Family & Domestic

Today, most people consider their pets as family members. So, what happens to those pets when two spouses divorce? Will one party be awarded “primary physical custody?” Is there a “parenting time” schedule ordered? Are the “best interests” of the pets considered? While custody disputes over pets in divorce proceedings have become increasingly more common,…

After filing for divorce, people often experience financial trouble. It can be brought on by many things that come with the divorce process: having to find a new home, paying for the legal fees that go with the divorce, losing the other spouse’s income, or simply the emotional trauma the divorce brings. Courts recognize that…

Divorce, alone, can be mentally and emotionally draining. Add in navigating the complexities of dividing property between spouses and the process can become overwhelming. In Indiana, in the absence of a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, property of either spouse, whether owned prior to marriage or acquired after marriage, is included in the marital pot. Courts…

Generally speaking, over 55% of all marriages fail. Most people ignore this statistic, believing their marriage will last forever. In Indiana, upon the filing of a divorce, all of your assets and debts are subject to being divided between spouses by a Court, regardless of whose name is on each asset or debt without a…

When parents choose to file for divorce, far too many fail to realize the immediate and permanent damage that it does to their children, regardless of their age. As soon as any child is made aware that his or her parents are going through a divorce, the psychological and emotional damage has begun.  If you…

The filing of a divorce, with or without children, places a huge financial and emotional impact upon families. Once a divorce has been filed, life will no longer be the same for the husband, the wife, nor their children. The emotional impact of a divorce will be the subject of another article.  The financial impact…

There is a huge emotional cost for yourself and your spouse. If you have children, the filing of a divorce has a devastating emotional impact on all children, regardless of age.  It is strongly suggested that you consider counselors, therapists, your Clergy, or close friends to discuss your feelings, the reactions of your spouse, and,…

Navigating parenting time is already frequently challenging when changes and uncertainties arise due to illnesses, school scheduling and changes in work schedules.  If you are a parent in Michigan or Indiana, add the national COVID-19 epidemic in the Spring of 2020 to the mix, and even more questions are entered into the equation.  How are…

If you find yourself in a contentious custody matter, might the appointment of a Guardian Ad-Litem benefit you and your children?  Often times in a divorce involving children, the issues most at the heart of settlement involve who will have custody of the children.  Parents have been accustomed to living with their children throughout the…

You are in the middle of a divorce case or custody matter and it doesn’t seem you or the other parent can agree on anything when it comes to the custody and parenting of the kids, what avenues might you have?  It may be time to appoint a guardian ad-litem for the children. A guardian…