Estate Planning Attorney Lake County, Indiana — Straightforward Planning for Real Families
Most people put off estate planning because they assume it's complicated, expensive, or something they can handle later. For most Northwest Indiana families, it's none of those things — and the cost of waiting is real.
Estate Planning
Without a Plan, Indiana Decides for You
Indiana's intestacy laws determine what happens to your assets, your property, and — if you have minor children — your parenting arrangements if you die without a will. Those laws follow a fixed formula. They don't know your family, your relationships, your wishes, or what you actually wanted for the people you're leaving behind.
A basic estate plan changes that. It names who receives your assets, who makes decisions if you're incapacitated, who raises your children if they're minors, and how your estate moves to your family without unnecessary court involvement. One conversation with an attorney is all it takes to understand what you actually need.
Estate Planning Services We Provide
Wills & Trusts
A will directs how your assets are distributed after your death and names guardians for minor children. A trust can accomplish similar goals while also allowing assets to pass to beneficiaries outside of probate court — saving time, reducing costs, and keeping your family's affairs private. We draft both and help you understand which tools your situation requires.
Powers of Attorney
A power of attorney names someone you trust to make financial or legal decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. A healthcare power of attorney — or advance directive — names someone to make medical decisions if you're incapacitated. These documents don't require age or illness to be useful. They require foresight.
Probate
When an estate passes through probate, Indiana courts oversee the distribution of assets — a process that takes time, involves court costs, and becomes a matter of public record. We assist families through Indiana probate proceedings and help clients understand, during estate planning, which strategies can reduce or avoid probate exposure for their heirs.
Larry Stassin has practiced law in Northwest Indiana for decades, with deep experience in estate planning, probate, and family law matters. His client relationships tend to be long-term — families who return when life circumstances change and refer their relatives when they need a local attorney they trust.
Larry Stassin
Why Work With a Local Estate Planning Attorney?
Online will tools and form-based estate plans exist — and for some situations, they're adequate. For families with minor children, blended households, real property in Indiana, retirement accounts, or any complexity in their family relationships, a form is not a plan.
An estate planning attorney asks the questions a form doesn't. Who should serve as guardian if both parents die? What happens to your share of a jointly owned business? What are the tax implications of how your retirement accounts are titled? How do you ensure a beneficiary with a disability doesn't lose public benefit eligibility?
Larry Stassin has handled estate planning and probate matters for Northwest Indiana families for decades. His experience includes complex multi-asset estates and matters requiring careful coordination between estate documents and other legal arrangements. For families with straightforward needs, the process is direct and efficient. For those with more complexity, the depth is there.
What Happens If You Become Incapacitated Without a Plan?
If you're unable to make decisions — due to illness, injury, or cognitive decline — and you haven't designated someone with legal authority to act on your behalf, your family may have to pursue a court-supervised guardianship to obtain that authority. That process takes time and money, and it happens at exactly the moment your family is least equipped to deal with it.
A durable power of attorney and a healthcare advance directive resolve this in advance. They name the person you choose, establish the scope of their authority, and give your family the legal standing to act without court involvement. These are among the simplest documents in estate planning — and among the most consequential ones to have in place.
What Northwest Indiana Families Ask About Estate Planning
Do I need an estate planning attorney in Indiana, or can I do it myself?
For simple situations — a single person with few assets and no dependents — a basic online will may be sufficient. For anyone with minor children, a spouse, real property, retirement accounts, a business interest, or a blended family, working with an attorney ensures the documents actually accomplish what you intend. Errors or missing provisions in a self-drafted will often aren't discovered until it's too late to correct them.
How much does estate planning cost in Indiana?
Cost depends on what your situation requires. A basic will and power of attorney is far less expensive than most people assume. More complex plans — involving trusts, business succession, or multi-asset coordination — require more time and work accordingly. The first consultation is free and will give you a clear picture of what you need and what it costs.
What is the difference between a will and a trust in Indiana?
A will takes effect after your death and must pass through probate court before assets are distributed. A trust takes effect when it's created, allows assets to transfer to beneficiaries without probate, and keeps your estate arrangements private. Trusts involve more upfront work and cost, but they often save time and expense for your heirs. Which is right for your family depends on your assets, your family structure, and your goals — your attorney can walk you through the tradeoffs.
What happens if I die without a will in Indiana?
Your estate passes under Indiana's intestacy laws, which distribute assets according to a fixed formula based on surviving family relationships. That formula may not reflect your wishes — it doesn't account for specific bequests, non-biological relationships, or situations where equal distribution among heirs would create problems. Your spouse, children, and other relatives receive shares defined by statute, not by you.
Estate planning attorney near me — do you serve communities outside of Dyer?
Yes. We serve estate planning clients throughout Lake County and Porter County, including Merrillville, Hammond, St. John, Gary, Valparaiso, Portage, and Chesterton. Our office is in Dyer, and consultations are available by phone or in person.
One Conversation Is All It Takes to Start
Free consultations are available for all estate planning matters. Call 219-339-4174 to speak with an attorney directly, or send a message through the contact form and we'll respond within 24 hours.
Tanzillo Stassin & Babcock P.C. provides estate planning, probate assistance, and related legal services to individuals and families throughout Lake County and Porter County, Indiana. Larry Stassin brings decades of Northwest Indiana experience to wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and complex estate matters. Learn more about our attorneys.