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Monroe County, IN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Monroe County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Monroe Circuit Court, Division I, for estate and trust cases under LR53-AR00-0108. The Monroe Circuit Court keeps a probate docket under IC 33-33-53-2. |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Monroe Circuit Court |
| Courthouse address | Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center, 301 N. College Ave., Suite 201, Bloomington, IN 47404 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 547, Bloomington, IN 47402 |
| Clerk phone | (812) 349-2614 for filing questions |
| Court phone | (812) 349-2615 for hearing questions |
| Fax | Clerk: (812) 349-2610. Court: (812) 349-2791. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except holidays. |
| Estate filing cost | $177 for supervised or unsupervised administration under the Clerk's current court costs list and the statewide probate cost structure current through the 2026 legislative session (IC 33-37-4-7, IC 33-37-5). Sheriff service, if requested, is $28 under IC 33-37-5-15. |
| Local forms | Yes. The court posts the Clerk's Certificate as to Costs/Claims and the statewide affidavit for transfer of assets without administration. The Clerk posts a Deposit of Will form, Estate Claim form, Fee Waiver form, and a Small Estate Claim link. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through the Indiana E-Filing System. Unrepresented litigants are encouraged but not required to e-file under Ind. Trial Rule 87. |
| Case search | MyCase at https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/. Monroe County estate cases appear as EU, ES, or EM. |
| Remote appearance | No probate-specific local remote rule is published. Ask the court about a specific hearing. Indiana Administrative Rule 14 controls. |
| Website | Monroe Circuit Court: https://www.in.gov/counties/monroe/justice/circuit-court/. Clerk of Court: https://www.in.gov/counties/monroe/justice/clerk-of-court/. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Monroe County estate path, build a complete list of assets, debts, beneficiary designations, joint ownership, real estate, and known creditors. That list controls whether the statewide affidavit route can work, what bond the court may set before letters issue under LR53-PR00-0803, and whether supervised administration is needed for a court-approved sale.
Sunset's estate settlement platform can search more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then organize what you find into a probate-ready packet. That matters in Monroe County because the opening petition needs a Fiduciary Information Form, proposed orders, bond planning, and a closing path that clears costs and claims before the Clerk's Certificate is filed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File in Monroe County when the decedent was domiciled in Monroe County at death. For a decedent who was not domiciled in Indiana, venue is in any Indiana county where the decedent left property or where estate property later came into the county (IC 29-1-7-1).
The Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center in Bloomington serves Monroe County. The filing office is the Clerk of the Monroe Circuit Court in Suite 201, and estate and trust cases are assigned to Monroe Circuit Court, Division I. Monroe County is in Administrative District 20 with Greene, Lawrence, and Owen counties, but that district grouping is not a filing rule.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm venue. Use Monroe County if the decedent was domiciled in Monroe County at death, or if the decedent was not domiciled in Indiana and left property in Monroe County or property later came there (IC 29-1-7-1).
- Choose the correct estate route after you identify the assets and debts. If the statewide affidavit for transfer of assets without administration applies, it is given to the bank, insurer, or other holder and is not filed with the Clerk. For a death after June 30, 2022, the current ceiling is $100,000 under IC 29-1-8, measured as the gross probate estate less liens, encumbrances, and reasonable funeral expenses.
- Gather the opening papers. Monroe County expects the petition to open the estate, the original will if there is one, a certified death certificate, a proposed order for each petition, and the local Fiduciary Information Form from the Clerk's office (LR53-PR00-0802, LR53-TR00-0203).
- File with the Clerk of the Monroe Circuit Court at 301 N. College Ave., Suite 201, Bloomington. Attorneys file through the Indiana E-Filing System. A self-represented filer may e-file, file at the counter, or file by mail. If you mail or leave paper pleadings and need returned copies, include a stamped self-addressed envelope (LR53-PR00-0802).
- Pay the estate opening cost. Monroe County's current court costs list shows $177 for an estate, supervised or unsupervised administration, which reflects the statewide $120 probate costs fee and IC 33-37 add-ons current through the 2026 legislative session (IC 33-37-4-7, IC 33-37-5). Sheriff service, if requested, is $28 under IC 33-37-5-15.
