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Dearborn County, IN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Dearborn County information |
|---|---|
| Court for estate cases | Dearborn Circuit Court. Dearborn County local rule LR15-AR-5 assigns unsupervised estates, supervised estates, guardianships and trusts to the Circuit Court. |
| Courthouse address | Dearborn County Courthouse, 165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025. The Dearborn Circuit Court is on the second floor. |
| Mailing address | 165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025. |
| Clerk phone | (812) 537-8867 for filing and records questions. |
| Circuit Court phone | (812) 537-8865 for hearing questions. |
| Fax | (812) 532-2021. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Closed federal and county holidays. |
| Filing cost | Current through 2026, a petition for probate of will and issuance of letters, or a petition for letters of general administration, carries $177 when the statewide $120 probate costs fee and statutory add-ons are collected (IC 33-37-4-7). Offering a will for probate alone is treated differently under IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3). |
| Local forms | No Dearborn County estate packet, cover sheet or estate opening form is published on the Clerk of Courts page, the Circuit Court page or the LR15 local probate rules. |
| E-filing | Attorneys are required to e-file in Dearborn County. Unrepresented filers are encouraged, but not required, to e-file under Ind. Trial Rule 87. |
| Case search | MyCase, https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/. Dearborn County estate cases can be searched by decedent name and appear as EU, ES or EM. |
| Remote appearance | No Dearborn County probate remote appearance rule is published in the LR15 local rules. Remote hearings are governed by Ind. Administrative Rule 14 and the judge's case specific order. |
| Court websites | Indiana Judicial Branch Dearborn County page: https://www.in.gov/courts/local/dearborn-county/. Dearborn County also publishes Circuit Court and Clerk of Courts pages on dearborncounty.org. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you open an estate in Dearborn County, identify the assets, debts, heirs, beneficiaries, will status and whether a personal representative will need authority to sell or collect property. That information affects whether the Dearborn Circuit Court can issue letters testamentary or letters of general administration, whether a bond issue needs to be addressed, and whether the estate can move on a supervised or unsupervised path.
Sunset can help organize estate settlement before the first filing by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions, building an asset list and turning that information into a Dearborn County probate packet for attorney review or filing.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Dearborn County probate venue is local to the decedent's domicile. Indiana venue for probating a will and administering an estate is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a nonresident, a county where Indiana property is located or later comes into the estate (IC 29-1-7-1).
Dearborn County is served by one courthouse in Lawrenceburg. Although Dearborn County and Ohio County make up Indiana's seventh judicial circuit and share one circuit judge (IC 33-33-15-1, IC 33-33-58-2), Dearborn County estate filings go to Dearborn County's own Clerk of the Circuit Court at 165 Mary Street in Lawrenceburg. Indiana has one elected Clerk of the Circuit Court in each county who serves the courts in that county (IC 33-32-2-1, IC 33-32-2-2).
Dearborn County local rule LR15-AR-5 assigns unsupervised estates, supervised estates, guardianships and trusts to the Dearborn Circuit Court. Dearborn Superior Courts I and II do not receive those estate filings under the local assignment rule.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Dearborn County is the right venue by checking the decedent's domicile at death and the location of Indiana property if the decedent was not domiciled in Indiana (IC 29-1-7-1).
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, names and addresses of heirs or beneficiaries, a first list of assets and debts, and the proposed personal representative's information.
- Prepare the estate petition as a civil pleading. Dearborn County local rule LR15-PR-5 requires probate petitions and papers to be prepared as civil pleadings and requires petitions for letters to show the attorney's name, address, phone number and state bar number.
- Address the administration type and bond issue. Dearborn County local rule LR15-PR-8 points unsupervised administration back to the statutory consent and solvency requirements in IC 29-1-7.5-2. In supervised estates, LR15-PR-7 sets local bond rules and exceptions.
- File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Dearborn County Courthouse in Lawrenceburg, or e-file through the Indiana E-Filing System if that is the chosen route. Attorneys are required to e-file, while unrepresented filers are encouraged but not required to e-file under Ind. Trial Rule 87.
- Pay the court costs that apply to the filing. Current through 2026, a petition for probate of will and issuance of letters, or a petition for letters of general administration, carries $177 when the statewide $120 probate costs fee and statutory add-ons are collected (IC 33-37-4-7).
- If a will is e-filed, follow Ind. Trial Rule 87(E): file an accurate copy of the will and the required affidavit, and retain the original will unless the court or a statute directs otherwise.
- After the court authorizes the personal representative, obtain letters testamentary or letters of general administration issued under the clerk's seal. Those letters are the proof of authority to collect estate assets and act for the estate (IC 29-1-10-1, IC 29-1-10-4).
