St. Joseph County, Indiana: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is St. Joseph Circuit Court, Small Claims in South Bend. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: see the fee table. Claims up to $10,000. Indiana return time: 45 calendar days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,073. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	St. Joseph Circuit Court, Small Claims
City	South Bend
Address	101 South Main Street, South Bend, IN 46601
Phone	574-235-9635 (listed in the state court directory 2026-09-21; not confirmed by the court)
County filing fee	$87 if e-filed or $97 on paper, plus $10 for each additional defendant; sheriff service is $28.
E-filing	Yes, see filing page
Small claims limit	$10,000 (statewide small claims only)
State deposit return deadline	45 calendar days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession. Applies when: tenant has supplied a written mailing address; clock does not run for landlord liability until address is provided in writing.
Time limit to sue	6 years
Deposit statute	Ind. Code §§ 32-31-3-12 to 32-31-3-15

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $10,000 (statewide small claims only).

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Details of the return rules

Indiana statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
tenant has supplied a written mailing address; clock does not run for landlord liability until address is provided in writing	45 days	after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession

Indiana return rule: 45 calendar days (tenant has supplied a written mailing address; clock does not run for landlord liability until address is provided in writing). Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: St. Joseph Circuit Court, Small Claims. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of St. Joseph County.
The Indiana business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Indiana Secretary of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

Listed filing or service charges: $87 if e-filed or $97 on paper, plus $10 for each additional defendant; sheriff service is $28.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in St. Joseph County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$856	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
2	$1,073	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
3	$1,158	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
4	$1,252	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does St. Joseph County compare with other Indiana counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,073: rank 12 of 92 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 31.2% of households rent in St. Joseph County.

St. Joseph County two-bedroom rent $1,073, rank 12 of 92 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Johnson County	$1,098
Clark County	$1,080
St. Joseph County	$1,073
Hancock County	$1,064
Floyd County	$1,037
Kosciusko County	$1,028

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 92 of 92 listed counties. Census source.

Places in St. Joseph County

Indian Village
Lakeville
Mishawaka
New Carlisle
North Liberty
Osceola
Roseland
South Bend
Walkerton

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Indiana Legal Services: free civil legal help for eligible low-income Hoosiers in every Indiana county, including eviction defense and help correcting substandard living conditions such as leaks, faulty plumbing, or vermin
Indianapolis Legal Aid Society: free civil legal help for eligible low-income clients, including housing and landlord-tenant cases such as illegal evictions and security-deposit recovery

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in St. Joseph County?

County filing fee: $87 if e-filed or $97 on paper, plus $10 for each additional defendant; sheriff service is $28..

Where do I file a deposit claim in St. Joseph County?

St. Joseph Circuit Court, Small Claims is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.