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Executive Summary There are many differences and common misconceptions surrounding custody and parenting time. Custody, which is divided into legal custody and physical custody, deals with who has the authority to make major decisions about a child’s life and where the child primarily lives, respectively. Parenting time refers to the schedule of when each parent will physically spend time with…

Executive Summary Yes, custody can be modified in Indiana. Courts require a showing that modification of custody is in the best interests of the child and that there has been a substantial change in one or more statutory factors the court looks at when deciding custody. Some common examples of changes that warrant custody modification include a significant change in…

Executive Summary When parents separate or divorce, child custody is often the most emotional and contested issue. In Indiana, judges do not award custody based on gender, income alone, or who “deserves” it more. Instead, courts apply a legal standard known as the “best interests of the child.” Courts consider 8 statutory factors to determine what custody arrangement is in…

Stepparent adoption grants the same legal rights and responsibilities to a stepparent that a biological parent would have. In addition to meeting the requirements associated with any form of adoption, the stepparent must be leally married to the custodial parent to adopt their stepchild. The non-custodial biological parent of the child must consent to the adoption absent specific legal grounds…

Executive Summary The short answer is no, Indiana is not a 50/50 divorce state, but it often starts out that way. Indiana does not require marital property to be divided equally in every divorce. Instead, Indiana follows the rule of equitable distribution, with a presumption that an equal division is fair unless evidence shows otherwise. The court looks at the…

Executive Summary In order to divorce in Indiana, at least one spouse must meet the statutory residency requirement. There are numerous grounds recognized for divorce by Indiana courts, but the most common is irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. A spouse seeking a divorce must prepare a petition including information about any minor or dependent children they have, as well as…

Executive Summary A guardianship is a court supervised legal arrangement where a judge appoints a guardian to make decisions for someone that is incapacitated and unable to make decisions about their finances. To obtain a guardianship, a prospective guardian must file a petition for guardianship with the appropriate court, notify interested parties, and attend a hearing where a judge will…

Indiana law now requires judges to explain child custody decisions in writing. As of July 1, 2025, Indiana courts must include written findings of fact and conclusions of law in final custody orders. This means judges can no longer issue unexplained custody rulings. Instead, they must clearly identify the evidence they relied upon and explain how it supports the custody…

Indiana protective orders are civil court orders that can restrict contact, require someone to stay away from you, and impose other safety‑related conditions in situations involving domestic or family violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, or child sex grooming. In Indiana, petitions for protective orders can be filed through the state’s Protection Order E‑Filing Service, and once an order is issued,…

If you’re thinking about an appeal in Indiana, one of the most important — and most misunderstood — questions is what the Indiana Court of Appeals will actually review. Many people assume an appeal is a “do‑over” of the trial. It is not. The Indiana Court of Appeals has a limited role, and understanding that role early can help set…