- Publish and serve notice of administration as Indiana law requires. Claims generally must be filed within three months after first publication or within nine months after death, whichever is earlier, or they are forever barred (IC 29-1-7-7, IC 29-1-14-1).
- Administer and close the estate. In a supervised Dearborn County estate, file the inventory within two months after appointment (LR15-PR-10). If the estate cannot close within one year, Dearborn County local rule LR15-PR-2 requires an intermediate account within thirty days after the one year mark and each year after. Estate settlement ends through the applicable closing statement, final account or court approved closing process.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Dearborn County
Dearborn County does not publish a local estate packet, cover sheet, checklist or estate opening form on the Clerk of Courts page, the Circuit Court page or in the LR15 local probate rules. The local rules do require probate petitions and papers to be prepared as civil pleadings, and LR15-PR-5 requires petitions for letters of guardianship, administration or testamentary to include the attorney's contact and state bar information.
Indiana does not have a statewide court approved probate form set for regular estate administration. Indiana Legal Help publishes a statewide small estate affidavit through the Coalition for Court Access, but that form is for presenting to the asset holder and is not filed with the Dearborn Circuit Court.
Local nuance
Dearborn County-specific considerations
| Local point | What Dearborn County rule says | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Estate assignment | Unsupervised estates, supervised estates, guardianships and trusts are filed in the Dearborn Circuit Court (LR15-AR-5). | You file with the Dearborn County clerk in Lawrenceburg, and the estate is heard by the Circuit Court rather than Superior Court I or II. |
| Separate Dearborn office | Dearborn County shares the seventh judicial circuit with Ohio County, but keeps its own courthouse, clerk and LR15 local rules (IC 33-33-15-1, IC 33-33-58-2). | A Dearborn County estate is not filed with the Ohio County clerk in Rising Sun. |
| Petition format | Probate petitions and papers must be prepared as civil pleadings, with enough copies, and petitions for letters must include the attorney's contact and state bar information (LR15-PR-5). | Ask the clerk or attorney what copies are needed before going to the courthouse. |
| Bond in supervised estates | In every supervised estate and guardianship, the personal representative must file a bond based on the personal property and probable annual rents and profits, subject to local exceptions (LR15-PR-7). | A will waiver does not always end the bond question. The court can still set a bond to protect creditors, tax authorities and devisees. |
| Inventory in supervised estates | In all supervised estates, an inventory must be filed with the court within two months after appointment of the personal representative (LR15-PR-10). | This is a Dearborn County filing requirement for supervised estates. Unsupervised estates follow the statewide inventory preparation rule unless the court orders otherwise. |
| Real estate sale | In a supervised estate or guardianship, a written professional appraisal must be filed with the petition to sell real estate unless it was already filed with the inventory, and deed copies must be filed with reports of sale (LR15-PR-9). | Plan for appraisal and deed paperwork before asking the court to approve a sale. |
| Accounts and delayed closing | Vouchers or receipts must be filed with accounts, and an estate that cannot close within one year needs an intermediate account within thirty days after the one year mark and each year after (LR15-PR-2). | The court expects an explanation and accounting if estate settlement is not ready to close within the first year. |
| Fee guideline for services | Dearborn County local rules publish a guideline for attorney and personal representative fees in decedents' estates, and LR15-PR-1 requires a petition and notice to interested persons for fees above the guideline. | This is not a court cost. It is a local reasonableness guideline for fees the court may review. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 165 Mary Street in Lawrenceburg, and expect the case to be heard by the Dearborn Circuit Court under LR15-AR-5. If a supervised estate is needed and the spouse is both sole devisee and personal representative, LR15-PR-7 says no bond is required. If a will waives bond but others need protection, the court can still set a bond under LR15-PR-7. | Sunset searches for accounts and assets, organizes what passes outside probate and what may need court authority, and assembles the Dearborn County probate packet. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | A nonresident can serve as an Indiana personal representative by filing a written acceptance, appointing an Indiana resident agent for service and addressing bond, with possible bond discretion if unsupervised administration is granted (IC 29-1-10-1(d)). In Dearborn County, the filing still goes through the Lawrenceburg clerk and the case is assigned to the Circuit Court. | Sunset lets the adult child work from outside Indiana, build the asset list, prepare the estate settlement packet and connect with a local probate attorney for resident agent or bond questions. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | In a supervised estate, a written professional appraisal must be filed with the petition to sell real estate unless already filed with the inventory, and a copy of the deed must be filed with the report of sale (LR15-PR-9). The supervised estate inventory must be filed within two months after appointment (LR15-PR-10). If the sale will pay debts or administration costs, the statewide five month petition and seven month letters rule may matter (IC 29-1-7-15.1(b)). | Sunset helps assemble the asset and property picture quickly, then connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale petition, appraisal and estate settlement steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Dearborn County courts, Indiana Judicial Branch | Provides the Dearborn County local rules, Judicial District 22 information, case search link and e-filing link. | https://www.in.gov/courts/local/dearborn-county/ |
