Eviction Help Indianapolis: Free Legal Aid, Rent Help, and Your Court Rights

Indiana eviction rules in plain terms

Indiana's landlord-tenant laws are in Title 32 of the Indiana Code. Here is what they mean for most Indianapolis renters.

Notice for unpaid rent. Under Indiana Code 32-31-1-6, when rent is not paid on time, a landlord may end the lease with at least 10 days' notice, unless the lease sets different terms. If you pay the rent in full before the notice period runs out, the lease does not end. Indiana does not require a grace period for late rent, though your lease may give one. Read your notice carefully: it should say why the landlord wants you out and by when.

Notice for other reasons. Notice rules for lease violations, month-to-month tenancies, and the end of a lease are different and depend on your lease. If your notice is for something other than rent, talk to legal aid about what applies to you.

No self-help evictions. Indiana Legal Services explains that as long as you have not abandoned your home, a landlord cannot change the locks, add a deadbolt, remove doors, cut off utilities, or take your belongings to force you out. They can only do these things with a court order. A letter telling you to leave "within a week" is not a court order.

No rent withholding. Indiana does not let tenants withhold rent because repairs were not made. If your home needs repairs, put requests in writing and get legal advice before you stop paying, because unpaid rent can lead to an eviction case even when the landlord is in the wrong.

How the Marion County court process works

In Indianapolis, most eviction cases are filed in one of the nine Marion County township small claims courts (Center, Decatur, Franklin, Lawrence, Perry, Pike, Warren, Washington, and Wayne). Some cases are filed in Marion Superior Court. Local reporting puts the number of eviction filings in Indianapolis at around 2,000 a month, so the courts move quickly.

1. Notice. The landlord gives you written notice, such as a 10-day notice to pay or leave.
2. Filing. If the problem is not resolved, the landlord files an eviction case with the court.
3. Summons. You receive court papers with the date, time, and place of your hearing. Sometimes these papers do not reach you, so check your mail and the court if you think a case was filed.
4. Possession hearing. A judge decides whether you must move out. You can explain your side and bring evidence like receipts, texts, and photos. You may also file a written answer.
5. Damages hearing. Usually held later, this decides whether you owe back rent, fees, or damages.
6. Removal. If the judge rules for the landlord and you do not leave by the date ordered, the landlord can ask the court for an order that lets officers remove you.

Always go to your hearing, even if you think you will lose. If you do not show up, the judge may enter a default judgment against you. At court you may be able to reach a "pay and stay" agreement, get more time to move, or connect with rent help. Arrive early so you have time to find the tenant navigator or diversion staff before your case is called.

Free eviction help Indianapolis tenants can use

Getting legal advice early is one of the best ways to stay housed or leave on better terms. These are the main free options:

• Indiana Legal Services (ILS). A nonprofit law firm that helps low-income Hoosiers with civil cases, including evictions. You can apply online at any time or by phone at 1-844-243-8570, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern. Applying does not guarantee a lawyer, and ILS says you should hear back within about 14 days, so apply as soon as you get a notice. Its eligibility guidelines generally cover incomes up to 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, sometimes up to 200% depending on expenses.
• Indianapolis Legal Aid Society. A long-standing local nonprofit at (317) 635-9538. See indylas.org to learn which cases it accepts.
• Tenant Advocacy Project. Run by the City of Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety, this program places navigators in eviction courts to explain the process and connect tenants with free lawyers. In 2026 it is being combined with Lawrence Township's court program, and local reporting says coverage varies by court and day. Ask the court clerk on your hearing day.
• Eviction Diversion Initiative. Facilitators in most township small claims courts have helped tenants and landlords work out payment plans or move-out agreements. Its funding was described as temporary, so confirm it is running at your court.
• Indiana Legal Help. IndianaLegalHelp.org, supported by the Indiana Bar Foundation and the Indiana Supreme Court, has rent and eviction guides, a free legal question service, and a county search for clinics.
• Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana. If you think you are being evicted because of race, disability, family status, or another protected trait, contact FHCCI.

