The Role of the Child Support Bureau
Child support, as an aspect of a divorce or paternity case, can seem like a fairly straightforward concept. You go to court, a judge issues an order, and the payments start coming. While this is the outcome in an ideal situation, it is not uncommon to need additional support and intervention from the courts and/or...
Property Division and Beneficiaries’ Rights After Divorce
Decisions about property division in a divorce can often be one the biggest issues in dispute as each side works to get what they believe is a fair share. Couples able to reach an agreement on this issue will typically find courts willing to accept their terms, unless they seem particularly unequal or unfair. If...
Domestic Violence: What it Means in Divorce and Paternity Cases
Deciding to divorce takes careful thought and planning, but in some cases it takes true acts of courage to initiate divorce when one spouse is the victim of domestic violence. Recognizing the obstacles some victims of domestic violence experience when transitioning away from the abusive spouse, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway sponsored a fundraising drive this...
Proposed Changes to Child Support Guidelines
Child support is a central issue to any divorce proceeding that often becomes a source of contention between the spouses. Having uniform guidelines to structure the amounts a parent must pay and how the money is to be used brings stability to the system and a level of comfort to parents that know child support...
Penalties for Non-Payment of Child Support
Becoming the primary caregiver for a child after divorce greatly increases the responsibility one parent must carry, not only in time and effort but also financially. These additional duties render the importance of regular child support payments a very high and necessary priority. If an ex-spouse fails to make payments on time or stops paying...
Grandparent’s Rights to Child Visitation and Custody
The decision of couples to divorce or end a relationship that involves minor children affects family members far beyond the core unit of parent and child. Grandparents are especially impacted by this decision, since it is common for grandparents and grandchildren to have close relationships. A recent story out of Goshen highlights the plight of...
What is a Guardian Ad Litem?
In some family law cases there is a person appointed to represent the best interest of the child. The guardian ad litem, frequently abbreviated “GAL,” is a trained volunteer who is appointed by the court to represent the best interest of the child pursuant to Indiana Code 31-9-2-50. Indiana law states that the GAL shall...
Teen Drivers and Cell Phones
As of July 1, 2015 teen drivers are no longer allowed to use any sort of telecommunication devices for any purpose while behind the wheel. The law is aimed at younger drivers, especially those under the age of 21. Under the new law, all drivers under the age of 21 with a probationary license are...
What is a Preliminary Hearing?
Once a spouse files for divorce there are several matters that need to be addressed prior to the finalizing of the dissolution of the marriage. Sometimes spouses talk before the divorce is filed and determine how custody and parenting time will be arranged, who will stay in the marital home, who will pay what bills,...
What Happens When a Custodial Parent Moves?
The Notice of Intent to Relocate statute describes the requirements custodial parents must follow if they are planning to relocate out of state. If subject to a custody order, a visitation order, or child support order, a notice of intent must be filed with the court before a move can take place.[1] The relocating parent...