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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Free · general informationIndiana

What to do when someone dies in Indiana

The first things Indiana’s own law asks for after a death, quoted word for word, then the pages for everything that follows, in the order it usually comes. Nothing here decides what a particular family must do. That belongs to the office named, the court, or an attorney in Indiana.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

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The free first-week checklist

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Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

Filing the death certificate: who files it, the state’s system, and how soon

Registering the death comes first. These are Indiana’s own words on who files the record, and how soon.

the physician, the physician assistant, or the advanced practice registered nurse last in attendance upon the deceased, or the person in charge of interment shall use the Indiana death registration system established under IC 16-37-1-3.1 to file a certificate of death or stillbirth with the local health officer of the jurisdiction in which the death occurred.

the person in charge of interment shall electronically submit the certificate required under IC 16-37-3-5 to the physician, the physician assistant, or the advanced practice registered nurse last in attendance upon the deceased not later than five (5) days after the death.

Indiana · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · IC 16-37-3-3; IC 16-37-1-3.1(e)(1)

What the person holding the will may do, when they must deliver it, and the contempt for refusing

The will has its own rules. These are Indiana’s own words on who brings it to the court after a death, and what the court does with it.

(a) After the death of a person, the person having custody of the decedent's will: (1) may; or (2) shall, upon written demand by the personal representative or upon court order; deliver the will to the court which has jurisdiction of the administration of the decedent's estate.

he shall be guilty of contempt of court

Indiana · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · IC 29-1-7-3(a), (c)

Depositing a will with the circuit court clerk: the county, the fee, and the receipt

(d) A person may deposit a will with the circuit court clerk of the county in which the testator resided when the testator executed the will.

the circuit court clerk shall collect a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) for the deposit of the will.

(1) provide the depositor with a receipt for the will;

Indiana · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · IC 29-1-7-3.1(d), (f)

The first weeks

The estate: probate in Indiana, its route for a smaller estate, what falls to whoever is settling it, and the accounts that pass outside the will.

The same page for other states

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FAQ

Common questions

the physician, the physician assistant, or the advanced practice registered nurse last in attendance upon the deceased, or the person in charge of interment shall use the Indiana death registration system established under IC 16-37-1-3.1 to file a certificate of death or stillbirth with the local health officer of the jurisdiction in which the death occurred.

the person in charge of interment shall electronically submit the certificate required under IC 16-37-3-5 to the physician, the physician assistant, or the advanced practice registered nurse last in attendance upon the deceased not later than five (5) days after the death.

Indiana · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · IC 16-37-3-3; IC 16-37-1-3.1(e)(1)

(a) After the death of a person, the person having custody of the decedent's will: (1) may; or (2) shall, upon written demand by the personal representative or upon court order; deliver the will to the court which has jurisdiction of the administration of the decedent's estate.

he shall be guilty of contempt of court

Indiana · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · IC 29-1-7-3(a), (c)

(d) A person may deposit a will with the circuit court clerk of the county in which the testator resided when the testator executed the will.

the circuit court clerk shall collect a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) for the deposit of the will.

(1) provide the depositor with a receipt for the will;

Indiana · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · IC 29-1-7-3.1(d), (f)

For anyone who would rather their family found it all in one place than went looking.

A couple. A parent. An adult child and a parent, doing it together. One sitting starts it; keep it current, and tell someone where it is.

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