Estate Planning for LaPorte County, Indiana Property Owners

For most LaPorte 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 LaPorte 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 LaPorte 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 LaPorte County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives LaPorte 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 →LaPorte County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for LaPorte County are recorded with the County Recorder at 555 Michigan Avenue, Suite 201, LaPorte, IN 46350. Phone: 1-219-326-6808. 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 LaPorte 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.

LaPorte County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile and CSC.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

LaPorte County

Hours

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

Office

555 Michigan Avenue, Suite 201, LaPorte, IN 46350

Open in Google Maps

Fees

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 FormNot required for a TOD deed$20
Transfer tax on a TOD deedNo transfer tax applies to TOD deeds

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

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving LaPorte County

Solo PracticeMichigan City, IN

Beckman Law, LLC

Since 2008 · Serves 1 county

Michigan City practice serving LaPorte County and northwest Indiana, where attorney Bethany Beckman probates estates and transfers property by small estate affidavit when a formal probate is unnecessary. Estate work sits alongside her family law, traffic and criminal, and personal injury practice. Opened in 2008 as Beckman & Boersma, LLP.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateHealthcare DirectivesPowers Of AttorneyWills Trusts

Office
1411 S Woodland Ave, Suite BMichigan City, IN 46360
Virtual consultations

FirmValparaiso, IN

Douglas, Koeppen & Krsak

Since 1930 · Serves 3 counties

Valparaiso firm serving Porter, Lake, and LaPorte counties in northwest Indiana, in practice since 1930. Handles probating a will, distribution of assets, transfer of titles, estate and trust administration, and Date of Death Affidavits, plus guardianships and conservatorships. R. Bradley Koeppen practices in probate, real estate, and estate planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipand 2 more

Office
14 Indiana Ave, Suite 200Valparaiso, IN 46383

Solo PracticeMichigan City, IN

Guy DiMartino Law

Serves 2 counties

Michigan City firm serving LaPorte County and northwest Indiana from offices in Michigan City and Valparaiso. Handles probate administration, will contests, and trust contests, plus guardianships and Medicaid planning. Attorney Guy DiMartino has been admitted in Indiana since 1999.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 6 more

Office
1000 Washington StMichigan City, IN 46360

FirmLaPorte, IN

Howes & Howes Law Firm

Since 1979 · Serves 3 counties

LaPorte firm whose service area includes Starke County (Knox, Hamlet, North Judson) along with LaPorte and Porter counties. Its probate practice covers admitting wills, paying the decedent's debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets under the will or Indiana law, plus guardianships. Offers a complimentary first consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipPowers Of AttorneyWills Trusts

Office
717 Indiana AveLaPorte, IN 46350
Free consultation

FirmSchererville, IN

Kelly Law Offices LLC

Serves 7 counties

Northwest Indiana firm based in Schererville (Lake County), with a second office in South Bend, handling estate administration after a death as well as planning. Represents clients in contested matters including will contests and breach-of-fiduciary-duty disputes, and employs in-house accountants for estate tax planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTax PlanningWills Trusts

Office
1619 Junction AveSchererville, IN 46375
Free consultation

FirmChesterton, IN

Smith Legal Group, LLC

Serves 3 counties

Chesterton firm in Porter County serving northwest Indiana. Its estate and trust administration work covers collecting, appraising and preserving assets, sorting out the claims and liabilities to be paid, minimizing taxes and administrative costs, and preparing and filing the required pleadings, reports and returns. Consultations are a flat $300 for up to an hour.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipand 3 more

Office
802 Wabash Ave, Suite 100Chesterton, IN 46304
See all 22 firms serving LaPorte 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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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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