Custody rules in Indiana are open to the interpretation of the judge presiding over a case. The rules for custody arrangements require that a judge prioritize the best interests of the children in a family, which usually means a shared custody arrangement where both...
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Family Law
It doesn’t mean you want a divorce if you ask for a prenup
Many times, people admit that they want to use a prenuptial agreement, or a prenup, but they refuse to ask their partner for one. They’ll say that their future spouse would be very offended. They may even end the marriage before it gets started. For this reason, they...
Should you try to keep the house? Weighing the pros and cons.
The house where you live with your spouse is probably one of your most valuable assets, if not the most valuable property that you share. You may have dedicated years of your life toward paying down the principal balance on the mortgage and also fixing up or...
Does life expectancy impact divorce?
Over the decades, life expectancy has been slowly increasing. Though there are times when it declines, the general trend is that people are simply living longer and longer, especially in developed countries. Some have said that this can impact the way that people look...
What happens to retirement funds in divorce?
Planning for retirement takes decades, and spouses often make joint sacrifices so that they can live comfortably after they retire. Your retirement savings reflects how much money you estimated you would need to support yourself and your spouse while sharing a home....
Why divorcing couples with children increasingly turn to mediation
By the time one of you files for divorce, you and your ex are probably not relating to each other very well. Whether you have grown apart over multiple years or experienced a catastrophic rupture in your relationship because of violence or infidelity, divorce is a...
How do divorced parents account for children on taxes?
When parents get divorced, there are many things they need to discuss. One of the topics that should be addressed is how to handle your children on your taxes. When parents divorce, only one parent will be able to claim their child as a dependent on their taxes. For...
How does Indiana determine custody?
One of the more difficult aspects of a divorce is the prospect of having to share custody of the kids. One of the reasons why parents have difficulty coming to terms with this is because they have seen dramatizations of television and in the news in which parents have...
Why is it important to establish paternity?
Here in Indiana, a mother is automatically understood to be the legal parent of the child born to them. State law doesn't see a man's paternity similarly, though. There's a presumption of paternity when a dad is married to a child's mother at birth. State law doesn't...
2 ways divorce is different for those with Chinese heritage
Divorce is never an easy process, but it can be harder for people from certain backgrounds. Indiana is home to many people who either immigrated from China or are the descendants of Chinese immigrants. Historically, divorce has carried a significant stigma in China,...