LaPorte County, Indiana Genealogy
LaPorte County, Indiana family history and genealogy research page. Locate links to record collections, history, and genealogy sources to aid you track your own LaPorte Co., ancestors. Start now by building a Free Family Tree.
LaPorte County Quick Facts
- Government Website: www.laportecounty.org/
- Created Date / Origin: January 9,1832 from St. Joseph County and Unorganized Land
- County Seat: LaPorte
- Named After: Means the port in French, which refers to the county's harbors on Lake Michigan
- Bordering Counties: Berrien County, MI (north), St. Joseph County (east), Starke County (south), Jasper County (southwest), Porter County (west)
- Cities, Towns & Communities: La Porte, Michigan City, Kingsbury, Kingsford Heights, LaCrosse, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Pottawattamie Park, Trail Creek, Wanatah, Westville
- Townships: Cass, Center, Clinton, Coolspring, Dewey, Galena, Hanna, Hudson, Johnson, Kankakee, Lincoln, Michigan, New Durham, Noble, Pleasant, Prairie, Scipio, Springfield, Union, Washington, Wills
LaPorte County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources
A list of LaPorte County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Indiana Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Indiana State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- La Porte County Historian , Fern E. Schultz , 5817 W. Johnson Road , La Porte, IN 46350-8187; Home Phone: (219) 326-6458
- Hanna Historical Society , 108 W. Young St. , Hanna, IN 46340
- La Porte County Genealogical Society , 904 Indiana Ave. , La Porte, IN 46350-3435
- La Porte County Historical Society , 2405 Indiana Ave. Suite 1 , La Porte, IN 46350-6063; Phone: (219) 324-6767
- Michigan City Historical Society , P.O. Box 512 , Michigan City, IN 46361-0512; Phone: (219) 872-6133
- The Wanatah Historical Society , P.O. Box 156 , Wanatah, IN 46390-0156; Phone: (219) 733-2822
- Westville Community Historical Society , P.O. Box 395 , Westville, IN 46391-0395
- LaPorte County, Indiana Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in LaPorte County
- LaPorte County, Indiana Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com) read and post messages with other genealogy researchers for LaPorte County
- USGenWeb Archives for LaPorte County
LaPorte County Courthouse and Government Records
Genealogist typically overlook the importance of LaPorte County court, probate, and land records data as a resource of genealogical information and facts. Buried away in Indiana courthouses and archives just about everywhere tend to be the desires and frustrations of many Indiana inhabitants.
The odds are great that your chosen ancestors have left a comprehensive record of at least quite a few facets of their lives in the LaPorte County court records. Even if your forefathers is not brought up in a Court case, consider all of the other methods which may have lead to him or her appearing in court records.
You need to speak to the clerk's department to determine hours, mailing address, fees and other facts in advance of visiting or asking for information because of in some cases changing contact info. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The records and documents are accessible to interested parties, barring private issues. The majority of staff will assist people in obtaining the materials, but it is up to the person to do the research.
The below details shows what birth, death, marriage, land, wills, and legal records are typically in LaPorte County. The dates indicated listed below are the first widely known records for this particular county.
- LaPorte County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- LaPorte County Clerk responsiblities include administering Court Records of all Court Cases, prepares the Court's permanent historical record, performs marriage ceremonies, process marriage applications and issue marriage licenses,
processes and distributes documents for court cases, and keeps a record of all wills and matters of trust in probate proceedings. The County Clerk's Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH. The documents are available to interested parties, barring confidential issues. The staff will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the individual to do the research.
- Address: 813 Lincolnway Suite 105, La Porte, Indiana 46350
- Phone: 219-326-6808
- Marriage Records: 1832
- Probate Records: 1832
- Court Records: 1832
- LaPorte County Recorder maintains, preserves and Records Deeds, Mortgages, Assignments, Releases, Powers of Attorney, Real Estate Contracts, Annexations, Trustee Elections, Affidavits, Final Decrees, Surveys, Federal Tax Liens, Mechanics Liens, Military Discharges, Articles of Incorporation, Cemetery Deeds, Bonds, Plats, Condominiums, Firms Doing Business Under Assumed Names, Delinquent Sewer Liens, and Miscellaneous Instruments.
- Address: 555 Michigan Avenue, Suite 201 La Porte 46350
- Phone: 219-326-2209 ext 2234
- Land Records: 1831
- LaPorte County Treasurer's Office is responsible for collecting taxes. The treasurer also receives distributions of local income and other taxes that are collected by the state such as real estate tax, personal property tax, mobile home tax, state assessed tax, and the following miscellaneous taxes: auto excise tax, inheritance tax, and innkeeper's tax.
- LaPorte County Department of Health maintains and provides Certified Birth and Death Records
Indiana Historical Records - Databases include Indiana Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Indiana Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Indiana Voter Lists & Census Records; Indiana Immigration & Emigration Records; Indiana Obituary Records; Indiana Military Records; Indiana Family Tree Records; Indiana Pictures; Indiana Stories, Memories & Histories; Indiana Directories & Member Lists and much more....
LaPorte County Genealogy Links
The following are links to Genealogy and family history, Records and Resources relevant to LaPorte County. A lot of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a cost. This is simply a directory which has been collected or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another. Feel free to provide your own most liked LaPorte County genealogy or family history related sites.
LaPorte Co. IN Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
LaPorte Co. IN Books, Newspapers & Publications
LaPorte Co. IN Birth, Marriage & Death Records
LaPorte Co. IN Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
LaPorte Co. IN Census Records
LaPorte Co. IN Cemeteries & Graveyards
LaPorte Co. IN Church & Bible Records
LaPorte Co. IN Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
LaPorte Co. IN General and History Websites
LaPorte Co. IN Military Records
LaPorte Co. IN Schools & Directories