What to Do When Someone Dies in Johnson County, Indiana
Probate in Johnson County runs through the Circuit Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Johnson County, settling their estate runs through the Circuit Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Judge Roesener was appointed in 2018 and subsequently elected. Kevin M. Barton was Superior Court 1 judge (retired end of 2024). Judicial District 17 (Hancock, Johnson, Shelby) confirmed via in.gov. Circuit Court address "5 E Jefferson St, Franklin, IN 46131" re-confirmed 2026-07-03 via the county Circuit Court department page (curl with browser UA; the page returns HTTP 403 to automated WebFetch).
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 Johnson County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at Five East Jefferson Street, Franklin. The court sits in the Judicial District 17. Johnson County shares the Judicial District 17 with Hancock and Shelby.
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. The 3 monthsIC 29-1-14-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Johnson County
What probate costs in Johnson 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 Circuit Court at Five East Jefferson Street, Franklin. The court is part of the Judicial District 17.
Indiana charges $177IC § 33-37-4-7(a) (as amended by P.L.106-2025). Verified 2026-09-08Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The Circuit Court accepts e-filing (https://www.in.gov/courts/efiling/). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Indiana are negotiated, typically 1.8%IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Indiana requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
Probate in Indiana typically runs 9 months to 15 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Circuit Court
Probate documents in Johnson County can be filed in person at the Circuit Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. The court sits in the Judicial District 17.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Circuit Court is realistic.
To file at the Circuit Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Johnson 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 Johnson County are recorded with the County Recorder, led by County Recorder Teresa Petro, at 86 W Court Street, Franklin, IN 46131. Phone: 317-346-4385. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
The County Recorder charges $25 flat, regardless of page count.
Johnson County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Indiana uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Johnson County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Indiana are based on reasonable compensation — typically 1.8%IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Johnson County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Circuit Court, 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 firm handling estate planning and probate administration for Marion County and central Indiana, alongside a plaintiff's civil litigation practice. Work includes wills, trusts, trust resolution, special needs trusts, and business succession, with each attorney carrying 25-plus years in estate and probate matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTax PlanningSpecial Needs Planningand 5 more
Office
7550 S Meridian St, Suite C-1Indianapolis, IN 46217
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawGuardianshipand 3 more
Office
135 N Pennsylvania St, Suite 1100Indianapolis, IN 46204
Indianapolis firm guiding families through the Marion County probate process whether or not the decedent left a will. The firm's attorneys handle estate opening, administration, and asset distribution as part of a practice spanning family law and probate.
Columbus firm serving Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings, Decatur, Johnson, and Brown counties with probate administration — filing wills with the court, securing a decedent's assets, locating beneficiaries, closing accounts, and transferring assets to heirs. Also handles estate administration and trust administration.
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationHealthcare DirectivesPowers Of Attorneyand 2 more
Office
3737 S Scatterfield Rd, Suite 200Anderson, IN 46013
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTax Planningand 3 more
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Johnson County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Johnson County, Indiana.
