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Best Probate Lawyers in Hammond, IN

Our Recommended Top 10

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Hammond Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

26Reviewed

19Curated

10Top Picks

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Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

130 North Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Austgen Kuiper Jasaitis PC is a law firm serving clients in the Hammond area. Its attorneys have over 150 years' combined legal experience helping legal representatives with wills and probate administration matters, such as filing documents with the court, contacting creditors, notifying beneficiaries, preparing required documents, counseling distribution and trust/estate administration. Other practice areas include real estate, business, corporate, environmental, sports, and elder law.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
David Austgen - Managing PartnerActive43 yrs

8339 Wicker Avenue, St. John, IN 46373

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (2)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Spagnolo & Hoeksema, LLC, is a multi-practice law firm serving Hammond and the surrounding areas. Included in its practice areas are probate and estate litigation. The law office handles will contests and cases involving blended families, representing beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and heirs. Estate planning, a means to avoid probate and trust administration, is also offered. Spagnolo & Hoeksema's other practice areas include business litigation and commercial law. It also has an office in Illinois, and its attorneys have over nine decades of collective experience.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

8339 Wicker Ave, Saint John, IN 46373

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.8 (27)
Google
5.0 (15)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Brian E. Less serves clients in Hammond and the neighboring communities. It assists clients in processing and completing the transfer of their assets and wealth to lawful beneficiaries. The firm also provides Medicaid crisis and pre-need planning services to help clients in preserving their estate assets for their heirs. It has been serving single and married couples, as well as the elderly for more than 18 years. Less uses his background in business in delivering estate planning services to his clients.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Brian Less - Owner/PrincipalActive24 yrs

1000 Eagle Ridge Drive, Suite F, Schererville, IN 46375

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (11)
Google
5.0 (10)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Politakis Law helps individuals and families preserve assets and plan for financial security throughout Northwest Indiana, including Hammond and surrounding areas. Its services include assistance in business planning, estate planning, estate and trust administration, and elder law. It provides comprehensive legal representation with an ethical and creative approach to protecting the clients' past and securing their future. The firm also offers complex plans for customers with children with special needs, financial management issues, or second spouse situations.

  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Angelo Politakis - PrincipalActive8 yrs

1806 Robinhood Boulevard, Schererville, IN 46375

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (7)
Facebook
4.3 (6)

Why choose this provider?

O’Drobinak & Nowaczyk, P.C. is an attorneyship that offers probate law services in the Hammond metro. The firm's probate attorneys take care of the necessary steps in gathering and distributing the assets of a client's deceased family member under the supervision of probate court. The firm is well-versed in handling disputes involving inheritance as well as tax and debt settlements. Founder John M. O’Drobinak has been practicing law since 1960 and is a Charter Member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Amy Nowaczyk - PartnerActive12 yrs

1805 E. Lincolnway Ste 6, Valparaiso, IN 46383

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (12)

Why choose this provider?

Michael B. Miller, Attorney at Law, is a locally owned and operated practice that serves clients in Hammond and its surrounding metros. It represents individual beneficiaries in various matters involving probate litigation, including will and trust contests, estate or trust share disputes, and guardianship issues. The firm also offers legal counsel to trustees and personal representatives on trust and estate administration. Sole practitioner MichaelMiller has been providing legal solutions for more than 25 years.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Michael Miller - PrincipalActive30 yrs

104 West Clark Street, Crown Point, IN 46307

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (15)

Why choose this provider?

Kent A. Jeffirs Attorney at Law PC serves clients in the Hammond area. It assists personal representatives and family members throughout the whole probate process, from handling the decedent's property to filing taxes and complying with instructions from the probate court. The firm also prepares estate planning documents such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives. Kent A. Jeffirs, the company's primary attorney, is a certified estate planning and administration specialist and served as a president of the Lake County Bar Association.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Kent Jeffirs - PrincipalActive32 yrs

900 Parker Pl, Unit A, Schererville, IN 46375

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (80)
Yelp
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Gary P. Bonk handles probate matters in Hammond and its surrounding communities. It helps clients protect their finances and their families in case of their demise by drafting documents like last wills and testaments, durable power of attorneys, and revocable living trusts. Its other areas of practice include asset protection, adult guardianship, business succession, and elder law. The attorneys from the firm have more than 25 years of collective legal experience.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

