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Will Contest Deadline in Indiana

In Indiana, an interested person can contest a will within 3 months after the date of the order admitting it to probate, and a no-contest clause is enforceable except in listed cases, such as an action where the court finds good cause.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Indiana at a glance

Deadline to contest
3 months
Clock starts
Order admitting the will to probate
No-contest clauses enforced
Yes, except for good cause and other listed cases

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Indiana

How long do you have to contest a will in Indiana?

Deadline to contest in Indiana: 3 months.

When does the deadline to contest a will start in Indiana?

Clock starts in Indiana: Order admitting the will to probate.

Are no-contest clauses in wills enforceable in Indiana?

Yes, except for good cause and other listed cases. No-contest clauses enforced in Indiana: yes, except for good cause and other listed cases.

Where do the Indiana will contest deadlines come from?

The rules above come from Ind. Code 29-1-7-17, Ind. Code 29-1-6-2 and Ind. Code 29-1-7-16.5. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Indiana also lets a person, while alive, send notice of their will to beneficiaries and heirs. A person who receives that notice generally has 90 days to file a contest, or is barred, if the testator dies at least 90 days later while living in Indiana.

What this means in practice

Deadlines for will contests are often short and strictly applied. Knowing exactly which event starts the clock in the state where the will is probated, such as the date of admission, the date notice was mailed, or the date of publication, matters as much as knowing the length of the period.

Only people with a legal stake in the estate can usually contest a will, such as heirs who would inherit without the will or beneficiaries named in an earlier will. A contest also needs a recognized legal ground. Being disappointed with the amount left to you is generally not enough on its own.

A no-contest clause (also called an in terrorem clause) says a beneficiary who challenges the will loses their gift. Whether such a clause is enforced, and whether there is an exception for challenges brought with probable cause or in good faith, depends on state law. Anyone weighing a challenge, and anyone drafting a will, can check the state statute and may want to talk to a probate attorney.

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