Hendricks County chapel of Conkle Funeral Home, a firm in service since 1925, serving Plainfield, Brownsburg, Danville and all of Hendricks County. The firm's other chapel is in Speedway.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Hendricks County, Indiana
How probate works in Hendricks County: the Superior Court 2 record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Hendricks County Superior Court 2
Hendricks County · Judicial District 16
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
One Courthouse Square, Suite 107, Danville, IN 46122
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysAttorneys must e-file estate, guardianship and trust cases through an Indiana certified e-filing provider. Self-represented filers may file on paper with the clerk. On paper: Self-represented filers are not required to e-file.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe clerk's Self Service Center carries a pro se appearance form, a generic motion and order, and a small estate affidavit for collecting assets without opening an estate.
County forms
- Small Estate AffidavitAffidavit for transfer of assets without administration under Indiana Code 29-1-8; it is not filed to open an estate.
Fax
1-317-745-9375
Departments
- Clerk1-317-745-9231 · 51 West Main Street, Suite 104 · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PMThe Clerk of the Circuit and Superior Courts keeps the record of every estate and guardianship case and takes paper filings. The courthouse is entered only through the west security entrance.
- Circuit Court1-317-745-9271The Circuit Court does not take new estate or guardianship cases; they go to Superior Court 2.
About the court
- Superior Court 2 hears estates, guardianships and trusts in Hendricks County. The courts and the clerk are in the courthouse at 51 W. Main Street, entered through the west security entrance.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Hendricks County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Hendricks County, probate runs through the Superior Court 2 at One Courthouse Square, Suite 107, Danville. The court sits in the Judicial District 16. Hendricks County shares the Judicial District 16 with Morgan.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Indiana intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Indiana estates take 9 months to 15 months to move through this process. Creditors have 3 monthsIC 29-1-14-1, 29-1-7-7, 29-1-14-9, 29-1-14-10Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Hendricks County
What probate costs in Hendricks County, Indiana comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Superior Court 2 at One Courthouse Square, Suite 107, Danville. The court is part of the Judicial District 16.
Indiana charges $177IC § 33-37-4-7(a) (as amended by P.L.106-2025); IC §§ 33-37-5-20, -21, -21.2, -25, -26, -27, -31Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Indiana are negotiated, typically 1.8%Modeled estimate under IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%Modeled estimate under IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Indiana allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payIC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Indiana requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
Probate in Indiana typically runs 9 months to 15 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Superior Court 2
Probate cases in Hendricks County, Indiana are filed at the Superior Court 2. The court sits in the Judicial District 16.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Clerk and Circuit Court.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Indiana has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableIC 29-1-7-13(b) (court grants letters); IC 29-1-10-3 (clerk administers oath only)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Hendricks County Self-Filing Assessment.
Hendricks County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Estates, guardianships and trusts are filed in Superior Court 2
Hendricks County files every supervised, unsupervised and small estate, guardianship and trust case in Superior Court No. 2. A guardianship or adoption of a child already in a pending child-in-need-of-services or termination case goes to Superior Court No. 3.
SourceDocument Requirements
Every motion or petition comes with a separate proposed order
Each motion, petition or other request is filed with a proposed order on a separate page, filed as its own document. The proposed order lists every attorney and self-represented party with full mailing and email addresses.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Superior Court 2: Original will and any codicils, delivered to the court that has jurisdiction of the administration (IC 29-1-7-3); A certified copy of the death certificate is commonly requested by the court or by asset holders, but it is not an element of the petition under IC 29-1-7-5; Petition for probate of will and issuance of letters / petition for appointment, with the contents required by IC 29-1-7-5 (decedent, heirs, devisees/legatees, domicile, date of death, and the attorney who is to represent the personal representative)IC 29-1-7 (probate of wills & issuance of letters; petition contents IC 29-1-7-5); IC 29-1-10 (appointment & qualification of personal representatives); IC 29-1-7.5 (unsupervised administration)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Hendricks County
In Indiana a death is registered locally, and in Hendricks County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Hendricks County Health Department, Vital Records as well as by Indiana Department of Health - Division of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Hendricks County · Hendricks County Health Department, Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
355 South Washington Street, Suite G30, Danville, IN 46122
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Order online
Fax
1-317-745-9218
Local rule
- The office holds death records for deaths in Hendricks County, from 1882.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $15 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Hendricks County · Hendricks County Coroner
Mail and offices
Fax
1-888-693-8717
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Hendricks County
11 funeral homes and crematories in Hendricks County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
Brownsburg funeral home established in 1946, in a building opened in 2002 with two large chapels and adjoining family rooms. It arranges irrevocable funeral trusts and prearrangements for any type of service.
Clayton funeral home of Helton & Harris Funeral Homes, formerly Weaver & Randolph Funeral Homes, serving Danville, Clayton and Hendricks County since 1949, with a second home in Danville.
