One commonly held belief is that marital property is always divided in half during divorce. It is true that Indiana law starts with the presumption that it should be divided 50/50, but the court can see fit to award more of the marital estate to one party over the other.  Background of the case In...

In Indiana, spousal maintenance, often referred to as alimony, is much more limited than in other states. While some places allow long-term or even permanent support after divorce, Indiana law only permits maintenance in very specific situations set out by statute.  The case of Bizik v. Bizik is still one of the most well-known examples...

Custody disputes can become especially tense when one parent wants to change an arrangement that is already in place—especially if things have been working, at least on the surface. Even when joint custody seems fine on paper, real-life challenges can cause one parent to push for a change. In the case of Palma v. Keown...

Relocation cases—when one parent wants to move away with the kids—are some of the most emotionally difficult and legally complex situations in family law. These aren’t just about changing zip codes; they’re about big life changes that can deeply affect everyone involved, especially the children. When a parent wants to move a significant distance, the...

Prenuptial agreements can become a major source of conflict during a divorce—especially if one spouse later feels the agreement was unfair or wasn’t handled properly when it was signed. In the case of Harill v. Harill, the Indiana Court of Appeals took another look at these kinds of disputes. The court reaffirmed the rules Indiana...

In Thompson v. Wolfram, the Indiana Court of Appeals addressed a common source of conflict in dissolutions involving prenuptial agreements: what happens to the appreciation of separate property during the marriage? This case provides important guidance for those in family court, underscoring that the precise wording of a prenup controls the outcome.  Background of the...

In Matzat v. Matzat, the Indiana Court of Appeals addressed a highly contested issue: when can a spouse receive incapacity-based spousal maintenance, and what evidentiary showing is required? The decision is still widely cited because it draws a clear line between permissible judicial discretion and the necessity of objective proof. For attorneys handling maintenance claims,...

In Johnson v. Johnson, decided by the Indiana Court of Appeals on June 20, 2035, the judges took up a family, but often tricky, question: when is it appropriate to change an existing custody arrangement? Indiana law sets a pretty firm standard. A parent cannot just argue that things have shifted. They also have to...

When separated or divorced parents share custody, a proposed move to a new city or state can raise difficult questions about parenting time, transportation, school placement, and the child’s stability. Indiana law does not automatically prohibit a parent from relocating, but it does not guarantee approval of the move, either. The Indiana Supreme Court’s decision...

In Indiana, what many folks think of as “alimony” is legally referred to as “spousal maintenance.” Unlike some states where alimony can be awarded based on fairness or need alone, Indiana only allows spousal maintenance in a minimal set of circumstances. The case of Matzat v. Matzat illustrates how carefully courts evaluate these requests and...