Estate Planning for Ripley County, Indiana Property Owners

For most Ripley 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 Ripley 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 Ripley 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 Ripley County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Ripley 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 Ripley County are recorded with the County Recorder at 102 W First North Street, Versailles, IN 47042. Phone: 812-689-5808. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 404, Versailles, IN 47042.

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

Ripley County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Ripley County

Address

102 W First North StreetVersailles, IN 47042Mailing: PO Box 404, Versailles, IN 47042

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 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 Ripley County

FirmLawrenceburg, IN

Miller Flannery Law LLC

Since 2016 · Serves 3 counties

Dearborn County firm founded in 2016 by siblings Alan Miller and Adrienne Flannery, serving Lawrenceburg and southeast Indiana. The practice guides executors and families through estate and probate administration and Medicaid planning, plus wills, trusts, and business-succession planning. Attorney Flannery focuses on estate and long-term-care planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planningand 6 more

Office
318 Walnut StLawrenceburg, IN 47025
Free consultation

FirmGreensburg, IN

Rolfes, Garvey, Walker, & Robbins

Serves 6 counties

Greensburg firm in Decatur County, also serving Bartholomew, Franklin, Ripley, Rush and Shelby counties. Owner Bill Robbins has over 50 years in wills, trusts, estates, probate and property law, and the firm handles probate administration, family-farm preservation, special-needs planning and guardianships.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planningand 2 more

Office
132 E Washington StGreensburg, IN 47240
Free consultation

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

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
See all 17 firms serving Ripley 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.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Legal Sources

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

Indiana Estate Planning Articles

Estate planning articles for Indiana.