Scott County, Indiana

In office absentee voting:

Located in the Courthouse of 1 East McClain Avenue Suite 120 Scottsburg, IN. Please bring in an Indiana or federal issued photo ID.

Absentee Voting Hours:

2024 County/Presidential Election:

In office primary early voting hours for the 2024 Election will start on April 9th. All Precincts will be allowed to vote in the courthouse. Hours will be as follows: Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed 12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m. for lunch. Registered voters may also vote an absentee on Saturday, April 27th and May 4th and on Monday, May 6th from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the courthouse.

In office general early voting hours for the 2024 Election will start on October 8th. All Precincts will be allowed to vote in the courthouse. Hours will be as follows: Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed 12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m. for lunch. Registered voters may also vote on Saturday, October 26th and November 2nd and on Monday, November 4th from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the courthouse.

Voter may request an ABS Mail ballot application until April 25th. The county also has the Traveling Board available for voters who need this service to vote. To request the traveling board please call the Clerk's Office at 812-752-8420 Ext. 4

The Clerk's Office is located on the first floor of the courthouse in downtown Scottsburg.

Voter related questions may be directed to 812-752-8420 Ext. 4.

Absentee Voting by Mail:

Absentee applications must be submitted for each primary and general election. Military and Overseas voters on-going absentee application will expire December 31st, of the year they were filed with the Clerk's Office.

Absentee Voting Forms:

Please contact 812-752-8420 Ext.4 to request an absentee application sent to you or visit the Voter Portal and go to Print Forms.

Procedure for Appeal of Assessment – County Level

To appeal or petition the assessed value of your property for the current assessment year, the following must be done:

File a Form 130 with the County Assessor's Office based on the mailing date of the Notice of Assessment (Form 11):

* Deadline: June 15 if notice is mailed before May 1 of the assessment year.

* Deadline: June 15 of the year taxes are due, if notice of assessment is mailed on or after May 1 of the assessment year.

All written requests or appeal forms must be signed and dated by the petitioner or authorized representative. A power of attorney must be attached if an authorized representative is signing the appeal form and appearing before the PTABOA.

If you have questions regarding who can sign as an authorized representative, please see 52 IAC 2-2-4 or contact our office for more information.

Procedure for Appeal of Assessment – State Level

To appeal or petition the assessment determination of the PTABOA, the following must be submitted to the Indiana Board of Tax Review (IBTR)

1. File a Form 131 with IBTR to appeal an assessment determination by the PTABOA, within 45 days after
   notification of the PTABOA determination (Form 115).
2. File a Form 132 with IBTR to appeal an exemption determination from the PTABOA, within 45 days after
   notification of the PTABOA.
3. Hand deliver or Mail a Form 131 or 132 to:
   
                    Indiana Board of Tax Review
                    100 N. Senate Avenue, Room N-102
                    Indianapolis, IN 46204
4. The taxpayer must also Mail or Hand deliver a copy of the petition to the county assessor.
   
                    Scott County Assessor
                    1 E. McClain Ave., Suite 150
                    Scottsburg, IN 47170

All appeal forms must be signed and dated by the petitioner or authorized representative. A power of attorney must be attached if an authorized representative is signing the appeal form and appearing before the IBTR.

School board candidate filing begins May 21, 2024 and ends at noon on June 20th 2024.

Please note candidates who file for a local office will need to complete the CAN-12 Statement of Economic Interest.

All forms are now available at the link below.

Indiana Campaign Finance information can be found under the "Related Pages" tab located b.

Pollings Places

Scottsburg High School McClain Gymnasium

500 S Gardner (Hwy 31 S)                                                                                                                                        

Scottsburg, IN  47170

Austin High School Gymnasium

401 S Highway 31

Austin, IN  47102

Scott County Courthouse

1 E McClain Ave

Scottsburg, IN 47170

Scott County uses a WTH GIS allowing users to view County assessment data.

Is a Sales Disclosure Required?

 Sales Disclosures are NOT required for the following transactions:

• Affidavits of Survivorship or Heirship
• Affidavits of Title to Property
• Trustee's Deeds
• Scrivener's Affidavit and Corrective Deeds
• Restrictive Covenants
• Plats, Surveys, or Engineer's Corrections
• Leases lasting less than 90 years

Generally, all other documents require a Sales Disclosure. If the deed indicates any money or consideration has changed hands, the sales disclosure fee will apply.

If you have questions, regarding if your transaction needs a sales disclosure, please call contact us.

