Not long ago the trend was filing for divorce mid-winter and in early spring. However, in our ever-changing mobile society, everything is different. The same appears to be true for divorce. Working from home and/or blended school calendars may be a few factors that account for shifting trends of when divorce is filed. This blog explores key reasons why filing divorce in the summer may be a prudent consideration for some couples when it was not a norm or even considered in ... Read More
13
Jun2018
15
May2018
Life is messy. Divorce really is messy and emotional; this plays out in the courtroom. Trial court judges often face the presentation of evidence in final hearings that is disorganized and ranges from notes and texts to emails and photos. With highly contested divorces, there may be multiple days of hearings over many months or even years. Mostly, for this reason, there are three common mistakes that occur in final decrees that make for strong appeals. This blog covers these three issues for ... Read More
03
Apr2018
Three Ways to Protect “Loans” From Family and Friends in Divorce Proceedings
How can I protect money my parents or friends loaned me (actually “us” legally speaking) from being divided with my spouse in the divorce?
A common scenario that unfolds in a divorce is a claim by the husband or wife that certain money in the marital estate and asset was loaned the divorcing couple and should be repaid. In most cases, there is not a perfected loan (document) recognized under Indiana ... Read More
31
Jan2018
This blog discusses the considerations in the division of a farm as part of the marital estate and how same may be valued in a dissolution proceeding. A farm that as part of the marital estate creates unique issues in a dissolution of marriage, and the potential for argument over the ultimate division of the farm property, which the firm has handled at the trial court level and on appeal to higher courts.
In determining the division of farm property, some consideration must be given ... Read More
08
Jan2018
In some divorces, there is “foreign” real estate within the total marital estate1. Typically, this falls into one of three categories: (1) a timeshare or some other similar factional ownership; (2) a home or property sited in another state; or (3) a home or property located in another country. Under the Indiana Divorce Act—Indiana’s body of law that guides judges in divorce proceedings—all such real property is subject to the jurisdiction of the divorce court and must be divided. This blog covers the unique legal concepts and issues ... Read More
06
Nov2017
Marriages fail for many reasons. There are no longer fault-based divorces in America. This means that a spouse no longer has to prove “fault” such as adultery—an affair--to obtain a divorce. This is a different legal concept than “waste”—when a spouse uses assets and monies to support illicit or illegal acts that reduce the amount the trial court has to divide in a divorce. The presumption is an equal division on divorce. This blog post introduces the complex legal analysis that ... Read More
03
Nov2017
The Use of Forensic Accountants and Private Investigators to Find Hidden Assets in Divorce
In Indiana when you file for divorce, there is a rebuttable presumption that the Court is to divide the marital estate or assets 50/50. Sometimes there are allegations that a party has hidden monies and other assets of the marriage that has to be divided. There is a rule that the division of the marital estate cannot exceed its entire value.1
This means that if the total value of the ... Read More
12
Oct2017
In complex or high asset divorces, attorneys sometimes face property, such as a vacation home, located abroad. The question becomes, “is this part of the marital estate?” Yes. All property no matter where located is marital property. Indiana subscribes, under the Dissolution Act, to the one pot theory where all assets brought into the marriage, acquired during the marriage, or to the date of filing are assets of the marriage the court can divide.
This is settled law. This blog explores enforcement of ... Read More
04
Oct2017
In a key case decided by the Indiana Court of Appeals, it clarified two important points about family law and college 529 accounts. These are educational accounts opened by a parent or parents for payment of college expenses for their children, with a parent as an owner and the child as a beneficiary.
Normally, a petition for college expenses has to be filed before the age the child is emancipated as a matter of law at age 19.1 This was a point of contention in this new case. ... Read More
13
Jun2017
The point of divorce is to divide and financially separate each party from the other—completely if there are no children; children are subject to the continuing jurisdiction of the court until emancipated or through college. This blog covers the complexities of situations where the parties have a parcel of real property in another state or country, addressing the question: Can a trial court divide this real property, and if so, how is the judgment enforced?
Indiana follows the one pot ... Read More