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LaPorte County, IN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | LaPorte County detail |
|---|---|
| Courts that hear estates | LaPorte Circuit Court, LaPorte Superior Court 1, or LaPorte Superior Court 2. Superior Courts 3 and 4 do not carry probate matters and transfer an estate filed there under LR46-AR1(E). |
| Clerk | Clerk of the LaPorte Circuit Court. One Clerk serves the Circuit Court and all LaPorte superior courts (IC 33-32-2-1). |
| LaPorte courthouse | LaPorte County Courthouse, 813 Lincolnway, Suite 105, LaPorte, IN 46350. The Circuit Court sits in this building. |
| Michigan City courthouse | 300 Washington Street, Michigan City, IN 46360. LaPorte Superior Court 1 and LaPorte Superior Court 2 sit in this building. |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is posted for the Clerk or the three probate-carrying courts. Use the street address for the building where the case is assigned. |
| Phone | (219) 326-6808 for the LaPorte courthouse and (219) 874-5611 for the Michigan City courthouse. No separate probate line is posted. |
| Fax | Clerk fax: (219) 326-6626. LaPorte County courts do not accept filings by fax (LR46-AR00-8(A)). |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Central time. Michigan City court staff are away from noon to 1:00 p.m.; the Clerk's page does not state a lunch closure. |
| Court cost | The Clerk's court costs sheet, effective July 1, 2021, lists $177.00 for probate case types ES, EU, TR and GU. That total reflects the $120 probate costs fee plus statutory add-ons (IC 33-37-4-7, IC 33-37-5). Add the $28 sheriff service of process fee on the same effective July 1, 2021 sheet if sheriff service is requested (IC 33-37-5-15). |
| Local probate forms | None. LaPorte County publishes no probate packet, no estate cover sheet, and no local probate forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys are required to e-file through the Indiana E-Filing System. People without a lawyer are encouraged, but not required, to e-file (Ind. Trial Rule 87). |
| Case search | MyCase at mycase.in.gov. Estate cases appear as EU, ES, or EM. Cause numbers beginning 46C01 are Circuit Court, 46D01 are Superior Court 1, and 46D02 are Superior Court 2. |
| Remote appearance | LaPorte Superior Court 1 says parties seeking Zoom appearance file a motion for appearance by Zoom. For Circuit Court or Superior Court 2, ask that court. Testimonial hearings are in person unless good cause or agreement supports remote appearance (Ind. Administrative Rule 14). |
| Website | County courts: https://laporteco.in.gov/courts-services/. Indiana Judicial Branch local page: https://www.in.gov/courts/local/laporte-county/. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Start by listing the assets, debts, account holders, titles, beneficiaries, and real estate before choosing a court path. In LaPorte County, the asset list decides whether estate settlement can avoid courthouse filing, whether a Recorder filing is needed for real property, and whether administration should be supervised or unsupervised.
Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts before they file. That matters locally because an estate may be assigned to one of three courts in two buildings, and knowing the assets and liabilities early helps you avoid a transfer delay, protect real-property deadlines, and keep estate settlement moving.
Which court handles jurisdiction
LaPorte County probate venue is based on the decedent's domicile at death. Indiana venue for probate of a will and administration of an estate is the county where the decedent was domiciled, or, for a nonresident decedent, a county in Indiana where property was left or later came into the county (IC 29-1-7-1). The proceeding is one in rem proceeding (IC 29-1-7-2).
LaPorte County is its own thirty-second judicial circuit (IC 33-33-46-1). Judicial District 3 groups LaPorte with Pulaski and Starke for administration, but that district does not let a LaPorte County estate be filed in another county.
The Clerk serves one countywide filing office, with counters tied to two courthouse complexes. The probate-carrying courts are the LaPorte Circuit Court at 813 Lincolnway in LaPorte and LaPorte Superior Court 1 and LaPorte Superior Court 2 at 300 Washington Street in Michigan City. The county's incorporated places include Kingsbury, Kingsford Heights, La Crosse, Long Beach, LaPorte, Michigan City, Michiana Shores, Pottawattomie Park, Trail Creek, Wanatah, and Westville.
The jurisdiction process
- Decide which local court should receive the estate. LaPorte County's caseload allocation plan sends new probate filings to the LaPorte Circuit Court, LaPorte Superior Court 1, or LaPorte Superior Court 2 (LR46-AR1(E)). Superior Courts 3 and 4 do not carry probate matters and transfer an estate filed there.
