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Lake County, IN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Lake County information |
|---|---|
| Court forums for estates | Lake Circuit Court in Crown Point, or Lake Superior Court, Civil Division, Room 2 in East Chicago, Room 5 in Hammond or Room 7 in Crown Point (LR45-AR1-01) |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Lake Circuit Court, Courts Building, 1st Floor, Lake County Government Center, 2293 North Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307 |
| Probate counters | Crown Point, 2293 North Main Street; Hammond, 232 Russell Street; East Chicago, 3711 Main Street. The Gary office is not listed by the clerk as a probate counter. |
| Mailing address | No separate post office box is published. Use the street address for the clerk's office. |
| Phone | Clerk: (219) 755-3460. Lake Circuit Court probate office: (219) 755-3488. |
| Fax | Clerk: (219) 755-3520 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central time. The Lake Circuit Court publishes a noon to 1:00 p.m. Central time court closure, and the Circuit Court Probate office publishes Tuesday and Thursday hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central time. |
| Estate filing cost | $177, the amount the clerk publishes for EU, EM and ES estate filings, made up of the $120 probate costs fee (IC 33-37-4-7) and the statutory add-ons (IC 33-37-5) that are current for 2026. Add $28 if sheriff service is requested (IC 33-37-5-15), as listed on the clerk's fee sheet effective March 10, 2026. |
| Local forms | Yes. Lake County publishes mandatory estate forms, including the Personal Representative's Information Sheet and the Instructions to the Personal Representative forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys are required to e-file through the Indiana E-Filing System. Unrepresented litigants may e-file but are not required to do so (Ind. Trial Rule 87). |
| Case search | MyCase at mycase.in.gov. Lake County estate cases appear as EU, ES or EM. |
| Remote appearance | Lake County publishes no county-wide probate remote-appearance rule. Ask the assigned courtroom. Indiana courts may hold non-testimonial hearings remotely at the court's discretion (Ind. Administrative Rule 14). |
| Website | https://lakecountyin.gov/departments/clerk-circuit-superior |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Start by identifying the assets, debts and deadlines before choosing a filing path. Lake County asks for the asset picture early: the Personal Representative's Information Sheet must be filed with the petition, and in a supervised estate the verified inventory is filed within sixty days after appointment. That early work also tells you whether the estate may avoid court through Indiana's small estate affidavit for deaths after June 30, 2022, when the gross probate estate less liens, encumbrances and reasonable funeral expenses is $100,000 or less (IC 29-1-8-1).
Debt information matters just as much. Claims run from the first published notice, Lake County adds a local allowance or disallowance deadline, and a house sale can trigger a five-month filing window. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts, policies and debts so the estate settlement begins with a real inventory instead of guesses.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Lake County probate venue follows Indiana's domicile rule: a will or estate administration is filed in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (IC 29-1-7-1). If the decedent lived in Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, Merrillville, Crown Point, Hobart, Schererville, Munster, Highland, Griffith, Dyer, St. John, Cedar Lake, Lowell, Whiting, Lake Station, New Chicago, Winfield, Schneider or anywhere else in Lake County, Lake County is the venue.
One elected Clerk of the Circuit Court serves the county's courts (IC 33-32-2-1), so the filing office is the Clerk of the Lake Circuit Court even though the estate may be assigned to more than one forum. Lake County's own caseload allocation plan assigns ES, EU and related probate case types to the Lake Circuit Court or to Lake Superior Court, Civil Division, Room 2 in East Chicago, Room 5 in Hammond or Room 7 in Crown Point (LR45-AR1-01). Lake County is on Central time.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm whether a court estate is needed. Indiana's small estate affidavit can collect personal property without court when the gross probate estate, less liens, encumbrances and reasonable funeral expenses, is $100,000 or less for a death after June 30, 2022, and forty-five days have passed (IC 29-1-8-1). That affidavit is presented to the bank or other holder, not filed at the courthouse.
- Gather the Lake County opening documents. Plan for the death certificate, the will if there is one, heirs or devisees, assets and debts, the county's Personal Representative's Information Sheet, and any confidential-information cover filing needed under Ind. Trial Rule 5(G). The court will not act on a supervised or unsupervised estate petition until the information sheet is filed (LR45-PR00 Rule 2).
