Divorce & Family Law

Divorce and Family Law Attorney

Indiana recognizes the concept of no-fault divorce, meaning that one party does not have to prove that the other spouse is to blame for causing the divorce. As long as it can be shown that the marriage is irretrievably broken, the court will grant a divorce. Ellis Law in Terre Haute, Indiana can prepare the petition for dissolution of marriage and make sure that all legal formalities are properly followed. We can also assist with important issues such as property division, spousal support, child custody and child support, particularly when the parties cannot resolve these issues on their own.

Man walking inside the law office — Lawyers Terre Haute, IN

Divorce and Family Law Attorney

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

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DIVORCE

Divorce
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Child Support
Visitation
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Legal Separation
Emancipation
Annulment
Adoption - Lic# 8537-84

Property Distribution

The proper characterization and valuation of marital property is essential to a fair, equitable distribution, and having a knowledgeable, persuasive attorney is critical to making sure you are not unfairly taken advantage of in the property settlement.

Spousal Support

The court can order spousal support to be paid by either spouse, on either a temporary or permanent basis. Many factors go into the determination of whether to order support and how much support is appropriate, including the education, earning capacity, and job skills of each spouse, and whether a physical or mental incapacity of the spouse or child in the spouse's custody would prevent the spouse from working.

Child Custody and Support

Visitation is based on the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines, but the court has discretion based on the facts of each case in determining custody and parenting time. Similarly, the state provides child support guidelines for the court to follow, but the court may deviate from these guidelines when convinced that it should be based on evidence presented to it by the parties.

In addition to divorce, we help individuals and families with other family law matters, including step-parent adoptions and obtaining or challenging protective orders in situations involving domestic violence.

Divorce Mediation

Although not right for every occasion, mediation is often the most appropriate forum for achieving positive results in family law disputes. In a mediation, a third party mediator facilitates discussion between the two disputing parties and assists them in resolving the dispute by providing a confidential forum to communicate openly. Mediation provides an expeditious, informal and cost-effective alternative to litigation, but not every dispute can be resolved in mediation. Mediation is not necessarily binding upon the parties. If they reach and sign an agreement, the mediator will file that agreement with the court. If they are unable to resolve their dispute in mediation, they may still proceed to trial to obtain a resolution.