Small claims forms · Indiana

Indiana small claims court forms

Vera can't fill Indiana's small claims forms yet. Here is what the court provides and what to know; Vera still helps you organize your case, deadlines and evidence.

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To sue (you're the plaintiff)

A claim on the small claims docket of a circuit or superior court is filed in the county where the transaction or occurrence took place, where the obligation was incurred or is to be performed, or where a defendant resides or is employed. In a Marion County township small claims court, venue is by township, and a landlord and tenant claim, including return of a security deposit, goes to the township where the real estate is located (Indiana Small Claims Rules 1(A), 12(A)).
The plaintiff files an unverified notice of claim and pays the filing fee (or files an order waiving it), and "waives the excess of the plaintiff's claim over the jurisdictional maximum" of the court. The clerk "shall prepare and furnish blank notice of claim forms" and, on request, helps individual claimants prepare them; the claimant furnishes all attachments, including a copy of any written contract, or an Affidavit of Debt for a claim on an account (Indiana Small Claims Rules 2(A), 2(B)(4), 2(C)).
Enough copies are filed for one to stay with the clerk, one for the claimant, and one to be served on each defendant. The court sets the place, date and time the parties are to appear, and the notice of claim states them (Indiana Small Claims Rules 2(B)(3), 2(D)).
The notice of claim is also the summons. It is served by certified mail with return receipt requested, by delivering it to the defendant in person, or by leaving it at the defendant's home, in which case the person serving it also mails a copy by first class mail. The Indiana Small Claims Manual says notice "must be served upon the named Defendant at least ten (10) days before the parties are to appear in court" (Indiana Small Claims Rule 3(A); Indiana Small Claims Manual (2026)).
A person may represent himself or herself in small claims. A corporation, LLC, LLP or trust may be represented by counsel, the owner, or a designated full-time employee (or a trustee); the employee or trustee must file in each case a certificate of compliance and an affidavit of not being disbarred or suspended, and the designation waives any claim above the small claims limit. An assigned or purchased claim needs a lawyer (Indiana Small Claims Rule 8(C)).
For a residential security deposit, the Indiana Small Claims Manual says a tenant "should always provide the landlord a forwarding address" and points to Ind. Code 32-31-3-12 for the landlord's duty, after receiving it, to refund the deposit or deliver an itemized, written statement of why it is kept (Indiana Small Claims Manual (2026)).

If you were sued (you're the defendant)

"All defenses shall be deemed at issue without responsive pleadings", so the defendant does not need to file an answer. The court may ask the defendant to enter an appearance before trial, in person, by telephone or by mail, but not entering one is not grounds for a default judgment (Indiana Small Claims Rules 4(A), 4(B)).
The defendant appears at the place, date and time stated in the notice of claim and should bring all documents about the claim. A default judgment may be entered if the defendant does not appear. A defendant who does not dispute the claim may still appear so the court can set how the judgment is to be paid (Indiana Small Claims Rule 2(B)(3), (6), (7), (9)).
A jury trial is waived unless the defendant submits a written request "within ten (10) days after receipt of the notice of claim", and the requesting party pays the clerk the amount required to transfer the claim to the plenary docket (Indiana Small Claims Rules 2(B)(10), 4(C)).
A counterclaim is a "statement of such claim" brought or mailed to the court in time for the court to mail a copy that the plaintiff receives "at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the trial". Pursuing it to decision waives any amount over the small claims limit (Indiana Small Claims Rule 5).
A person may represent himself or herself or be represented by counsel. A business defendant may be represented by counsel, the owner, or a designated full-time employee (or a trustee) who files in each case the certificate of compliance and affidavit required by the rule (Indiana Small Claims Rules 4(B), 8(C)).

Checked against the court's own forms and rules. Courts change forms; check with the clerk before you file. This page is general information, not legal advice.