- Line up an Indiana attorney. Lake County's mandatory Instructions to the Personal Representative form must be signed by the personal representative and the attorney and filed before appointment and issuance of letters, and no substitute form is accepted (LR45-PR00 Rule 3). The form tells the personal representative to be represented at all times by an attorney of record.
- File the verified petition with the Clerk of the Lake Circuit Court. Attorneys file through the Indiana E-Filing System, which is required for attorneys and optional for unrepresented litigants (Ind. Trial Rule 87). Probate counters are in Crown Point, Hammond and East Chicago. If a self-represented filer mails documents to the clerk, include a return envelope, because Lake County's local e-filing rule says mailed originals are returned only if a return envelope is provided.
- Pay the estate filing cost. The clerk publishes $177 for EU, EM and ES estate filings, made up of the $120 probate costs fee (IC 33-37-4-7) and the statutory add-ons (IC 33-37-5) that are current for 2026. The $28 sheriff service fee is added only if sheriff service is requested (IC 33-37-5-15), as listed on the clerk's fee sheet effective March 10, 2026. Offering a will for probate alone carries no court costs fee (IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3)).
- Watch the assignment. The case may be assigned to the Lake Circuit Court in Crown Point or to Lake Superior Court, Civil Division, Room 2 in East Chicago, Room 5 in Hammond or Room 7 in Crown Point (LR45-AR1-01). The cause number and case type identify the assigned court and whether the estate is EU, ES or EM.
- Handle the original will. If a copy of the will is e-filed, an affidavit must state who holds the original, that the copy is accurate, that the original will be kept until the estate closes or the will-contest period expires, whichever is later, and that the original will be filed if the court orders it (Ind. Trial Rule 87). Lake County prescribes its own will affidavit form under LR45-PR00 Rule 19.
- Address bond. The court may honor a no-bond clause in the will or a no-bond request from all the heirs unless a statute requires bond, any interested person may request bond to protect creditors, heirs, legatees or devisees, and otherwise the court sets the bond amount (LR45-PR00 Rule 20). An attorney cannot serve as personal surety.
- Publish and serve notice. Notice of administration is published once each week for two consecutive weeks, and proof of publication is filed with the clerk within thirty days after publication (IC 29-1-7-7). In Lake County, the attorney prepares and serves required notices and files proof of publication within thirty days after receiving it from the newspaper (LR45-PR00 Rules 7 and 25).
- Inventory the estate. In a Lake County supervised estate, a verified inventory must be prepared and filed within sixty days after appointment (LR45-PR00 Rule 8). In an unsupervised estate, the personal representative prepares the inventory under the statewide unsupervised-estate rule (IC 29-1-7.5-3.2).
- Allow or disallow claims on Lake County's clock. Creditor claims must be filed within three months after first published notice and no later than nine months after death, or they are forever barred (IC 29-1-14-1). Lake County requires the personal representative or attorney to allow or disallow claims filed in the three-month window on or before three months and fifteen days after first publication, using the county's electronic claim form (LR45-PR00 Rule 22).
- Ask the assigned courtroom about any remote appearance. Non-testimonial probate hearings may be remote at the court's discretion, and testimonial hearings are in person unless there is good cause or the parties agree (Ind. Administrative Rule 14). Lake County publishes no county-wide probate remote-appearance rule. If you need a court reporter, request one in writing ten days before the hearing (LR45-PR00 Rule 6).
- Use the letters to administer the estate. Letters testamentary or letters of general administration, attested by the clerk and under the court's seal, prove the personal representative's authority (IC 29-1-10-1, IC 29-1-10-4). In an unsupervised estate, Lake County's local rule says the court is not involved except to open and close the estate unless it is asked to act (LR45-PR00 Rule 26). In a supervised estate, accountings follow the statutory format, receipts are filed before discharge, and attorney or personal representative fees require a separate petition (LR45-PR00 Rules 10, 11 and 14).
