Terre Haute funeral home serving Vigo County since 1847, with a modern chapel added in 2012 and a building with no stairways, wide hallways and handicap access.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Vigo County, Indiana
How probate works in Vigo County: the Superior Courts, Probate Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Vigo County Superior Courts, Probate Division
Vigo County · Judicial District 19
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Office
33 South Third Street, 3rd Floor, Terre Haute, IN 47807
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysAttorneys must e-file estate and guardianship cases through an Indiana certified e-filing provider. On paper: Self-represented filers are not required to e-file.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Probate Division posts forms for self-represented guardianship filers, small estate affidavits, restricted accounts and biennial accountings, and its staff cannot give legal advice on them. The local estate rules call for every estate pleading to be signed by the personal representative and the estate lawyer.
County forms
- Guardianship Forms, Adult (self-represented checklist and forms)The checklist and forms to petition for guardianship of an adult without a lawyer.
- Guardianship Forms, MinorThe petition and supporting forms to establish guardianship of a minor.
- Small Estate AffidavitCollects a small estate's assets without opening an estate.
- Certification of Restricted AccountA financial institution's certification that a court-restricted guardianship account has been opened.
Fax
1-812-234-3475
Departments
- Clerk1-812-462-3211 · 33 South Third Street, Courthouse, 1st Floor · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PMThe Clerk of the Vigo Circuit Court keeps the records of the Circuit, Superior and Juvenile Courts and collects court costs.
About the court
- The Probate Division, at the south end of the courthouse's third floor, handles estates, guardianships and trusts. New probate cases rotate among Superior Court Divisions 1, 2 and 3, and Division 3 also sits as the Vigo Circuit Court. Courthouse parking is in the lot west of the courthouse.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Vigo 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 Vigo County, probate runs through the Superior Courts, Probate Division at 33 South Third Street, 3rd Floor, 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. 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 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 Superior Courts, Probate Division at 33 South Third Street, 3rd Floor, Terre Haute. The court is part of the Judicial District 19.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Every estate files an inventory, or in an unsupervised estate a verified certification that one is prepared, within two months of appointment; Fee guidelines cap attorney and personal representative fees in supervised estates; In an unsupervised estate the court sets fees only on a petition or objection, and an affidavit that fees stay within the schedule is filed with the closing statement.
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 Courts, Probate Division
Probate cases in Vigo County, Indiana are filed at the Superior Courts, Probate Division. The court sits in the Judicial District 19.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Clerk.
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 Vigo County Self-Filing Assessment.
Vigo 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
In an unsupervised estate the court acts only on opening, closing and fee petitions; any other matter may convert it to supervised administration.
An estate opened for a wrongful death claim is opened as a supervised estate.
SourceDocument Requirements
The court's Instructions to the personal representative are filed in every estate, signed by the personal representative and the estate lawyer.
Every estate pleading is signed by the personal representative and the estate lawyer, and the estate lawyer prepares the proposed orders.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Superior Courts, Probate Division: 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 Vigo County
In Indiana a death is registered locally, and in Vigo County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Vigo County Health Department, Vital Statistics as well as by Indiana Department of Health - Division of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Vigo County · Vigo County Health Department, Vital Statistics
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:15 AM-3:45 PM
Office
171 Oak Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807
Website
Local rule
- The office takes no certificate requests by email, fax or phone, and applications close at 3:15 pm.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $10 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Vigo County · Vigo County Coroner
Mail and offices
Fax
1-812-231-4429
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Vigo County
7 funeral homes and crematories in Vigo County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
Terre Haute funeral home and crematory, opened in 1989 by a business begun in 1925 in Prairie Creek. The DeBaun family also owns New Harmony Cemetery in southern Vigo County, founded in 1812.
Terre Haute funeral home opened in 2009 in a historic building that has been an operating funeral home since 1939. Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Terre Haute and Fletcher Chapel Cemetery in Pimento are both reached at the funeral home's number.
Terre Haute funeral home with a private crematory on site, added to bring cremation care to the Wabash Valley, and a flexible reception space for catered gatherings. The firm began in the Fontanet community of northern Vigo County.
Terre Haute funeral home on the grounds of Roselawn Memorial Park, opened in 1992 and serving families in the Wabash Valley. The memorial park, established in 1929, offers interment, entombment and inurnment.
Terre Haute funeral and cremation home that works with Indiana Medicaid for families who qualify.
Funeral homes by city: Terre Haute, West Terre Haute
Cremation Services in Vigo County
4 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Vigo County
1 listing
Burial Services in Vigo County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
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 at 199 Oak Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807. Phone: 1-812-462-3301. 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 CSC, ePN and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Vigo County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
199 Oak Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807
Website
E-recording
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 Vigo 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 Vigo County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Courts, Probate Division, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
- Vigo County Superior Courts, Probate Division, official page
- Vigo County Recorder, official page
- Vigo 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.
Get the Answer
Hire an Indiana Probate Attorney
Browse vetted Indiana attorneys handling probate matters.
Browse firms
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
