Practice Areas

Practice Areas

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Business Law, Contracts, Formation

Young, Lind, Endres & Kraft has provided legal services to both large and small businesses throughout its history. We have enjoyed helping local businesses to make the crucial decisions at startup, setting a foundation for the business.  YLEK has guided local employers and corporate clients through challenging disputes both in the courtroom and inside the boardroom.  And we continue to counsel clients in all areas of business law from the startup to the sale or transfer of a business to the next generation. We would be glad to assist you with:

  • Creating corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and other types of business entities
  • Preparing operating agreements
  • Providing documents for financing and funding business operations
  • Drafting sale and purchase agreements
  • Implementing risk management procedures
  • Creating business dissolution documents or buy-sell agreements
  • Guiding you through business disputes and litigation

As counsel on transactions we aim to never lose focus of the unique business issues as we work through the legal questions of each situation.

Civil Litigation

No one starts out to find litigation, but when you are faced with that reality you want to be prepared.  We understand that not all disputes should go to trial, but we anticipate the possibility that trial might be the only solution and we leverage our experience to carry each case to verdict if it’s in the best interests of our client.  YLEK has handled civil litigation matters of all shapes and sizes, including experience in both federal and state courts throughout Indiana.  We have also participated in local trial courts and every level of appellate advocacy.

Every dispute is unique.   Whether the dispute is with a customer, another business or an internal conflict, our goal is to help you solve what can often be a stressful problem for your business.  We also understand that litigation can be distracting to the core function of a business and burdensome, and we intend to recognize this reality when guiding a business through a dispute.  Our attorneys leverage their understanding of our clients’ businesses and their objectives to pursue the best possible resolutions.  YLEK has experience of resolving disputes with success in court as well as arbitrations, mediations and administrative proceedings.   

Probate and Estate Administration

When a loved one dies the estate administration process should not be an additional challenge, but navigating the challenging maze of court, tax and trust requirements can be difficult.  YLEK takes pride in helping families navigate these difficult and sensitive responsibilities. 

When someone passes away without a Last Will and Testament; or with a Last Will and Testament and has assets which have not already been transferred to others, a probate proceeding may be necessary. 

Indiana has several versions of a probate proceeding and we will see which one might be the best fit for your needs.  Feel free to ask us about the process.

Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning

Thinking about what will happen when you are gone is easy to put off.  Whether your estate involves complex family business interests or you are welcoming the birth of a child, YLEK can help address the legal issues involved.  Estate Planning doesn’t have to be difficult, but it might be one of the most important things you do for your family’s welfare. YLEK attorneys can help guide you through the planning process whether it’s your first will or you simply need to update your existing plan. Contact our office to discuss what documents might fit your needs:

  • Wills 
  • Living Wills 
  • Health Care Powers of Attorney 
  • Financial Powers of Attorney
  • Transfer on Death Documents
  • Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts 
  • Life Insurance Trusts 
  • Charitable Trusts 
  • Special Needs Trusts
  • Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNRs)

Education and Special Education Law

Your child spends a large part of their time at school.  That is their community.  But the rules and protections afforded students are often confusing.  Your child should receive an environment that is caring and safe. When there are issues with that, or your child is facing other issues at school, you should understand your child’s rights. 

For example, the law requires schools to formulate an individualized education program for a child, based on that child’s individual needs that is reasonably calculated to confer meaningful educational benefit. If that isn’t being done, let us discuss how we might be able to help.  If you have questions regarding harassment, school transfer problems, attendance and truancy issues, access to records, expulsion of a special needs student, suspensions, involuntary transfers or other issues, please contact us to see if we can help.

Real Estate Planning, Zoning, and Land Use

YLEK has a deep history of handling a broad variety of issues related to land use.  Whether you are a developer, commercial property owner or a homeowner’s association, we know issues with land use are often difficult to navigate.  We are happy to help address questions related to:

  • Zoning
  • Land use development
  • Land use related litigation
  • Zoning amendments and rezoning
  • Variances
  • Condemnations
  • Development and site plans
  • Zoning districts
  • Platting
  • Planned unit development projects
  • Zoning interpretations

Tax Sales and Foreclosure

If you have purchased a tax lien or are considering purchasing a lien, at an Indiana Tax Sale, please contact us. Every year each county in Indiana places properties that have delinquent taxes as eligible for the county tax sale. When you buy a tax lien you are not buying the real estate, but are buying part of a lawsuit.

