The Attorneys at Dixon & Moseley, P.C.
Strong, Trial-Ready Advocates Protecting Your Rights
Several recent blog posts have directly or indirectly addressed the shift away from the traditional family of a mother, father, and two children to a more blended family, often involving participation from extended family members and step-parents. Other third parties can even be guardians or custodians who are not related to the parties, but help raise the children. A recently…
When a child is born to a married couple, it may seem ridiculous to ask the question, who is the daddy? But, sometimes, this may not be a ridiculous question after all. Most all divorce petitions and decrees include the names and ages of the children born of the marriage (if under 21), but also include the statement “Wife is…
Recent blogs have discussed civil protective orders and related matters when there is a harm or threat of harm from a family or household member1. In filing a petition for a civil protection order, the party petitioning for same must check whether the person they are seeking to protect themselves against relationship to them2. For example, the person may be…
In civil cases, which include divorce and paternity actions, each party has the right to request a Special Judge (also called a change of Judge) one time.1 After a final decree is issued, such as a divorce decree, if a party seeks to modify same (modify custody, parenting time, or child support), either party is again entitled to one change…
While not exclusive to family law and divorce matters, protective orders may be companion cases to family law, when one party feels threatened by the other. However, there are specific standards for why a protective order may be issued. Additionally, there is a public policy argument in support of protective orders, as they may prevent domestic violence or other harm…
When a child is born to a couple that isn’t married, and who presumably have two different last names (surnames), non-marital parents could face the challenges of not only crafting a proper first name for their child, but the daunting decision of whose last name they should give the child, the Mother’s or the Father’s, or both? Traditionally in America,…
A recently decided case in Indiana addressed an issue often not considered in divorce proceedings, namely, if one or both of the parties (Husband and/or Wife) have co-signed on a loan, is that a debt of the marriage? First, a co-signer is generally not liable until the borrower actually defaults on the loan. This is done as a guarantee to…
As family law matters progress, one of the first issues to be determined by the parties is parenting time/custody. In some instances, the parties can agree to or are ordered to have joint physical custody. Other times, one parent is granted sole physical custody pursuant to the other parent’s parenting time. Parenting time is often granted, at a minimum, pursuant…
Without a court order a grandparent does not have a right to visitation with their grandchild. In other words, unless allowed by a parent, a grandparent cannot demand certain visitation with a grandchild. There are, however, specific circumstances under which a grandparent has the right to seek visitation. A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that just any third-party may…
In family law or other civil matters, settlement before trial is often an option. Mediation is one means of achieving settlement before a matter goes to Court. Generally, in mediation, the parties and their attorneys meet with a neutral third party mediator who has general information as to the background of the case and acts as a go-between to negotiate…