| Dearborn County Circuit Court and Clerk of Courts | Provides the courthouse location, Circuit Court page and clerk contact information for Lawrenceburg filings. | Dearborncounty.org, Circuit Court and Clerk of Courts pages. |
| MyCase | Search Dearborn County estate cases by decedent name. Estate cases appear as EU, ES or EM. | https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/ |
| Indiana Legal Help, estates | Provides Indiana's estate self-help materials, including the statewide small estate affidavit, a probate FAQ and a small estate FAQ. | https://indianalegalhelp.org/legal-topic-category/estate-2/ |
| Indiana statewide e-filing | Explains the Indiana E-Filing System, certified e-filing providers and who is required or encouraged to e-file. | https://www.in.gov/courts/efiling/ |
| Indiana Legal Services, New Albany office | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Hoosiers. Its published service area includes Dearborn County. | 3303 Plaza Drive, Suite 5, New Albany, IN 47150. (812) 945-4123. https://www.indianalegalservices.org/locations/ |
When to hire an attorney
A Dearborn County probate attorney is especially useful when the estate includes real estate to sell, a contested bond issue, an out-of-state personal representative, a supervised estate inventory, creditor claims, or fees that may need notice under the local guideline. Dearborn County local rules also require petitions for letters to list attorney contact and state bar information, so many families use counsel from the start. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank, brokerage, insurance and other accounts before a Dearborn County estate is opened, so the personal representative has a clearer asset picture before filing.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset list, heirs, beneficiaries, will information and filing details into a Dearborn County probate packet aligned to the Lawrenceburg clerk and the Dearborn Circuit Court assignment.
Find a local probate attorney. When a bond, real estate sale, nonresident personal representative or supervised estate issue needs legal advice, Sunset can connect the family with an Indiana probate attorney familiar with local estate settlement practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the work, track the estate settlement process and find help without paying Sunset for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Dearborn County?
File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Dearborn County Courthouse, 165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025. Dearborn County local rule LR15-AR-5 assigns unsupervised estates, supervised estates, guardianships and trusts to the Dearborn Circuit Court.
Does Dearborn County share probate with Ohio County?
No. Dearborn County and Ohio County share the seventh judicial circuit and one circuit judge (IC 33-33-15-1, IC 33-33-58-2), but each county has its own clerk, courthouse and local rules. A Dearborn County estate is filed in Lawrenceburg with the Dearborn County clerk.
Can I e-file a Dearborn County estate?
Yes. Attorneys are required to e-file in Dearborn County, and unrepresented filers are encouraged but not required to e-file under Ind. Trial Rule 87. If a will is e-filed, Trial Rule 87(E) requires an accurate copy of the will and an affidavit, and the original will must be retained unless the court or a statute directs otherwise.
Does Dearborn County have local probate forms?
No Dearborn County estate packet, cover sheet, checklist or estate opening form is published on the Clerk of Courts page, the Circuit Court page or in the LR15 local probate rules. Petitions still must follow Dearborn County local pleading requirements in LR15-PR-5.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Dearborn County?
Current through 2026, a petition for probate of will and issuance of letters, or a petition for letters of general administration, carries $177 when the statewide $120 probate costs fee and statutory add-ons are collected (IC 33-37-4-7). Offering a will for probate alone is handled under a separate cost exception in IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3).
Can I look up a Dearborn County estate online?
Yes. Search the decedent's name on MyCase at https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/. Dearborn County estate cases appear under Indiana estate case identifiers such as EU, ES or EM.
Does Dearborn County publish probate hearing days or wait times?
Dearborn County does not publish a probate hearing-day calendar in its local rules or court pages. Call the Dearborn Circuit Court at (812) 537-8865 for hearing scheduling questions after the case is filed.
Can I appear remotely for a Dearborn County probate hearing?
Dearborn County's LR15 local rules do not publish a probate remote appearance rule. Indiana Administrative Rule 14 allows remote non-testimonial hearings at the court's discretion, while testimonial hearings are in person unless the court finds good cause or the parties agree. Ask the Circuit Court what the judge will allow in your case.
Do I have to travel to Lawrenceburg if I live outside Indiana?
Not always. Attorneys e-file, unrepresented filers may choose e-filing, and some non-testimonial hearings may be handled remotely at the court's discretion under Ind. Administrative Rule 14. If you are asking to serve as a nonresident personal representative, Indiana also requires a written acceptance, an Indiana resident agent for service and attention to bond (IC 29-1-10-1(d)).
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.