Profile

Admitted to practice law in Indiana (1992) and Illinois (2012).

Sullivan County Bar Association: Member

Terre Haute Bar Association: Member

INDIANA LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING AND ADVOCACY CONTRIBUTIONS:

• 2024 S.E.A. 18, P.L. 2024, Sections 2-6 (Clarification of consequences when an individual member of a single-member LLC dies without making a transfer on death designation or titling the membership in an inter vivos trust); Section 9 (Provides that a claim of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Estate Recovery Unit barred if the Unit does not file a claim in a decedent’s estate within 120 days after the decedent’s death); Section 18 (Clarifications reconciling terms used in the Uniform Power of Attorney Act with the Indiana Power of Attorney Act and examples of signature forms for an attorney-in-fact acting on behalf of a principal); Section 19 (Requires the county auditor to endorse a deed establishing a beneficiary designation under Ind. Code §32-17-14-11); Section 20 (Clarifies and expands Ind. Code §32-17-14-13 with an example of how to convey real property title with a beneficiary designation, the effectiveness of the deed to convey title if the grantee dies before the deed is recorded, and the requirement that the county auditor endorse the deed); Section 21 (Clarifies that an attorney-in-fact may not use a power of attorney to convey a principal’s real property unless the power of attorney authorizes the conveyance); Section 22 (Clarifies the requirements for a county recorder to cross-reference a document presented for recording to a previously recorded document) Section 23 (Prohibits a county auditor from refusing to endorse a deed or other instrument made under the Indiana Transfer on Death Property Act (Ind. Code Chapter 32-17-14)); and Section 24 (Prohibits a county recorder from refusing to record a deed or other instrument made under the Indiana Transfer on Death Property Act (Ind. Code Chapter 32-17-14))

• 2023 S.E.A. 287, P.L. 38-2023, Section 16 (Clarification of consequences when a settlor revokes a trust without transferring or distributing the trust property)

• 2022 H.E.A. 1208, P.L.162-2022, Section 23 (Clarification for a power of attorney authenticated by a notary public or signed in the presence of witnesses)
• 2021 H.E.A. 1056, P.L. 2-2021, P.L. 2 (Correction and Revision of Requirements for Recordation of Instruments in County Recorders’ Offices)
• 2021 H.E.A. 1252, P.L. 184-2021, Sections 1-8, and 10 (Probate Estate and Guardianship Claims, and Tenant Representatives)
• 2021 H.E.A. 1255, P.L. 185-2021, (Electronic Estate Plan Execution and Recordation)
• 2020 S.E.A. 50, P.L. 56-2020, Sections 1-6, 15 (Creditor Claims Against Decedents’ Probate and Nonprobate Property; and Passage of Decedents’ Real Estate Title)
• 2019 S.E.A. 518, P.L. 231-2019, Sections 4-5, 7-8, 10, 13-15, 17, 19, 40-47 (Creditor Claims Against Decedents’ Probate and Nonprobate Property; Passage of Decedents’ Real Estate Title; and Clarifications for Transfer on Death Deeds)
• 2018 S.E.A. 247, P.L. 163-2018, Sections 1-3, 5-10, 15-25 (Creditor Claims Against Decedents’ Probate and Nonprobate Property)
• 2017 H.E.A. 1407, P.L. 194-2017, Sections 6-9 and 11-12 (Nomination of Guardian or Custodian)
• 2016 S.E.A. 371, P.L. 190-2016, Section 1 (Property Tax Deductions)
• 2015 S.E.A. 355, P.L. 81-2015, Sections 1-2 (Transfer On Death Property Act Revisions), and 16 (Distinction of Nonprobate Asset Transfer from Asset Devolution through a Decedent’s Estate)
• 2014 S.E.A. 59, P.L. 83-2014, (Guardian’s Petition for Married Incapacitated Person’s Legal Separation, Marriage Dissolution, or Marriage Annulment)
• 2014 S.E.A. 36, P.L. 51-2014, Sections 1 (Mandatory Disclosure Representations For Notice Waivers and Consents in Estate Proceedings), 3-4 (Clarifications of Small Estate Affidavit Statutes), and 30 (Transfer On Death Property Act Revision)
• 2013 H.E.A. 1056, P.L. 99-2013, Sections 4 (Statutory Override of FSSA v. Estate of Roy), 6 (Claims Classification in a Decedent’s Estate), and 10 (Matrimonial Trust Legislation Revisions)
• 2012 H.E.A. 1258, P.L. 149-2012, Sections 1 (Property Tax Deductions), 3-5 (Prohibition of Medicaid Reimbursement Recovery against the Estate of a Medicaid Recipient’s Deceased Spouse), 8 (Claims Classification in a Decedent’s Estate), and 13-16 (Transfer On Death Property Act Revisions)
• 2012 S.E.A. 156, P.L. 41-2012, Land Partition Reform Enacting Legislation Counterproposal
• 2011 S.E.A. 169, P.L. 36-2011, Sections 1-2 (Transfer On Death Property Act Revisions), 9-16(Clarification of Matrimonial Trust Legislative Intent and Transfer On Death Property Act Corrections)
• 2010 S.E.A. 65, P.L. 6-2010, Sections 4-5 (Transfer On Death Property Act Corrections), 7 (Mandatory Disclosure Representations For Notice Waivers and Consents in Estate Proceedings), 12 (Court Authorized Estate Planning in a Protected Person’s Guardianship), 18 (Establishment of Matrimonial Trusts with Tenancy by the Entireties Characteristics), 22 (Transfer On Death Property Act Corrections), and 25-35 (Transfer On Death Property Act Revisions)
• 2009 H.E.A. 1287, P.L. 143-2009, Sections 3-4, 16, 29, 40, 41, 46, and 52 (Transfer On Death Property Act with Related Amendments and Repeals, Co-Authored with Subcommittee Chair and Principal Drafter, James W. Martin, and Suzanne E. Katt)
• 2008 S.E.A. 78, P.L. 101-2008, Sections 1-3 (Property Tax Deductions)
• 2007 H.E.A. 1508, P.L. 95-2007, Sections 1-2 (Property Tax Deductions), and 18-19 (Trust Certification and Title Insurance Coverage for Trust-Owned Real Estate)

