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Practices

Biography

Jeff concentrates his practice in estate planning, taxation and general business law. He prepares wills and trusts, supervises the administration of estates and trusts, represents various parties in guardianships and contested will or trust litigation, and provides gift tax and estate planning advice to professionals and business owners in the larger context of business succession. Jeff regularly lectures to attorneys and other estate planning professionals on a variety of estate planning and tax topics.

Jeff has frequently testified before committees of the Indiana General Assembly in favor of or against various bills to amend Indiana’s trust, estate and guardianship laws, including the 2012-13 repeal of the Indiana inheritance tax, the 2018 electronic wills statute, and the 2019-2021 changes to the Indiana Probate Code and Trust Code. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and has been certified as an Indiana Trust and Estate Lawyer by the Indiana Trust and Estate Specialty Board (TESB).

Other Info About Jeff

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Served as the chairperson of the Indiana State Bar Association’s Electronic Documents Task Force (2017-2018) and as the principal drafter of Indiana’s electronic wills, trusts and POAs legislation (2018 House Enrolled Act 1303, P.L. 40-2018).

Served as the principal drafter of Indiana’s new 2021 health care advance directive statute (2021 Senate Enrolled Act 204, P.L. 50-2021).

Chaired the subcommittee which drafted the 2021 amendments to Indiana’s statutes to permit electronic witnessing of wills with remote presence.

Appellate court victory on visitation issues in contested adult guardianship case.

Expert witness work in numerous trust and estate litigation matters.

Numerous trust modification and reformation proceedings in probate courts.

One U.S. Tax Court trial and two successful pre-trial settlements.

Certified as a specialist in Indiana in estate planning and administration since 2007.

Representation of businesses in administrative appeals and in the Indiana Tax Court regarding Indiana income tax and sales and use tax disputes.

Advice to and representation of new and existing nonprofit charitable entities with respect to initial formation, qualification for 501(c)(3) status, reorganization, and internal governance.

Education

Law School

Indiana University School of Law, J.D., 1979, magna cum laude
Order of the Coif

Undergraduate School

Purdue University, B.S., 1976, with highest distinction
Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Memberships

Jeff is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Indiana

New York

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

Indiana Lawyer, Leadership in Law Awards, Distinguished Barrister, 2017

Patricia Paxton Wagner Award for Excellence in Estate Planning and Administration, from the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Estate Planning & Administration Section, 2011

Selected for inclusion in Indiana Super Lawyers®, 2007–2022; Top 50 Lawyers in Indiana

Named in “Indiana Top 50” in Indiana Super Lawyers® magazine, February 2014, February 2015, February 2018

The Best Lawyers in America®, Trusts and Estates Law, 2011–2022; Trusts & Estates Litigation, 2013–2018; Litigation & Controversy – Tax, 2013–2022; Indianapolis Litigation and Controversy-Tax “Lawyer of the Year,” 2017, 2022; Indianapolis Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year,” 2012, 2016, 2018; Indianapolis Litigation-Trusts and Estates Law “Lawyer of the Year,” 2016, 2019

Indiana State Bar Association, Presidential Citations, 2002 and 2015

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Estate Planning Council of Indianapolis, Board Member, 2005-2013; Vice President, 2010-2011; President, 2011-2012

Indianapolis Bar Association, Estate Planning and Administration Section, Executive Committee, 2004-2012

Indiana State Bar Association; Taxation Section, Past Chair; Investment Committee, 2008-present; District 11 Representative to the Board of Governors, 2011-2012; Probate Review Committee (2011-present)

Indiana Trust and Estate Specialty Board (TESB), 2006-2015; co-chairperson in 2012-2014

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow, 2006; Indiana State Chair for ACTEC from March 2015 through February 2020

Major Publications

Jeff is an author or contributor to the following publications:

“New, Flexible Methods Available for Signing Indiana Wills.”  Indiana Lawyer, Vol. 32, No. 17, Oct. 13-26, 2021.

“Top Ten Takeaways About Indiana’s New Health Care Advance Directive.” Res Gestae, Vol. 65, No. 4, November 2021.

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