About SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVIT – Collection of Personal Property
Allows a successor or claimant to collect personal property of a deceased person's small estate (under $25,000) without formal probate administration.
When you'd use it: When the decedent's gross probate estate is $25,000 or less, at least 45 days have passed since death, and no personal representative has been appointed.
Where to get the official form
The official version of SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVIT – Collection of Personal Property is published as a PDF by the Indiana courts. We checked this link and it resolved to a form on an official court or government website — always download the current version directly from the source rather than a third-party copy:
Download SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVIT – Collection of Personal Property (PDF) →
Source: in.gov
Link last checked: May 31, 2026
How to file SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVIT – Collection of Personal Property in Indiana
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVIT – Collection of Personal Property when when the decedent's gross probate estate is $25,000 or less, at least 45 days have passed since death, and no personal representative has been appointed. Double-check it's the right form for your situation — Indiana probate forms are revised periodically, so verify the name and number against your court's current form list before you start.
- Step 2 — Complete every required fieldFill out SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVIT – Collection of Personal Property carefully and review it for errors before filing. Probate cases can already take months — a small mistake on the form can set your timeline back further.
- Step 3 — Get it notarized or witnessed if requiredSome probate forms must be signed in front of a notary or witnesses. Check the instructions on the form itself, and arrange notarization before you file if it's required.
- Step 4 — File it with the correct courtSubmit SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVIT – Collection of Personal Property to the probate court or county clerk handling the estate — usually in the Indiana county where the deceased lived. Ask the clerk how they prefer to receive filings (in person, by mail, or e-filing).