Where to Find Commonly Used Court Forms and Filing Information on Indiana Legal Help

Updated

Indiana Legal Help's Quick Links section is the starting point for self-represented litigants who need common court forms and procedural guidance. It gathers the forms most often requested by people handling their own cases — Contempt, Continuance, Fee Waiver, Virtual Hearing, and Appearance — along with plain-language answers about filing fees, serving court forms, and what happens after a case is filed. If you are representing yourself in an Indiana court and need a specific form or a basic explanation of a filing step, this is where to look first.

What the Quick Links Section Covers

The site describes Quick Links as a way to "find easy to access common resources." It is organized around the practical questions that come up once you are already in or preparing for a case.

Commonly Used Forms

The forms page collects the documents that come up most often in self-represented cases:

  • Contempt — for asking the court to enforce an existing order
  • Continuance — for requesting a postponement of a hearing or deadline
  • Fee Waiver — for asking the court to waive filing fees based on inability to pay
  • Virtual Hearing — for participating in a hearing remotely
  • Appearance — for formally entering your appearance in a case

These are the forms the site itself flags as commonly used, so they are a reasonable first stop before searching elsewhere.

After a Case Is Filed

This section covers "information you may need after a case is filed with the court." It is aimed at people who have already submitted paperwork and need to understand the next steps in the process.

Filing Fee FAQ

A dedicated FAQ answers common questions about filing fees — what they are, when they apply, and how they relate to the fee waiver form.

Service FAQ

A separate FAQ explains how to serve your court forms — that is, how to legally deliver copies of your filings to the other party, which is a required step that trips up many self-represented litigants.

Indiana County Court Local Rules

Because local rules vary by county, the site links to local rules for each Indiana county. If your case is in a specific county, checking that county's local rules is important, since they can add requirements beyond statewide procedure.

Glossary of Legal Terms

The glossary is provided "to help gain a working knowledge of some of the terms used on this website" — useful when a form or FAQ uses terminology you are not familiar with.

How to Get There

  1. Go to indianalegalhelp.org.
  2. Locate the Quick Links section, described on the site as "Find easy to access common resources."
  3. Choose the specific resource you need: Commonly Used Forms, After a Case Is Filed, Filing Fee FAQ, Service FAQ, Indiana County Court Local Rules, or the Glossary of Legal Terms.

If you are not sure which form applies to your situation, the site's Legal Topics section organizes issues by category — Housing, Family and Safety, Money and Estate, Military/Immigration/Employment, Driving and Expungement, and Other Legal Issues — so you can identify your topic before returning to the forms.

What to Check Before Filing

  • Confirm your county's local rules. Statewide forms may still be subject to county-specific requirements listed under Indiana County Court Local Rules.
  • Read the Service FAQ before you file. Serving the other party is a separate step from filing, and doing it incorrectly can delay your case.
  • Check the Filing Fee FAQ if cost is a concern. The Fee Waiver form exists for those who cannot afford filing fees, and the FAQ explains how fees work.
  • Use the glossary when a form or instruction uses a term you do not recognize.

When to Look Beyond the Forms

Quick Links provides forms and procedural explanations, not legal advice for your specific situation. If you have a legal question about how the law applies to your case, the site offers Free Legal Answers, where you can email an attorney for free legal advice, and a Calendar of Events listing upcoming clinics where you can speak with an attorney in person. For legal professionals, there is also a Pro Bono Opportunity Guide for volunteering at clinics or representing someone in need.