State guide
Indiana
Indiana treats adult guardianship as a probate matter, and forms are largely maintained at the county level rather than as one statewide public petition packet. The Indiana judiciary operates an Adult Guardianship Office, a guardianship registry, and statewide probate fee guidance, while Indiana law also recognizes supported decision-making agreements.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult guardianship petitions are probate matters filed in the county trial court with probate jurisdiction, usually the circuit court, superior court, or a probate division for that county.
- What it's called
- guardian of the person and guardian of the estate
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- $177.00
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- Indiana recognizes supported decision-making agreements in Ind. Code § 29-3-14 et seq., and official Indiana Disability Rights materials point to other less-restrictive decision-making supports.
- Law
- Ind. Code art. 29-3; Ind. Code art. 29-3.5; supported decision-making in Ind. Code ch. 29-3-14
Official resources in Indiana
Official statewide guardianship resource page with registry information, VASIA program information, and contact details.
Official statewide fee resource showing probate filing costs used for guardianship cases.
Official self-help center for people representing themselves in Indiana courts.
Official Indiana code title covering guardianships, protective proceedings, and interstate adult-guardianship jurisdiction.
Largest-county clerk page with civil filing and self-service links for probate-related filings.
Key facts for Indiana
- Indiana's Adult Guardianship Office was established under the Indiana Supreme Court in 2013.
- The public guardianship registry is used by 89 counties.
- The Indiana Trial Court Fee Manual lists total probate filing fees of $177.00.
- Indiana official disability-rights materials identify supported decision-making agreements as a less-restrictive option.
- Indiana Code Title 29 includes Article 3 for guardianships and protective proceedings and Article 3.5 for interstate adult-guardianship jurisdiction.
- Marion County Probate Division local rules include an Application for Appointment of Guardian and guardian instruction forms.
County court guardianship pages in Indiana
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Adult Guardianship Office Marion | Indianapolis | (317) 234-5562 | State judicial office for adult guardianship resources, registry information, and VASIA program information. |
| Marion Superior Court 8 Marion | Indianapolis | Not published* | Largest-county probate division court contact; Marion local probate rules use cause numbers in Marion Superior Court Probate Division. |
| Marion County Clerk's Office Marion | Indianapolis | Not published* | Largest-county clerk page with civil filing and self-service links for probate-related cases. |
| Indiana Self-Service Legal Center Marion | Indianapolis | Not published* | State court self-help site for people handling cases without a lawyer. |
| Marion County Probate Forms and Rules Marion | Indianapolis | Not published* | Local probate rules index listing Marion County guardianship forms, including the application for appointment of guardian and guardian instruction forms. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Call the county clerk before filing because Indiana's Adult Guardianship Office says counties control the filing forms used in guardianship cases.
- Use the statewide fee manual to confirm the base probate filing cost, then ask the county clerk about any service costs.
- Review supported decision-making and other less-restrictive supports before filing for a full guardianship.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Indiana's population center, for comparison only):
- Hamilton County Probate Court - Mental Health / Guardianship, Ohio · about 115 miles
- Hamilton County Probate Court - Guardianship Investigator, Ohio · about 115 miles
- Hamilton County Probate Court - Guardianship Forms and Instructions, Ohio · about 115 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Indiana Adult Guardianship Office
Website →Phone: (317) 234-5562 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Indiana page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.