Estate Planning for Shelby County, Indiana Property Owners

For most Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Shelby 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 Shelby County are recorded with the County Recorder, led by County Recorder Jessica Pile, at 25 W Polk Street, Room 101, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Phone: 317-392-6370. Hours: Monday - Thursday, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed Friday).

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

Shelby County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Shelby County · County Recorder · Jessica Pile

Address

25 W Polk Street, Room 101Shelbyville, IN 46176

Hours

Monday - Thursday, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed Friday)

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 Shelby County

FirmShelbyville, IN

DePrez, Johnson, Brant & Eads, P.A.

Serves 1 county

Shelbyville firm across the street from the Shelby County Courthouse, serving central Indiana for more than 160 years. Curt Johnson and Andrew M. Eads handle estate administration, guardianships, and Medicaid planning alongside wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianshipMedicaid Planningand 4 more

Office
416 S Harrison StShelbyville, IN 46176
Free consultation

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

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

FirmAnderson, IN

Beeman Heifner Benge P.A.

Serves 3 counties

Anderson firm serving Madison County and central Indiana, with a second office on Crosspoint Blvd in Indianapolis. Attorney Thomas M. Beeman, a Board Certified Indiana Trust and Estate Lawyer, handles estate administration and estate litigation, representing parties in contested estate and trust disputes. Estate practice sits alongside the firm's criminal-defense and personal-injury work.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationHealthcare DirectivesPowers Of Attorneyand 2 more

Office
3737 S Scatterfield Rd, Suite 200Anderson, IN 46013
Free consultation

FirmTipton, IN

Church Church Hittle and Antrim

Since 1880 · Serves 5 counties

Central Indiana firm established in 1880, with a Tipton office and six more in Noblesville, Fishers, Westfield, Zionsville, Crown Point, and Fort Wayne. Its Trust and Probate Administration group sees estates through the court process, pays taxes and debts, and navigates Indiana intestate succession where there is no valid will. Sarah J. Randall and Jack G. Hittle lead the estate work.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTax Planningand 3 more

Office
118 S Independence StTipton, IN 46072

FirmMuncie, IN

Dennis, Wenger & Abrell, P.C.

Since 1980 · Serves 3 counties

Muncie firm serving Delaware County and east-central Indiana, founded in 1980, with a second office in Carmel. Partners Tara M. Smalstig and David J. Karnes handle probate and estate administration for personal representatives, covering court filings, estate property and distributions, plus probate litigation and will contests.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationGuardianshipProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
324 W Jackson StMuncie, IN 47305
See all 23 firms serving Shelby 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.