The Estate Planning & Administration Section of the Indianapolis Bar Association is in the process of selecting its slate for the 2019 Executive Committee and positions are available for new committee members.

Don't forget to discuss charitable planning with your clients! And don't think that only the wealthy can leave substantial gifts to charity. This article chronicles a $1 million bequest made be a former special needs educator in New Jersey.​

As an Indiana estate planning attorney who was born and raised in Minnesota, I have watched the administration of Prince Rogers Nelson’s estate from a distance with great interest. Prince, of course, is a music icon who passed away in April 2016 without an estate plan, and from all accounts in the news media, the administration of his estate has been extremely complex.

Low-income individuals are more likely to die younger and without wills or advance directives in place—but you can help!

Ask a Lawyer is the IndyBar’s largest pro bono event, taking place twice each year at locations throughout the city. Ask a Lawyer connects individuals seeking legal guidance with free face-to-face and call-in assistance from an IndyBar volunteer attorney. We're looking for volunteers for the October 9 event.

A 2018 survey conducted by Edward Jones revealed that only 29 percent of Americans know 529 plan accounts are an education savings tool. So, while the sticker price for a college education continues to rise, it appears many Americans are unaware of the powerful tool available to them and their families to save to pay for this all-important expense.

Suicide is a disturbing topic, New York attorney Mark Michael Campanella admits, yet suicide is a reality that many families unfortunately face. While there’s no question suicide can devastate a family, Campanella assures clients and their heirs that if a person’s wishes have been outlined in a properly executed and valid estate plan, those wishes will still be followed regardless of the manner of death.

As Sir Winston Churchill observed, after every period of delay and procrastination comes a period of consequences. While we are in this era of historically low interest rates, it is wise to consider the potential cost of delaying certain estate planning strategies.

One high-risk factor for probate litigation is the so-called “second marriage” situation, Karen Gertsner writes in the American Bar Association’s Law Trends and News. Many people, including the media, the author points out, mistakenly believe that the sole purpose of a pre-nuptial agreement is to specify how assets will be divided if the couple divorces.

Your Probate Court Judicial Officers and staff members are continually reviewing the court's practices and procedures to determine ways to improve the provision of services and to ensure compliance with applicable law. We have been reviewing two areas of current practice. Many parties file motions requesting a waiver of the "home study." We have also observed numerous submissions of non-compliant criminal background checks.