Estate Planning for Carroll County, Indiana Property Owners

For most Carroll County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

For a Carroll County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Superior Court. The two tools that keep a Carroll County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Recorder, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Skipping this planning step means the Superior Court decides who receives the property: a simple Indiana probate takes 6+ months and opens with $177 in court filing fees. Indiana also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Carroll County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Carroll County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Recorder during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, an Indiana transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentIC 32-17-14-1 to 32-17-14-32Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathIC 32-17-14-1 to 32-17-14-32Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Carroll County are recorded with the County Recorder at 101 W Main Street, Delphi, IN 46923. Phone: 765-564-2124. Hours: Monday - Tuesday, Thursday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Wednesday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

The County Recorder charges $25 flat, regardless of page count. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $35 to record in Carroll County, which is $25 in recording fees plus the $10 County Auditor's real property endorsement (transfer). A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Carroll County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Carroll County

Address

101 W Main StreetDelphi, IN 46923

Hours

Monday - Tuesday, Thursday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Wednesday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

E-recording

Available via SimplifileE-recording info →
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Flat fee (any length)$25
County Auditor's real property endorsement (transfer)Applies to a TOD deed$10
SDF-1 (State Form 46021) Sales Disclosure Form$20
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

IC 36-2-7-10(c)(1)

Verified September 4, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Carroll County

FirmKokomo, IN

Davis & MacDonald Law Firm

Serves 5 counties

Kokomo firm serving Howard County and surrounding north-central Indiana families with probate and estate administration through the local court. Prepares and files probate petitions and wills, schedules appointment of a personal representative, and handles settling and distributing estates. Longstanding focus on farm, ranch, and agricultural-business estates.

PracticesEstate PlanningAgricultural LawProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
119 N Buckeye StKokomo, IN 46901

FirmLafayette, IN

Truitt Ray Law

Serves 6 counties

Lafayette firm directly across from the Tippecanoe County Courthouse, serving Tippecanoe, White, Carroll, Benton, Clinton and Warren counties for more than 25 years. Handles the financial side of a death for families in probate, plus wills, powers of attorney, healthcare representatives and guardianships. Partner Rod Ray carries the estate and probate work.

PracticesEstate PlanningGuardianshipHealthcare DirectivesPowers Of Attorneyand 2 more

Office
324 Main St, Suite CLafayette, IN 47901

Solo PracticeVincennes, IN

Bouchie Law LLC

Serves the whole state

Vincennes firm led by Knox County native Tanner Bouchie, frequently representing clients in Knox, Daviess, Sullivan, Greene, Pike, and Dubois counties. Handles wills, trusts and estates and guardianship arrangements for loved ones, alongside business formation, real estate, and family law. Clients book appointments online and meet remotely.

PracticesEstate PlanningGuardianshipWills Trusts

Office
P.O. Box 992Vincennes, IN 47591
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmNew Albany, IN

Church, Langdon, Lopp, Banet Law

Serves the whole state

New Albany firm serving Floyd County and southern Indiana from offices in New Albany, Corydon, and Salem. Handles supervised and unsupervised estate administration, small-estate and intestate matters, creditor claims and asset distribution, and estate and trust litigation. Gary Banet also takes guardianships, elder law, and special-needs planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationElder Lawand 6 more

Office
318 Pearl St, Suite 200New Albany, IN 47150

FirmBloomington, IN

Clendening Johnson & Bohrer, P.C.

Serves the whole state

Bloomington firm guiding Monroe County and south-central Indiana families through Indiana's probate process. The team marshals and inventories assets, discharges debts, and distributes the estate to heirs, and also handles trust administration, guardianships, and will contest litigation. Partner James F. Bohrer is Board Certified as a Trust and Estate Lawyer by the Indiana State Bar Association.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationGuardianshipProbate Administration

Office
409 W Patterson Dr, Suite 205Bloomington, IN 47403

Solo PracticeBrownsburg, IN

Gordon & Gordon, P.C.

Serves the whole state

Brownsburg home office in Hendricks County, serving Avon, Danville, Plainfield, and central Indiana. Brian S. Gordon, an attorney and accountant, handles wills, trusts, and probate representation along with powers of attorney and estate tax return filing, preparing the returns in-house.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawPowers Of AttorneyProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
9850 N County Road 950 EBrownsburg, IN 46112
See all 16 firms serving Carroll County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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Legal Sources

Data sourced from Indiana statutes and official state code. How we research.

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