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What is Paternity and How Can It Be Established?

Posted in On March 13, 2024

In determining the rights and responsibilities both parents have towards a child, establishing paternity may simplify the process. In Indiana, paternity provides a child born outside of marriage a legal father. Establishing paternity outlines a father’s legal rights and responsibilities towards a child. Additionally, establishing paternity can aid in issues revolving around child custody, parenting time, and child support. Resolving paternity issues may allow a child the rightful ability to bond with both parents. How…

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What is mediation and why should I use it for my divorce?

Many divorcing spouses ask what mediation is and why it would be beneficial in their divorce case.  In this article, we will go over those questions and others to look at some of the advantages mediation has over other methods of finalizing a divorce case  Mediation is considered an alternative dispute resolution.  Instead of going to court and having a judge decide all of the terms of a divorce, spouses may be able to resolve…

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How do the holiday’s affect parenting time with my child?

As the holiday season approaches, many parents and families may be wondering how parenting time will be affected by the holiday season. You may have an order issued by the court which states how holidays are to be divided. However, in many cases, Courts may adopt the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines to determine holiday parenting time. In order to help establish an equal and balanced schedule, Indiana has outlined special guidance for holiday parenting time….

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When Can I Modify My Child Support?

Posted in On May 12, 2023

In paternity cases and dissolution of marriage cases involving unemancipated children, your court will likely order that one of the parents will have to pay child support to the other parent.  However, as with most child related issues, child support can be modified.  And so, when can that be accomplished? In Indiana, child support can only be modified in two circumstances.  One is when there has been a substantial change of circumstances that is continuing…

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Ignoring a Child Support Order in Indiana can lead to Serious Consequences

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…

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Indiana Guardianships

What is a guardianship? A guardianship is a legal action that allows a competent adult to make decisions on behalf of an incapacitated adult or minor child (“protected person”).  Guardianship can be over the person, over the estate, or over the person and estate of the protected person.   Guardianship over the person allows the guardian to make decisions including where the person resides, obtaining medical care, educational decisions, etc.  Guardianship over the estate addresses the…

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Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines and Additional Parenting Time

One of the most frequently asked questions by separated parents is – “When will I be able to see my children?”  When parents cannot otherwise agree, the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines (the “Guidelines”) set out the minimum standards for parenting time for the non-custodial parent.  The Guidelines set out a regular schedule, a holiday schedule, as well as extended parenting time.  The Guidelines are in place to make sure that each parent has the ability…

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DCS Substantiation Indiana

Navigating the DCS Substantiation Process The Indiana Department of Child Services (“DCS”) is an agency that is designed to protect a child’s welfare. DCS makes the initial determinations and findings on reports of alleged child abuse or neglect. They can either find a case to be “substantiated” or “unsubstantiated.” A substantiated child abuse or neglect report means a determination regarding the status of the report whenever facts obtained during an assessment of the report provide…

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