Whether you are a citizen, a pro-se litigant, or a legal professional, you may need access to legal resources at one time or another. The resources listed below may help point you in the right direction when searching for legal assistance or information.
Please note that Library staff cannot provide legal advice. It is recommended that you consult with or hire an attorney.
Indiana Legal Help
This website was created and is maintained by the Indiana Bar Foundation in partnership with the Coalition for Court Access as a self-help tool providing accessible legal resources and information for all Hoosiers. The focus is on civil resources, not criminal. Some highlights include self-service Information and Forms and Get Legal Help to find free or low-cost legal assistance for individuals by zip code or counties throughout the state.
Self-Service Legal Center
This Indiana state government self-service site has legal information and resources geared for people who are representing themselves in court. There are court forms, protection orders, and information on alternative dispute resolution/mediation. Go to Representing Yourself in Court to learn about how the court system works and find out what you need to know should you decide to represent yourself.
Indiana Judicial Branch
Website for court and public record information in Indiana. Go to Courts & Clerks Offices for court contact information and court listings. Click on Services to pay traffic tickets, get housing assistance, or file a complaint against an attorney or judge. Click on the Public Records link to access court documents, and to search, request, or find information on obtaining adoption, birth, death, marriage and divorce records.
Indianapolis-Marion County Community Justice Campus
675 Justice Way
Indianapolis, IN 46203
This new state of the art facility houses multiple levels of the justice system including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Jail, and the Marion County Courts. Access the Marion County Court Listings which include the court schedules, calendars, contact information, and Jury Duty service details. View Parking Information which also mentions bus routes 14 (Prospect) and 26 (Keystone Crosstown) that drop riders off directly in front of the facility.
Marion County Clerk's Office
Oversees court costs, filings, and records pertaining to civil, criminal, & juvenile courts. Deals with issues such as child custody, support & paternity; divorce; domestic relations; environmental; expungement; marriage licenses; traffic tickets, etc. Additionally, the Clerk’s office is involved with election and voting responsibilities. Operational offices are located both at the City-County Building and the Community Justice Campus.
The Indianapolis Public Library - Locations
All Indianapolis Public Library locations provide computer access to the Internet, Databases, Microsoft Word, and the Online Catalog, in addition to providing access to circulating print legal materials. Central Library has a print reference collection that includes some basic and useful legal resources.
Ruth Lilly Law Library,IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
530 W. New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
317-274-4026
Mainly supports the students, faculty, and staff at the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law. The print collection is open for use to the general public. However, there is limited reference assistance and computer access to the legal database Nexis Uni for the public, and hours do vary. There are no printing capabilities, though you can save files to a USB.
Indiana Supreme Court Law Library
316 Indiana State House 200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-2557
Mainly serves as a specialized research library for the court. The general public, however, has limited access to the library’s print and legal database resources. Library Services provides an option for Complimentary remote access to the LexisNexis Digital Library which is a collection of over fifty full-text legal titles. There are Law library in-person visits for the general public that are by appointment only, on Fridays between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Indiana Attorney General
Indiana Government Center South
302 W. Washington Street, 5th Floor
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-6201
Represents Indiana in legal cases where there is a state’s interest; provides legal defense to state officials and agencies; provides legal advice & writes advisory opinions on significant state issues. Divisions: Advisory, Appeals, Complex Litigation, Consumer Protection, Litigation, Medicaid Fraud, Solicitor General and Unclaimed Property.
Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC)
Indiana Government Center North
100 North Senate Avenue, Room N300
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-2600; 800-628-2909
Enforces the civil rights laws for the state of Indiana. Discrimination complaints and violations of civil rights are investigated. Go to How to File a Complaint to start the process online or call for assistance.
Indiana Disability Rights
4755 Kingsway Drive, Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46205
317-722-5555, 800-622-4845
Services the Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services (IPAS) Commission through empowering and advocating for people with disabilities. Fill out an Online Help Form or call for assistance.
317-232-9600 (General House of Representatives)
800-382-9842 (House Democrats)
800-382-9841 (House Republicans)
317-232-9400, 800-382-9467 (General Senate)
Access Indiana Bills and Resolutions, Find Your Legislators, Senate & House District Maps; and core legal resources such as the Indiana Code, Indiana Administrative Code, Acts, and the Indiana Constitution.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) - Indianapolis District Office
Indianapolis District Office, 101 West Ohio Street, Ste 1900
Indianapolis, IN, 46204
800-669-4000
The EEOC enforces federal laws involving discrimination against employees and job applicants in the workplace. Go to the EEOC Public Portal or call to submit an inquiry and schedule an interview to see if you are able to file a complaint.
ACLU of Indiana
1031 East Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
317-635-4059
Provides legal assistance to Indiana residents whose constitutional rights and civil liberties have been violated. This website provides an overview of current issues, litigation, news articles, and events.
Indiana State Bar Association
201 N. Illinois Street, Suite 1225
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-639-5465, 800-266-2581
This is the largest legal organization in the state of Indiana. There is a Locate Your Lawyer online tool which allows you to find attorneys to hire.
Indianapolis Bar Association
140 N. Illinois Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-269-2000
A local professional organization that offers many useful programs and services for the public. Ask basic legal questions from pro bono attorneys through Virtual Ask a Lawyer which is a chat service Monday – Friday during business hours. Or use the Legal Line or Monthly Extended Chat Hours by phone 317-269-2222 or chat on the second Tuesday of each month (except December) until 8 p.m. Other resources include the Lawyer Referral Service 317-269-2222 and the Indy Lawyer Finder, an online resource that allows you to search and choose a qualified lawyer to fit your needs.
Central Library has some print legal resources which include sample forms. Examples include: Titles from the Indiana Practice Series, American Jurisprudence Pleading and Practice Forms Annotated, and Indiana Pleading and Practice with Forms.
Local Law Libraries:
There are dedicated print resources and commercial databases usually found in law libraries that are instrumental in researching case law which the public library does not have. Law libraries like the Ruth Lilly Law Library and the Indiana Supreme Court Library may provide limited access to these materials for the general public. Contact information and details about visiting these libraries are included under the Libraries subheading.
Free Case Law Online
Though not complete, below are a few free online sites that might serve as a starting point for researching case law.
FindLaw
Comprehensive legal site for legal professionals, students, and the general public. Use Learn About the Law to find articles on legal topics; Find a Lawyer to help find an attorney; or go to Laws and Court Decisions for legal research.
Legal Information Institute
A website created and maintained by the Cornell Law School with a wealth of legal information and resources. It aims to accommodate non-legal users by making the site more accessible. Includes WEX, a community collaborated legal dictionary/encyclopedia, a Get the Law section of legal resources, and a Lawyer Directory.
Legal Information Reference Center
A database featuring Nolo publications covering a variety of legal topics. The library also has print copies of many of these titles. This database is available to use at any Indianapolis Public Library branch and can also be accessed remotely with an Indianapolis Public Library card.
West Patent Database
Available only on the 4th floor at Central Library Please ask at the reference desk. Used by patent examiners to find text and images of U.S. Patents dating back to 1790. Selected foreign patents are also available.