Establishment

The Office of Clerk of the Circuit Court was established by the Indiana State Constitution to serve as the record keeper for the constitutionally created Circuit Court. If a Superior Court is created by state statute, the Clerk also serves as the Ex-Officio Clerk of that Court. The Clerk is elected by the residents of St. Joseph County and is limited to serving two consecutive four year terms. Amy Rolfes is the Clerk of the Circuit Court in St. Joseph County, South Bend, IN.

Duties of the Clerk

The Clerk of the Circuit Court also serves as the Secretary to the County Election Board. This Board is responsible for conducting elections, certifying their results to the Secretary of State, issuing certificates of election to candidates and administering oaths of office. The Clerk's office is also the repository of these oaths.

The Clerk serves as trustee of child support collections ordered by the Court to be paid through the Clerk's Office and also acts as the chief financial officer to the Courts by collecting, disbursing, and reconciling monies related to court cases. The Clerk collects filing fees, court costs, and judgment monies in civil cases. In criminal and infraction cases, the Clerk collects fees and fines for city, county and state jurisdictions, deferral and pretrial diversion fees, bail bond monies, and restitution ordered by the Court. We also, file foreign judgments and are the repository for State Tax Liens.

The Clerk issues marriage licenses and may officiate at weddings. Our office also sends notice to prospective jurors.

Cellphone & Electronics Policy

Cellular telephones, pagers, cameras, and other electronic devices are banned from the St. Joseph County Courthouses. If you bring such a device into the building, and disrupt a Court session, you will be fined, and your device confiscated.

Phone Listing by Department

View the County Clerk Phone Directory by Department (PDF).