- Close the estate. An unsupervised estate closing statement may be filed no earlier than three months after first published notice to creditors (IC 29-1-7.5-4). In Lake County, if no objection is filed within three months after the closing statement, the attorney files a proposed order closing the estate within thirty days after the objection deadline (LR45-PR00 Rule 27), which is the point at which the estate settlement is formally finished. A supervised estate closes with a final account, receipts for distributions and discharge under the court's local accounting rules.
Executor duties
- Sign and file the court's Instructions to the Personal Representative before appointment and issuance of letters (LR45-PR00 Rule 3).
- Stay represented by an attorney of record unless the court permits the attorney to withdraw.
- Open a separate estate checking account at an Indiana financial institution with its own federal tax identification number.
- Pay estate expenses by check from the estate account, not in cash, and keep deposit and disbursement records.
- Forward the decedent's mail and keep motor vehicles and real estate insured and protected.
- Notify the court and attorney of any change in address or telephone number.
- In a supervised estate, do not distribute real estate or personal property and do not pay attorney or personal representative fees without a prior court order.
- File the annual condition report if the estate cannot be promptly closed, beginning one year after appointment and continuing annually until administration is complete (LR45-PR00 Rule 23).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lake County
Lake County publishes local estate forms on the Lake County Courts Forms and Court Rules page, not on the clerk's general forms page. Several are mandatory.
| Form | When it matters |
|---|---|
| Personal Representative's Information Sheet | Filed with any petition opening a supervised or unsupervised estate. The court will not act until it is filed (LR45-PR00 Rule 2). |
| Instructions to Personal Representative of Supervised Estate | Signed by the personal representative and attorney and filed before appointment and issuance of letters in a supervised estate. No substitute form is accepted (LR45-PR00 Rule 3). |
| Instructions to Personal Representative of Unsupervised Estate | Signed by the personal representative and attorney and filed before appointment and issuance of letters in an unsupervised estate. No substitute form is accepted (LR45-PR00 Rule 3). |
| Notice of Exclusion of Confidential Information From Public Access | Used when filings contain confidential information covered by Ind. Trial Rule 5(G) and access rules (LR45-PR00 Rule 17). |
| Affidavit about the original will | Used when a copy of the will is filed and the original is retained, consistent with Ind. Trial Rule 87 and Lake County's will rule (LR45-PR00 Rule 19). |
| Certificate of Account Restriction | Filed by the financial institution within thirty days after a restricted account is ordered (LR45-PR00 Rule 21). |
| Allowance and Disallowance of Claim | Filed electronically to allow or disallow creditor claims on the local deadline (LR45-PR00 Rule 22). |
Indiana does not publish a statewide court probate form set. Indiana Legal Help's small estate affidavit is a statewide self-help form, but it is given to the bank or other holder and is not filed with the Lake County clerk.
Fees
Lake County has statewide estate filing costs plus a few local payment and service details.
| Charge | Amount and rule |
|---|---|
| Opening an EU, EM or ES estate | $177, the amount the clerk publishes for EU, EM and ES estate filings, made up of the $120 probate costs fee (IC 33-37-4-7) and the statutory add-ons (IC 33-37-5) that are current for 2026. |
| Sheriff service, if requested | $28 under IC 33-37-5-15, listed by the clerk as an additional fee on the fee sheet effective March 10, 2026. |
| Additional defendant fee | $10 per person or company after the first defendant, listed by the clerk as an additional fee on the fee sheet effective March 10, 2026. |
| Credit card payment at the counter | 3% convenience fee charged by the payment processor. The clerk accepts major credit cards other than American Express for face to face transactions with identification matching the card. |
| Will-only filing | Offering a will for probate under IC 29-1-7 carries no court costs fee unless proceedings beyond admitting the will become necessary (IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3)). |
| Transcript request | The county's current local rules publish $7 per page for a private transcript, with a $50 minimum, in the court reporter services rule current in 2026. |
Ask the clerk's office what it charges for certified copies of the letters when you file, because the clerk's published fee sheet does not price copies or certifications.
Timeline
- The clerk's office publishes hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central time. The Lake Circuit Court closes from noon to 1:00 p.m. Central time each day, and the Circuit Court Probate office publishes Tuesday and Thursday hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central time.
