ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. – Because Elkhart County is now red for COVID-19 metrics, Elkhart County courts have suspended face-to-face hearings except for emergency or essential hearings.

Non-emergency and non-essential hearings will either be continued or conducted remotely via WebEx or telephone.

Non-emergency and nonessential hearings include: summary domestic relations hearings, small claims hearings, eviction hearings, foreclosure hearings, collections hearings, proceedings supplemental hearings, routine criminal proceedings such as initial hearings, violation of supervision, financial compliance, status hearings and pretrial conferences.

Face-to-face hearings will occur for essential domestic violence hearings for the protection of life or limb and required evidentiary hearings in criminal cases.

In-custody criminal cases will be done via video conference.

All jury trials while the county is in red status will be continued to a new date.

The Clerk of the Court will be available for filing protective orders, handling child support matters, and providing marriage licenses by appointment only.

Any questions can be directed to the Clerk’s office in Goshen at 535-6430, or the Clerk’s office in Elkhart at 523-2305.