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Randolph County, IN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Randolph County detail |
|---|---|
| Court for estates | Randolph Circuit Court for Estate Supervised (ES) and Estate Unsupervised (EU) cases under LR68-AR1-701. Estate Miscellaneous (EM) is not named in the ES and EU allocation list, and the local rule lets other case types be filed in either court at the filer's election. |
| Clerk and courthouse address | Clerk of the Circuit Court, 100 South Main Street, 2nd Floor, Room 201, Winchester, IN 47394. |
| Mailing | The clerk's public page lists the courthouse address. Call the clerk before mailing an estate petition. |
| Phone | (765) 584-4214. |
| Fax | (765) 584-2958. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, closed on federal holidays. |
| Cost to open an administration | For 2026, a petition for letters testamentary or letters of general administration carries $177 in statewide court costs under IC 33-37-4-7 and the Indiana Trial Court Fee Manual current through the 2026 legislative session. A will-only deposit or admission request may be treated differently under IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3), so name the filing when you call the clerk. |
| Local forms | No Randolph County estate packet, probate checklist or estate information sheet is posted on the clerk's public services page. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through the Indiana E-Filing System. Unrepresented litigants are encouraged, but not required, to use e-filing under Ind. Trial Rule 87. |
| Case search | Search the decedent's name on MyCase at mycase.in.gov. Estate cases appear as EU, ES or EM. |
| Remote appearance | Randolph County LR68-TR73-117 encourages telephone or video conferencing for motions, pre-trial conferences and other matters that can reasonably be handled that way, at the court's discretion or on request. Testimony is governed by Ind. Administrative Rule 14. |
| Website | Randolph County Clerk page and the Indiana Judicial Branch Randolph County local court page. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Randolph County, list the probate assets, debts, likely creditors, real estate, beneficiary designations and jointly owned property. That first inventory determines whether the estate settlement needs a court administration, a smaller non-court transfer route, or a petition involving real estate.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts before choosing the Randolph County path. Use that asset picture when you call the clerk, because the clerk can tell you local filing logistics, but cannot decide which petition fits the estate.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Winchester courthouse serves Randolph County. Indiana venue for probate of a will and administration of an estate is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a non-Indiana decedent, a county where the decedent left property or where property later came into the county (IC 29-1-7-1).
Randolph County constitutes the twenty-fifth judicial circuit. The county also has a standard Superior Court, but LR68-AR1-701 assigns ES and EU estate cases to the Randolph Circuit Court. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the filing office for the county's courts under IC 33-32-2-1.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate path. Decide whether the Randolph County estate needs supervised administration, unsupervised administration, a will-only filing, or another Indiana procedure before you prepare papers.
- Prepare the petition and supporting documents. Indiana has no statewide court-approved probate form set, and Randolph County does not post a local estate packet. A petition is drafted for the estate, using Indiana terms such as personal representative, letters testamentary and letters of general administration.
- File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 100 South Main Street, Room 201, Winchester. ES and EU matters are assigned to the Randolph Circuit Court under LR68-AR1-701. Attorneys file through the IEFS. If you are self-represented, ask the clerk whether the clerk will accept your papers at the counter or by mail before you send anything.
- Pay the court costs for the filing you are actually making. For 2026, opening an administration with a petition for letters carries $177 in statewide court costs under IC 33-37-4-7 and the Indiana Trial Court Fee Manual current through the 2026 legislative session. A will-only filing is treated separately under IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3).
- Publish and serve notice after letters issue. Indiana requires notice of estate administration to be published once each week for two consecutive weeks, and proof of publication is filed with the clerk within 30 days after publication (IC 29-1-7-7).
- Handle any hearing or conference. Randolph County's general civil rule encourages telephone or video conferencing for motions, pre-trial conferences and similar matters when the court allows it. A hearing with sworn testimony follows the statewide remote-proceeding rule in Ind. Administrative Rule 14.
- Receive authority from the court. Once appointed, the personal representative uses letters testamentary or letters of general administration as the clerk-attested proof of authority to act for the estate (IC 29-1-10-4).
- Administer and close the estate settlement. The personal representative gathers assets, addresses claims, handles any real estate issues, distributes property to the people entitled to it and files the appropriate closing document or final settlement papers for the type of Indiana administration being used.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Randolph County
Randolph County does not post a local estate packet, probate checklist or estate information sheet on the clerk's public services page. The clerk's page lists services such as marriage licenses, child support, divorce filings, court fines, jury duty, protective orders, small claims and evictions, but not a Randolph County probate form set.
Indiana also does not publish a statewide court-approved probate form set for full administration. The statewide estate form from Indiana Legal Help is CCA-EM-0722-5000, an affidavit for transfer of assets without administration. For deaths after June 30, 2022, that form is tied to the $100,000 small-estate ceiling in IC 29-1-8, and it is given to the bank or other asset holder rather than filed with the Randolph County court.