- Notice of administration is published once each week for two consecutive weeks, with proof filed with the clerk within thirty days after publication (IC 29-1-7-7). Lake County also requires the attorney to file proof within thirty days after receiving it from the newspaper (LR45-PR00 Rule 25).
- In a supervised estate, the verified inventory must be prepared and filed within sixty days after the personal representative's appointment (LR45-PR00 Rule 8).
- Creditor claims are forever barred unless filed within three months after the first published notice, and in no event later than nine months after death (IC 29-1-14-1).
- The personal representative or attorney must allow or disallow claims filed in the three-month window on or before three months and fifteen days after the first published notice, and must act on a later claim within fifteen days after filing (LR45-PR00 Rule 22).
- A written request for a court reporter must be made ten days before the hearing (LR45-PR00 Rule 6).
- An unsupervised estate closing statement may be filed no earlier than three months after first published notice to creditors (IC 29-1-7.5-4). If no objection is filed within three months after the closing statement, the attorney files a proposed closing order within thirty days after the objection deadline (LR45-PR00 Rule 27).
- If the estate cannot be closed promptly, the personal representative reports the estate's condition to the court one year after appointment and every year after that until administration is complete (LR45-PR00 Rule 23).
Local nuance
Lake County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Four forums in three cities | Estates are assigned to the Lake Circuit Court in Crown Point or to the Lake Superior Court, Civil Division, Room 2 in East Chicago, Room 5 in Hammond or Room 7 in Crown Point (LR45-AR1-01). |
| Three probate counters | The clerk lists probate service at Crown Point, Hammond and East Chicago. The Gary office is not listed as a probate counter. |
| Central time | Lake County is on Central time, which matters for phone calls, e-file timing, hearing notices and relatives working from other Indiana counties. |
| Attorney-of-record instruction | The mandatory personal representative instruction form tells the personal representative to be represented at all times by an attorney of record (LR45-PR00 Rule 3). |
| Mandatory information sheet | The court will not act on an estate-opening petition until the Personal Representative's Information Sheet is filed (LR45-PR00 Rule 2). |
| Supervised inventory | A supervised estate inventory is prepared and filed within sixty days after appointment (LR45-PR00 Rule 8). |
| Claims action deadline | Lake County requires claims to be allowed or disallowed on a prescribed electronic form by the local deadline in LR45-PR00 Rule 22. |
| Non-probate fee allocation | Unless the will says otherwise, attorney or personal representative fees attributable to non-probate assets are assessed against the recipients of those assets (LR45-PR00 Rule 16). |
| Closing order | After an unsupervised closing statement sits three months without objection, the attorney files a proposed order closing the estate within thirty days (LR45-PR00 Rule 27). |
| Crown Point electronics rule | The courts in the Lake County Government Center do not permit cellular telephones, pagers or electronic devices of any type. |
| Mailed originals | A self-represented filer who mails documents should include a return envelope, because Lake County's local e-filing rule says originals are returned only when a return envelope is provided. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Local rules update, July 2026 | The Lake County local court rules book was reissued with an update date of July 27, 2026. The LR45-PR00 probate rules are unchanged from the January 2026 version, and the court reporter services rule carries updated transcript charges. |
| Caseload allocation plan revalidation, June 2026 | On June 8, 2026 the Lake Circuit and Superior Courts gave public notice that they proposed to revalidate LR45-AR1-01, the rule assigning estate filings to the Lake Circuit Court and the Superior Court Civil Division Rooms 2, 5 and 7, with a comment period that closed on July 8, 2026. Confirm the current courtroom assignment with the clerk when you file. |
| Clerk fee sheet, March 2026 | The clerk's filing fee sheet effective March 10, 2026 lists the $28 sheriff service fee under IC 33-37-5-15 and the $10 additional-defendant fee as add-ons where applicable. |
| Trial Rule 87, August 2026 | Indiana's electronic filing rule is Ind. Trial Rule 87, effective August 1, 2026. It makes attorney e-filing mandatory, keeps e-filing optional for unrepresented litigants, and includes a probate-specific rule for filing a copy of a will with an affidavit about the original. |