- Plan for bond before letters issue. Monroe County's local rule makes corporate surety bond the default in every supervised and unsupervised estate, with a minimum of $15,000 unless the court orders otherwise (LR53-PR00-0803, updated October 10, 2022). The clearest local exception is a solvent estate where the decedent's spouse serves as personal representative and is the sole distributee.
- Receive authority. After appointment, the Clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of general administration. Letters issued to a personal representative are conclusive evidence of authority until superseded or revoked (IC 29-1-10-4).
- Publish and serve notice of administration. Indiana requires publication and service after letters issue, and proof of publication is filed with the Clerk (IC 29-1-7-7).
- Handle the inventory and claims. Statewide, the inventory is prepared within two months after appointment. In Monroe County, an inventory or accounting filed with the court is treated as confidential, and the court may require an inventory in an unsupervised estate as a condition of continuing that status (LR53-PR00-0804). Three months and fifteen days after the first published notice to creditors, the personal representative or attorney examines the Claim Docket, allows or disallows each claim, and files notice with the court (LR53-PR00-0807).
- Address real estate and supervised sales before closing. In a supervised estate, appraisals for real estate must be made within one year of the petition for sale, and a deed submitted for court approval must be signed by the fiduciary before a notary before it is submitted (LR53-PR00-0805). The court will not authorize or approve a sale of property in an unsupervised estate (LR53-PR00-0806).
- Ask the court about any hearing. No probate hearing days are published for Monroe County. For a specific hearing, call the court at (812) 349-2615 and ask whether Indiana Administrative Rule 14 allows a remote appearance. If you attend in person, arrive early for Justice Building security screening.
- Close the estate settlement. In a supervised estate, all court costs must be paid and all claims satisfied and released before the final account is approved, and the Clerk's Certificate as to Costs/Claims must be filed (LR53-PR00-0808). In an unsupervised estate, the same certificate must be filed with the closing affidavit (LR53-PR00-0810). If a supervised estate cannot close within one year, an intermediate account is due within thirty days after the year ends.
Executor duties
- File the Clerk's Fiduciary Information Form with the initial petition opening the estate.
- Provide a proposed order with each petition or motion, including a full distribution list.
- Arrange any required corporate surety bond before letters issue, and include the surety agency's name, address, and telephone number on the bond (LR53-PR00-0803).
- Examine the Claim Docket three months and fifteen days after the first published notice, allow or disallow each claim, and file notice with the court (LR53-PR00-0807).
- In a supervised estate, file vouchers or cancelled checks with accountings, note each expenditure's check number, date, payee, and reason, and include an itemized statement of assets on hand (LR53-PR00-0808).
- File the Clerk's Certificate as to Costs/Claims before a final account is approved, or with the closing affidavit in an unsupervised estate.
- If a final decree vests real estate in heirs or beneficiaries, record it with the Recorder in the county where the real estate is located and give the court evidence of recording with the supplemental report (LR53-PR00-0805).
- If a supervised estate cannot close within one year, file the intermediate account within thirty days after that year ends (LR53-PR00-0808).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Monroe County
Monroe County publishes local estate forms from both the court and the Clerk. The court's Court Forms page includes the Clerk's Certificate as to Costs/Claims, which the local rules call Probate Appendix A, and the statewide affidavit for transfer of assets without administration. The Clerk's Forms and Applications page includes a Deposit of Will form, an Estate Claim form, a Fee Waiver form, and a Small Estate Claim link.
The opening petition must also be accompanied by the local Fiduciary Information Form (LR53-PR00-0802). Ask the Clerk's office for that form when you prepare the filing. The statewide affidavit for transfer of assets without administration may appear on Monroe County forms pages, but it is presented to the institution holding the asset and is not filed with the Clerk.
