Uncontested: 21–45 days ·
Contested: 45–100 days · Under Ind. Code § 32-31 (Landlord-Tenant Relations)
The Indiana eviction process requires a court-ordered judgment before a landlord can remove a tenant. Timeline figures below begin after the pre-filing notice period expires and the landlord files the complaint with the court. Add 3–60+ days for the applicable pre-filing notice period (pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or no-fault) depending on the eviction reason.
Each row's day-label is the cumulative start of that stage on the worst-case clock.
Pre-filingNoticeFileCourtLockout
0–30d
1
Stage 1 · Gate
Serve notice (or skip if waived in lease)
Day 1
10 days for nonpayment if not waived. Most commercial Indiana leases waive notice. Material breach: 30 days default.
1–3d
2
Stage 2 · Serve
File in Township Small Claims Court
Day 31
Township Small Claims Court for the township where the property sits. Filing fee $95-$135. Center Township in Marion County and Wayne Township in Marion have dedicated landlord-tenant dockets.
0–90d
3
Stage 3 · File
Optional: opt into 90-day diversion (SB-142)
Day 34
Both parties may opt into the 2025 diversion program. Case paused 90 days for mediation and rental-assistance navigation. Confidentiality marker applied during pause.
14–30d
4
Stage 4 · Court
Hearing and judgment
Day 124
Bench trial within 14-30 days of filing. Marion (Indianapolis) at the longer end; rural counties closer to 14 days. Same-day judgment common.
5–14d
5
Stage 5 · Lockout
Writ of possession and sheriff lockout
Day 154
Sheriff executes within 5-14 days. No statutory post-judgment grace period.
Day 168
✓
Possession recovered
Worst case · Day 168
Timelines begin at court filing, not notice service.
The Indiana timelines above start when the landlord files the eviction complaint with the court.
Add pre-filing notice periods (3–60 days depending on eviction reason) to get the full end-to-end timeline.
Self-help eviction, changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities, is illegal in Indiana and exposes the landlord to significant damages.
About this page. Researched and written by the NextGen Properties research team — the underwriters, asset managers, and acquisitions staff who have priced, bought, and operated rental property for more than two decades. Reviewed before publication by the NextGen Properties editorial desk. How we work: editorial guidelines · scoring methodology.