| Counter credit card payments | The Lake County clerk accepts major credit cards other than American Express at the counter for face to face transactions, with matching identification and a 3% convenience fee. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Lake County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | A jointly owned home may pass outside the estate, but accounts in the decedent's sole name still need authority. If the gross probate estate less liens, encumbrances and reasonable funeral expenses is $100,000 or less for a death after June 30, 2022, the small estate affidavit may work after forty-five days with no court filing (IC 29-1-8-1). If administration is needed, the petition goes through the Clerk of the Lake Circuit Court and may be assigned to Crown Point, Hammond or East Chicago. The spouse's $25,000 allowance is claimed under IC 29-1-4-1. | Sunset finds accounts and debts, helps decide whether a court estate is needed, and connects the spouse with a Lake County probate attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | First test the no-court affidavit route for a death after June 30, 2022, if the gross probate estate less liens, encumbrances and reasonable funeral expenses is $100,000 or less (IC 29-1-8-1). If administration is needed, a non-resident personal representative can serve by filing an acceptance, appointing an Indiana resident agent and addressing bond (IC 29-1-10-1(d)). Lake County's attorney-of-record instruction and e-filing rules make local counsel especially important. | Sunset helps identify institutions remotely, assemble the estate packet and find a probate attorney who can file and manage the case locally. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A house sale can make timing critical. For a personal representative to sell Indiana real property to pay administration costs or a debt that is not a lien of record, the petition must be filed within five months after death and letters must issue within seven months (IC 29-1-7-15.1(b)). In a supervised Lake County estate, the inventory is filed within sixty days, distributions require court authority and fee requests require a separate petition (LR45-PR00 Rules 8 and 14). | Sunset builds the asset and debt picture needed for the inventory and sale petition, then connects the parent with a Lake County probate attorney early enough to meet the real-property deadlines. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Lake County Courts, Forms and Court Rules https://lakecountyin.gov/departments/lc-courts/forms-and-court-rules-c/ | Local rules and the Lake County estate forms, including the mandatory personal representative forms. |
| Clerk of the Lake Circuit and Superior Courts https://lakecountyin.gov/departments/clerk-circuit-superior | Filing counter information, probate case types, estate filing cost and payment rules. |
| Lake County on the Indiana Judicial Branch site https://www.in.gov/courts/local/lake-county/ | County court information, local rules, case search link and e-filing link. |
| Indiana Legal Help, estate topic https://indianalegalhelp.org/legal-topic-category/estate-2/ | Plain-English estate and small estate information, including the statewide small estate affidavit that is presented to a holder rather than filed with a court. |
| MyCase https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/ | Statewide public case search. Search Lake County estate cases by decedent name and case type. |
| Indiana e-filing https://www.in.gov/courts/efiling/ | Indiana E-Filing System information, certified provider list and user guides. |
| Indiana Free Legal Answers https://indiana.freelegalanswers.org/ | Free confidential answers to civil legal questions from volunteer Indiana attorneys. |
| Indiana Legal Services, Merrillville office https://www.indianalegalservices.org/locations/ | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Hoosiers. The Merrillville office serves Lake County at 7863 Broadway, Suite 205, Merrillville, IN 46410, (219) 738-6040, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central time. |
| Indiana Trial Court Fee Manual https://www.in.gov/courts/iocs/files/courtmgmt-pubs-trial-court-fee-manual.pdf | State probate cost authority for the $120 probate costs fee (IC 33-37-4-7) and the $177 total under IC 33-37 for 2026. |
When to hire an attorney
Lake County is a county where retaining counsel should be part of the opening plan. The local Instructions to the Personal Representative form is mandatory in supervised and unsupervised estates, must be signed by the attorney and the personal representative, and tells the personal representative to be represented at all times by an attorney of record (LR45-PR00 Rule 3). Counsel is especially important when the estate has a house to sell, creditor issues, a supervised administration, a possible contest, an out-of-state personal representative or bond questions. Sunset connects families with a vetted Lake County probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches across financial institutions, insurers and other sources so families can identify accounts, policies and debts before a Lake County petition is filed. That asset discovery is often the difference between a clean small estate path and a supervised estate that starts without enough information.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset organizes the information needed for the Lake County petition, the personal representative details, the asset list and the creditor picture. For Lake County, that preparation supports the mandatory information sheet, the instructions form and the sixty-day supervised-estate inventory.
