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Small Claims Court Limits in Indiana

In Indiana, the small claims docket hears claims up to $10,000, the clerk collects a $35 small claims costs fee plus a $10 service fee per defendant, and you may be represented by counsel.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Indiana at a glance

Maximum claim
$10,000
You may waive any excess to stay in small claims.
Filing fee
$35 plus $10 per defendant
The $10 service fee is not charged for cases e-filed; clerks also collect other statutory fees such as document and court administration fees.
Lawyers allowed
Yes
Assigned or purchased debts must be presented by counsel.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Indiana

What is the small claims court limit in Indiana?

Maximum claim in Indiana: $10,000. You may waive any excess to stay in small claims.

How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Indiana?

Filing fee in Indiana: $35 plus $10 per defendant. The $10 service fee is not charged for cases e-filed; clerks also collect other statutory fees such as document and court administration fees.

Can you bring a lawyer to small claims court in Indiana?

Yes. Lawyers allowed in Indiana: yes. Assigned or purchased debts must be presented by counsel.

Where do the Indiana small claims court limits come from?

The rules above come from Ind. Code 33-29-2-4, Ind. Code 33-37-4-6 and Ind. Small Claims R. 8. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Ind. Code 33-29-2-4 covers small claims dockets in circuit courts; Marion County small claims courts are governed by separate provisions.

What this means in practice

Before filing, send the other side a written demand that states what is owed, why, and a deadline to pay. A clear demand letter sometimes settles the dispute without court, and some courts ask whether you tried to resolve the matter first.

Bring organized evidence to the hearing: contracts, receipts, invoices, photos, text messages and any written promise to pay. Prepare a short timeline of what happened. Judges in small claims court decide cases quickly, so a clear, document backed explanation helps.

Winning a judgment does not mean you are paid automatically. If the other side does not pay voluntarily, you may need to use collection tools such as wage garnishment, a bank levy or a lien, and each of those has its own forms, fees and rules.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.