Indiana Code

Ind. Code § 33-37-3-2 (2026)

Indigent persons; relief from or waiver of fees and court costs in civil actions or appointment of guardian

✓ current as of May 2026
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     Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person entitled to bring a civil action or to petition for the appointment of a guardian under IC 29-3-5 may do so without paying the required fees or other court costs if the person files a statement in court, under oath and in writing:

(1) declaring that the person is unable to make the payments or to give security for the payments because of the person's indigency;

(2) declaring that the person believes that the person is entitled to the redress sought in the action; and

(3) setting forth briefly the nature of the action.

     (b) If a person brings a civil action or petition for the appointment of a guardian under IC 29-3-5, a clerk shall waive the payment of required fees or other court costs by the person without court approval if:

(1) the person is represented by an attorney:

(A) who is employed by Indiana Legal Services or another civil legal aid program; or

(B) who:

(i) is serving as a pro bono attorney; and

(ii) obtained the person as a client through a direct referral from a pro bono district associated with one (1) of the fourteen (14) administrative districts in Indiana established by the Indiana Rules of Court Administrative Rule 3(A); and

(2) the attorney files a statement with the clerk that:

(A) seeks relief from paying the required fees or other court costs;

(B) declares that the person believes that the person is entitled to the redress sought in the action;

(C) sets forth briefly the nature of the action;

(D) is accompanied by an approved affidavit of indigency; and

(E) is signed by the attorney.

     (c) This section does not prohibit a court from reviewing and modifying a finding of indigency by the court or a clerk if a person who received relief from the payment of required fees or other court costs ceases to qualify for the relief.

[Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-19-3-2.]

As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.89-2009, SEC.1.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2011–2024 · leading case: Baca v. Rpm, Inc., 941 N.E.2d 547 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011).
Baca v. Rpm, Inc., 941 N.E.2d 547 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 6× “Discussion and Decision Notwithstanding Indiana Code Section 33-37-3-2, providing that a person entitled to bring a civil action may do so without paying the required fees after filing a sworn statement of his or her indigency, 2 Tippecanoe Superior Court 4 has implemented a…”
P J v. Review Bd. (Ind. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 11× “2 Prior to 2009, Indiana Code 33-37-3-2, like its predecessor statute, simply provided: A person entitled to bring a civil action or to petition for the appointment of a guardian under IC 29-3-5 may do so without paying the required fees or other court costs if the person files…”
Beatriz Morales v. Hous. Auth. of South Bend & Attorney Gen. of Indiana (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 10× “” Section 33-37-3-2 further provides: (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person entitled to bring a civil action or to petition for the appointment of a guardian under IC 29-3-5 may do so without paying the required fees or other court costs if the person files a…”
Mitchell Sigman v. State of Indiana & Sharon Hawk (mem. dec.) (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 4× “2 [5] On June 19, 2014, Sigman, by counsel, tendered a complaint with an accompanying “Declaration of Indigency Pursuant to I.C. § 33-37-3-2” requesting waiver of the filing fee.”
Jeffrey Allen Rowe v. The Geo Grp., Inc. (mem. dec.) (Ind. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “In his verified petition, Rowe requested the trial court to waive his filing fee in accordance with Ind. Code § 33-37-3-2 due to the fact that he is incarcerated and “unable to make the payments or to give security for the payments because of his indigency.”
Ind. Code § 33-37-3-2(b): 1 case
P J v. Review Bd. (Ind. Ct. App. 2024). “2 Prior to 2009, Indiana Code 33-37-3-2, like its predecessor statute, simply provided: A person entitled to bring a civil action or to petition for the appointment of a guardian under IC 29-3-5 may do so without paying the required fees or other court costs if the person files…”
Ind. Code § 33-37-3-2(b)(1): 1 case
Beatriz Morales v. Hous. Auth. of South Bend & Attorney Gen. of Indiana (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). “” Section 33-37-3-2 further provides: (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person entitled to bring a civil action or to petition for the appointment of a guardian under IC 29-3-5 may do so without paying the required fees or other court costs if the person files a…”
Ind. Code § 33-37-3-2(b)(2): 1 case
Beatriz Morales v. Hous. Auth. of South Bend & Attorney Gen. of Indiana (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). “” Section 33-37-3-2 further provides: (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person entitled to bring a civil action or to petition for the appointment of a guardian under IC 29-3-5 may do so without paying the required fees or other court costs if the person files a…”
Ind. Code § 33-37-3-2(b)(2)(C): 1 case
Beatriz Morales v. Hous. Auth. of South Bend & Attorney Gen. of Indiana (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). “” Section 33-37-3-2 further provides: (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person entitled to bring a civil action or to petition for the appointment of a guardian under IC 29-3-5 may do so without paying the required fees or other court costs if the person files a…”
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