It would be naive to think that it is a rare occasion that substance abuse by a parent is raised in divorce and paternity cases; it is common and must be addressed by the courts. In a divorce proceeding it is important to note that, substance abuse, covers a very broad spectrum of “drugs” and is considered in varying degrees. If you find yourself in a situation where the words “substance abuse” have been brought up in your divorce, you may find this blog helpful.
It is ... Read More
13
Dec2019
06
Dec2019
The short answer is, it depends. In Indiana, there are two primary ways to obtain appellate attorney fees in a divorce matter. The first is found in Indiana Code section 31-15-10-1.1 The second is found under Indiana Rule of Appellate Procedure 66(E). Your basis for seeking attorney’s fees will determine which statute/rule to proceed under. In this blog, we provide a brief overview of the two mechanisms for obtaining appellate attorney’s fees in a divorce case, ... Read More
26
Nov2019
In a paternity or divorce case where custody is in dispute, it is not uncommon for the parents to have differing opinions and/or negative opinions of one another. It is inappropriate for these feelings and opinions to be expressed to, in front of, or around the child or children. This is something that a majority of parents are aware of and try to constrain because they are aware it is hurtful and harmful to the children. However, in some instances, these negative and toxic ... Read More
12
Sep2019
With Americans increasingly living and working abroad as we expand to a global workforce, Indiana divorces with international aspects are not uncommon.1 This blog briefly highlights some of the issues you need to know if you are in this situation.
Jurisdiction. As long as one of the parties have lived in the state and county for six (6) months, the Court has jurisdiction to entertain a divorce case and it can make a custody award, divide the property, ... Read More
03
Sep2019
In most counties, the trial courts make parties fill out financial declarations shortly after filing for a divorce and exchange it with the other side. These forms cover everything from income to weekly bills and assets and liabilities. Most litigants reel at this fact because the form takes some time to complete. However, the courts are doing parties a great favor by this mandatory “informal” discovery because it saves time and expense later, as it gives each divorcing party ... Read More
29
Aug2019
Individuals who find themselves in the middle of a paternity or divorce proceeding understand the emotional struggle that comes along with it. Whether it’s a paternity proceeding to establish custody, or a modification of a prior divorce decree, these types of proceedings never tend to get easier for people. For this reason, and some others, people treat these types of proceedings as a way to “air out dirty laundry” of the other. There are certainly numerous pieces of evidence that are ... Read More
27
Aug2019
You do not have to be a lawyer to recognize that today’s children are being raised in large numbers by third-parties, ranging from grandparents to relatives to friends and total strangers. Knowing how important stability is to a child’s sense of well-being, many third-parties mistakenly believe that they can just file in court and obtain “custody” since they are raising someone else’s children. However, the United States Supreme Court has determined that natural (and ... Read More
23
Aug2019
Everyone who begins a divorce watches television or has a friend who has certain beliefs in the divorce system that often shape how they talk about the process, view it and sometimes advise their friends. In this blog, we address three myths that are commonplace in Indiana. Avoid these and make the most of your divorce and expectations.
Sixty-day divorce. Under the Divorce Act, the court can divorce parties in 60 days. However, divorce is a complex financial transaction and where there are children involved, one that their ... Read More
22
Aug2019
The trial court’s final order, such as in a divorce case, dividing the property and making a custody award can be enforced immediately. And it usually is. That said, a litigant who does not want an order enforced pending an appeal has two ways to stop its enforcement pending an appeal. In this blog, we cover stays that stop a trial court’s final order from being enforced.
As a first step, which ... Read More
19
Aug2019
Indiana trial court judges are tasked with the duty to make sure that at the time of divorce (or paternity) adjudication the children’s best interests are met. If the parents have an agreement on custody and it is not contested, they may infer that agreement of the parties is in the children’s best interests. However, where physical and/or legal custody is contested, there are four key ways a trial court judge determines what is in a ... Read More