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A South Bend attorney has been suspended from the practice of law after the Indiana Supreme Court determined he had signed a forged will as a witness despite knowing it hadn’t been properly executed.
Attorney J. David Keckley signed a will that falsely would have made his paralegal the personal representative of the paralegal’s son’s estate and disinherited the son’s two daughters, according to court documents.
After the son died in April 2024 without having made a will, the paralegal allegedly created the forged will, purportedly executed in September 2023, the court found.
Keckley and another person allegedly signed the will as witnesses despite knowing it was not properly executed.
Keckley then submitted the will for probate and opened an estate last May, according to court documents. He also filed a Trial Rule 87 affidavit falsely declaring that the will was a true and accurate copy of the son’s last will and testament, documents state.
But less than a week later, Keckley filed a motion to set aside the will and state that the son died without one, acknowledging that the submitted will was unduly executed, according to court documents.
The following day, Keckley self-reported his own misconduct to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission. He also covered the son’s funeral expenses and paid claims against the estate with his own funds.
Keckley additionally took steps to ensure the estate’s limited assets were delivered to the son’s two daughters, Chief Justice Loretta Rush wrote.
Keckley is suspended from the practice for 120 days beginning on May 22. After that, he will be automatically reinstated. He must also pay $250 to the court to cover the costs of the proceedings.
Keckley did not not immediately respond to The Indiana Lawyer’s request for comment.
The case is In the Matter of: J. David Keckley, 25S-DI-59.
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