Until 2013, a Hoosier who left $1 million to a close family friend could hand that friend a state tax bill of roughly $100,000. Indiana’s inheritance tax hit unrelated heirs at rates of up to 20%. It’s gone now, repealed for deaths after December 31, 2012, but plenty of older wills in Marion County desk drawers were written around a tax that no longer exists.
That’s one reason to sit down with an estate planning lawyer in Indianapolis, even if you already have a will. The other reasons are simpler: protecting children, avoiding probate, planning for nursing home costs, and making sure the right person can make decisions if you can’t. These five local firms do that work every day.
Indianapolis Estate Planning Law Firms Compared
|
Law Firm |
Key Attorney(s) |
Address |
Phone |
Known For |
|
Frank & Kraft, Attorneys at Law |
Paul A. Kraft, Marvin Frank |
135 N. Pennsylvania Street, Suite 1100, Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
(317) 684-1100 |
Estate-planning-focused firm, charter member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, special needs and pet planning |
|
Norton Estate Planning & Elder Law Firm, LLC |
Jennifer E. Norton |
3750 N. Meridian Street, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46208 |
(317) 572-8696 |
Plan setup, ongoing maintenance, and post-death administration under one roof, Medicaid planning |
|
Dillman & Owen Estate and Elder Law |
Lisa M. Dillman, Bradley M. Owen |
2344 S. Tibbs Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46241 |
(317) 492-9569 |
Long-term care and Medicaid planning, VA-accredited help for veterans, guardianships |
|
Hocker Law, LLC |
Janet Davis Hocker |
6626 E. 75th Street, Suite 410, Indianapolis, IN 46250 |
(317) 743-9722 |
Founded 1993, woman-owned, Spanish-language services, transfer on death deeds, probate |
|
Clark, Quinn, Moses, Scott & Grahn, LLP |
Charles R. Grahn |
320 N. Meridian Street, Suite 1100, Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
(317) 637-1321 |
2026 Tier 2 Indianapolis ranking in Trusts and Estates Litigation, will contests and probate disputes |
1. Frank & Kraft: Planning Is the Whole Practice
Some firms dabble in wills between real estate closings. Frank & Kraft builds its downtown practice around estate planning. Co-founder Paul Kraft is a charter member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and a founding member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, and partner Marvin Frank has been licensed for nearly six decades.
The firm’s menu goes well beyond basic wills. It handles special needs trusts for disabled children, retirement account planning, LGBTQ estate planning, and even pet trusts so a beloved dog isn’t left in limbo.
- Good match for: Revocable living trusts, special needs planning, family-owned business succession
2. Norton Estate Planning: A Plan That Doesn’t Gather Dust
Most estate plans fail quietly. A family signs documents, files them away, and never updates them after a divorce, a new grandchild, or a home sale. Norton Estate Planning & Elder Law Firm is built around fixing that, offering help with setting up a plan, maintaining it over time, and administering it after death.
Clients consistently praise Jennifer Norton and her colleague Michele Malerba for patient, empathetic counseling during hard family conversations.
- Good match for: Families who want ongoing plan reviews, Medicaid eligibility planning, business succession
3. Dillman & Owen: When Long-Term Care Is the Worry
A nursing home stay can drain a lifetime of savings. Lisa Dillman knows that personally. After helping several of her own relatives navigate long-term care, she built her practice around protecting assets and securing Medicaid and Veterans Affairs benefits.
She’s accredited by the VA to assist with veterans’ benefits, chairs the Veterans’ Affairs Committee of the Indiana State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section, and is a registered civil mediator. The firm rebranded from Applegate & Dillman Elder Law when Brad Owen joined as partner, and it also serves clients from a Noblesville office.
- Good match for: Medicaid asset protection, veterans’ benefits, guardianship
4. Hocker Law: Estate Planning in English and Spanish
Janet Davis Hocker founded this woman-owned firm in 1993, and it now runs two Indianapolis offices plus one in Greenwood. Its website offers Spanish translation, and it handles real estate, family law, and immigration alongside estate work, helpful for families whose planning touches several areas at once.
The firm regularly prepares transfer on death deeds, a simple Indiana tool that passes a house directly to a named beneficiary without probate.
- Good match for: Spanish-speaking families, TOD deeds, straightforward wills and probate
Note: The firm lists a second Indianapolis office in ZIP code 46214 and another phone number, (317) 578-1630. Confirm which office handles your appointment.
5. Clark Quinn: When the Family Disagrees
Not every estate settles peacefully. Clark, Quinn, Moses, Scott & Grahn earned a 2026 Tier 2 Indianapolis ranking in trusts and estates litigation, and partner Charles Grahn has practiced probate, estate planning, and elder law since 1977.
- Good match for: Will contests, trust disputes, contested probate administration
Indiana Estate Rules Worth Knowing in 2026
A few state-specific rules shape almost every Indianapolis estate plan:
- No state death taxes: Indiana has no inheritance tax for deaths after 2012 and has never had a separate state estate tax
- Small estate affidavit: Heirs can collect personal property without full probate if the estate is $100,000 or less, but only after 45 days have passed
- Real estate exception: The small estate affidavit can’t transfer a house, so a transfer on death deed or trust often matters more
- Vehicles move faster: Indiana’s BMV can transfer a car’s title by affidavit just five days after death
- Federal estate tax: It applies only to very large estates, above $15 million per person in 2026
This article provides general information, not legal advice. Firm selection reflects independent editorial research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Does Indiana have an inheritance tax?
A: No. Indiana repealed its inheritance tax for anyone who died after December 31, 2012, and the state has never had a separate estate tax. Only the federal estate tax could apply to very large estates.
Q2. How much does an estate plan cost in Indianapolis?
A: Many local estate planning attorneys charge flat fees, with simple wills costing less than trust-based plans. Ask whether the fee includes powers of attorney, health care directives, and future updates.
Q3. Can I avoid probate in Indiana?
A: Often, yes. Revocable living trusts, transfer on death deeds, and beneficiary designations on bank and retirement accounts can pass assets outside probate. Small estates under $100,000 may also qualify for an affidavit.
Q4. What happens if I die without a will in Indiana?
A: Indiana’s intestacy laws decide who inherits, usually your spouse, children, or closest relatives. A court also chooses who manages your estate, which may not be the person you’d have picked.
Q5. Do I need a lawyer to write a will in Indiana?
A: Not legally, but it’s wise. Indiana has specific signing and witness rules, and mistakes can invalidate a will. A lawyer also spots issues like blended families, minor children, or out-of-state property.
