Search Indianapolis Probate Court Records

Indianapolis probate court records are filed and maintained through Marion County, not the City of Indianapolis directly. All probate matters for Indianapolis residents go through the Marion County Circuit Court, which handles wills, estate administrations, guardianship petitions, trust registrations, and related filings. The city and county share a consolidated government structure known as UniGov, with the County Clerk's Office serving as the central keeper of all probate records. Residents can search Indianapolis probate cases online at no cost through the Indiana MyCase portal or visit the clerk's office in person to request copies of specific documents.

Which Court Handles Indianapolis Probate

Indianapolis is the county seat of Marion County, and the two share a consolidated government known as UniGov. All probate matters for Indianapolis residents are handled by the Marion County Circuit Court. There is no city-level probate court. Under Indiana Code Title 29, probate jurisdiction rests with the county circuit court where the decedent lived at the time of death. That means any estate opened for someone who lived in Indianapolis goes through Marion County.

Indianapolis is Indiana's largest city, and Marion County processes a high volume of probate cases each year. Cases range from simple unsupervised estates to complex supervised administrations and contested guardianships. The Marion County Clerk's Office maintains all case files and is your primary point of contact for copies and records requests.

Marion County Circuit Court Contact

The Marion County Clerk's Office operates three locations. Most probate record requests are handled at the Records Facility.

• City-County Building: 200 E. Washington Street W122, Indianapolis, IN 46204
• Community Justice Campus: 675 Justice Way, Indianapolis, IN 46203
• Records Facility: 1330 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225

Phone: (317) 327-4740
Email: clerkpublic@indy.gov
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell oversees operations. The clerk is elected by Marion County residents and limited to two consecutive terms. The office collects court fees, manages child support records, and maintains all civil, criminal, and probate case files. If you are unsure which location handles your request, call the main line before visiting.

You can also submit online record requests through the Marion County public records request portal. This is useful if you know the case number or decedent's name and want to avoid an in-person trip. The clerk's office also has a dedicated court records page at indy.gov.

Search Indianapolis Probate Records Online

The state of Indiana offers free public case search through the MyCase portal. Marion County is on the Odyssey case management system, so most active and recent probate cases appear there. You can search by name, case number, or filing date.

MyCase shows case summaries, party names, filing dates, and hearing information. It does not show the full text of filed documents, but it will tell you whether a case exists and what stage it is in. If you need actual copies of documents like wills or inventory filings, you must contact the clerk's office directly.

For older historical estate records, the Indiana State Archives holds probate books transferred from Marion County and other counties over the years. The Archives is located at 6440 E. 30th St., Indianapolis, IN 46219, phone (317) 591-5222. Some records have been digitized and are searchable online through their catalog.

The Indiana MyCase portal is the starting point for most online searches. The screenshot below shows the main search interface used for probate and other court case lookups statewide.

After finding a case in MyCase, note the case number and contact the Marion County Clerk at (317) 327-4740 to request physical copies of any filed documents.

Types of Probate Records in Indianapolis

Marion County Circuit Court handles a wide range of probate matters. The most common record types you can request include:

• Wills filed for safekeeping or probate
• Estate administration files (supervised and unsupervised)
• Guardianship and conservatorship records
• Trust proceedings
• Adoption records (some are confidential)
• Marriage licenses

Indiana allows both supervised and unsupervised estate administration. Unsupervised estates are more common and involve less court oversight. Supervised administration is used when heirs dispute assets or when the court requires closer oversight of the process. Both types generate court records that are stored with the Marion County Clerk.

Guardianship records cover situations where the court appoints a guardian for a minor or an adult who cannot manage their own affairs. These files typically include the petition, medical documentation, and court orders. Some portions may be restricted from public view depending on the circumstances.

Probate Filing Fees

Indiana sets probate filing fees through statute. The base filing fee is approximately $177 for a standard probate estate. This covers the Probate Costs Fee established under IC 33-37-4-7, which sets the fee at $120, plus additional court costs that bring the typical total to around $177.

Copy fees are set by IC 33-37-5-1 at $1.00 per page. If you need a certified copy, the certification fee under IC 33-37-5-3 is $3.00 per document. So a one-page certified document costs $4.00 total. For a standard non-certified copy, you pay $1.00 per page. Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell confirmed that effective July 1, 2021, the cost to certify a record is $3 regardless of the number of pages.

Payments for court fines and fees can be made online through the Indiana Courts online payment portal. Marion County also accepts payments at clerk office locations. Check current accepted payment methods when you visit.

How to Get Copies of Probate Records

There are three ways to get copies of Indianapolis probate records.

In person: Visit the Marion County Records Facility at 1330 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225. Bring the case number if you have it, or the name of the decedent or ward. Staff can search the system and print copies while you wait in many cases. Bring payment. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

By mail or online request: Submit a request through the Marion County public records request form at indy.gov. Include as much identifying information as possible: full name, approximate dates, case number if known. The clerk's office will process the request and contact you with copy costs before sending documents.

Online via MyCase: Some documents in some cases are available directly through the MyCase portal. Not all documents are posted online. If a document is not visible in MyCase, it simply means it has not been digitized. You must contact the clerk in those cases.

For full Marion County probate court information, visit our Marion County probate records page.

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