PUBLICATION:

Henry's Indiana Probate Law and Practice, John A. Cremer, Daniel R. Gordon, James W. Martin, and Jeff R. Hawkins, Matthew Bender, 2021-Present

PUBLISHED ARTICLES:

• 2015 Annual Report of the President of the Indiana State Bar Association, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• LegalZoom, Avvo, Other Companies: Friends or Foes? NCBP Panel Suggests a New View, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Entrepreneurial Leadership, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Partnership – It Can Be Bigger Than You Think, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• TCBAB (Taking Care of Bar Association Business), ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Let’s Celebrate Independence, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Indiana Lawyers, United and Strong, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• I Checked All 3 Boxes on My Online ISBA Membership Renewal, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Problems? Become Part of the Solution!, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• LDA Class 4: Ready for the Baton, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Hilltop Experiences of a Hoosier Lawyer, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Professional Liability Insurance Coverage: Setting the Record Straight, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Indiana Lawyers: A High Standard of Professional Conduct, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Those Were the Days, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• 2015 Indiana Civic Health Index, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Forums: How We Communicate Now, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Engaging, Empowering & Launching Young Lawyers, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Building Bridges, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Let’s Keep the State of the Bench and Bar Sound, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Let’s Talk about Lawyer Mental Health, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• A Holiday Wish for Peace and Joy, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2014
• A Force of One, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association, 2014
• What Are We Defending, and from Whom?, ISBA Prez Blog, Indiana State Bar Association, 2014
• Adapt & Overcome, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association, 2014
• Own It, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association, 2014
• The Bar Presidency On-Ramp, ABA Life of a Leader Blog, 2014
• The Bar Leadership Ride of a Lifetime: How it Began, ABA Life of a Leader Blog, 2014
• Indiana Matrimonial Trusts: TBE Plus, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association, 2011

CONTINUING EDUCATION ARTICLES & PRESENTATIONS:

• 2026 Wired for Success: Ethical Use of Technology Tools and AI Essentials for Estate and Trust Attorneys, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2026

• 2025 Indiana Long-Term Care Asset Protection Planning, Hoosier Hills Estate Planning Council, 2025

• Ethics for Elder Law Attorneys, Scenes from a Law Office 2025, Co-Presenter with Author Jennifer J. Hawkins, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2025

• 2024 Indiana Long-Term Care Asset Protection Planning, Evansville Bar Association, 2024