| Form or document | Where it comes from | Local use |
|---|---|---|
| Fiduciary Information Form | Clerk's office | Required with the initial petition opening the estate and kept as a confidential court record under LR53-PR00-0802. |
| Proposed order | Prepared with each petition or motion | Required at the time of filing, with a full distribution list under LR53-PR00-0802 and LR53-TR00-0203. |
| Clerk's Certificate as to Costs/Claims | Monroe Circuit Court Court Forms page | Required before a supervised final account is approved and with an unsupervised closing affidavit under LR53-PR00-0808 and LR53-PR00-0810. |
| Estate Claim | Clerk's Forms and Applications page | Used by a creditor to file a claim in a Monroe County estate. The form instructs the claimant to mail or deliver an original and one copy to the Clerk. |
| Deposit of Will form | Clerk's Forms and Applications page | Used for depositing a will with the Clerk. |
| Affidavit for transfer of assets without administration | Monroe County forms pages and Indiana Legal Help, CCA-EM-0722-5000 | Used outside court for qualifying small estates. It is given to the bank or other holder and is not filed with the Clerk. |
| Fee Waiver form | Clerk's Forms and Applications page | Used to request a fee waiver. The Clerk's cost list says proof of income is needed for consideration. |
Fees
Monroe County's Clerk publishes a current court costs list. It lists $177 for an estate, supervised or unsupervised administration, and for probate, trust, and guardianship matters. That $177 is the statewide probate cost total current through the 2026 legislative session, made up of the $120 probate costs fee under IC 33-37-4-7 plus IC 33-37-5 add-ons. It is not a county-set amount.
If sheriff service is requested, the Clerk's list says the $28 sheriff service fee is due to the Clerk's office for the county where the case is pending, and the statewide authority is IC 33-37-5-15. The Clerk accepts cash, money order payable to the Monroe County Clerk, credit or debit card with a service fee, payment by phone using pay location code 2245, and attorney's check.
Monroe County does not publish a percentage guideline for estate attorney fees. Its local probate rule says fees based on the value of the estate will not ordinarily be approved in a supervised estate, and the court will not decide, authorize, or approve attorney or fiduciary fees in an unsupervised estate (LR53-PR00-0809).
Timeline
- Opening filing. File the petition, proposed order, Fiduciary Information Form, original will if there is one, death certificate, estate cost, and bond arrangements with the Clerk.
- After letters issue. Publish and serve notice of administration under IC 29-1-7-7, and file proof with the Clerk.
- Within two months after appointment. Prepare the inventory under Indiana law. In Monroe County, any inventory or accounting filed with the court is confidential, and the court may require an inventory in an unsupervised estate as a condition of staying unsupervised (LR53-PR00-0804).
- Claims period. Claims are forever barred three months after the first published notice or nine months after death, whichever is earlier (IC 29-1-14-1).
- Three months and fifteen days after first publication. The personal representative or attorney examines the Claim Docket, allows or disallows each claim, and files notice with the court (LR53-PR00-0807).
- No earlier than three months after first publication. An unsupervised estate may close by verified closing statement under IC 29-1-7.5-4, if the estate is ready. In Monroe County, all costs must be paid and claims released, and the Clerk's certification must be filed with the closing affidavit (LR53-PR00-0810).
- One year in a supervised estate. If the supervised estate cannot close within one year, an intermediate account is due within thirty days after the year ends and each year after that until closing (LR53-PR00-0808).
Local nuance
Monroe County-specific considerations
- Monroe County has one unified trial court. Estate and trust cases are assigned to Monroe Circuit Court, Division I, under LR53-AR00-0108.
- The Monroe Circuit Court's probate docket is listed in IC 33-33-53-2, and that statute says assignment to the dockets is made by rule of the court.
- The opening petition needs the Clerk's Fiduciary Information Form, and the court keeps it as a confidential court record (LR53-PR00-0802).
- Every petition or motion needs a proposed order when filed, with a full distribution list (LR53-PR00-0802, LR53-TR00-0203).
- Bond is a local default. A corporate surety bond is required in every supervised and unsupervised estate before letters issue, with a minimum of $15,000 unless the court orders otherwise (LR53-PR00-0803, updated October 10, 2022).
- An inventory or accounting filed with the court is confidential, and the court may require an inventory in an unsupervised estate as a condition of continuing that status (LR53-PR00-0804).
- The court will not authorize or approve a sale of property in an unsupervised estate, and it will not decide or approve attorney or fiduciary fees in one (LR53-PR00-0806, LR53-PR00-0809).
- Closing runs through the Clerk's Certificate as to Costs/Claims, which is required before approval of a supervised final account and with an unsupervised closing affidavit.
