Cal. Civ. Code § 32-31-9-12
Termination of rental agreements by protected individuals; written notices; liability
Operative Text
Sec. 12. (a) A protected individual who is a tenant may terminate the protected individual's rights and obligations under a rental agreement by providing the landlord with a written notice of termination in compliance with this section. (b) A protected individual must give written notice of termination under this section to the landlord at least thirty (30) days before the termination date stated in the notice. (c) The written notice required by this section must include: (1) a copy of: (A) a civil order for protection issued or recognized by a court under IC 34-26-5 that restrains a perpetrator from contact with the protected individual; or (B) a criminal no contact order that restrains a perpetrator from contact with the protected individual; and (2) if the protected individual is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, a copy of a safety plan, which must satisfy the following: (A) The plan must be dated not more than thirty (30) days before the date on which the protected individual provides the written notice to the landlord under this section. (B) The plan must be provided by an accredited domestic violence or sexual assault program. (C) The plan must recommend relocation of the protected individual. (d) If a protected individual's rights and obligations under a rental agreement are terminated under this section, the protected individual is liable for the rent and other expenses due under the rental agreement: (1) prorated to the effective date of the termination; and (2) payable at the time when payment of rent would have been required under the rental agreement. A protected individual whose rights and obligations under a rental agreement are terminated under this section is not liable for any other rent or fees that would be due only because of the early termination of the protected individual's rights and obligations under the rental agreement. If a protected individual terminates the rental agreement at least fourteen (14) days before the protected individual would first have the right to occupy the dwelling unit under the lease, the individual is not subject to any damages or penalties. (e) Notwithstanding section 13 of this chapter, a protected individual is entitled to deposits, returns, and other refunds as if the tenancy terminated by expiring under the terms of the rental agreement.
Indiana Code § 32-31-9-12 allows a 'protected individual' — generally someone subject to domestic violence, sexual assault, or a similar threat — to end a rental agreement early without the usual financial penalties for breaking a lease. To do so, the tenant must give the landlord written notice at least 30 days before the intended termination date and include qualifying documentation, such as a protective order or a recent safety plan from an accredited program. Once properly terminated, the tenant owes only rent prorated through the termination date and is entitled to the return of deposits as though the lease had expired naturally.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 32-31-9-12, operators who receive a written termination notice from a protected individual must verify that the notice includes the required documentation — either a civil protective order or criminal no-contact order, and, for domestic violence or sexual assault victims, a dated safety plan from an accredited program recommending relocation. Compliant landlords treat the tenancy as ending on the stated termination date, collect only prorated rent through that date, and process deposit refunds as they would for a lease that expired on its own terms. Charging early-termination fees or withholding deposits beyond what would be allowed at a normal lease end is inconsistent with what this section permits.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 32-31-9-12 gives protected individuals the right to exit a lease early without owing break-lease penalties, provided the written notice is delivered to the landlord at least 30 days in advance and includes the documentation the statute specifies. Tenants who qualify are entitled to have their security deposit returned under the same rules that apply when a lease expires normally, and they cannot be charged fees solely because the tenancy ended early. Tenants who believe a landlord has improperly withheld a deposit or charged unauthorized fees may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the options available under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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