- Assemble the opening papers. LaPorte County has no probate packet, so the filing usually starts with a petition for probate of will and issuance of letters testamentary, or a petition for letters of general administration, plus the will if there is one and a certified death certificate. If a will is filed electronically, Ind. Trial Rule 87(E) requires a copy and an affidavit about who holds the original will and how long it will be kept.
- Prepare a proposed order when you ask the court to grant relief. LaPorte County requires proposed orders to be separate documents, e-filed and emailed to the court in a word processing format, with the caption, numbered pages, a dated signature line for the judge, a distribution list, and proof of notice (LR46-TR77-15).
- File with the Clerk of the LaPorte Circuit Court. Attorneys file electronically through the Indiana E-Filing System, while unrepresented people may e-file or bring paper to the Clerk's counter (Ind. Trial Rule 87). Use 813 Lincolnway, Suite 105 in LaPorte or the Michigan City courthouse at 300 Washington Street, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central time. Fax filings are not accepted (LR46-AR00-8(A)).
- Pay the court cost if one is due. The cost to open a supervised or unsupervised estate is $177.00 on the Clerk's court costs sheet effective July 1, 2021, reflecting the $120 probate costs fee plus statutory add-ons (IC 33-37-4-7, IC 33-37-5). Add the $28 sheriff service of process fee from the same effective July 1, 2021 sheet if sheriff service is requested (IC 33-37-5-15). Offering a will for probate with nothing else needed carries no court costs fee (IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3)).
- Obtain authority from the court. Once the court appoints the personal representative, the Clerk issues letters testamentary for a will or letters of general administration when there is no will. Letters attested by the Clerk and under the court seal are evidence of authority until superseded or revoked (IC 29-1-10-4).
- Publish and serve notice. Notice of administration is published once each week for two consecutive weeks, with proof filed with the Clerk within thirty days, and served on heirs, devisees, legatees, and known creditors (IC 29-1-7-7). LaPorte County has no separate local probate notice rule.
- Prepare the inventory. Indiana requires the personal representative to prepare an inventory within two months after appointment in supervised and unsupervised estates (IC 29-1-12-1, IC 29-1-7.5-3.2). Those statutes say prepare, and LaPorte County has no local rule requiring the inventory to be filed in every estate.
- Ask the assigned court about hearings. LaPorte Superior Court 1 requires a motion for appearance by Zoom if a party wants to appear remotely. For Circuit Court or Superior Court 2, ask that court. A hearing with sworn testimony is in person unless good cause or party agreement supports remote appearance (Ind. Administrative Rule 14).
- Administer and close the estate. Creditor claims are forever barred three months after the first published notice or nine months after death, whichever is earlier (IC 29-1-14-1). An unsupervised estate closes with a verified closing statement filed no earlier than three months after first publication (IC 29-1-7.5-4); a supervised estate closes through the court's final-account process. In LaPorte County, estate settlement finishes in the court that heard the case.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in LaPorte County
LaPorte County publishes no local probate forms, no estate cover sheet, and no local probate information sheet. The Circuit Court page has family law forms and a short probate note, while Superior Courts 1 and 2 publish no probate forms.
Indiana also has no statewide court-approved probate form set for opening a full estate. The statewide estate form to know is the Coalition for Court Access small estate affidavit, CCA-EM-0722-5000, used for the IC 29-1-8 small estate route. It is given to the bank or other holder of property and is not filed at the courthouse.
Because there is no local packet, ask the Clerk which court the estate should be filed in before you draft. Expect to provide a petition, the will if there is one, a death certificate, and a proposed order that follows LR46-TR77-15.
Fees
| Cost | Amount | Local detail |
|---|---|---|
| Opening a supervised or unsupervised estate | $177.00, on the Clerk's court costs sheet effective July 1, 2021 | The sheet lists probate case types ES, EU, TR, and GU. The amount reflects the $120 probate costs fee plus statutory add-ons (IC 33-37-4-7, IC 33-37-5). |
| Sheriff service of process | $28.00, on the Clerk's court costs sheet effective July 1, 2021 | Charged if sheriff service is requested, collected once per case (IC 33-37-5-15). |
| Offering a will for probate only | No court costs fee, under the current IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3) exemption | This is different from opening an estate and asking for letters. |
| Private transcript | Maximum $5.00 per page, $5.25 per appellate page, or $8.00 per expedited page, with a $50.00 minimum, under the local rule effective January 1, 2023 | These are court reporter transcript caps, not court costs. Order from the court reporter for the court that held the hearing (LR46-AR15-3). |
| Copies and certified copies | Ask the Clerk for the current amount | The LaPorte County court costs sheet does not list copy or certification charges. |
Local nuance
LaPorte County-specific considerations
- LaPorte County has two courthouse complexes about thirteen miles apart: 813 Lincolnway in LaPorte and 300 Washington Street in Michigan City.
