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Offering Clear Legal Guidance And Professionalism To Every Indiana Family

Northern Indiana Family Law Attorneys Guiding You Toward Peaceful Solutions

If a divorce, custody dispute or another family legal dispute is disrupting your life, it is time to seek a peaceful solution. That is where the Blanford Law Office comes in. Since 1990, our family lawyers have advocated for the rights of clients in South Bend and the surrounding communities.

Family law is an umbrella phrase for a number of legal matters involving disputes between family members. Some of the more common disputes are:

  • Divorce
  • Legal separation
  • Asset division
  • Child custody and visitation
  • Paternity
  • Child support
  • Guardianship
  • Children in need of services (CHINS)
  • Grandparent visitation

Our South Bend family law and divorce attorneys have more than 65 combined years of experience. Although they are highly seasoned in litigation, they strive to arrive at amicable solutions through calm mediation.

The Divorce Process In Indiana (In A Nutshell)

A divorce is a dissolution of marriage. It is a legal process designed to:

  • Terminate the legal relationship between you and your spouse
  • Divide and distribute the marital estate
  • Establish a structure for the post-dissolution care, custody and support of children of the marriage

Once that legal process concludes, you and your spouse return to the status of unmarried persons with a decree of dissolution of marriage.

Indiana is a no-fault divorce state. In other words, the spouse desiring a divorce doesn’t need to prove that he or she needs it because of the fault or misconduct of the other spouse. As long as the spouse wanting the divorce can establish one of the legal grounds for a divorce, he or she is going to get it.

Annulment, Void Marriages And Voidable Ones

In Indiana, certain marriages are void or voidable. A void marriage is when a marriage is not legally valid, legally enforceable or legally recognized. When marriages are void, it is as if they did not happen at all.

Other marriages are voidable. In other words, circumstances that existed at the time of an otherwise legal marriage can give a spouse the option of voiding a marriage. That’s where an annulment comes into play.

What Is Legal Separation In Indiana?

There is a process in Indiana called legal separation for married couples who are experiencing difficulties but want to remain married. A legal separation when a court finds that the conditions of the marriage make it intolerable for the parties to live together but that the marriage should be maintained. Often, a legal separation is a method for a couple to live apart for a short period and share certain responsibilities while they put effort into working out their marital difficulties. Unlike a divorce, where the purpose is to end their relationship, the goal behind a legal separation is the reconciliation of the marriage.

How Do Indiana Courts Approach Family Law?

Family law often involves vulnerable people going through the most difficult times of their lives. The risk of long-term emotional, mental and financial negative consequences is far greater in family law than in other legal areas. This is especially true in child custody cases.

To minimize the negative impacts, Indiana Courts often require persons involved in family disputes to educate themselves about these consequences to try to avoid them. Toward that end, parents and other persons involved with the family may need to complete certain programs endorsed by the courts. For example:

  • Child Advocate in Divorce (C.A.I.D.) (St. Joseph County)
  • Divorce Education Seminars (St. Joseph County & Elkhart County)
  • Families in Transition (Wells County)

And almost every family law court in the state now requires parents to complete an online co-parenting program.

Upholding High Ethical Standards In Family Law

Many, if not all, Indiana courts now have what might be called rules of conduct for lawyers practicing in the family law arena. St. Joseph County has Local Rule LR71-FL00-404; Marshall County has Local Rule LR50-AR00-MLR-019. These directives are designed to remind family law attorneys that their own conduct can contribute to a family’s recovery or further damage.

At our firm, our lawyers always put the best interests of our clients and their children first. Our commitment to integrity, ethics and honesty is clear from the moment you first speak with our team members.

Connect With Our South Bend Family Law Attorneys For Help

How can we help? Reach out to our South Bend law office over the telephone at 574-303-6459. You can also schedule an initial consultation directly by sending us an email.