200 E 90th Drive Weston Court, Merrillville, IN 46410

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Woodward Law Offices LLP is a general legal firm representing clients in wills, trusts, estates, and probate matters. The probate lawyers near Hammond assist administrators and executors by advising them on decisions and guiding them through the proceedings, such as filing the will, completing the final tax return, managing the estate's finances, and distributing any remaining assets. Woodward Law Offices LLP also handles family, criminal, construction, real estate, employment, and business law.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
David Woodward - PartnerActive34 yrs

830 East Sidewalk Road, Chesterton, IN 46304

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (8)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices Of Michael T. Sawyier assists executors and administrators in Hammond with probate litigation and estate administration. It also prepares and reviews wills, testamentary trusts, powers of attorney, codicils, and transfer on death instruments. It also provides counsel on guardianship and charitable gift planning. Principal attorney Michael Sawyier has over 40 years of experience in estate and business planning, asset protection, and real estate law. He is also licensed to practice law in Illinois and Michigan. The office has a wheelchair-accessible entrance.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Michael Sawyier - PrincipalActive41 yrs

Compare our Top Probate Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Austgen Kuiper Jasaitis P.C.
130 North Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307
Spagnolo & Hoeksema, LLC
8339 Wicker Avenue, St. John, IN 46373
Law Office of Brian E. Less
8339 Wicker Ave, Saint John, IN 46373
Politakis Law
1000 Eagle Ridge Drive, Suite F, Schererville, IN 46375
O’Drobinak & Nowaczyk, P.C.
1806 Robinhood Boulevard, Schererville, IN 46375
Michael B. Miller Attorney at Law
1805 E. Lincolnway Ste 6, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Kent A. Jeffirs Attorney at Law PC
104 West Clark Street, Crown Point, IN 46307
Law Offices of Gary P. Bonk
900 Parker Pl, Unit A, Schererville, IN 46375
Woodward Law Offices, LLP
200 E 90th Drive Weston Court, Merrillville, IN 46410
Law Offices Of Michael T. Sawyier
830 East Sidewalk Road, Chesterton, IN 46304

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Hammond, Indiana?

    For non-emergencies, dial (219) 853-6300 or (219) 853-6490 to reach the Hammond Police Department. You can also download the Hammond 311 Mobile App to report non-emergency concerns online.

  • Do all of the decedent’s assets have to go through probate in Hammond?

    The Hammond probate process is only for assets that are solely owned by the decedent and assets that have no designated beneficiaries. Assets like trust funds, retirement accounts, and assets under living trusts or joint tenancy arrangements are exempted from probate. These assets already have named beneficiaries and can be transferred without the need for probate.

  • How are the decedent’s assets distributed under probate in Hammond?

    If the decedent left a will, assets will be distributed according to their wishes on the document. If there is no will, the assets will be distributed to legal heirs following Indiana's inheritance laws. Note that the will may be superseded by legal restrictions, such as the spouse having an “elective share.” If demanded, the spouse can claim inheritance even if they are not named in the will. A Hammond probate lawyer can guide you through these complexities.

  • Where do you file the decedent’s will for probate in Hammond?

    According to Indiana Code Section 29-1-7-1, the will must be submitted to the probate court in the county where the decedent resided at the time of death. For decedents who resided in Lake County where Hammond is, the probate court is located at 2293 N. Main Street, Courtroom B203, Crown Point, IN 46307.

  • Which estates are eligible to be administered via the Small Estate Affidavit in Hammond?

    Small estates in Hammond can be transferred without undergoing probate through an Affidavit for Transfer of Assets Without Administration, also known as Small Estates Affidavit. According to Indiana Code Section 29-1-8-1, an estate is eligible for Small Estates Affidavit if its total value is no more than $50,000 if the decedent passed before July 1, 2022, and no more than $100,000 if the decedent passed after June 30, 2022. You can start this process 45 days after the decedent's death.

  • Do you have to pay inheritance tax on assets you received from a probated estate in Hammond?

    Indiana previously required inheritance tax payment, but the law was repealed in May 2013. In effect, inheritors of Hammond estates left by decedents who passed after December 31, 2012 no longer have to pay for inheritance taxes. Note that estate taxes still have to be paid which will be settled by the estate's personal representative.

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