1. Registration for primary and general elections may be done at the County Clerk's Office, online, or at any BMV branch in Indiana.
2. Absentee voting is available
3. Contact the Scott County Clerk's office for more information. The phone number is 812-752-8420 Ext 4.
4. To register by mail, you also need to enclose a photocopy of your Drivers License or BMV ID, current utility statement, bank statement or government document showing your name and current address.

Initial Hearing:

The Initial Appearance is your first step in the criminal justice system. At this appearance you will be:

• Informed of your charges
• Advised of your next court date
• The Court will enter a “Not Guilty” plea on your behalf
• The Court will ensure that you have an attorney representing you on your case
• If the Court determines that you cannot afford to hire an attorney, a Public Defender will be appointed to assist you and you will receive instructions on how to contact your assigned attorney
• The next court date is a Pretrial Conference

Pretrial Conference:

A Pretrial Conference is an opportunity for your attorney to discuss your case with the prosecutor.  Some Pretrial Conferences will result in the case being resolved by a plea agreement or pretrial diversion.  Other times, the Pretrial Conference will show that more evidence or discovery needs to be exchanged and an additional Pretrial Conference will be set.  Most defendants will be ordered to appear at the Pretrial Conference. Pretrial Conferences are informal and typically do not happen in front of the judge or in the courtroom.

Plea Agreements:

A plea agreement is an agreement you enter into with the State, with the acknowledgement and assistance of your attorney. Ideally, plea agreements offered by the prosecutor will give you a better sentence than if you went to trial and lost. The decision to plead guilty is entirely up to you. By pleading guilty you give up several rights, including your right to trial. It is important to review the entire plea agreement with your attorney and to make sure that you understand the consequences of entering into the agreement before you sign it and before you enter it in court. If you have any questions about the plea agreement, be sure to discuss them with your attorney BEFORE SIGNING THE AGREEMENT.

The Judge in your case will question your understanding of the legal rights you are waiving. The rights you are ‘giving up’ are:

• The right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury in the county in which each offense is alleged to have been committed;
• The right for the Defendant to be heard by themselves and counsel;
• The right to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against them and to have a copy thereof;
• The right to confront and cross-examine all witnesses against them at time of trial;
• The right to use the power and process of the Court to compel the production of any evidence including attendance of any witnesses in their favor at trial;
• The right to require the State to prove them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which the Defendant may not be compelled to testify against themselves;
• The right to assistance of counsel at every stage of the proceedings, including upon an appeal if need be;
• The right not to testify without prejudice; and
• That in the event that the Defendant should be found guilty of the charge now pending at trial, she has the right to appeal that conviction on such charge to an appellate court.

Please note – even though you sign a plea agreement with the prosecutor, the judge is not required to accept the terms of the agreement.

Omnibus Hearings:

The Court will set an Omnibus Hearing before the trial date. The Omnibus Hearing typically does not require the presence of the Defendant. The Omnibus Hearing is essentially a date by which certain pleadings and motions must be filed by the Defendant instead of a date that you must appear in court.

Trial:

A trial is a court proceeding where the prosecutor must prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that you committed the crime charged. Your attorney will have an opportunity to cross examine the prosecutor’s witnesses and to present witnesses and evidence to tell your story. Felony trials are heard by a jury unless you, your attorney, and the prosecutor agree to have your case presented to a judge (Bench Trial).

Sentencing:

If you enter into a plea agreement or if you are found guilty after trial, you will be scheduled for sentencing approximately one month later. Before the sentencing date, you will meet with a probation officer who will prepare a report for the judge. The report will include a recommendation for your sentence. You should discuss this process with your attorney before you meet with the probation officer. In addition, provide your attorney with letters of support, personal references and other information that could motivate the judge to look more favorably upon you at your sentencing.

At sentencing, your attorney will have the opportunity to speak on your behalf. You also will have the chance to speak to the judge. If you want anyone else to speak on your behalf at sentencing, let your attorney know in advance of the hearing. Those who cannot attend sentencing can submit a letter on your behalf. The letters may be addressed to the sentencing judge but should be sent to your attorney so the attorney can review them and submit them to the Court on your behalf.

Appeal:

If you are convicted after a trial or the Judge had the ability to use discretion in your sentence following a plea agreement and you wish to appeal your case, you will have the right to file an appeal. If this was a trial, discuss this with your attorney prior to sentencing. If it was a plea agreement, discuss an appeal with your attorney immediately after the sentencing. If you wish to appeal, your attorney will arrange to have a notice of appeal filed.

In response to the ongoing identity theft crisis, a Military Discharge Document (DD-214) is considered by Indiana State Statute to be a confidential document.

