Estate Planning for Owen County, Indiana Property Owners

For most Owen 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 Owen 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 Owen 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 Owen County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Owen 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 Owen County are recorded with the County Recorder, led by County Recorder Loretta Foster, at 60 S Main Street, Room 201, Spencer, IN 47460. Phone: 812-829-5013. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (closed 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM).

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

Owen County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Owen County · County Recorder · Loretta Foster

Address

60 S Main Street, Room 201Spencer, IN 47460

Fax

812-829-5014

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (closed 12:00 PM - 1:00 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 Owen County

FirmColumbus, IN

Beck Rocker, LLC

Since 1985 · Serves 8 counties

Columbus firm serving Bartholomew County and south-central Indiana, started in 1985. Estate and trust administration work covers probate and trust administration, intestate estates where no will can be found, and litigation over the administration of an estate. Jeff Rocker expanded the firm's estate planning practice after joining in 2005.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTax PlanningProbate Administration

Office
432 Washington StColumbus, IN 47201
Free consultation

Solo PracticeSpencer, IN

Caroline Riley, Attorney at Law

Serves 1 county

Solo practice in Spencer serving Owen County, focused on estate planning and estate administration. Caroline Riley handles unsupervised and supervised estates and small estate affidavits, plus wills, trusts, advance health care directives, powers of attorney and real estate deeds; she does not take family-law or criminal matters.

PracticesEstate PlanningHealthcare DirectivesPowers Of AttorneyProbate Administrationand 2 more

Office
267 S Main StSpencer, IN 47460

FirmSpencer, IN

Hickam & Lorenz, P.C.

Serves 1 county

Spencer firm handling Owen County probate and estate administration, practising at 10 South Main Street since 1878. Attorney Jack R. Woodruff carries the estate planning and probate practice, covering supervised and unsupervised estates and trusts; the firm also files guardianships.

PracticesEstate PlanningGuardianshipProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
10 S Main StSpencer, IN 47460

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

FirmMadison, IN

West Sixth Law, LLP

Since 1976 · Serves 6 counties

Madison firm (One W. 6th Street, Jefferson County), formerly Alcorn Sage Schwartz & Magrath, serving southeast Indiana and northern Kentucky since 1976. Estate work covers wills, trusts, healthcare directives, elder-care planning, probate planning and estate tax concerns. By-appointment offices in Columbus, Lawrenceburg and Louisville, Kentucky.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawTax PlanningHealthcare Directivesand 2 more

Office
1 West 6th StMadison, IN 47250
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 Owen 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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Data sourced from Indiana statutes and official state code. How we research.

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