In the world we all live in, we live and die by the internet — no doubt. When we need to buy things, where do we turn? Inevitably, the internet. Be it Amazon, Walmart, or Google, we are turning to things we see online for answers. The days of shopping in person are slowing dying like tape cassettes, CD’s, and telephones with chords. Part and parcel to this consumer process, often we are looking for…
Many people going through separation and divorce are familiar with child support and orders for health care, uninsured medical expenses, etc. for their children. Fewer are aware of the ability of the trial court to order one spouse to continue to support another spouse. While Indiana laws do not provide for Alimony, per se, they do provide for instances where one spouse may have been incapacitated or need additional time to re-enter the workforce at…
Once a Trial Court in the State of Indiana issues a child support order for a child(ren), a non-custodial parent will need to make necessary arrangements to pay the ordered amount. Ignorance of how to make payments is no excuse. Every state has been mandated by the Title IV-D of the Federal Social Security Act to provide child support services, including enforcement of payment. This is called the Title IV-D Child Support Program (or Title…
Effective January 1, 2022, the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines (“IPTG”) will receive its biggest make-over in years. While the new guidelines do not necessarily impact prior custody or parenting time plans, the parties to existing orders can agree to adopt these new guidelines for ease, convenience and uniformity. Regardless, as with previous versions of the IPTG, a modification of parenting time cannot be based solely on the implantation of the new guidelines. Below, we’re giving…
Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM) is a process that adopts a co-mediation approach utilizing both a specially trained Mediator and a Child Consultant during a family’s separation. This process helps separating parents focus on the best interests of their children by giving them the opportunity to have their views heard about the changes in their family in a safe and confidential environment without the fear of upsetting either parent. The Child Consultant is trained to ensure…
Like many things in life, families come in many shapes and sizes. Families are formed and can change throughout a lifetime, including the roles parents play in a child’s life. Having a father in your child’s life comes with many benefits, including emotional connection, support, and avoiding future complications that come with establishing paternity. But what happens if the man listed on the birth certificate is not in fact the child’s biological father? Can you…
When filing for divorce in Indiana, it is important that you file in the correct place. To file a petition for dissolution in the state of Indiana, at least one party must have lived in Indiana for at least six months. The Indiana party could be a resident of Indiana or a member of the United States military who has been stationed in Indiana. The county in Indiana in which the petition is filed will…
What is a No Contact Order? (Ind. Code 35-26-5 and 35-26-6) Courts can impose various forms of No Contact Orders, and they can even be a necessary condition of release on bail. No Contact Orders prevent one from (as the name suggests) contacting another individual, usually in the aftermath of a domestic dispute or other interpersonal conflict. (See Ind. Code 35-33-8-3.6). In the case of a domestic dispute, individuals often do not leave their home…