Attorney Profile

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Robert W. York has been a practicing Indiana Attorney since 1973 having obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence with honors from Indiana University School of Law. He is a former Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, a former Indiana Administrative Law Judge and, currently, a frequent Special Judge presiding over major felony criminal cases. He is the senior lawyer of Robert W. York & Associates in Indianapolis, Indiana and devotes his practice to representation of clients in courts throughout Indiana. He is admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court and all of the courts of Indiana. He has memberships in a number of trial lawyer associations and Bar Associations. He is a recognized author in a number of legal publications and was Editor of Verdict magazine for 12 years. He has been certified by the United States Hockey Association as a Master Coach and has coached 40 youth hockey and baseball teams.

Admitted to bar:

Indiana, 1973; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana; 1973; U.S. Tax Court, 1984; U.S. Supreme Court; 1991; Pro Hac Vice, U.S. District Court, Wyoming, 2012.

Current Practice Focus:

Litigation involving: estates/trusts/probate/guardianships; business; contracts; insurance; and, injury, in all Indiana state and federal courts.

Education:

Indiana University-Fort Wayne (B.S., 1969);

Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis (J.D., cum laude, 1973).

Intern, Marion County Prosecuting Attorney, 1972-73.  Marion County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, 1973-74.

Honors and Awards:

• AV Preeminent Rating
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
• Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, (1999-2019)
• Martindale-Hubble Rating, AV (1999-2019)
• Indianapolis Bar Association Board of Manager's Award
• Indianapolis Bar Association President's Award

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Administrative Law Judge, Indiana, 1974-83.  Frequent Special Judge, major felony jury trials (1992-2011, 2016-2018). Frequent Hearing Officer, attorney discipline matters 2013-2020.  Frequent court-appointed estate, guardian and trust fiduciary. Mediator.

Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, (1999-2020).

Martindale-Hubble Rating, AV (1999-2020).

Indiana Trial Lawyers Association (President, 1998-1999; Board of Directors, 1983 - 2020, College of Fellows, 1993-2020, Emeritus Director, 1999-2020).

Indianapolis Bar Association (1973-2020: Board of Directors 2006-2012, 2014; Vice-President, 2008, 2014; Chair various committees, 2006-2019);

Indiana State Bar Association, 1973-2020;

American Bar Association, 1973-2020.

Indianapolis Bar Foundation (Distinguished Fellow; Senior Fellow)

Chairman, Marion County Local Probate Rules Committee, 2009-2014.

Editor, Verdict Law Journal, 1986-1998.

Litigation Counsel of America - 2007-2020: Fellow and Senior Fellow; Order of Justicia (100 + Jury/Court Trials); Member, Diversity Law Institute, 2020; Member, Trial Law Institute, 2020; and, additional professional organizations.

American Association of Justice
Member

Civil Justice Foundation
Member

Head Injury Foundation of Indiana
Member

Trial Lawyers For Public Justice
Member

Fellow and Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2007-2019; Member, Diversity Law Institute, 2019; Member, Trial Law Institute, 2019; and, additional professional organizations.

Hamilton County Bar Association
Member

State Chairman Law-Pac Fund Development Committee, 1983 - 1986

Citizen's Commission for the Future of Indiana Courts, 1997

Indian Lake Country Club, Inc., 2007
President

U.S.A. Master Hockey Coach certification – 1992

Publications and Seminary Presentations

“Motion Practice – Oral Arguments,” IBA Seminar, Las Vegas, 2010;

“Top Ten Rules To Follow In First Probate Case,” ISBA Women in the Law Bench/Bar Retreat, Culver, Indiana, March 5, 2011;

“Evidence in Probate/Trust Litigation,” ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, November 18, 2011;

“Five Key Cases of 2011:  120 Hot Tips in Estate Practice,” ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, December 20, 2011;

“New Marion County Local Probate Rules and Forms,” IBA Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, January 25, 2012;

“Jury Trials in Will Contest Actions,” IBA Seminar, Sedona, AZ, November 16, 2012;

“Claims Against Decedents’ Estates,” IBA Seminar, Sedona, AZ, November 16, 2012;

“Five Key Cases of 2012:  120 Hot Tips in Estate Practice,” ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, December 21, 2012;

“Traps for the Non-Probate Practitioner,” IBA Seminar, Louisville, KY, June 14, 2013;

“Estate & Trust Litigation,” ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, July 16, 2013;

“Pitfalls for the Non-Probate Practitioner,” IBA Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, December 5, 2013;

“Five Key Cases of 2013:  120 Hot Tips in Estate Practice,” ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, December 20, 2013;

“Five Key Cases of 2014:  120 Hot Tips in Estate Practice,” ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, December 22, 2014.

“Five Key Cases of 2015:  120 Hot Tips in Estate Practice,” ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, December 22, 2015.

“York's Top Ten Probate Decisions - With Practice Pointers,” ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, March 24, 2016.

“Five Key Cases of 2016:  120 Hot Tips in Estate Practice,” ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, December 21, 2016.

“Evidentiary Problems in Probate Litigation:  Probate & Trust Litigation,” ICLEF Seminar, August 22, 2017.

“Five Key Cases of 2017:  120 Hot Tips in Estate Practice,” ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, December 20, 2017.

“Five Tips on Managing Abusive and Vexatious Litigation:” 120 Hot Tips in Estate Practice,” ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, December 19, 2018.

Past Employment Positions:

Intern to Attorney General, State of Indiana, 1970-72.

Intern, Marion County Prosecuting Attorney, 1972-73.

Marion County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, 1973-74.

Administrative Law Judge, Indiana, 1974-83.

Frequent Special Judge, major felony jury trials (1992-2011, 2016-2018).

Frequent Hearing Officer, attorney discipline matters 2013-2020.

Frequent court-appointed estate, guardian and trust fiduciary. Mediator.

Contact Us

To speak with an attorney about opening an estate, the death of a loved one, probate dispute, employment matter, insurance dispute, business dispute, or any other important legal matter, contact Robert W. York & Associates by calling 317-842-8000 or contact us by email.