Estate Planning for Montgomery County, Indiana Property Owners

For most Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Montgomery 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 Montgomery County are recorded with the County Recorder at 1580 Constitution Row, Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Phone: 765-364-6415. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

The County Recorder charges $25 flat, regardless of page count. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $35 to record in Montgomery 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.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Montgomery County

Address

1580 Constitution RowCrawfordsville, IN 47933

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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 Montgomery County

FirmCrawfordsville, IN

Capper Tulley & Reimondo

Since 1907 · Serves 1 county

Crawfordsville firm established in 1907 serving Montgomery County and west-central Indiana. When a loved one dies and an estate is opened, the firm carries the family through estate administration; John S. Capper IV also has 40-plus years in estates, trusts and wills and has litigated numerous will contests and contested trust matters, including farm real estate sold out of estates and trusts.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationGuardianshipAgricultural Lawand 4 more

Office
131 N Green StCrawfordsville, IN 47933

FirmCrawfordsville, IN

Taylor, Minnette, Schneider & Clutter P.C.

Serves 4 counties

Crawfordsville firm (Montgomery County) with additional offices in Covington, Lebanon, and Indianapolis. Handles estate administration after a death and will-contest litigation, plus will and trust drafting, succession planning, estate-tax analysis, charitable giving, and long-term-care planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationElder LawTax Planningand 2 more

Office
105 N Washington StCrawfordsville, IN 47933

FirmGreencastle, IN

Attorney Michael Goss, LLC

Serves 7 counties

Greencastle elder law and estate firm serving Putnam County and west-central Indiana, including Morgan, Owen, Clay, Parke, Montgomery, and Boone counties. Michael and Adam Goss handle probate and trust administration after a death, along with Medicaid crisis planning, long-term care planning, asset protection, and guardianships.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawGuardianshipand 5 more

Office
2100 E State Road 240Greencastle, IN 46135

FirmFort Wayne, IN

Gutwein Law

Serves 4 counties

Fort Wayne office of Gutwein Law, opened when Jeanne E. Longsworth brought her practice to the firm, serving Allen County. Longsworth, an attorney and CPA, concentrates on estate, probate and trust administration alongside estate planning and business succession; the firm also handles trust and estate litigation.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationBusiness SuccessionProbate Administration

Office
7030 Pointe Inverness Way, Suite 330Fort Wayne, IN 46804

FirmValparaiso, IN

Rice & Rice

Since 1972 · Serves 3 counties

Elder-law and estate firm with offices in Valparaiso, Lafayette and Granger, serving Porter, Tippecanoe and St. Joseph counties since 1972. Its trust and estate administration work covers asset inventory and valuation, paying debts, filing estate and income tax returns, and distributing to beneficiaries, and it handles testate and intestate probate and beneficiary disputes.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationElder Lawand 4 more

Office
100 Lincolnway, Suite 1Valparaiso, IN 46383
Free consultation

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
See all 19 firms serving Montgomery 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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