Indiana probate runs on a set of filings and deadlines that start the moment letters are issued. This guide walks you through each step with the actual statute citation and the current small estate threshold.
We’re not yet live in Indiana — the guide below is still accurate, and you can join the waitlist to be the first to know when a Indiana-licensed attorney is available.
Indiana recognizes 2 paths. The right one depends on the will, the value of the estate, and whether all beneficiaries agree.
Default administration type. Personal representative has broad discretion and minimal court supervision. Court approval required only for opening and closing.
Court oversight of major estate actions. Personal representative must obtain court approval for property sales, distributions, and annual accountings.
These are the filings ordered the way they actually happen in a typical Indiana estate. Each deadline is keyed to the triggering event — death, letters issued, first publication — and tied to the statute.
File petition with circuit or superior court to open probate and appoint personal representative
Notify all known heirs and beneficiaries of estate proceedings and right to request supervised administration
Publish notice in newspaper. Creditors have time to file claims.
File complete listing of estate assets with estimated market values
Creditors may file claims against estate. Personal representative reviews and allows/disallows claims.
Unsupervised: file statement of account. Supervised: file detailed accounting with court.
Distribute remaining assets to beneficiaries per will or Indiana law of descent and distribution.
File final documents and discharge personal representative from further duties
After the personal representative is appointed, a notice to creditors must be published once for 1 week. Creditors then have a limited window to file claims; claims filed after the deadline are generally barred.
If the gross estate is small enough, Indiana allows a simplified path that skips most of the formal probate machinery. Faster, cheaper, and — done right — every bit as final.
A will executed entirely online, with remote witnesses and a notary, is valid in Indiana under current law. If the decedent signed an e-will — through a platform like Trust & Will, Willing, or a law-firm portal — it gets admitted to probate the same way a traditional paper will does.
Probate is filed in the county where the decedent lived at the time of death. A sample of active Indiana courts:
Most Indiana estates close in 6–12 months. The floor is set by the creditor claim period (3 months (fixed statutory period).) plus the time to file inventory, settle debts, and prepare the final accounting. Estates with real property sales, tax returns, or disputes run longer.
Yes. If the gross estate is $50,000 or less and at least 30 days have passed since the date of death, you can generally use a small estate affidavit or collection procedure instead of full probate. Citation: IC 29-1-4-1.
Indiana recognizes unsupervised or supervised administration. unsupervised — Default administration type. Personal representative has broad discretion and minimal court supervision. Court approval required only for opening and closing. supervised — Court oversight of major estate actions. Personal representative must obtain court approval for property sales, distributions, and annual accountings.
After the personal representative is appointed, a notice to creditors must be published once in a qualifying newspaper for 1 week. Creditors then have 3 months (fixed statutory period). Claims filed after the deadline are barred. Citation: IC 29-1-6-1, IC 29-1-6-2.
Indiana law doesn't strictly require an attorney, but most personal representatives retain one. Court rules, creditor notice requirements, tax returns, and fiduciary accounting obligations create personal liability for the personal representative if they're done incorrectly. A flat-fee attorney through Closewell handles filings, statutory notices, inventory, and accounting with fixed pricing and no hourly billing.
Court filing fees in Indiana typically run $200–$500, plus publication costs of $100–$300 for the creditor notice. Attorney fees are the biggest variable — traditional hourly counsel on a routine estate often bills $5,000–$15,000, while flat-fee services like Closewell price the same work from $1,400–$4,500 depending on complexity. Bond premiums, appraisals, and tax preparation are additional.
Closewell launches state by state so every matter is handled by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Drop your email and we’ll tell you the day a Indiana-licensed attorney is available.