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Indiana Small Claims Court

Small claims docket of Circuit and Superior Courts; Marion County Small Claims Courts, for claims up to $10,000.

Last checked November 1, 2026

The most you can ask for$10,000
LawyersLawyers allowed
Time to sue on a contract6 years
Good to know

Same limit for businesses. Marion County's township small claims courts also use $10,000, under their own statutes. Filing means giving up any amount over the limit.

Lawyers: Not required. A business can use an owner or a designated full-time employee, but a purchased or assigned claim needs a lawyer.

How it works in Indiana

  1. Confirm your claim is $10,000 or less and pick a proper county: where it happened, where the debt arose, or where the defendant lives or works.
  2. Get a Notice of Claim from the clerk, free of charge, and state your claim briefly.
  3. Attach copies of any written contract, and an Affidavit of Debt if you're suing on an account.
  4. File and pay the costs. The defendant must be served at least 10 days before the court date.
  5. Go to the hearing with your witnesses and evidence. Check with court staff whether the first date is the actual trial.
  6. If you win and aren't paid, ask the court about collection steps.

What it costs

Varies by county. Wabash County, for example, charges $97 for one defendant on paper with certified mail, or $87 if e-filed. Sheriff service costs more.

How long you have to sue

Written contract6 years
Spoken agreement6 years
Damage to property2 years
Personal injury2 years

Ind. Code §§ 34-11-2-4, 34-11-2-7, 34-11-2-9, 34-11-2-11. These are general limits. The clock can start late, pause or be much shorter, as it is for claims against a government agency.

If you lose

Either party can appeal to the Indiana Court of Appeals, acting within 30 days of the judgment. The rules are strict, so get legal advice quickly.

Small Claims Rule 8 changed effective January 1, 2025, so a corporation or LLC can use a designated full-time employee instead of a lawyer for claims within the limit. Senate Bill 125 (2026) on Marion County small claims jurisdiction shows only a December 11, 2025 referral to committee. It doesn't change the dollar limit. The limit has been $10,000 since July 1, 2021. Some commercial sites still show $8,000.

Sources

Cities in Indiana

IndianaIndianapolisMarion County Small Claims Courts (nine township courts)

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General information to help you get organized, last checked November 1, 2026. It isn't legal advice, and SueYou isn't a law firm. Laws change and every case is different, so confirm anything important with a lawyer or the court. No lawyer has reviewed this page yet.