Estate Planning

Protect what you’ve built and give your family clear direction. From wills and trusts to probate, asset protection, and elder law, we help Indianapolis families make smart decisions now — so a death or incapacity never leaves loved ones guessing how to handle what comes next.

Protect Your Family Before They Need It Most

An estate plan isn't a single document. It's a set of legal structures — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, beneficiary designations — built to work together so your family never has to guess what you wanted or fight over what you left behind.

Each of the services below handles a specific piece of that plan. How they fit together depends on your assets, your family, and what you're trying to protect. That's where the conversation starts.

Trusts

Gain control over how and when your assets transfer to beneficiaries. Trusts help Indianapolis families avoid probate, reduce taxes, and protect wealth across generations.

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Probate

Navigate Indiana's probate process efficiently, meet court deadlines, and settle your loved one's estate with experienced legal guidance from start to close.

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Elder Law

Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, guardianship, and special needs planning for aging adults and their families. Proper planning now protects your family from the consequences of a health cri

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Frequently Asked Questions

Plain-English answers to the questions Indiana families ask us most.

Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?

It depends on your assets, your goals, and how private you want the process to be. A will sends your estate through Indiana probate court. A revocable living trust, properly funded, keeps most assets out of probate and off the public record. For estates with real property, business interests, or minor beneficiaries, a trust is usually worth the investment. For simpler estates under Indiana’s small-estate threshold, a well-drafted will may be enough.

What happens if I die without an estate plan in Indiana?

Indiana’s intestacy statute (IC § 29-1-2) decides who inherits. A married person with children from a prior relationship, for example, loses half to those children regardless of intent. The court appoints your children’s guardian and the administrator of your estate. None of it is private, and none of it reflects what you would have chosen.

How often should I update my estate plan?

Review it every three to five years and after any major change: marriage, divorce, a new child or grandchild, a death in the family, a move to or from Indiana, a business sale or purchase, or a significant shift in assets. We schedule a no-charge review with every estate planning client to catch these.

Can I avoid probate entirely?

Often, yes. A funded revocable living trust, Transfer-on-Death deeds (IC § 32-17-14), and properly designated beneficiaries can keep most assets out of court. Even with good planning, a pour-over will typically accompanies the trust to catch anything left out. The goal isn’t always zero probate — it’s predictable probate.

What is a durable power of attorney, and why does every adult need one?

A durable power of attorney under IC § 30-5 lets someone you trust manage your finances if you can’t — after an accident, a stroke, or cognitive decline. Without one, your family petitions an Indiana court for guardianship: slower, more expensive, and public. It’s the most underused document in estate planning.

How much does estate planning cost?

We quote a flat fee after the initial consultation so there are no surprises. A straightforward will-based plan costs less than a trust-based plan with business or real estate components. We tell you what your situation needs — not an inflated package.

What’s the difference between a revocable and an irrevocable trust?

A revocable trust can be changed or dissolved at any time; you keep control as trustee during your lifetime, and it functions primarily to avoid probate. An irrevocable trust is much harder to change — but in exchange, it can provide asset protection, estate-tax reduction, and Medicaid planning advantages. Each fits a different goal, and we recommend only what fits yours.

Does Indiana have an estate tax?

No. Indiana eliminated its inheritance tax in 2013. But federal estate tax still applies to estates above $13.99 million (2025). For most families, the bigger risks are probate costs, family disputes, and gaps in incapacity planning — all of which a properly structured estate plan prevents.