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Top Probate Lawyers South Bend, IN

Our Recommended Best South Bend Probate Lawyers

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

28Reviewed

19Curated

7Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

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Best Probate Lawyers Serving South Bend
52582 Indiana 933 North, South Bend, IN 46637

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (30)
Facebook
4.8 (14)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Mario J. Zappia, Attorney at Law represents clients in matters involving family law and estate planning throughout South Bend and nearby regions. Zappia and his staff help clients draft documents like powers of attorneys and living wills. They also assist clients in assigning someone as their healthcare representative in case the client is incapacitated. Zappia has been practicing law for over 25 years. He serves as the treasurer of the St. Joseph County Bar Association.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Wills

Best Probate Lawyers Serving South Bend
401 E Colfax Ave Ste 180 Box #2, South Bend, IN 46617

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Marcel Lebbin is a lawyer serving the South Bend metro. His areas of expertise include probate and estate administration, which includes assisting clients with life insurance proceedings, property appraisals, and asset searches. He also assists customers with paying bills and debts, completing the probate court paperwork, and splitting assets among heirs. His additional areas of practice include wills, trusts, and estate planning, elder law, commercial real estate, and litigation. Marcel Lebbin once defended a multi-million dollar trust fight against claims of undue influence.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Best Probate Lawyers Serving South Bend
509 West Washington Street, South Bend, IN 46601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (36)

Why choose this provider?

Headquartered in South Bend, Hahn Walz Attorneys at Law offers representation for issues involving probate law and estate planning. The firm provides assistance in legal procedures involving wills and trusts, estate administration, Medicaid regulations, and family asset protection. Established in 1986 as a combination of Charles W. Hahn and Wilford V. Walz's respective practices, Hahn Walz has a legal team with a combined experience that spans decades. The firm also handles civil litigation and family, bankruptcy, and business law cases.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Best Probate Lawyers Serving South Bend
2025 Edison Road, South Bend, IN 46637

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (13)
Google
3.7 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Godfrey Law Offices provides counsel and representation to South Bend residents. It guides beneficiaries, executors, and personal administrators throughout the probate process. The firm also offers estate planning services to help families avoid probate, protect assets from creditors, and reduce federal income and estate taxes. Chris Godfrey, the founder, draws inspiration from his previous experience as an NFL player to develop the Sideline to Sideline Planning Process, which emphasizes long-term relationships with families and their advisors.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Best Probate Lawyers Serving South Bend
511 East Colfax Avenue, South Bend, IN 46617

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.3 (55)
Google
4.5 (52)

Why choose this provider?

Brooks Legal, LLC, represents South Bend residents and businesses. It handles probate cases, assisting executors and administrators in gathering and distributing the deceased person's estate assets to designated heirs. The practice also assists families in drafting wills, trusts, and guardianship arrangements to ensure proper asset distribution. Tanner Brooks, a founding member, interned for private defense contracting companies in Washington, D.C., and the Eastern District Court of Michigan. This has given him experience in both the judicial and legislative branches of the state and federal governments.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Best Probate Lawyers Serving South Bend
1051 E Market St, Nappanee, IN 46550

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.2 (32)
Facebook
5.0 (6)

Why choose this provider?

Law Office of Christopher G. Walter, PC, is a multi-practice firm serving South Bend residents. It offers legal services to people who need assistance taking care of their assets. The team helps clients plan their estates, as well as drafts living trusts, wills, advanced directives, and powers of attorney. It also caters to people dealing with bankruptcy, real estate, and personal injury law cases. The senior partner, Christopher Walter, is a member of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Best Probate Lawyers Serving South Bend
1717 South Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46637

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (54)
Avvo
4.0 (3)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Stipp Law, which is located in South Bend, provides counsel on a variety of legal matters. It serves individuals and families in the local metro seeking assistance on estate planning and probate matters. It also helps clients navigate the different facets of family law, including divorce petitions, adoptions, paternity rights, and guardianships. Stipp Law was formed in 2015 by Thomas Sean Stipp, a certified family law specialist and a registered domestic relations mediator.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Compare Best South Bend Probate Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Mario J. Zappia Attorney at Law
52582 Indiana 933 North, South Bend, IN 46637
Marcel Lebbin
401 E Colfax Ave Ste 180 Box #2, South Bend, IN 46617
Hahn Walz Attorneys at Law
509 West Washington Street, South Bend, IN 46601
Godfrey Law Offices
2025 Edison Road, South Bend, IN 46637
Brooks Legal, LLC
511 East Colfax Avenue, South Bend, IN 46617
Law Office of Christopher G. Walter, PC
1051 E Market St, Nappanee, IN 46550
Stipp Law
1717 South Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46637

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.

South Bend, IN Probate FAQs

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

    The South Bend police takes non-emergency calls at (574) 235-9201.

  • Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in South Bend, Indiana?

    Police reports in South Bend are requested from 701 W. Sample St., South Bend, IN 46601. The phone number is (574) 235-9201.

  • Which assets in South Bend do not have to pass through probate?

    Assets in South Bend that are not solely owned by or beneficial to the decedent are not subject to probate. These range from living trusts which are for the benefit of specific third parties, to co-woned real estate. These properties and interests pass ownership automatically upon death because of law or contract and never become part of the estate.

  • Is it advisable to disinherit an heir in South Bend by leaving them out of the will?

    It is not advisable to disinherit an heir in South Bend by leaving them out of the will. Disinheritance by omission is not favored by the courts because they will likely assume that it was made in error. It is preferable to expressly state the disinheritance in the document and to name the person.

  • Is there a need to subject an estate to full probate in South Bend if the valuation is at $90,000?

    There is no need to subject an estate to full probate in South Bend if the valuation is at $90,000. Small estates that are devoid of real property can be distributed completely probate-free upon the decedent's passing. This is possible if all the real property is co-owned or part of revocable trusts that are not part of the estate.

  • What is the remedy if an heir or legatee in South Bend inherits an asset that is too expensive to properly maintain?

    If an heir or legatee in South Bend inherits an estate that is too expensive to maintain, it is possible to disclaim the inheritance. A disclaimer of interest in the property would prevent a transfer of title from the testator or decedent to a would-be recipient. The heirs of the recipient would instead receive the share by means of representation as if their ascendant in interest died before them.

  • What are the cases handled by the St. Joseph Probate Court which has jurisdiction over South Bend?

    The St. Joseph Probate Court has jurisdiction over South Bend and handles cases relating to the preservation, distribution, and administration of trusts and estates. It also takes on matters concerning paternity, adoption, and delinquency as these have implications on the transfer or properties upon death, through an increase of heirs or loss of capacity to take care of one’s own affairs.

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