Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure
Cited as T.R. · 118 active rules
Indiana's trial courts follow these rules for every civil action, from filing a complaint through trial and post-judgment relief. Browse the full set below. Plain-English summaries, FAQs, and full rule text are provided for each rule.
Source: Indiana Office of Court Services (Indiana Supreme Court) ·
Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Indiana, under its inherent constitutional rulemaking power (reaffirmed by Ind. Code 34-8-1-1 and 34-8-2-1); originally enacted by the Indiana General Assembly in 1969 ·
Current through July 1, 2026 ·
Official source
I. Scope of Rules—One Form of Action
II. Commencement of Action; Service of Process, Pleadings, Motions and Orders
- Rule 3 Commencement of an action
- Rule 3.1 Appearance
- Rule 4 Process
- Rule 4.1 Summons: Service on individuals
- Rule 4.2 Summons: Service upon infant or incompetents
- Rule 4.3 Summons: Service upon institutionalized persons
- Rule 4.4 Service upon persons in actions for acts done in this state or having an effect in this state
- Rule 4.5 Summons: Service upon resident who cannot be found or served within the state
- Rule 4.6 Service upon organizations
- Rule 4.7 Summons: Service upon agent named by statute or agreement
- Rule 4.8 Summons: Service of pleadings or summons on Attorney General
- Rule 4.9 Summons: In rem actions
- Rule 4.10 Summons: Service upon Secretary of State or other governmental agent
- Rule 4.11 Summons: Registered or certified mail
- Rule 4.12 Summons: Service by sheriff or other officer
- Rule 4.13 Summons: Service by publication
- Rule 4.14 Service Under Special Order of Court
- Rule 4.15 Summons: Proof of Service—Return—Amendments—Defects
- Rule 4.16 Summons: Duties of persons to aid in service
- Rule 4.17 Summons: Certain proceedings excepted
- Rule 5 Service and Filing of Pleadings, Documents, and Other Papers
- Rule 6 Time
III. Pleadings and Motions
- Rule 7 Pleadings and motions
- Rule 8 General rules of pleading
- Rule 9 Pleading special matters
- Rule 9.1 Pleading and proof of contributory negligence, assumed risk, res ipsa loquitur, consideration, bona fide purchaser, matters of judicial notice—Answer of distraint
- Rule 9.2 Pleading and proof of written instruments
- Rule 10 Form of pleadings, motions, memoranda, and briefs
- Rule 11 Signing and verification of pleadings
- Rule 12 Defenses, objections, and motions on the pleadings
- Rule 13 Counterclaim and cross-claim
- Rule 14 Third-party practice
- Rule 15 Amended and supplemental pleadings
- Rule 16 Pre-trial procedure: Formulating issues
IV. Parties
- Rule 17 Parties plaintiff and defendant—Capacity
- Rule 17.1 Parties: State as party—Attorney general
- Rule 18 Joinder of claims and remedies
- Rule 19 Joinder of person needed for just adjudication
- Rule 20 Permissive joinder of parties
- Rule 21 Misjoinder and non-joinder of parties; venue and jurisdiction over the subject-matter
- Rule 22 Interpleader
- Rule 23 Class actions
- Rule 23.1 Derivative actions by shareholders
- Rule 23.2 Actions relating to unincorporated associations
- Rule 24 Intervention
- Rule 25 Substitution of parties
V. Depositions and Discovery
- Rule 26 General provisions governing discovery
- Rule 27 Depositions before action or pending appeal
- Rule 28 Persons before whom depositions may be taken; discovery across state lines; before administrative agencies; and after judgment
- Rule 29 Stipulations regarding discovery procedure
- Rule 30 Depositions Upon Oral Examination
- Rule 31 Deposition of witnesses upon written questions
- Rule 32 Use of depositions in court proceedings
- Rule 33 Interrogatories to Parties
- Rule 34 Production of documents, electronically stored information, and things and entry upon land for inspection and other purposes
- Rule 35 Physical and mental examination of persons
- Rule 36 Requests for admission
- Rule 37 Failure to make or cooperate in discovery: Sanctions
VI. Trials
- Rule 38 Jury Trial of Right
- Rule 39 Trial by jury or by the court
- Rule 40 Assignment of cases for trial
- Rule 41 Dismissal of actions
- Rule 42 Consolidation--Separate trials
- Rule 43 Evidence
- Rule 44 Proof of official record
- Rule 45 Subpoena
- Rule 46 Exceptions unnecessary
- Rule 47 Jurors and peremptory challenges
- Rule 48 Juries of less than six--Majority verdict
- Rule 49 Special verdicts and interrogatories
- Rule 50 Judgment on the Evidence (Directed Verdict)
- Rule 51 Instructions to jury: Objections, requests: Submission in stages
- Rule 52 Findings by the Court
- Rule 53 Court-appointed Neutrals
- Rule 53.1 Failure to rule on motion
- Rule 53.2 Time for holding issue under advisement; delay of entering a judgment
- Rule 53.3 Motion to correct error: time limitation for ruling
- Rule 53.4 Repetitive motions and motions to reconsider; time for holding under advisement; automatic denial
- Rule 53.5 [Vacated] Vacated
VII. Judgment
- Rule 54 Judgment; Costs
- Rule 55 Default
- Rule 56 Summary judgment
- Rule 57 Declaratory judgments
- Rule 58 Entry and content of judgment
- Rule 59 Motion to correct error
- Rule 60 Relief from judgment or order
- Rule 60.5 Mandate of funds
- Rule 61 Harmless error
- Rule 62 Stay of proceedings to enforce a judgment
- Rule 63 Disability and unavailability of a judge
- Rule 63.1 Lis pendens notice of proceedings avoiding judgments and circumstances tolling and extending statutes of limitations; assignments and discharges in lis pendens and judgment dockets; lis pendens notices in cases involving interest in personal property
VIII. Provisional and Final Remedies and Special Proceedings
- Rule 64 Seizure of person or property
- Rule 65 Injunctions
- Rule 65.1 Security: Proceedings against sureties
- Rule 66 Receivers, assignees for the benefit of creditors and statutory and other liquidators; claims against such officers
- Rule 67 Deposit in court; payment of judgment
- Rule 68 Offer of judgment
- Rule 69 Execution, proceedings supplemental to execution, foreclosure sales
- Rule 70 Judgment for specific acts; vesting title; recordation
- Rule 71 Process in behalf of and against persons not parties
IX. Trial Courts and Clerks
X. Venue, Change of Venue, Change of Judge
- Rule 75 Venue requirements
- Rule 76 Change of venue or judge in civil actions
- Rule 77 Court records
- Rule 78 Jurisdiction pending change from county
- Rule 79 Special judge selection: circuit, superior, and probate courts
- Rule 79.1 Special judge selection: city, town, and Marion county small claims courts
XI. General Provisions
- Rule 80 Procedure for Amending Rules
- Rule 81 Local court rules
- Rule 81.1 Procedures for Cases Involving Family or Household Members
- Rule 82 Forms
- Rule 83 Definitions
- Rule 84 [Vacated] Vacated
- Rule 85 [Vacated] Vacated
- Rule 86 General electronic filing and electronic service
- Rule 87 Electronic Filing
- Rule 88 Court and Clerk Electronic Filing Review
Indiana's Rules of Trial Procedure run 1 through 88, including decimal-numbered rules inserted after their nearest whole number. Three are Vacated, with no rule text on record: Rule 53.5, Rule 84, and Rule 85. All three are shown below for completeness, labeled with the source's own status and vacatur date.