MaryEllen K. Bishop

Partner

317.237.0500

MaryEllen is a trusted guide for clients facing life’s most difficult transitions. With empathy and clarity, she builds strong, supportive relationships and ensures her clients feel heard, understood, and never alone. More than a legal advisor, MaryEllen is a problem solver who advocates with heart and delivers practical solutions tailored to each unique situation so clients can move forward with confidence.

Practice Areas

Real Estate Litigation

Estates, Trusts & Guardianships

Estate Planning & Administration

"I approach every client situation with empathy, integrity, and a genuine commitment to understand your unique needs so you can navigate complex issues with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind—so you and your loved ones can focus on what matters most."

MaryEllen Bishop is a trusted attorney with more than 40 years of experience in estate and trust planning, probate, and trust litigation. Known for her compassion and integrity, she has earned the confidence of countless individuals and families navigating some of life’s most personal and complex legal matters.

A Board-Certified Indiana Trust and Estate Lawyer and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, MaryEllen brings both expertise and empathy to every client relationship. Her dedication to service extends far beyond her legal practice. She served for 12 years on the Indiana University Board of Trustees and remains actively involved in local legal and charitable organizations—all driven by her enduring commitment to helping others thrive.

Indiana University Kelley School of Business, B.S., 1979
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D., 1982
Supreme Court of Indiana, 1983
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 1983
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, 1983
U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
U.S. Tax Court, 1983

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) – Fellow
ICLEF, Co-chair of the Midwest Estate, Tax & Business Institute, 2011–Present
Indianapolis Bar Association – Distinguished Fellow
Indiana State Bar Foundation – Fellow
Indiana Super Lawyers, 2004-2025
- Top 25 Women
Indiana Probate Code Study Commission – Two-term Appointee under Governors Frank O’Bannon and Joseph Kernan, 2001-05
Indiana University – Board of Trustees Member, 2010-22
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
- Rated AV® Preeminent Peer Review
- Selected inaugural Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, 2011
Newsletter Editor for the ISBA Probate, Trust and Real Property Newsletter
The Best Lawyers in America, 2006-2025– Estate Planning and Estate and Trust Litigation
Trust and Estate Specialty Board – Board-Certified Indiana Trust and Estate Lawyer

Real Estate Litigation

Estates, Trusts & Guardianships

Estate Planning & Administration

Indiana University Kelley School of Business, B.S., 1979
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D., 1982
Supreme Court of Indiana, 1983
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 1983
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, 1983
U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
U.S. Tax Court, 1983

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) – Fellow
ICLEF, Co-chair of the Midwest Estate, Tax & Business Institute, 2011–Present
Indianapolis Bar Association – Distinguished Fellow
Indiana State Bar Foundation – Fellow
Indiana Super Lawyers, 2004-2025
- Top 25 Women
Indiana Probate Code Study Commission – Two-term Appointee under Governors Frank O’Bannon and Joseph Kernan, 2001-05
Indiana University – Board of Trustees Member, 2010-22
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
- Rated AV® Preeminent Peer Review
- Selected inaugural Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, 2011
Newsletter Editor for the ISBA Probate, Trust and Real Property Newsletter
The Best Lawyers in America, 2006-2025– Estate Planning and Estate and Trust Litigation
Trust and Estate Specialty Board – Board-Certified Indiana Trust and Estate Lawyer

Indiana Law Survey, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, 2014-2022
“Indiana Law Update,” ICLEF, 2004-2012
“What’s New in Estate Planning and Administration,” Indianapolis Bar Association, 2002-2023