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, and divorce the parties. So at a basic level, Indiana courts can provide complete relief for the spouse (and children, if there are ... Read More
Tag: jurisdiction
12
Sep2019
09
Jul2019
Divorce is shrouded in fear and urban legend. However, for most couples in a broken relationship, it is the pathway to move on in a new and more positive direction when the divorce is ultimately granted by the Court. While divorce is a complex legal and financial transaction—and also an emotional one—sometimes involving professionals from psychologists to tax experts, it all boils down to three basic concepts you must understand to properly begin a divorce or help a friend through the process: jurisdiction, property division, and child custody. The fundamentals of each of these components of a divorce are the ... Read More
25
Jul2018
In the 1960s and 1970s, a parent and the kids would sometimes go on “vacation” and while away, the spouse with the children would file for divorce in another state to gain custody. This because so problematic (as is the case with child support enforcement) a uniform child custody (litigation) act was passed into1 law in all states. This law, which all other states recognize with some exceptions, dictates the child’s “home state” is where divorce and custody proceedings subsequent custody must occur. A child’s home state is where the child has lived for six months prior to the divorce ... 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 related to “foreign” real property.
The most common type of marital asset is ... Read More
16
May2017
Civil appeals are guided by very rigid appellate rules. Generally, missing an appellate deadline precludes a civil appeal. The only remedy is a malpractice action against counsel who failed to advise his or her of the appellate deadline or missed this deadline.
This is unlike criminal appeals, where belated appeals may be allowed due to the potential loss of life and liberty by incarceration. This blog explores a very narrow remedy that the Indiana Court of Appeals and Supreme Court have embraced where the facts of a civil are such that the case should be decided on the merits.1
Most attorneys confuse ... Read More
04
Aug2016
lSince criminal cases involve the potential loss of freedom, there are trial and appellate provisions for a criminal case to be brought by a filing belated Notice of Appeal. In civil cases, Appellate Rule 9(A), it clearly states that “[u]nless the Notice of appeals is timely filed, the right to appeal shall be forfeited.”
Historically, attorneys and Indiana courts have treated this rule stemming from the 1970s as jurisdictional. This means that without a timely filing, the appellate courts could not entertain the appeal because they lacked the jurisdiction to do so. In a new appellate case,1 furthering the reasoning of ... Read More
13
Apr2016
Every parent has heard or seen a story about a couple whose child is taken and secreted in another state by the other when troubles develop in the relationship. This has been a problem since the 1960s. In 1968, a uniform act was proposed that would ultimately be adopted in all states in some forms by the early 1980s. This blog post generally summarizes the potential use of the UCCJA.
In simple terms, the UCCJA allows a parent who files for divorce or takes action in the state where the child is removed to, to have the courts in both states ... Read More
16
Jun2015
Supposing a custodial parent is permitted by a court to relocate with the child to another state, there are often matters that arise after relocation that must be decided by a court with regard to the child. This brings up a relatively frequent question of which court decides, the court in the child’s former state of residence, generally the “home state,” or the state where the child now resides.
Generally, the court in the child’s former “home state” retains jurisdiction so long as the non-relocating parent resides there. However, a petition may be filed in the new state asking it to ... Read More
03
Mar2015
In the 1960s, it was common for a parent and child(ren) to take a “vacation” to another state, file divorce, and have this new state decide custody matters. Ultimately, this gained enough attention that the laws changed, as this new state would not have the necessary evidence to decide custody fully in a child’s best interests, and as a policy matter, “rewarded” a parent who fled to avoid a court best positioned to decide divorce, custody, and property matters.
For this reason, more or less uniform child custody jurisdiction laws1 were passed in the states, including Indiana.2 This is helpful when ... Read More
06
May2014
When a matter is ripe for appeal, there first must be a determination of which Court has jurisdiction. In many cases, the Court of Appeals has jurisdiction, and the briefs, appendix, and related filings will be reviewed by the Court of Appeals. This is generally true for final orders. In some cases, however, the jurisdiction goes straight to the Indiana Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over all appeals from Final Judgments of Circuit, Superior, Probate, and County Courts (if the Supreme Court does not have jurisdiction). Additionally, the Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over interlocutory (before a final ... Read More
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