If you are a tax lien buyer you are paying at least the back taxes to receive a priority lien against the property.  But Indiana tax sales are a judicial process and your tax lien needs to strictly follow the detailed statutory and case law requirements to be able to obtain title to the real estate.  An experienced attorney knowledgeable about the tax sale process should guide you through the process.  Mistakes can be very costly so be sure to ask any attorney if they regularly handle tax sale liens and petitions.

Most tax sales occur in the Fall.  If you are considering buying a tax lien please feel free to call us prior to the sale if you have questions.

Real Estate Law and Litigation

Real estate might be one of the most significant investments you will make. Real estate is often an import part of a business deal; buying your first home or forever home should be done right; and transferring assets after the loss of a loved one often involves real estate. 

To the best way to avoid legal disputes or issues down the road when you need to sell is to have a knowledgeable real estate lawyer review the contracts, purchase agreements, mortgages, deeds and other documents that are connected to the transaction. YLEK has advised on real estate transactions for more than 40 years.  We work closely with our clients to ensure complete due diligence, thoroughness, and creativity. We don’t want to leave items to chance. 

When disputes do occur, however, it is important to work with an attorney who understands the uniqueness and complexities of real estate law.  YLEK has a 40-year proven track record of resolving real estate disputes favorably for clients.  We know no one seeks out litigation and we understand it can be stressful.  We make every effort to resolve real estate disputes as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible while keeping our clients’ goals as the priority. Our depth of knowledge in real estate law is an added resource in providing creative and effective solutions to a variety of real estate and property rights matters, and often allows us to keep disputes from even going to trial. 

YLEK proudly has represented some of the leading commercial and residential real estate investors, developers, contractors, lenders, property managers, and brokers in the area.  We also perform residential services where we have helped thousands of individual property owners become homeowners.  If you have questions about any of the following, we would be glad to speak with you to learn more to see if we can assist you:

  • Purchase and sales agreements
  • Contract review, drafting, and negotiation
  • Construction contracts and disputes
  • Eviction
  • Eminent domain
  • Foreclosure
  • Financing Documents, Notes and Mortgages
  • HOA formation, administration and disputes
  • Commercial and residential lease
  • Mechanic’s liens
  • Quiet title actions
  • Indiana Home Improvement Contracts Act
  • Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act
  • Indiana’s New Home Construction Warranties Act
  • Real Estate purchase agreements
  • Easements and boundary disputes
  • Land use and zoning matters
  • Title insurance

Title and Real Estate Closing Services

While many title companies come and go, YLEK has over 40 years’ of experience closing real estate transactions.  We have worked with numerous lenders, developers, and municipalities to close everything from extremely complex multi-phase commercial developments to a new home purchase.  As the Buyer, knowing that the money you are putting into your home or your business project will be safe from title defects down the road is a foundational step.  And it is typically the buyer’s choice on who conducts this review.  We would be pleased to be a starting point for you during the process of acquiring real estate.       

We know real estate transactions can be complicated.  We are committed to closing each transaction with exceptional accuracy and timeliness.  If you need assistance with any of the follow please contact us to see how we might be able to assist you.

If you would like to place a title order online, please use our online order form.

Some of our Title and Real Estate Services include:

  • Title Search & Attorney Review
  • Financing Documents, Notes, and Mortgages
  • Clearing and removing liens
  • Contract Review, Drafting, and Negotiation
  • Quiet Title Actions
  • Title Insurance
  • Purchase and sales agreements
  • Remote notary, mobile, and email closings available – sign virtually anywhere
  • Construction contracts and disputes
  • Foreclosure
  • Drafting commercial and residential lease
  • Mechanic’s liens
  • Easements and boundary disputes
  • Land use and zoning matters