terminally ill landlord

Hello, I’m trying to help my sister…she lives in indianapolis…but rents a house in Hanover, Indiana…I maintain the property and try to collect the rent for her on her rental house…

Have a renter that i have tried to evict on her behalf…she has cancer and can’t make the drive down here to do it and take care of the property…

too make a long story short…i have gave written notice to the tenants to vacate the property in June….they owe back rent in the amount of $800.00….tried to file small claims against them 30 days later…(this is a month to month lease)  lady at courthouse said i couldn’t do this…my sister would have too or hire a lawyer to take care of this matter….makes no sense…i said i was her power of attorney and was able to do this on my sister’s behalf…no no have to hire a lawyer she said….

is this right????