Estate Planning for Howard County, Indiana Property Owners

For most Howard 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.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Howard County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Circuit Court. The two tools that keep a Howard 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 Circuit 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 Howard County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Howard 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 Oct 18, 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 Oct 18, 2026View source.

Create a Indiana TOD deed →Howard County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Howard County are recorded with the County Recorder at 220 North Main Street, Room 330, Kokomo, IN 46901. Phone: 1-765-456-2210. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.

The County Recorder charges $25 flat, regardless of page count. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $35 to record in Howard County, which is $25 in recording fees plus the $10 County Auditor's real property endorsement (transfer). No transfer tax applies to a transfer on death deed.

Howard County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Howard County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM

Office

220 North Main Street, Room 330, Kokomo, IN 46901

Open in Google Maps

Fax

1-765-456-2056

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Howard County

FirmKokomo, IN

Alter & Rockey, Associates at Law

Serves 1 county

Kokomo firm handling probate matters in Howard County. Work covers court-supervised administration and asset distribution, estate applications of all sizes, will contests, and creditor-claim defense, guiding executors through their fiduciary obligations. Attorneys Justin Alter and Brooke Rockey also handle Medicaid planning for long-term care.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawMedicaid PlanningWills Trusts

Office
2704 S Goyer RdKokomo, IN 46902

FirmKokomo, IN

Bayliff, Harrigan, Cord, Maugans & Cox, P.C.

Since 1966 · Serves 1 county

Kokomo firm serving Howard County, established in 1966. Probate work covers administering the estate and carrying families through the probate process, alongside wills and trusts, Medicaid planning, health care directives, and powers of attorney. Four partners practice alongside the firm's personal injury, real estate, family, and business work.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateMedicaid PlanningHealthcare Directivesand 2 more

Office
319 N Main StKokomo, IN 46901

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 PlanningProbateAgricultural LawWills Trusts

Office
119 N Buckeye StKokomo, IN 46901

FirmKokomo, IN

Kuntz Law Firm

Since 1992 · Serves 5 counties

Kokomo firm (Howard County) run by Mark E. and Cameron P. Kuntz, serving central Indiana. Represents and guides executors through probate — creditor notification, debt settlement, asset distribution, and estate finalization — alongside will drafting and estate planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateHealthcare DirectivesPowers Of AttorneyWills Trusts

Office
1542 S Dixon Rd, Suite AKokomo, IN 46902
Free consultation

FirmKokomo, IN

McIntyre & O'Keefe, LLP

Serves 1 county

Kokomo firm handling Howard County estate work, including probate estate administration, small-estate administration, and surviving-spouse administration. Attorneys James B. McIntyre and Kevin W. O'Keefe also handle trust administration, estate planning, and guardianships.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more

Office
2713 Rockford LnKokomo, IN 46902

FirmMarion, IN

Glickfield Law Office, LLC

Serves 10 counties

Marion firm in Grant County handling probate, guardianships, and wills and estate planning, also taking cases in Allen, Blackford, Delaware, Howard, Huntington, Madison, Tipton, Wabash, and Wells counties. Guides families through the probate process and creditor claims after a death. Offers a free initial consultation on estate matters.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipWills Trusts

Office
605 S Washington StMarion, IN 46953
Free consultation
See all 22 firms serving Howard 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.

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Indiana

Free forms for planning your estate in Indiana: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Indiana.

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Last Will and Testament

In Indiana, a will is signed before 2IC 29-1-5-2; IC 29-1-5-3Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyIC 29-1-5-2; IC 29-1-5-3Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

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Codicil to a Will

In Indiana, a codicil is signed before 2IC 29-1-5-2; IC 29-1-5-3Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyIC 29-1-1-3(a)(38); IC 29-1-5-3.1Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

Indiana allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2IC § 16-36-7-30 (sample forms; not mandatory)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.

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Free

HIPAA Release

In Indiana, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related information and mental health recordsIC 16-41-8-1(b), (b)(2) (Ind. Code Title 16, Art. 41, Ch. 8); IC 16-39-2-3, IC 16-39-2-5, IC 16-39-2-9(a)(2) (Ind. Code Title 16, Art. 39, Ch. 2)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases them.

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Financial Power of Attorney

Indiana treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultIC 30-5-2-2, IC 30-5-2-6, IC 30-5-3-2, IC 30-5-3-3, IC 30-5-3-6, IC 30-5-4-1, IC 30-5-4-1.3, IC 30-5-4-1.5, IC 30-5-4-1.7, IC 30-5-4-2, IC 30-5-5-14.5, IC 30-5-6-1, IC 30-5-8-2, IC 30-5-8-7, IC 30-5-8-8, IC 30-5-9-9, IC 30-5-10-3, IC 30-5-11-4, IC 30-5-11-4.5Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before 2IC 30-5-2-2, IC 30-5-2-6, IC 30-5-3-2, IC 30-5-3-3, IC 30-5-3-6, IC 30-5-4-1, IC 30-5-4-1.3, IC 30-5-4-1.5, IC 30-5-4-1.7, IC 30-5-4-2, IC 30-5-5-14.5, IC 30-5-6-1, IC 30-5-8-2, IC 30-5-8-7, IC 30-5-8-8, IC 30-5-9-9, IC 30-5-10-3, IC 30-5-11-4, IC 30-5-11-4.5Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.

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Transfer on Death Deed

In Indiana, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryIC 32-17-14-1 to 32-17-14-32Verified Oct 18, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathIC 32-17-14-1 to 32-17-14-32Verified Oct 18, 2026View source. Indiana does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.

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Vehicle Transfer on Death

Indiana allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle titleIC 9-17-3-9 (Transfer on death conveyance; requirements — vehicle-specific); IC 32-17-14 (Transfer on Death Property Act), applied to vehicles by IC 32-17-14-2(e) "Subject to IC 9-17-3-9(g)"Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, filed through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

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Living Will

In Indiana, the living will is the Living Will DeclarationInd. Code ch. 16-36-4 (§§ 16-36-4-0.1 to 16-36-4-21)Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a document of its own, apart from the healthcare power of attorney.

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Tools for Planning Your Estate in Indiana

Free tools for planning your estate in Indiana: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Indiana and read its answer.

How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

In Indiana, a will is signed before 2IC 29-1-5-2; IC 29-1-5-3Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredIC 29-1-5-2; IC 29-1-5-3Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

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Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

Indiana recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedIC 29-1-5-5Verified Oct 18, 2026View source; a will signed in Indiana itself needs 2IC 29-1-5-2; IC 29-1-5-3Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredIC 29-1-5-2; IC 29-1-5-3Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

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Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?

In Indiana, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 1.8%Modeled estimate under IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%Modeled estimate under IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.

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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Indiana runs $2,720Estimate: 10 hours at $272, Clio's Indiana Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $4,080Estimate: 15 hours at $272, Clio's Indiana Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

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How Much Does a Will Cost?

An attorney-prepared will in Indiana runs $945Estimate: 3 hours at $315, Clio's Indiana Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $1,890Estimate: 6 hours at $315, Clio's Indiana Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $24,871IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?

Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.

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How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?

In Indiana, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will or a separate signed writingInd. Code §§ 29-3-5-4(a)(2)–(a)(4), 29-3-5-5(a)(2), (a)(6); 29-3-3-7; 30-5-3-4(b)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18Ind. Code § 1-1-4-5(a)(1), (a)(8)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

Probate in Indiana takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 1.8%Modeled estimate under IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%Modeled estimate under IC 29-1-10-13 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

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