What to Do When Someone Dies in Vigo County, Indiana
Probate in Vigo 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 Vigo 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.
Contact/hours are the Vigo Superior Courts Probate Division (handles estates, guardianships, trusts; phone 812-462-3201, fax 812-234-3475). The general Circuit Court / Superior Court #3 line (Judge Sarah K. Mullican) is 812-462-3241, fax 812-232-4995, per the Indiana Courts statewide court directory. Re-verified 2026-07-03 via the Probate Division page; Small Estate Affidavit threshold updated to "less than $100,000" (was $50,000) per the current page.
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 Vigo County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 33 South Third Street, Terre Haute. The court sits in the Judicial District 19. Vigo County shares the Judicial District 19 with Clay, Putnam and Sullivan.
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 Vigo County
What probate costs in Vigo 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 33 South Third Street, Terre Haute. The court is part of the Judicial District 19.
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 Vigo 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 19.
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.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Records Access
The Probate Office is located on the south end of the 3rd floor of the Vigo County Courthouse.
Probate handles guardianships, estates, and trusts. Probate Office mailing address: Vigo Superior Courts, Probate Division, 33 South Third Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807. Courthouse parking lot is west of the Courthouse.
Certify a restricted (court-blocked) account in an estate or guardianship matter.
What to Bring
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 Vigo 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 Vigo County are recorded with the County Recorder, led by County Recorder Diana Smith, at 199 Oak Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807. Phone: 812-462-3301. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $25 flat, regardless of page count.
Vigo County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, ePN.
Indiana uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Vigo 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 Vigo 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.
Terre Haute and Greencastle firm serving Vigo, Putnam, and surrounding Wabash Valley counties; formerly Nattkemper & Farnsworth, now practicing as Felling, Farnsworth & Wudtke. Attorney Jared A. Farnsworth handles estate and trust administration alongside wills, trusts, and Medicaid planning, and the firm takes guardianship and probate litigation and trust and estate disputes.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationElder Lawand 3 more
Terre Haute firm serving Vigo County, in practice for more than 80 years. Attorney Mark Hassler handles will contests and contested estates, trust disputes on behalf of trustees and beneficiaries, and estate administration, taking contested matters to court when necessary.
Sullivan firm run by Jeff and Jennifer Hawkins, both Trust & Estate Specialty Board Certified Indiana Trust & Estate Lawyers, serving Sullivan County and west-central Indiana. Handles management of deceased people's estates and guardianships, along with wills, trusts, elder law, and nursing-home Medicaid applications.
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianshipMedicaid Planningand 2 more
Terre Haute firm (formerly Sacopulos, Johnson & Sacopulos) open since January 1976 and serving clients across Indiana. Its trust-and-estates practice runs from preparing simple wills and handling small estates to detailed trusts and eight-figure estates, and covers special-needs trusts and durable powers of attorney alongside probate services.
Covington firm (Fountain County) practicing since 1915, with a second office in Rockville. Its estate work is planning-side: wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. Known in the local courts of Fountain, Parke, Vermillion, and Warren counties, where it also handles criminal, family law, and personal injury matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningHealthcare DirectivesPowers Of AttorneyWills Trusts
Vincennes firm led by Knox County native Tanner Bouchie, frequently representing clients in Knox, Daviess, Sullivan, Greene, Pike, and Dubois counties. Handles wills, trusts and estates and guardianship arrangements for loved ones, alongside business formation, real estate, and family law. Clients book appointments online and meet remotely.
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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Vigo County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Vigo County, Indiana.