Small-estate Alternatives
Monroe County posts the statewide affidavit for transfer of assets without administration in two places, including under the court's Estates forms and on the Clerk's page as Small Estate Claim. That local placement can be confusing: for a death after June 30, 2022, the $100,000 affidavit route under IC 29-1-8 is presented to the bank, insurer, or other holder of the asset and is not filed with the Clerk.
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Local rules amended January 1, 2026 | The judges of the Monroe Circuit Court amended the Rules and Procedures of the Monroe Circuit Court effective January 1, 2026, under IC 33-33-53. The caseload allocation rule, LR53-AR00-0108, still assigns estate and trust cases to Monroe Circuit Court, Division I. |
| Court size changes in 2027 | IC 33-33-53-1 provides nine judges of the Monroe circuit court through December 31, 2026, eight judges beginning January 1, 2027, and the abolition of Monroe County circuit court division 2, seat 6 on December 31, 2026. Estate and trust cases are assigned to Division I. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Monroe County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating probate assets from jointly owned and beneficiary-designated property. If an estate must be opened, the spouse files in Monroe Circuit Court, Division I, completes the Fiduciary Information Form, and plans for the local bond rule. Monroe County's clean bond exception applies in a solvent estate where the spouse is personal representative and sole distributee. The statewide surviving spouse allowance is $25,000 under IC 29-1-4-1. | Sunset helps identify which accounts and assets actually need probate, prepares the estate settlement packet, and flags the bond and spouse allowance issues for attorney review. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the estate qualifies for the affidavit route, the form is presented to the institution holding the asset rather than filed in court. For a death after June 30, 2022, the current ceiling is $100,000 under IC 29-1-8. If administration is needed, a nonresident personal representative files a written acceptance, appoints an Indiana resident agent, and addresses bond under IC 29-1-10-1(d) and LR53-PR00-0803. | Sunset searches for accounts, organizes values and beneficiary information, and helps decide whether the small estate affidavit or a Monroe County estate filing is the right path. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | File promptly if the home may need to be sold to pay debts or administration costs, because IC 29-1-7-15.1 ties some real-property sale authority to a petition filed within five months of death and letters issued within seven months. In a supervised estate, Monroe County requires real estate appraisal timing and a notarized fiduciary deed before court approval. In an unsupervised estate, the court will not authorize or approve the sale. | Sunset helps collect property, mortgage, creditor, and title information, generates the Monroe County packet, and connects the family with a local probate attorney for the real estate sale decision. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe Circuit Court | Court divisions, local rules, court forms, and civil legal resources. | https://www.in.gov/counties/monroe/justice/circuit-court/ |
| Clerk of the Monroe Circuit Court | Filing address, hours, forms and applications, court costs, and record requests. | https://www.in.gov/counties/monroe/justice/clerk-of-court/ |
| Monroe County court forms | Estates section with the Clerk's Certificate as to Costs/Claims and the statewide affidavit for transfer of assets without administration. | https://www.in.gov/counties/monroe/justice/circuit-court/court-forms/ |
| Self service kiosks | Kiosks for accessing Indiana Legal Help and civil legal resources, first come, first served. Locations are the downtown Public Library second floor and the Justice Building outside Courtroom 212. | Ask court staff at the Justice Building for location details. |
| Indiana Legal Services, Bloomington office | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Hoosiers in Monroe County. Intake decides whether a probate issue is within scope. | (812) 339-7668. https://www.indianalegalservices.org/locations/ |
| District 10 Pro Bono Project | Matches low-income people with volunteer attorneys. | (812) 339-3610, Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| Indiana Legal Help, Estate | Estate information, small estate affidavit CCA-EM-0722-5000, Probate FAQ, and Small Estate FAQ. | https://indianalegalhelp.org/legal-topic-category/estate-2/ |
| MyCase | Statewide public case search for Monroe County estate cases. | https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/ |
| Monroe County page, Indiana Judicial Branch | Administrative District 20, local rules, case search, and e-filing links. | https://www.in.gov/courts/local/monroe-county/ |
| Indiana Free Legal Answers | Free confidential answers to civil legal questions from volunteer Indiana attorneys. | https://indiana.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Statewide e-filing information | Indiana E-Filing System information, certified provider list, and user guides. | https://www.in.gov/courts/efiling/ |
When to hire an attorney
Monroe County's local probate rules do not require a personal representative to have a lawyer, but counsel often makes sense when bond must be arranged, real estate must be sold, creditors are active, a supervised accounting is needed, or family members disagree. The Clerk's filing page also says clerks cannot tell parties what type of case to file or give legal advice. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement assets, debts, and other property that may affect Monroe County probate. A clear asset list helps determine whether the small estate affidavit, unsupervised administration, or supervised administration fits the estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the Monroe County opening packet, including the will information, heirs and distributees, asset list, debts, and proposed personal representative details. The packet is built so the family and attorney can focus on Monroe County requirements such as the Fiduciary Information Form, proposed orders, and bond.