Local nuance
Randolph County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Randolph County |
|---|---|
| Estate case assignment | LR68-AR1-701 assigns Estate Supervised (ES), Estate Unsupervised (EU), Guardianship (GU) and Trust (TR) matters solely to the Randolph Circuit Court. |
| Estate Miscellaneous | EM is not listed in the specific ES and EU allocation. LR68-AR1-701 allows case types not otherwise assigned to be filed in either court at the filer's election. |
| No local probate rule family | Randolph County's current local rules do not contain an LR68-PR probate rule family, a local probate inventory rule, a local bond default, a probate counsel requirement or a supervised-estate attorney-fee guideline. |
| Telephone and video conferencing | LR68-TR73-117 encourages telephone or video conferencing for motions, pre-trial conferences and similar matters when the court allows it. This is a general civil rule, not a probate-only rule. |
| Clerk hours | The clerk's public hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, closed on federal holidays. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Randolph County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by separating jointly owned property and beneficiary assets from probate assets. If a Randolph County court administration is needed, ES or EU filings go through the Clerk of the Circuit Court and are assigned to the Randolph Circuit Court under LR68-AR1-701. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title issues before the spouse decides whether a court administration is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the estate fits Indiana's non-court small-estate affidavit route, the statewide CCA-EM-0722-5000 form is presented to the holder of the asset, not filed at the Randolph County courthouse. For deaths after June 30, 2022, the current ceiling is $100,000 under IC 29-1-8. If letters are needed, the adult child should plan for Indiana resident-agent and bond issues under IC 29-1-10-1(d). | Sunset helps confirm whether accounts exist and whether a court administration is worth opening before the child travels or hires counsel. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of Indiana real estate can make timing and court authority important. If Randolph County administration is needed, file through the clerk for assignment to the Randolph Circuit Court. Indiana's five-month and seven-month rule for certain real-property sales should be reviewed before waiting to open the estate (IC 29-1-7-15.1). | Sunset helps gather title, mortgage, creditor and account information so the family and attorney can move the estate settlement forward. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Judicial Branch Randolph County page | Local court page with Randolph County's judicial district, local rules, court contact links, case search and e-filing links. | in.gov/courts/local/randolph-county/ |
| Randolph County Clerk | Local filing counter and clerk office information for Winchester. Call before mailing estate papers or visiting near closing time. | 100 South Main Street, Room 201, Winchester. Phone (765) 584-4214. |
| Indiana Legal Help, Estate | Plain-language estate information, the CCA-EM-0722-5000 small estate affidavit, a Probate FAQ and a Small Estate FAQ. | indianalegalhelp.org/legal-topic-category/estate-2/ |
| Indiana Judicial Branch Self-Service Legal Center | General self-representation guidance. It does not provide a statewide probate form set. | in.gov/courts/selfservice/ |
| MyCase | Search public Indiana estate cases by the decedent's name. Estate case types include EU, ES and EM. | mycase.in.gov |
| Indiana e-filing | Information about the IEFS, certified e-filing providers and user guides. | in.gov/courts/efiling/ |
| Indiana Legal Services, Indianapolis office | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Hoosiers in Randolph County. Intake determines whether help is available for the issue. | 1200 Madison Avenue, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46225. Phone (317) 631-9410. |
| Indiana Free Legal Answers | Online questions answered by volunteer Indiana attorneys for eligible users. | indiana.freelegalanswers.org |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across financial institutions, insurance relationships and other asset leads so the family can understand what exists before choosing an estate settlement path in Randolph County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset picture and family information into an organized probate packet, including the details an attorney or personal representative needs for a Randolph County filing.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset helps connect the family with a vetted Indiana probate attorney who can handle Randolph County practice and statewide Indiana requirements.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, locate assets and get matched with help without paying Sunset for the core estate settlement support.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Randolph County?
File estate papers with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 100 South Main Street, 2nd Floor, Room 201, Winchester. LR68-AR1-701 assigns supervised and unsupervised estate cases to the Randolph Circuit Court.
Does Randolph County use the Circuit Court or the Superior Court for estates?
Randolph County has both courts, but LR68-AR1-701 assigns Estate Supervised (ES) and Estate Unsupervised (EU) filings to the Randolph Circuit Court. Estate Miscellaneous (EM) is not named in that list, and the same local rule allows unassigned case types to be filed in either court at the filer's election.
Can I e-file a Randolph County probate case?
Yes. Attorneys file through the Indiana E-Filing System. Unrepresented litigants are encouraged, but not required, to use e-filing under Ind. Trial Rule 87.
What happens to the original will if the Randolph County case is e-filed?
Ind. Trial Rule 87(E) allows a filer to e-file an accurate copy of the will with an affidavit. Unless the original has been deposited with the clerk, the filer retains the original until the estate is closed and the personal representative is released, or until the will-contest period expires, whichever is later, unless the court orders otherwise.
Does Randolph County have local probate forms?
No Randolph County estate packet, probate checklist or estate information sheet is posted on the clerk's public services page. Indiana does not have a statewide court-approved probate form set for full administration, so the petition is usually drafted for the estate.
How much does it cost to open an estate administration in Randolph County?
For 2026, a petition for letters testamentary or letters of general administration carries $177 in statewide court costs under IC 33-37-4-7 and the Indiana Trial Court Fee Manual current through the 2026 legislative session. A will-only filing has a separate cost rule under IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3), so identify the exact filing when you contact the clerk.
Can I look up a Randolph County estate online?
Yes. Search the decedent's name on MyCase at mycase.in.gov. Public estate case types appear as EU, ES or EM.
Can I appear by phone or video in a Randolph County probate matter?
Possibly. Randolph County LR68-TR73-117 encourages telephone or video conferencing for motions, pre-trial conferences and similar matters that can reasonably be handled that way, at the court's discretion or on a party's request. Hearings with sworn testimony are governed by Ind. Administrative Rule 14.
Do I have to travel to Winchester to start a Randolph County estate?
Not always. Attorneys use e-filing, and unrepresented litigants may use e-filing if they choose. If you are self-represented, call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at (765) 584-4214 before mailing papers or planning a courthouse visit.
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.