Find a local probate attorney
Lake County's own instruction form tells the personal representative to be represented by an attorney of record. Sunset helps families find a local probate attorney who understands the Lake Circuit Court and the Lake Superior Court Civil Division rooms in Crown Point, Hammond and East Chicago.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families using the platform. The goal is to make estate settlement clearer, faster and less confusing while keeping the court filing in the hands of the family and its attorney.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a probate case in Lake County?
File with the Clerk of the Lake Circuit Court. The clerk's probate counters are in Crown Point at 2293 North Main Street, Hammond at 232 Russell Street and East Chicago at 3711 Main Street. The case is assigned under local rule to the Lake Circuit Court in Crown Point or to Lake Superior Court, Civil Division, Room 2 in East Chicago, Room 5 in Hammond or Room 7 in Crown Point (LR45-AR1-01).
Do I need a lawyer to open an estate in Lake County?
Plan on having one. Lake County's mandatory Instructions to the Personal Representative form must be signed by the personal representative and the attorney before appointment and issuance of letters, and it tells the personal representative to be represented at all times by an attorney of record (LR45-PR00 Rule 3).
Can I file a Lake County estate online?
Attorneys are required to e-file through the Indiana E-Filing System, and unrepresented litigants may e-file but are not required to do so (Ind. Trial Rule 87). Lake County's local rule also lets an unregistered self-represented filer bring documents to the clerk or mail them. If mailing, include a return envelope so originals can be returned.
What does it cost to open an estate in Lake County?
The clerk publishes $177 for EU, EM and ES estate filings, made up of the $120 probate costs fee (IC 33-37-4-7) and the statutory add-ons (IC 33-37-5) that are current for 2026. Add $28 only if sheriff service is requested (IC 33-37-5-15), as listed on the clerk's fee sheet effective March 10, 2026. Offering a will for probate alone carries no court costs fee (IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3)).
Are there local probate forms in Lake County?
Yes. Lake County publishes estate forms on the Lake County Courts Forms and Court Rules page. The Personal Representative's Information Sheet is required before the court acts on the petition, and the Instructions to the Personal Representative form is required before appointment and letters issue (LR45-PR00 Rules 2 and 3).
How do I look up a Lake County estate case?
Search the decedent's name on MyCase at mycase.in.gov and set the county to Lake. Estate cases appear as EU for unsupervised estate, ES for supervised estate and EM for miscellaneous estate. MyCase is not the official court record, so certified copies come from the clerk.
Can I appear remotely in a Lake County probate hearing?
Indiana courts may hold non-testimonial probate hearings remotely at the court's discretion, and testimonial hearings are in person unless there is good cause or the parties agree (Ind. Administrative Rule 14). Lake County does not publish a county-wide probate remote-appearance rule, so ask the assigned courtroom.
Do I have to travel to Crown Point?
Not always. Lake County has probate counters and assigned estate forums in Crown Point, Hammond and East Chicago. An attorney can e-file, and Lake County's local rule says the court may require the personal representative's attendance at a hearing but does not make attendance automatic (LR45-PR00 Rule 9).
How long does Lake County probate take?
Lake County does not publish a filing-to-hearing wait. The creditor period is three months from the first published notice, and an unsupervised estate closing statement cannot be filed earlier than three months after that notice (IC 29-1-7.5-4). Lake County adds a sixty-day filed inventory in supervised estates, a three-month-and-fifteen-day claim action deadline, and a proposed closing order after the closing-statement objection period.
What happens to the original will if a copy is e-filed?
An affidavit must state who has the original, that the filed copy is accurate, that the original will be kept until the estate closes or the will-contest period expires, whichever is later, and that the original will be filed if the court orders it (Ind. Trial Rule 87). Lake County has its own will affidavit form under LR45-PR00 Rule 19.
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.