Indiana Small Claims

Indiana's simplified small claims court is used to quickly and affordably settle lower-value civil disputes. Since each state has its unique set of regulations, knowing Indiana's framework helps small businesses, contractors, landlords, tenants, and consumers in recovering money, enforcing basic agreements, and effectively resolving disputes—often without the need for legal representation.

In Indiana, small claims are heard on the small-claims docket of the Circuit or Superior Court (and in Marion County’s township small-claims courts) under the Indiana Small Claims Rules.

What Is a Small Claims Court in Indiana?

In Indiana, small claims courts handle simple cases involving damages or the return of personal property that arise from everyday conflicts. You will need to include a brief, some supporting documents, and witnesses when you begin a small claims case, which are judge-led, informal sessions. These sessions typically address simple contract issues, small property damage, unpaid invoices, etc. You may attend in Indiana with or without attorneys.

Small Claims Court Limits in Indiana

According to Indiana law, the jurisdictional cap is $10,000, not including interest or expenses. Typically, the plaintiff or the defendants have to waive any amount over $10,000 so that it stays a small claims case.

Any party may request a jury trial, but this request must be submitted within ten days of receiving the Notice of Claim. If it is not, that right is forfeited, and the matter is decided by a judge. Appeals for any small-claims judgment are covered by the same Indiana appellate rules as civil cases.

Even though the Small Claims Rules recognize that there are certain situations in which a sole proprietorship or partnership may be represented by an individual employee (with a certificate of conformity), assigned claims (like many collection-agency cases) still need legal representation. Corporations and LLCs, however, are subject to different representation laws.

How to File a Small Claims Case in Indiana

There are certain steps that you should take when filing a small claims case in Indiana. These steps include:

1) Confirm venue: When getting a small claim case started, you should first confirm where the defendant resides, does business, or where the claim arose. This is because this is where you are expected to file.

2) Prepare the pleading: In Indiana, you can use a brief Notice of Claim - this states the parties, the amount sought, and a short reason for filing. You can get more information from the court clerk's offices, which provide packets and county-specific versions of the form.

3) File and pay fees: File at the clerk’s office or through e-filing when possible (attorneys must e-file; self-represented filers often may, but aren’t always required). Filing and service costs are determined by local schedules. (Starting July 1, 2025, Marion County imposed a mandatory $26 small-claims service charge.)

4) Serve the defendant: Select between certified mail (return receipt) or sheriff/constable service. On the first filing, your clerk might handle certified mail; if you do, make sure the green card is returned so it can be submitted as evidence. Before the initial hearing, the service must be finished.

5) Lawyers: You may hire an attorney, but many litigants proceed pro se. If you want a jury, file a timely demand (see above) and be prepared to pay any additional jury fee differential.

Small Claims Courts in Major Indiana Cities (examples)

• Indianapolis (Marion County) – The Township Small Claims Courts in Marion County operate nine township small-claims courts. You can find these courts in Center, Wayne, Lawrence, Warren, Pike, Decatur, Franklin, Washington, and Perry Townships. These courts typically operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The city also provides an updated locator for the proper township court and a list of addresses.
• Fort Wayne (Allen County) - The Allen Superior Court Small Claims Division can be found at 1 W. Superior St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802 (clerk filings/records at 715 S. Calhoun St.). Court and clerk pages post forms and contact details. Except for specified holidays, the Allen Superior Court's offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• South Bend/Mishawaka (St. Joseph County) - Small Claims Divisions at Courthouse 2, 112 S. Lafayette Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601, and 219 Lincolnway W., Mishawaka, IN 46544. County site lists filing fees and sheriff service costs. You may find small claims forms from this court online.
• Lake County (Crown Point/Hammond/East Chicago) - Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point, IN 46307 hosts small-claims filings. The county posts division contacts and locations. In cases where a judgment has been rendered, judgment payments are handled by the Lake County Small Claims Clerk's office.

What to Expect at a Small Claims Hearing in Indiana

After you file for a small claim and it has been served to the defendants, the court clerk will set a hearing. After this is done, the judge swears in the parties, hears brief testimony, goes over all the evidence, and asks for clarifications where necessary.

The Small Claims Rules emphasize speedy and informal resolution; as such, many judges make their decisions during or soon after the hearing. If a counterclaim is filed, the opposing party can ask for a continuance (that is, a postponement), but the request must be served early enough that it is received at least seven days before the trial.

Note that you, not the court, are expected to pursue collection (garnishment, liens, execution) if you win and the money isn't paid voluntarily or on time. Steps on how to collect your payout and required forms are described in the clerks' and local packets. There may be fees you will have to pay.

How to Search for Small Claims Records in Indiana

There are many ways to get public access to dockets and many filings in Indiana; these include:

1. MyCase (official statewide portal): You can search the platform by party or case number to view registers of actions. You may also schedule hearings and view many documents for non-confidential cases. Whether a record is available depends largely on the court and document type (older cases may have limited images).
2. County clerk portals & in-person requests: Counties often link directly to MyCase and list how to request certified copies at the clerk’s counter. (For example, you can carry out status checks in Indianapolis using the MyCase platform.)

It should be noted that certain papers are not available online, and some hearings, judgments, or dispositions, case numbers, party names, filings, or document entries, and sensitive identifiers are redacted. As a result, it is wise to contrast official minor claim records with internet sources.