Coatesville funeral home under its present owners since 2011 that also provides grave markers and headstones. Families may stop by or call to meet the funeral director.
Family owned and operated Danville funeral home founded in 1923. Its sister home, Hall-Baker Funeral Home, is in Plainfield; together they are Baker Funeral Service.
Danville funeral home of Helton & Harris Funeral Homes, formerly Weaver & Randolph Funeral Homes, serving Danville, Clayton and Hendricks County since 1949, with a second home in Clayton.
Funeral homes by city: Avon, Brownsburg, Clayton, Coatesville, Danville, Indianapolis, North Salem, Pittsboro, Plainfield
Cremation Services in Hendricks County
2 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Hendricks County
3 listings
Burial Services in Hendricks County
1 listing
Veterans Funeral Services in Hendricks County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Hendricks County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Recorder.
Deeds and other real property documents for Hendricks County are recorded with the County Recorder at 355 South Washington Street, Danville, IN 46122. Phone: 1-317-745-9224. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $25 flat, regardless of page count.
Hendricks County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN, Simplifile and Indecomm.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Hendricks County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
355 South Washington Street, Danville, IN 46122
Website
Fees
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $25 |
| County Auditor's real property endorsement (transfer)Applies to a TOD deed | $10 |
| SDF-1 (State Form 46021) Sales Disclosure FormNot required for a TOD deed | $20 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | No transfer tax applies to TOD deeds |
IC 36-2-7-10(c)(1)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Death Form · Affidavit of Heirship Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Hendricks County
Indiana allows independent administrationIC 29-1-7.5-1, IC 29-1-7.5-2, IC 29-1-7.5-3Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so the personal representative manages, pays and distributes the estate without returning to the court for approval at each step. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Indiana are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Hendricks County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court 2, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Indianapolis estate and elder-law firm serving Marion County and surrounding central-Indiana communities (Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood, Plainfield) through the local probate process. Handles will filing, estate asset identification and valuation, debt and tax settlement, executor guidance, beneficiary disputes, and trust administration. Offers a free consultation.
Anderson firm serving Madison County and central Indiana, with a second office on Crosspoint Blvd in Indianapolis. Attorney Thomas M. Beeman, a Board Certified Indiana Trust and Estate Lawyer, handles estate administration and estate litigation, representing parties in contested estate and trust disputes. Estate practice sits alongside the firm's criminal-defense and personal-injury work.
Central Indiana firm established in 1880, with a Tipton office and six more in Noblesville, Fishers, Westfield, Zionsville, Crown Point, and Fort Wayne. Its Trust and Probate Administration group sees estates through the court process, pays taxes and debts, and navigates Indiana intestate succession where there is no valid will. Sarah J. Randall and Jack G. Hittle lead the estate work.
Muncie firm serving Delaware County and east-central Indiana, founded in 1980, with a second office in Carmel. Partners Tara M. Smalstig and David J. Karnes handle probate and estate administration for personal representatives, covering court filings, estate property and distributions, plus probate litigation and will contests.
Fort Wayne office of Gutwein Law, opened when Jeanne E. Longsworth brought her practice to the firm, serving Allen County. Longsworth, an attorney and CPA, concentrates on estate, probate and trust administration alongside estate planning and business succession; the firm also handles trust and estate litigation.
South Bend firm led by Laura M. Longstreet, a former St. Joseph County Superior Court clerk and guardian ad litem, serving South Bend and Indianapolis. Represents individuals and families in probate proceedings and estate planning, with particular attention to LGBTQ+ and nontraditional families.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
(10)·
- IC § 33-37-4-7(a) (as amended by P.L.106-2025); IC §§ 33-37-5-20, -21, -21.2, -25, -26, -27, -31
- IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- IC 29-1-14-1, 29-1-7-7, 29-1-14-9, 29-1-14-10
- IC 29-1-7 (probate of wills & issuance of letters; petition contents IC 29-1-7-5); IC 29-1-10 (appointment & qualification of personal representatives); IC 29-1-7.5 (unsupervised administration)
- IC 29-1-7-13(b) (court grants letters); IC 29-1-10-3 (clerk administers oath only)
- IC 29-1-7.5-1, IC 29-1-7.5-2, IC 29-1-7.5-3
- IC 36-2-7-10(c)(1)
- Hendricks County Superior Court 2, official page
- Hendricks County Recorder, official page
- Hendricks County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Indiana statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Indiana
Free tools for settling an estate in Indiana: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Indiana.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Indiana: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 daysIC 29-1-12-1, IC 29-1-7.5-3.2Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 3 monthsIC 29-1-14-1, 29-1-7-7, 29-1-14-9, 29-1-14-10Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Indiana happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteInd. Code 30-4-1-1 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
Indiana has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableIC 29-1-7-13(b) (court grants letters); IC 29-1-10-3 (clerk administers oath only)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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