Find a local probate attorney. Monroe County estates can involve a corporate surety bond, real estate appraisal rules, claim-docket steps, and supervised accounting requirements. Sunset can connect the family with a local probate attorney who understands Monroe Circuit Court, Division I practice.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families organize estate settlement tasks, find assets, prepare the probate packet, and get matched with legal help at no cost to the family.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Monroe County?
File with the Clerk of the Monroe Circuit Court at the Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center, 301 N. College Ave., Suite 201, Bloomington, IN 47404. Estate and trust cases are assigned to Monroe Circuit Court, Division I, under LR53-AR00-0108.
Is there a separate probate court in Monroe County?
No. Monroe County has one unified trial court, the Monroe Circuit Court. Probate is one of the Monroe Circuit Court's dockets under IC 33-33-53-2, and estate and trust cases are assigned by local rule to Division I.
Can I file a Monroe County estate without a lawyer?
Yes. Monroe County's local probate rules do not require the personal representative to be represented. Attorneys file electronically through the Indiana E-Filing System, while unrepresented litigants are encouraged but not required to e-file under Ind. Trial Rule 87. A self-represented filer may file at the Clerk's counter or by mail.
What does a Monroe County estate cost to open?
The Clerk's current court costs list shows $177 for an estate, supervised or unsupervised administration. That is the statewide $120 probate costs fee under IC 33-37-4-7 plus IC 33-37-5 add-ons, current through the 2026 legislative session. Sheriff service, if requested, is $28 under IC 33-37-5-15.
Do I need a bond in a Monroe County estate?
Usually, yes. Monroe County's local rule makes a corporate surety bond the default before letters issue in every supervised and unsupervised estate, with a minimum of $15,000 unless the court orders otherwise (LR53-PR00-0803, updated October 10, 2022). The clearest local exception is a solvent estate where the decedent's spouse is personal representative and sole distributee.
Are there local Monroe County probate forms?
Yes. The court's Court Forms page publishes the Clerk's Certificate as to Costs/Claims, and the Clerk's Forms and Applications page publishes a Deposit of Will form and an Estate Claim form. The opening petition also must include the Fiduciary Information Form from the Clerk's office (LR53-PR00-0802).
Is the small estate affidavit filed with the Monroe County Clerk?
No. Monroe County posts the statewide affidavit for transfer of assets without administration on its forms pages, but the affidavit is given to the institution holding the asset. For a death after June 30, 2022, the $100,000 affidavit route is governed by IC 29-1-8 and is not filed with the court.
How do I look up a Monroe County estate case?
Search MyCase at https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/ by the decedent's last name or the cause number. The court's guidance says to use at least the first three letters of the last name followed by an asterisk, or the full case number. Monroe County estate cases appear as EU, ES, or EM.
Can I appear remotely for a Monroe County probate hearing?
No probate-specific local remote rule is published. Under Indiana Administrative Rule 14, a court may hold a non-testimonial hearing remotely at its discretion, while a hearing with sworn testimony is in person unless there is good cause or the parties agree. Call the court at (812) 349-2615 about your hearing.
Do I have to travel to Bloomington for a Monroe County estate?
Often not for the filing itself, because attorneys file electronically and paper filing by mail is recognized in the local rules. A hearing may require an appearance. If you go to the Justice Center, arrive early because every visitor is subject to security screening.
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.