- Three of the five courts take estate filings: LaPorte Circuit Court, LaPorte Superior Court 1, and LaPorte Superior Court 2 (LR46-AR1(E)).
- The county's own rule states that its courts are courts of general jurisdiction and that the Clerk is not empowered to prohibit a filing in a particular court. A wrong-court estate filing goes to transfer rather than disappearing.
- There is no LR46-PR local probate rule series. LaPorte County has no local inventory-filing deadline, bond default, notice rule, counsel requirement, or probate attorney-fee guideline.
- There are no local probate forms or estate packets. The county's staffed Self Help Center does not list estates among the matters it helps with.
- The Clerk's public hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Central time. LaPorte County is on Central time under 49 CFR 71.5.
- Fax filings are not accepted (LR46-AR00-8(A)).
- Expect to provide a proposed order in editable format when asking the court to act (LR46-TR77-15).
- LaPorte Superior Court 1 tells parties seeking Zoom appearance to file a motion for appearance by Zoom. LaPorte Superior Court 2 streams public hearings through the Indiana court streams site, which lets relatives watch a public hearing but does not let a party appear.
Recent updates
| Update | Local detail |
|---|---|
| Local rules updated 2023 | The current LaPorte County Circuit and Superior Courts local rules book is updated 2023. The caseload allocation plan assigning probate filings to Circuit Court, Superior Court 1, and Superior Court 2 was amended as approved on January 1, 2023. |
| Clerk's court costs sheet effective July 1, 2021 | The Clerk's sheet lists $177.00 for probate case types ES, EU, TR, and GU, plus $28.00 if sheriff service is requested, with those amounts shown on the effective July 1, 2021 sheet (IC 33-37-4-7, IC 33-37-5, IC 33-37-5-15). |
| Superior Court 2 public hearing stream | LaPorte Superior Court 2 directs viewers to the Indiana court streams site and to select Superior Court 2 for public hearings. Watching a stream is separate from appearing as a party. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | If the home passes by co-ownership, the probate estate may be limited to accounts or other assets in the decedent's name alone. If administration is needed, file with the Clerk and ask whether the case will be in the Circuit Court in LaPorte or Superior Court 1 or 2 in Michigan City. The surviving spouse's $25,000 allowance is claimed under IC 29-1-4-1. | Sunset helps identify which accounts are probate assets, organize title information, and connect the spouse with a probate attorney if court papers or a proposed order are needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | 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 IC 29-1-8 small estate affidavit may be presented to the holder after forty-five days and is not filed at the courthouse. If administration is needed, a nonresident personal representative files a written acceptance, appoints an Indiana resident agent, and addresses bond (IC 29-1-10-1(d)). | Sunset helps determine whether accounts exist, whether the small estate route fits, and whether travel can be reduced through e-filing, counsel, or a remote-appearance request. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The key deadline is statewide: to sell Indiana real property to pay non-lien debt or administration costs, the petition must be filed within five months after death and letters must issue within seven months after death (IC 29-1-7-15.1(b)). In LaPorte County, ask the Clerk which of the three probate-carrying courts should receive the filing so a transfer does not cost time. | Sunset helps gather mortgage, tax, account, and debt information, prepare an attorney-ready packet, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale and court order. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| LaPorte County courts | County court pages for the Clerk, Circuit Court, Superior Courts, and Self Help Center. | https://laporteco.in.gov/courts-services/ |
| Clerk of the LaPorte Circuit Court | Addresses, hours, courthouse phone numbers, and the Clerk's court costs sheet. | https://laporteco.in.gov/courts-services/clerk-of-the-circuit-court/ |
| LaPorte County Self Help Center | General help for self-represented people. Its posted list does not include estates, so call before going for probate help. LaPorte location hours are 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Central time; Michigan City is by appointment. | https://laporteco.in.gov/courts-services/self-help-center/ |
| Indiana Judicial Branch, LaPorte County | Judicial District 3, local rules, e-filing link, and MyCase link. | https://www.in.gov/courts/local/laporte-county/ |
| Indiana Legal Help, Estate | Small estate affidavit CCA-EM-0722-5000, probate FAQ, small estate FAQ, and legal-help finder. | https://indianalegalhelp.org/legal-topic-category/estate-2/ |
| MyCase | Search LaPorte County estate cases by decedent name or cause number. | https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/ |
| Indiana court streams | Watch public hearings streamed by participating courts, including LaPorte Superior Court 2. | https://public.courts.in.gov/incs |
| Indiana Legal Services, South Bend office | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Hoosiers. The South Bend office serves LaPorte County and posts Eastern time hours, one hour ahead of LaPorte County. | https://www.indianalegalservices.org/locations/ |
| Indiana Free Legal Answers | Free confidential answers from volunteer Indiana attorneys. | https://indiana.freelegalanswers.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps search for accounts, insurance, investments, and other assets so you can decide whether LaPorte County administration is needed, whether the small estate route fits, and which court path makes sense.
