MyCivilHelp

Marion County · Indiana civil collection cases

Sued by a debt collector? You have about 20 days to answer.

If you do nothing, the collector wins automatically — a default judgment that can lead to wage garnishment. We prepare your official written Answer for a flat $149, ready to file. You stay in control of your case.

Verify every fact yourself on the state's official court website Flat fee. No hourly billing, no percentage of your debt. Document preparation service — not a law firm, and we say so plainly

Is this real?

Don't take our word for it. Check the state's own website.

Every Indiana lawsuit is public record. If we contacted you, we included your case number — something like 49D04-2608-CC-047424. Type it into mycase.in.gov, the Indiana courts' official site, and you'll see the case with your own eyes: who filed it, when, and in which court. No account needed. Here's a 60-second walkthrough.

Why we can reach out before the sheriff reaches you: lawsuits become public the day they're filed, but serving papers takes days or weeks. That head start is time you can use to get your response ready — instead of being surprised at your door.

What happens if you do nothing

Most people never respond. That's how collectors win.

Indiana courts recorded 153,306 civil collection lawsuits in 2025 — about 420 every day.1 Debt buyers file in bulk because most people never file an Answer, and no response means a default judgment: the court can accept the collector's claims as true. With a judgment, Indiana law generally allows garnishment of up to 25% of your take-home pay, and judgments can follow you for years.

Filing an Answer changes the game: the collector — often a company that bought your debt for pennies on the dollar — now has to actually prove its case: that it owns the debt, and that the amount is right.

How it works

The 20-day clock, handled.

  1. Day 0filed

    The lawsuit is filed

    It appears in the public court record the same day. Once you're served with papers, your deadline clock starts: roughly 20 days (23 if served by mail).

  2. Day 1you reach out

    Send us your case number

    Text or email it to us — or photos of the papers you received. We read the actual court record and confirm every detail with you.

  3. Day 2–3we prepare

    We prepare your Appearance & Answer

    Drafted for your specific case — the right court, the right cause number, responses to the claims, and language that requires the collector to prove it owns your debt. Reviewed before it ever reaches you.

  4. Day 3–5you file

    You sign and file

    We include step-by-step filing instructions — by mail or online — plus exactly what to expect next. Filing your Answer costs you nothing at the courthouse.

  5. Day 20deadline

    Deadline beaten

    No default. The collector now has to litigate against a defendant who showed up — and that changes everything about how these cases go.

What you get

One flat fee. A complete, court-ready package.

Indiana Answer Package

$149 flat
  • Appearance form — prepared for your court and cause number
  • Written Answer — responding to the complaint's claims, with demand-for-proof language specific to debt-buyer cases
  • Certificate of service — the part people most often get wrong
  • Plain-English filing instructions — online or by mail, step by step
  • Your 30-day roadmap — what the collector may do next, and what each notice means
  • Real human support by text and email while your case moves

Your options

Compare every route — including the free ones.

OptionWhat it looks like
Do nothingDefault judgment. The collector can pursue garnishment. This is the outcome in most of these cases — it's what their business model counts on.
Hire an attorneyThe strongest option if your case is large or complicated — and we'll tell you when we think it is. Typically hourly or $1,000+ flat.
Online form generatorsCheaper ($0–$67). You answer a questionnaire; software fills a template; reading the court record, getting the details right, and every question after that are on you.
Do it yourself freeAbsolutely possible. Indiana has no official Answer form, so you draft the pleading yourself — indianalegalhelp.org has resources, and legal aid may help if you qualify (they're often at capacity).
MyCivilHelp — $149We read your actual court record, prepare the complete package for your specific case, and answer your questions by text and email until it's filed. You review, sign, and stay in control.

Fair questions

The things people ask us first.

Are you a law firm?

No, and we won't pretend to be. MyCivilHelp is a document preparation service: we prepare paperwork at your direction, explain the process in plain English, and you make the decisions. We don't give legal advice, predict outcomes, or represent you in court. If your situation needs a lawyer, we'll say so.

How did you know I was sued?

Court filings are public record in Indiana. We check newly filed collection cases and reach out because the deadline to respond is short and most people don't find out they have options until it's too late. You can see everything we saw at mycase.in.gov.

What if I haven't been served yet?

Then you're early — that's good. Your deadline generally starts when you're served. Getting your Answer prepared now means when the papers arrive, you're ready to file instead of panicking.

Is $149 really the whole price?

Yes. Flat fee, one case, the whole package listed above. Filing your Answer at the courthouse is free in Indiana. If you genuinely can't manage it at once, ask us about splitting it.

What if I actually owe the money?

Filing an Answer isn't saying you owe nothing — it's requiring the company suing you to prove what it claims. Debt buyers must show they own your specific debt and that the amount is accurate. An Answer also keeps your options open, including settling from a stronger position.

Who is behind MyCivilHelp?

MyCivilHelp is an Indiana-focused service of Tx Civil Help Inc, the team that has helped Texans respond to lawsuits from these same debt buyers. Same playbook, your state's rules.

No default · Not today

The deadline is real. Beating it is simple.

Text us your case number or a photo of your papers, and we'll confirm what we can see in the public record — free, before you pay anything.