Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation
From working at the century-old Sansberry Dickmann Freeman & Builta to opening his own practice in 2000, John has represented individuals, couples, and business clients large and small for over 30 years. He strives to always listen and to provide advice in an understandable, caring way, with diligence.
Activities & Affiliations
Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation, an Indiana law specialty
- President, co-founder, Guardian Association of Indiana, Inc.
Co-Founder, CEO, Legal Counsel, Guardian Advocates, Inc., a VASIA program organization
National Certified Guardian (NCG) by the Center for Guardianship Certification (2021)
Indiana State Bar (Probate, Trust and Real Property section & Elder Law section)
The Madison County Bar Association
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Indiana Chapter of NAELA (Past-President & Board of Directors)
Past Chairman, current Board Director, for LifeStream Services, Inc., an Area Agency on Aging
Past Board of Directors, Community Long Term Care Inc. dba Essential Health & Living care facilities
Rotary Club, (President 2005-07, 2018-19)
Past Elder (Board Director), current adult Bible teacher & volunteer at church http://bccanderson.org
Education
I.U. LAW SCHOOL
Jurisprudence Doctorate, 1993 Indiana University School of Law
WABASH COLLEGE
B.A., with distinction, Political Science & Biology, 1989, Wabash College
Year-long exchange student program at Aberdeen University, Scotland, in 1987-1988.
Bar Admissions
• Indiana, South & North Federal Districts, US Tax Court
Publications and Appearances
Local radio stations WHBU and WMDH and Channel 8 News as an expert on Elder Law issues
Author and presenter of “Guardianships – Law Changes, forms & procedures” – Madison Co Bar (Attorneys) Assn July 19, 2019
“Unprogram” Indiana Chapter of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys – Feb 2016
“Elder law Updates” – Madison Co Bar Assn July 2015
“Use of Trusts in Benefits Planning” – Advanced Elder Law Seminar 2014
(Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, ICLEF, Healthcare Reform Law: Changes Affecting Older Adults – Elder Law Institute, (ICLEF) October 2010 & October 2012)
Post-Mortem Options – Elder Law Institute, (ICLEF) October 8-9, 2009); Fundamentals of Will & Trust Drafting – Elder Law, ICLEF Nov. 2006 & 2007)
Probate: Beyond the Basics – Law Update & Probate Ethics, (National Business Institute (NBI) 2005, 2006 & 2007)
Indiana Medicare & Medicaid Law (Half-Moon LLC 2005)
Estate, Financial & Health Care Planning for the Elder Clients in Indiana (NBI 2005)
Pre-filing Process of Estate Administration (ICLEF Oct. 2001); Estate Planning: (if we had only known) (American Cancer Society Estate Planning Seminar, May 2000), and Antenuptials, Do’s and Don’ts, (ICLEF, Law Day Seminar, Anderson, IN., May 1996)
Co-author of: Builta and Longnaker, Law and the Householder: Sales, Contracts, and Warranties (ICLEF, Annual Real Estate Institute, November 1997)
Freeman and Longnaker, Mechanic’s Lien Foreclosure Procedures (ICLEF, 1995 & Nov. 1999)