According to Indiana Code 10-17-2-4, only specific persons and/or entities are allowed to view and obtain copies of these documents are providing the credentials as set out in the code.

If applicant is other than the claimant, other documentation will be required to release the document(s) requested.

• If you are a personal representative of the claimant, you must present a copy of the Appointment of Personal Representative court document.
• If you are the guardian of the claimant, you must present a copy of the Guardianship court papers.
• If you are an attorney or immediate family member of the claimant, you must have an original notarized affidavit from the claimant that states you are entitled to receive a copy of their military discharge that is recorded at the Scott County Recorder’s Office.
• If you are an authorized official of the United States requesting this document, you must present your government photo identification.
• If the claimant is deceased, you must present a certified copy of his/her death certificate.
• If you are a funeral director, you must present your License Number.

*Disclaimer - Indemnification*

Requestor understands and agrees that Scott County Recorder does not guarantee the accuracy of the data and the information requested and hereby expressly disclaims any responsibility for the truth, lack of truth, validity, invalidity, accuracy, inaccuracy of any said data and information. Requester accepts responsibility for his/her unauthorized use or transmission of any such data or information in its actual or altered form.

Blanket assignments and releases are not accepted.

Each assignment or release must be an individual document. The original document will always be returned after progressing through the archival process. 

Self-Addressed Stamped Envelopes are required for document returns.

Beginning July 1, 2001, all financing statements that deal with personal property are to be filed with the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office. Failure to file in the appropriate office may affect the perfection of the filing.

Effective May 15, 2007, in response to the ongoing identity theft crisis, a Military Discharge Document (DD-214) is considered by Indiana State Statute to be a confidential document. According to Indiana Code 10-17-2-4, only specific persons and/or entities are allowed to view and obtain copies of these documents after providing photographic identification. The list is very specific and set out within the statute. In order to comply with this statute, you will be asked to provide photo ID. If you have any questions, please ask for the Recorder.

Certain property that is owned, used and occupied predominantly for charitable, religious, educational or scientific purposes may be exempt from property taxation.

This type of exemption is different from the deductions you receive from the Auditor's office. A Form 136 must be filed with the County Assessor's office for any applicant wishing to receive a not-for-profit exemption.

Please be aware there have been several companies trying to sell homeowners a copy of their property deed for $86.00.

You can obtain a copy of your deed for $1 per page at your County Recorder’s Office. In most cases, a deed copy will cost no more than $2 or $3.

The document is entitled Deed Processing Notice and is a solicitation trying to scam homeowners. The notice looks official in its appearance and provides a deadline to reply or the fee increases by $35.00. In the notice, you will find a disclaimer in the fine print that this is a solicitation and you are under no obligation to pay the amount stated.

Please tell your friends and family this is a scam. Should you receive such a notice, please alert our office at (812) 752-8442 and the Indiana Attorney General’s office at (317) 232-6201.

Personal property taxes are levied against all tangible personal property used in a trade or business, used for the production of income, or held as an investment that should be or is subject to depreciation for federal income tax purposes including but not limited to mobile homes (not on permanent foundations), billboards, and materials for use in production. Inventory is no longer taxed.

Personal property values are assessed January 1 of every year and are self reported by property owners to the County Assessor using prescribed state forms. The completed personal property return must be filed with the local County Assessor no later than May 15. Taxes on the reported values are due in two installments in May and November of the following year.

Downloadable Personal Property Forms      

• Form 102 Farmer's Tangible Personal Property Assessment Return
• Form 103 Short Business Tangible Personal Property Return
• Form 103 Long Business Tangible Personal Property Assessment Return
• Form 104 Business Tangible Personal Property Return

1. Names not appearing the same throughout the document. (IC 36-2-11-16)
2. Names not typed or printed identically to the signatures that they are associated with. (IC 36-2-11-16)
3. Name of person preparing the document is missing. (IC 36-2-11-15)
4. An address for all of the grantees is missing. (IC 32-21-2-3)
5. Incorrect recording fees. (See I.C. 36-2-11-6 on the handling of overages.) (IC 36-2-7-10)
6. Name of company and/or title of officer missing at point of signature.
7. Cross reference, either volume and page or document/instrument number, to original document missing, or obviously in error.
8. Signature or printed name missing. (IC 36-2-11-16)
9. Legal description missing or obviously incomplete or in error.
10. Reference number of a recorded Power of Attorney not on the document if it is being signed by a Power of Attorney or Attorney in Fact. Document must include the cross-referenced POA instrument number on the first page, OR the POA must be recorded along with (prior to) recording of a document signed by attorney-in-fact. (IC 30-5-3-3)
11. Acknowledgement or Notary information is missing or incomplete. (IC 36-2-11-16, IC 33-42-2-9)
12. Real estate legal description is not in the county where it is being recorded.
13. Auditor’s transfer stamp missing. (IC 36-2-11-14)
14. Sales disclosure stamp missing (County’s discretion -- some Counties don’t use Disclosure stamp)
15. Court documents must have the Judge’s signature and be file stamped by the Clerk of the Courts.
16. Affirmation statement missing, or not signed by individual. (IC 36-2-11-15)
17. No Document date, or document not dated by Grantor (mortgage). (IC 32-29-1-5)
18. Document is not totally legible (IC 36-2-11-16)

