Indiana Small Claims E-Filing

Indiana's e-filing system lets you file a small claims case from your computer instead of driving to the courthouse. It is faster, $10 cheaper than paper filing in the 91 counties outside Marion County, and available 24 hours a day except for required maintenance. Marion County township courts use separate fees.

Who Has to E-File

Mandatory e-filing applies to attorneys in the courts and case types listed on Indiana's implementation schedule. Current Trial Rule 87 governs electronic filing, and attorneys may request an exception for good cause. Check the schedule for your court and case type.

Pro se filers — people representing themselves without a lawyer — are not required to e-file. You can choose to file on paper at the clerk's counter or by mail, or use an e-filing provider. On the 91 non-Marion county small-claims dockets, the court's initial fee is $87 for e-filing and $97 for paper; provider or payment fees may affect the total. Marion County uses separate fees.

Marion County township courts use local forms and procedures. E-filing, when used, goes through the statewide Indiana E-Filing System.

How to Register

To e-file, you register for an account with a certified Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP). Indiana's central e-filing gateway connects multiple approved providers. The Indiana E-Filing Portal lists the certified providers and links to their registration pages.

Trial Rule 86 requires users to execute a User Agreement with one or more approved EFSPs before using the system. Check the provider's current registration steps and charges before filing.

Filing Your Case

Once registered, the e-filing process follows this sequence:

1. Select the court and case type. Choose the correct county and select "Small Claims" as the case type.
2. Enter party information. Full legal names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for all plaintiffs and defendants.
3. Upload your documents. The Notice of Claim, any required attachments (Affidavit of Debt, contracts, certificates), and supporting exhibits in PDF format.
4. Select service method. Choose certified mail or sheriff service for the defendant.
5. Pay the filing fee. Credit card (2.25% to 3% convenience fee) or e-check ($1 flat fee).

After submission, the filing goes through the Indiana E-Filing System to the court clerk for review.

Filing Problems

Indiana Trial Rule 86 was revised effective January 1, 2026; the current rule contains no 72-hour cure window or former list of clerk rejection grounds. If a filing is rejected or the court orders a correction, follow the notice and any order in your case.

Tracking Your Case

After the clerk accepts your filing, the case appears on the Chronological Case Summary (CCS) in Indiana's MyCase public portal. The CCS shows every filing, every order, service returns, and hearing dates. Bookmark your case page — it is the official record and the fastest way to check whether the defendant has been served.

Costs Compared to Paper Filing

E-filing saves $10 per case over paper filing ($87 versus $97). You also save the trip to the courthouse, parking costs, and the time spent waiting at the clerk's counter. The credit card convenience fee adds a small amount, but e-check at $1 flat keeps the total well under paper filing costs.

The Indiana Small Claims Filing Guide walks through the e-filing submission step by step, including how to format your documents and what to do if the clerk's office flags a defect.

See more Indiana guides →