All Laws Decoded

Eviction in Lake County (Gary, Hammond), Indiana

Where eviction cases are filed in Lake County (Gary, Hammond), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.

Quick facts: eviction in Lake County (Gary, Hammond)

Eviction court
Lake Superior Court, County Division (Rooms 1-4) — Superior court - County Division small claims dockets Court page
Filing fee
$97 if served by certified mail or $125 if served by the sheriff, plus $10 for each defendant after the first (Room 2 posted fees); $87 if e-filed Lake Superior Court County Division Room 2 - Small Claims page; Indiana Trial Court Fee Manual
Notice before filing (state law)
Not less than 10 days' notice to pay or vacate, unless the parties agreed otherwise or the tenant pays in full within the notice period. Indiana rules
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
$1,317/month HUD
Renter households
55,274 (28% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024

Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-23

Where eviction cases are filed in Lake County (Gary, Hammond)

Eviction cases in Lake County (Gary, Hammond) are heard by the Lake Superior Court, County Division (Rooms 1-4) (Superior court - County Division small claims dockets).

Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records

Under Lake County local rules (https://www.in.gov/courts/files/lake-local-rules.pdf), small claims evictions are filed only in the County Division; evictions on the civil (plenary) docket may be filed in the court the filer chooses. Room 2 hears evictions, including emergency possessory actions, where rent due at filing is $6,000 or less; eviction cases appear on its hearing list as 'Eviction Hearing'. Your Notice of Claim shows the room, date and time of your hearing.

How much it costs to file an eviction in Lake County (Gary, Hammond)

$97 if served by certified mail or $125 if served by the sheriff, plus $10 for each defendant after the first (Room 2 posted fees); $87 if e-filed

The e-filing amount is from the statewide Indiana Trial Court Fee Manual (https://www.in.gov/courts/iocs/files/courtmgmt-pubs-trial-court-fee-manual.pdf). Cannot afford fees: ask the court to waive pre-payment.

Source: Lake Superior Court County Division Room 2 - Small Claims page; Indiana Trial Court Fee Manual

The Indiana eviction process

Indiana state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Lake County (Gary, Hammond):

  1. Serve notice: 10-day notice to pay or vacate for nonpayment, or the applicable termination notice for periodic tenancies
  2. File a complaint for possession (and damages) in a court with jurisdiction, often the small claims docket
  3. Optional: file an affidavit for immediate possession; the court issues an order to show cause with a hearing no earlier than 5 business days after service
  4. Possession hearing; judgment for possession
  5. Separate damages hearing may follow for unpaid rent and damages
  6. Order/writ of possession executed by sheriff or other executing officer

Full Indiana eviction rules with sources →

370 eviction (EV) cases filed in County Division Room 2 in calendar year 2022 (one of four County Division rooms) Source

Rent in Lake County (Gary, Hammond)

HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Gary, IN HUD Metro FMR Area (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):

Studio$959
1 bedroom$1,082
2 bedrooms$1,317
3 bedrooms$1,612
4 bedrooms$1,744

Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation

Median gross rent in Lake County (Gary, Hammond): $1,131/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

HUD designates this area for Small Area FMRs (ZIP-code level) for Housing Choice Vouchers; figures shown are the metro-wide FY2026 FMRs.

County tenant ordinance

No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified. Indiana law bars local units from requiring landlords to accept Section 8 or similar housing vouchers (IC 36-1-3-8.5, https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_36/Article_1/Chapter_3.pdf) and generally preempts local regulation of rents, security deposits, screening, lease terms and landlord fees (IC 32-31-1-20, https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_32/Article_31/Chapter_1.pdf).

Eviction help in Lake County (Gary, Hammond)

Free legal help

Other Indiana counties

Related

Frequently asked questions

Where do I file an eviction in Lake County (Gary, Hammond)?
Eviction cases in Lake County (Gary, Hammond) are filed with the Lake Superior Court, County Division (Rooms 1-4).
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Lake County (Gary, Hammond)?
$97 if served by certified mail or $125 if served by the sheriff, plus $10 for each defendant after the first (Room 2 posted fees); $87 if e-filed.
Where can I get help with an eviction in Lake County (Gary, Hammond)?
Indiana Legal Services.
What is the fair market rent in Lake County (Gary, Hammond)?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit is $1,317 per month (1-bedroom: $1,082).

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.