For most people, being accused of and charged with a crime is one of the most scary, stressful things that can happen. But what if you’re accused of a crime, and perhaps even charged with one, and you are totally innocent? Sadly, this happens. The criminal justice system is founded upon the belief that witnesses will truthfully report what occurred. When a witness testifies in court, he or she is placed under oath by a…
Post-secondary educational obligations are those that a Court may order on a parent to financially contribute to a child’s college educational expenses. In Indiana, Courts may order divorced, separated, or parents of a child born out of wedlock to contribute to a child’s post-secondary educational expenses. Post-secondary educational support orders differ from child support orders in that child support orders typically terminate on the child’s 19th birthday, while post-secondary educational support orders can continue past…
I want to start this article by clarifying that this is specifically for people who have completed their sentence for the criminal conviction that led to them being on the registry. If you are on probation or parole, there may be additional court orders or restrictions that prevent you from leaving the State. You should consult with an Indianapolis criminal attorney and your probation or parole officer before doing so. For someone who is or…
Most people familiar with the legal system (or who have seen any criminal show on TV), have heard of the word of “contempt.” Most people also know being held in contempt isn’t a good thing, obviously. Yet, what most people don’t realize is that there are multiple forms of contempt. Broadly speaking, there are two main types of contempt: civil and criminal. This blog will focus on the criminal form of contempt. But what is…
Personal injuries can be life-altering events, leaving individuals with physical, emotional, and financial burdens. In the aftermath of an accident, it’s common for people to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about their rights and options. This blog aims to address some frequently asked questions (FAQs) surrounding personal injury claims, shedding light on the crucial information that can help individuals navigate the legal complexities associated with such incidents. 1. What qualifies as a personal injury? Personal injury…
Facing criminal charges is an incredibly stressful situation. A question that we often get from our clients is how long the process will take for a case to be completed. The short answer is that there are many variables that go into a criminal case’s timeline, but generally speaking, most judges have expectations for how long cases should remain open. Misdemeanor and level 6 felony cases typically take anywhere from 30 days to 6 months…
Parents and families may be curious as to how and when a modification in custody and parenting time would be granted. Family courts take careful consideration when deciding whether to modify custody and parenting time in order to avoid disrupting the child’s stability. However, a child’s and family’s needs may evolve over time and thus, a modification in custody or parenting time may be needed to better suit the needs of the child. In doing…
Those of us who grew up decades ago may recall that physical discipline of your children was more commonly accepted than it is today. You may hear that, if you use physical discipline against your children, you can be charged with “Battery on a Child”. Some parents go by the old standard of “if it doesn’t leave a mark”. In Indiana, it is recognized that there is a defense to this charge called “reasonable parental…
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Brad Banks who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a criminal defense attorney.