1. You must be a citizen of the United States.
2. You must be 18 years old by the time of the general election
3. You must be a resident of your precinct for 30 days prior to general election.
4. You do not declare a party affiliation at the time of registration.

Indiana Codes 16-37-1-10, 16-37-1-11, and 16-37-1-11.5 serve as the State statutes for the fees, relationship, and identification requirements to purchase documents from the Vital Records office. The purchaser must have a “direct interest.” A direct interest is defined as a documented and verifiable financial and legal interest or an immediate direct kinship (parent, adult sibling, or grandparent) to the person named on the record.

Others such as guardians, attorneys, funeral directors, or other authorized agents acting on behalf of the registrant or their family may demonstrate a direct interest when information is needed for determination or protection of personal or property rights.

Individuals without a direct interest may purchase a non-certified copy of a death record from ISDH Vital Records.

Depending on the individual’s interest in the record, additional documentation may be required.

Direct Interest:

• Parents of the individual listed on the certificate – must be listed on the record
• Spouse of individual named on the certificate – must show proof of marriage
• Child or Grandchild, 18 years or older, of individual named on the certificate – must show proof of relationship
• Grandparents of the individual listed on the certificate – must be parent of a parent listed on the record & show proof of relationship
• Sibling, 18 years or older, of individual listed on the certificate – must show proof of relationship
• Aunt or Uncle of individual named on the certificate – must show proof of relationship
• Niece or Nephew, 18 years or older, of individual named on certificate – must show proof of relationship
• Step-Parent of individual named on the certificate – must have ID with valid marriage certificate
• Genealogy – individual named on the certificate must be over 75 years old and deceased – must show proof of death
• Funeral Home or Director – must have documents required to handle the body

No Direct Interest:

• Legal Interest – must show proof of interest

Indiana Codes 16-37-1-10, 16-37-1-11, and 16-37-1-11.5 serve as the State statutes for the fees, relationship, and identification requirements to purchase documents from the Vital Records office. The purchaser must have a “direct interest.”  A direct interest is defined as a documented and verifiable financial and legal interest, or an immediate direct kinship (parent, adult sibling, or grandparent) to the person named on the record.

Others such as guardians, attorneys, funeral directors, or other authorized agents acting on behalf of the registrant or their family may demonstrate a direct interest when information is needed for determination or protection of personal or property rights.

Depending on the individual’s interest in the record, additional documentation may be required.

• Parents of the individual listed on the certificate – must be listed on the record
• Grandparents of the individual listed on the certificate – must be parent of a parent listed on the record & show proof of relationship
• Sibling, 18 years or older, of individual listed on the certificate – must show proof of relationship
• Child or Grandchild, 18 years or older, of individual named on the certificate – must show proof of relationship
• Current Spouse of individual named on the certificate – must show proof of marriage
• Aunt or Uncle of individual named on the certificate – must show proof of relationship
• Step-Parent of individual named on the certificate – must have ID with valid marriage certificate
• Court-Appointed Legal Guardian – must have ID and provide guardianship papers with seal
• Attorney representing individual named on the certificate – must have ID for self and provide a document with direct interest spelled out on letter head or court documents
• Genealogy – individual named on the certificate must be over 75 years old and deceased – must show proof of death
• Social Agency – must have work ID with court documents or signed authorization from client
• State and Federal Agencies – must have work ID and provide a document with direct interest spelled out on letter head, court documents, or signed authorization from client

Written mail requests are accepted but must contain a copy of a valid driver’s license, payment, and a stamped envelope to send the certificate in.

Paternity Affidavits are completed by appointment only. The mother and father must both be present and on agreeable, or a court order must be provided.

Scott County uses NIXLE as its Community Emergency Early Warning System (EWS).

Please take this opportunity to sign up below and receive NIXLE messages directly to your home telephone, cell phone or email.

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