Up to $10,000 · 6 years to file.
A contractor who took your money, did poor work, or never finished. In Indiana, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims Court (or Circuit/Superior small-claims docket), where you can sue for up to $10,000.
Your deadline: Indiana generally gives you 6 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $95 (About $90–$100 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Ind. Code § 33-29-2-4; deadlines: Ind. Code §§ 34-11-2-4, 34-11-2-7, 34-11-2-9. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Written contract 10 yrs; oral contract 6; property damage and personal injury 2 yrs.
Suing for something else in Indiana: Indiana unpaid loan · Indiana security deposit · Indiana property damage · Indiana unpaid rent.
Suing for contractor dispute in nearby states: Illinois ($10,000, 5 years) · Michigan ($7,000, 6 years) · Ohio ($6,000, 6 years) · Kentucky ($2,500, 5 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026