Preservation of damaged books

Sec. 3. Damaged books described in section 1 of this chapter shall be preserved and maintained by the office of the clerk of the court or by the Indiana state archives as set forth in IC 5-15-6-6. Formerly: Acts 1893, c.19, s.3. As amended by P.L.171-2015, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 5-15-3-4 Transcribed books; treatment as original

Sec. 4. Such transcribed book, when so made and certified, shall bear the name and number of the original damaged book of which it is a transcript, and such authenticated transcript shall be deemed, held to be, and treated as the original, and shall have the full force and effect of the original for all purposes, and shall be admitted in evidence in all cases the same as the original. Formerly: Acts 1893, c.19, s.4. As amended by P.L.136-2018, SEC.35.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/5Fetched: 10/17/2026