For anyone planning an estate in Indiana or settling one: what a will or trust costs, whether an estate needs probate, what executors and trustees are paid, and the taxes on an inheritance, each answered under Indiana law.
36 tools for Indiana
Probate in Indiana takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of 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; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
Indiana authorizes transfer on death deedsIC 32-17-14-1 to 32-17-14-32Verified Jul 15, 2026: a recorded, revocable deed that passes real property at death outside probate.
Indiana allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle titleIC 9-17-3-9 (Transfer on death conveyance; requirements — vehicle-specific); IC 32-17-14 (Transfer on Death Property Act), applied to vehicles by IC 32-17-14-2(e) "Subject to IC 9-17-3-9(g)"Verified Aug 25, 2026View source, filed through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
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.
In Indiana, the Circuit or Superior Court appoints the personal representative and the Clerk of the court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; every appointment goes through the courtIC 29-1-7-13(b) (court grants letters); IC 29-1-10-3 (clerk administers oath only)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
In Indiana, creditors have 3 monthsIC 29-1-14-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
When an estate owes more than it holds, Indiana pays the claims in 7Ind. Code § 29-1-14-9Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with costs and expenses of administration (excluding funeral, tombstone, and body disposition).
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
Compare trust-account requirements bank by bank: how a revocable trust account is opened or retitled, and what proves the trust.
See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.
Indiana requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040IC 6-3-2-1(b)(7) (as amended by P.L.80-2025 / SEA 451 (2025))Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
In Indiana, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of 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; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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 Sep 15, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
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 Jul 15, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
After a death in Indiana, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $100,000IC 29-1-8-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or goes through probate, where creditors have 3 monthsIC 29-1-14-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to file claims after notice.