Generate the probate packet. LaPorte County does not publish a probate form packet, so Sunset organizes the information families need for the petition, notices, asset list, and attorney review.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs letters testamentary, letters of general administration, a proposed order, a real estate sale, or help with the LaPorte and Michigan City courthouse setup, Sunset can connect you with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families organize accounts, documents, and next steps at no cost, and families choose whether they want attorney help.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in LaPorte County?
File with the Clerk of the LaPorte Circuit Court. The Clerk's main office is at 813 Lincolnway, Suite 105, in LaPorte, and the Clerk also has a Michigan City courthouse counter at 300 Washington Street. Ask the Clerk which of the three probate-carrying courts should receive the estate before you file.
Which court hears estates in LaPorte County?
One of three courts: LaPorte Circuit Court, LaPorte Superior Court 1, or LaPorte Superior Court 2. The county's caseload allocation plan assigns new probate filings to those courts, and Superior Courts 3 and 4 transfer estate filings to an appropriate court (LR46-AR1(E)).
Do I go to LaPorte or Michigan City?
It depends on the assigned court. The Circuit Court sits at 813 Lincolnway in LaPorte. Superior Courts 1 and 2 sit at 300 Washington Street in Michigan City. The two buildings are about thirteen miles apart, and the hearing is held where the assigned court sits.
What are the Clerk's hours in LaPorte County?
The Clerk's posted hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Central time. LaPorte County is on Central time under 49 CFR 71.5, so its 4:00 p.m. is one hour behind Indianapolis and South Bend.
How much does it cost to open an estate in LaPorte County?
The Clerk's court costs sheet effective July 1, 2021 lists $177.00 for probate case types ES, EU, TR, and GU. That total reflects the $120 probate costs fee plus statutory add-ons (IC 33-37-4-7, IC 33-37-5). Add $28.00 on the same effective July 1, 2021 sheet if sheriff service is requested (IC 33-37-5-15). Offering a will for probate with nothing else needed carries no court costs fee (IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3)).
Can I e-file a LaPorte County estate?
Yes. Attorneys are required to e-file through the Indiana E-Filing System, and people without a lawyer are encouraged but not required to e-file (Ind. Trial Rule 87). A self-represented filer may also bring paper to the Clerk's counter. Fax filings are not accepted in LaPorte County (LR46-AR00-8(A)).
Are there LaPorte County probate forms?
No. LaPorte County publishes no probate forms, estate packet, or cover sheet, and Indiana has no statewide court-approved probate form set for opening a full estate. The statewide small estate affidavit CCA-EM-0722-5000 is used with the holder of property and is not filed at the courthouse.
Can I appear by Zoom in a LaPorte County probate hearing?
Sometimes. LaPorte Superior Court 1 says a party who wants to appear by Zoom must file a motion for appearance by Zoom. The Circuit Court and Superior Court 2 do not publish a probate-specific remote appearance procedure, so ask the court that has the case. Hearings with sworn testimony are in person unless good cause or party agreement supports remote appearance (Ind. Administrative Rule 14).
Can I look up a LaPorte County estate online?
Yes. Search MyCase at mycase.in.gov by the decedent's name or by cause number. LaPorte County estate cases appear as EU, ES, or EM. Cause numbers beginning 46C01 are Circuit Court, 46D01 are Superior Court 1, and 46D02 are Superior Court 2.
Do I have to travel to Indiana to serve as personal representative?
Not always. A nonresident personal representative may serve by filing a written acceptance, appointing an Indiana resident agent for service, and addressing bond (IC 29-1-10-1(d)). An attorney can e-file, and if the estate is in Superior Court 1, a motion for appearance by Zoom is the local way to ask for remote attendance.
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.