In Indiana, there are several ways in which property can be passed to heirs after the death of the owner. At the Law Office of Weiss, Schmidgall and Hires, P.C., in Merrillville, our attorneys work with individuals to create wills that set clear directions for passing on their estates. We also advise estate executors —known as personal representatives in Indiana— during probate proceedings. With more than a decade of experience serving the community in and around Gary and throughout Lake and Porter counties, we will provide the guidance and counsel clients need to direct their assets and distribute them accordingly.
Wills are an essential component of any estate plan — they convey your express wishes on who will inherit the property and assets you’ve amassed over a lifetime. If you die in Indiana without a will, the state will determine how your personal property is distributed, based on laws of intestate succession. That means it may go to a spouse, children, siblings or parents. By creating a will, you can also designate people or organizations outside your family as beneficiaries.
Your will can be as detailed as you wish and may include instructions regarding:
As long as an Indiana estate is valued at $50,000 or more, the property included in a will must go through probate before it can be distributed to beneficiaries. If you would prefer to transfer your property directly, we can advise you on other estate planning methods that may work for you.
Probate is the court-ordered process of validating a will or settling an estate. Whether you are named in a will as the estate’s executor or appointed by the court to serve as the estate’s personal representative when no will exists, you are responsible for distributing the deceased’s assets and paying their debts through probate. We understand that this process can be difficult and are prepared to help.
In Indiana, the probate process generally takes six months to a year. Our firm can provide counsel as you file for unsupervised or supervised administration with the probate court, create an asset inventory, pay the estate’s debts, distribute assets and draft a closing statement. If inheritance disputes arise, we will work to find solutions in line with the deceased’s intentions.
If you need assistance with drafting a will or handling probate, contact the attorneys at the Law Office of Weiss, Schmidgall and Hires, P.C., in Merrillville, Indiana. We work with individuals and families in Gary and throughout Lake County and Porter County. To schedule a free initial consultation, call us at 219-293-8988 or contact us online.