• Ethics for Elder Law Attorneys, Scenes from a Law Office, Volume 2, Co-Presenter with Author Jennifer J. Hawkins, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2024

• Ethics for Elder Law Attorneys, Scenes from a Law Office, Co-Presenter with Author Jennifer J. Hawkins, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2022

• Indiana Real and Personal Property Title Passage and Creditors Rights, Indiana State Bar Association, 2022

• Creditors’ Claim Enforcement Against Decedents’ Property, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2022

• Sign Here – Executing Estate Plan Documents, Author and Co-Presenter with Elizabeth A. Homes and Mary A. Slade, Indiana State Bar Association, 2021

• Execution, Recordation, and Creditor Issues in 2020 Real Estate and Other Asset Transfers, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2020

• 2020 Title Passage & Creditors’ Rights against Decedents’ Assets, Elkhart County Estate Planning Council, 2020

• 2019 Procedural Changes for Decedents' Asset Transfers and Creditor Claims, District 10 Pro Bono Project, 2019

• Summary of Creditors' Rights in Estate Recovery – Co-Presenter with John S. Phillip, Indiana State Bar Association, 2019

• 2019 Indiana Probate Bill: New & Improved Systems to Transfer & Collect Decedents’ Assets, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2019

• 2019 Procedural Changes for Decedents' Asset Transfers and Creditor Claims, Indiana State Bar Association, 2019

• 2019 Procedural Changes for Decedents' Asset Transfers and Creditor Claims, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2019

• Collections Against Decedents’ Estates & Nonprobate Transferees After SEA 247, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2018

• Collections Against Decedents’ Estates & Nonprobate Transferees After SEA 247, Indiana State Bar Association, 2018

• Trust Issues and Guidelines For Indiana County Auditors, Assessors, and Recorders – Co-Presenter with Jeffrey S. Dible, Indiana County Assessors' Association, 2017

• Tips from the GP Hall of Fame, Indiana State Bar Association, 2016

• Planning to Make Long-Term Care Less Critical, Indiana State Bar Association, 2016

• Zooming and Rocketing Toward LLLTs and Other Competitive Challenges, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015

• Estate Planning After Death of Death Taxes, Ft. Wayne Estate Planning Council, 2014

• Farm Family Conflict: Keeping it Together when Everyone is Losing It, Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference, 2014

• More Ethics Matters for Elder Law Attorneys - Discussion with Jeff R. Hawkins and Jeffrey S. Dible, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2013

• Look Before You Leap, Indiana State Bar Association, 2013

• Estate Planning After Death of Death Taxes, Indiana State Bar Association, 2013

• Hot Tips in Estate Planning, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2012

• Estate Planning After the Death of Death Taxes, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2012

• Unification of Two Attorneys' Practices – Co-Presenter with Jennifer J. Hawkins, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2012

• Oil, Gas & CBM - Owning, Sharing & Leasing, Indiana Farm Bureau, 2012

• Hot Tips in Estate Planning, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2011

• Personal Asset Protection, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2011

• Medicaid Perspectives on Asset Ownership & Estate Recovery in Transition, Indiana State Bar Association 2011

• Wealth Transfer Tips, Tricks & Taxes, Indiana State Bar Association, 2011

• Indiana Transfer on Death Act, Estate Planning Council of Illiana, 2010

• Indiana Transfer on Death Act, Stock Yards Bank: 2010 Estate & Tax Seminar, 2010

• Creative Non-Probate Strategies in Long-Term Care Planning, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2010

• Indiana Transfer on Death Act, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2010

• Multiparty Accounts and Transfer on Death Property Act, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2009

• Elder Law Ethics, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2008

• 2008 Ethics Review, Sullivan County Bar Association, 2008

• Guardianship Law, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2008

• A Plumber’s Guide to Business Succession Planning, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2007

• Law Firm Management, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2007

• Guardianship Law, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2007

• Elder Law Ethics (Elder Law Institute), Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2004

• Elder Law Ethics (Masters Series), Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2003

• Debate on Professional Liability Insurance, Indiana State Bar Association, 2003

• Estate Planning and Administration Update, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2002

• Business Entity Formation, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2002

• Estate Planning Update, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2001

• Planning Your First Wealth Plan Under $675,000, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2001

• If the Recorder’s Records Could Only Speak, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 1997

• Probate Administration and Guardianships, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 1995

• Estate Planning and Probate Administration, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 1993-94