State guide
Indiana
This is general information, not legal advice. Indiana's Office of Court Services publishes a statewide Small Claims Manual. The 2026 edition, updated December 23, 2025, says that by Indiana law, small claims filed on or after July 1, 2021, are limited to cases in which the amount sought is $10,000 or less. The manual gives examples at that figure: personal injury, damage to property or real estate, rent due at filing, money owed, and the return of money paid for faulty work. It is a statewide manual, so this directory does not treat the $10,000 line as a Marion County-only rule. Marion County also has township small claims courts under a separate statute. The manual is the public statement of the amount.
Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Which court hears it
- Small claims docket in circuit or superior court, and township small claims courts in Marion County
- Dollar limit we could verify
- The Indiana Office of Court Services Small Claims Manual (2026), updated December 23, 2025, says that by Indiana law, small claims filed on or after July 1, 2021, are limited to cases where the amount sought is $10,000 or less.
- Statute or court page
- Official page →
- Filing or self-help page
- Official page →
The manual is practical. It tells you to look at venue, at who the parties are, and at deadlines for filing, which it calls statutes of limitations, before you fill out a claim. It warns that hiring a lawyer usually means you will not recover attorney fees, with exceptions such as a written agreement that provides for fees or a bad-check claim. It also says you may not use small claims to take possession under a land contract or to foreclose. Those cases are civil cases in circuit or superior court. Emergency possessory actions between landlord and tenant are mentioned separately under the landlord-tenant statutes.
Representation is covered in its own section. Individuals generally speak for themselves or hire a lawyer. The manual discusses when a corporation must appear through counsel and when a designated employee may appear. Read that section before a business files, because a wrong appearance can stall a hearing. The manual also explains service, continuances, and what happens if the defendant was not served. Bring the lease, invoices, and photos. The $10,000 figure is the amount sought. Interest and court costs are discussed in the manual's judgment chapter, and you should follow that chapter rather than adding a cushion that pushes the demand over the line.
The manual's date matters. It says 'currently limited' as of the December 23, 2025 update, for cases filed on or after July 1, 2021. If you are reading this later, check the courts' website for a newer PDF. Township courts in Marion County are real courts with their own clerks. A claim that belongs in a township court should not be walked into a different county's superior court without checking venue. After a judgment, the manual discusses collection. A judgment is an order to pay, and payment still has to be pursued if the person does not pay. The clerk can identify the forms used in that court.
Official resources in Indiana
Office of Court Services manual stating the $10,000 limit for cases filed on or after July 1, 2021.
Court site that posts the manual, forms, and local court information.
Official code, including the court-jurisdiction titles the manual describes as Indiana law.
Key facts for Indiana
- The statewide small-claims manual is published by the Indiana Office of Court Services.
- The 2026 manual says claims filed on or after July 1, 2021, are limited to $10,000 or less.
- The manual lists personal injury, property damage, rent, and money owed as examples.
- It says land-contract possession and foreclosure are not small claims.
- It says attorney fees are often unavailable unless a contract or a bad-check statute provides for them.
- Marion County has township small claims courts in addition to the statewide small-claims process.
What to do next
- Use the 2026 manual's $10,000 line for a claim filed after July 1, 2021, and recheck the PDF if a newer one is posted.
- Read the corporation-appearance section before a business files.
- Do not file a foreclosure or a land-contract possession case as a small claim.
- In Marion County, confirm whether a township small claims court is the right clerk.
Looking for your city or county in Indiana?
We haven't found official court-level pages for Indiana we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Indiana, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.Indiana Office of Court Services
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Indiana page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- What small claims court is
- How dollar limits work
- Who can sue and be sued
- A demand letter before you file