Where to find rent money now

With the big federal programs closed, rent help in Indianapolis comes from many smaller sources. Expect to call several.

• Indiana 211. Dial 2-1-1 or search in211.org. A navigator can tell you which agencies have rent or utility funds open right now in Marion County.
• Your township trustee. Each of Marion County's nine townships has a trustee office that gives emergency township assistance to eligible residents. ILS notes that help may be harder to get once you are far behind or a case is filed, so contact the office early.
• Charities. Catholic Charities Indianapolis, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and the Salvation Army sometimes offer one-time help with rent or deposits. Our guide to Salvation Army rental assistance explains how that works.
• Neighborhood and community centers. Many keep small emergency funds for residents of their area. 211 can point you to the one that serves your address.
• Your landlord. Ask, in writing, whether the landlord will accept a payment plan or wait for an agency's payment. Bring proof of any money you expect, and get any agreement in writing.

For statewide options, see our rent relief guide and Indianapolis rent assistance.

Indianapolis help by need

Programs that have closed

A lot of eviction advice online still points to pandemic programs that no longer take applications. To save you time:

• Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA). The U.S. Treasury's program has ended. Its second round ran through September 30, 2025.
• Indiana Emergency Rental Assistance (IERA). The statewide program run by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) closed to new applications on April 15, 2025, according to Prosperity Indiana's Housing4Hoosiers.
• IndyRent. Indianapolis's own pandemic-era rental assistance program is no longer taking applications.

If a website or caller says they can get you into one of these programs for a fee, it is a scam. IHCDA still runs other housing programs, such as housing choice vouchers in some areas and the winter Energy Assistance Program. Indianapolis residents apply for energy help through the local EAP agency, and 211 can connect you.

After a judgment or move-out order

If the judge orders you to move, you must leave by the date in the order. Ask the judge or the landlord's attorney for more time if you need it, and get any agreement in writing. Take photos of the home when you leave and return the keys, which can help at the damages hearing.

Your landlord cannot keep everything you own. ILS lists items that must be returned even under a court order, including medically necessary items, items you need for work or school, blankets, and a week's supply of clothing for your household.

If you have nowhere to go, call 211 and ask about coordinated entry, the system that connects people to shelters and housing programs. Our guide to hotel vouchers for homeless people in Indiana covers short-term options. Later, when you are ready to rent again, see second chance apartments that accept evictions.

Sealing an eviction record in Indiana

An eviction filing can show up on tenant screening reports even if you won. Indiana changed its sealing law effective July 1, 2025, under Indiana Code 32-31-11. Based on reporting about the change:

• Courts must seal eviction records on their own when a case is dismissed, the tenant wins, or a judgment against the tenant is overturned or vacated on appeal.
• A tenant who has paid off a money judgment can ask the court to seal the record.
• Some other cases may become eligible after a waiting period.

It is not always clear how the automatic rule applies to older cases. Ask Indiana Legal Services or the court clerk whether your case can be sealed.

What documents do I need to apply?

Expect to show photo ID, Social Security numbers for the people applying, proof of income for the last 30 days, and proof of where you live, plus any paper that shows the emergency itself. Our document checklist explains what counts for each item and what to do if something is missing. If you don't have everything yet, apply anyway and ask the office how long you have to bring the rest.

What to do this week, step by step

1. Read every paper you got. Note the deadline, the reason, and any court date.
2. Apply to Indiana Legal Services online or by phone the same day.
3. Dial 211 and call your township trustee about rent help. Ask each place what papers to bring.
4. Talk to your landlord in writing about a payment plan, and save every text and email.
5. Go to court on your hearing date, early, with your documents. Ask for the tenant navigator.
6. Do not move out or hand over keys until you understand your options, unless you have a safe place to go.

Related guides

• Indianapolis rent assistance
• Indiana rent relief
• Rent relief programs
• Emergency moving assistance

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Eviction rules depend on your lease and the facts of your case; talk to a lawyer about your situation. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the City of Indianapolis, the State of Indiana, or any government agency.