The Indiana Supreme Court approved amendments to the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines effective January 1, 2022. Existing parenting time orders are enforced according to the parenting time guidelines that were in effect on the date the most recent parenting time order was issued, so only parenting time and custody orders issued after December 31, 2021, are governed by these amendments. It is still a good idea for parents to be familiar with the amendments as they provide helpful guidance on how to manage issues surrounding custody and parenting time. The Guidelines currently provide that a pa ..read more

The most substantive amendment to the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines is the inclusion of a section titled “Shared Parenting.” Shared Parenting is a model to assist parents who require less separation in their personal relationship and wish for a more seamless blending of child rearing practices in their two homes. The agreement and cooperation of the parents is an essential element of a successful shared parenting plan. To effectively implement a shared parenting plan, each parent will need to do the work required to make his or her home feel like “home” for their child or children. It is i ..read more

The January 1, 2022, amendment of the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines includes the addition of a section call “Custody and Parenting Time During a Public Health Emergency.” The COVID-19 pandemic caused issues for separated families that were not anticipated. Judges, family law practitioners, and families have been navigating uncharted territory since March 2020. The Guidelines now provide general guidance to families in the event a public health emergency occurs again. The Guidelines adopt the Supreme Court Order, which was issued on March 31, 2020, on parenting time during the pandemic (Cus ..read more

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines provide the opportunity for parents to modify their established parenting time schedule to accommodate events outside the normal family routine.  Special family events such as weddings, funerals, and reunions are the types of events outside the normal family routine which may require a modification to the parenting time schedule to allow the child to attend. A parent’s illness may also require a modification to the parenting time schedule. When these adjustments are needed, the parent who loses scheduled parenting time is entitled to make-up parenting ..read more

The January 1, 2022 amendments to the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines provide a number of factors for Judges to consider when they are determining whether a particular parenting plan exceeding the specific parenting time provisions set forth in the Guidelines is safe, secure, developmentally responsive, and in the best interests of the child. These factors are not exhaustive, are not listed in any order of priority, and not all factors apply in all cases. The factors are as follows: Factors Related to the Child: The age, temperament, and maturity level of the child The child’s current routi ..read more

A guardianship may be necessary for a minor child if the child’s parent or parents are unable to care for their child. This may be due to short-term and temporary circumstances, such as the incarceration of the parent or a parent traveling outside the United States for a period of time. In these types of situations, the length of time the guardianship will be necessary is known. Guardianships may also be necessary when a parent is unable to care for their child for reasons that may not be short-term or easily monitored. This may be seen when a parent is struggling with addiction, mental health ..read more

Prenuptial Agreements are an excellent investment in a marriage. In many, if not most, cases, prenuptial agreements prevent or minimize disputes at the time of dissolution or death.  A properly executed prenuptial agreement will be enforced at the time of dissolution or death and will control the division or distribution of a party’s assets and debts. It is important that a prenuptial agreement be properly drafted as few options exist to nullify a prenuptial agreement. Nullifying a prenuptial agreement generally requires that some form of wrongdoing occurred during the execution, such as ..read more

Couples who marry in Indiana are required to obtain a marriage license prior to the marriage. To apply for a marriage license, both spouses must go to the Clerk’s office in person in the county in which either spouse resides. Non-Indiana residents must apply for a license in the county in which they are getting married. Clerk’s offices may currently have limited hours, be closed to walk-in appointments, or have other requirements in place due to the pandemic. It is best practice to call the Clerk’s office or to visit the website for the Clerk’s office to determine how that county is operating ..read more

It is the season of giving, and we are excited to announce that we have teamed up with the Monroe County Humane Society for a holiday donation drive. If you are interested in donating to help our community’s furry friends, our office is a drop-off location for items until January 5th. Every donation helps the MCHA provide pets in our community with healthcare, housing, and food. Items that MCHA needs can be found on the flyer below or by visiting https://www.monroehumane.org/holiday-donation-drive/. Donations can be dropped off at our office during regular business hours. Please use one of our ..read more

Slotegraaf Niehoff, P.C. is a proud sponsor of the Monroe County Humane Society’s 28th Annual Run for the Animals and Barktoberfest! The event will be held on Sunday, October 1st, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Karst Farm Park located at 2450 S Endwright Rd, Bloomington, IN 47403. Last year, the Monroe County Humane Society raised over $12,000. There will be plenty of activities for you and your furry friend(s) to enjoy, including a 5k walk/run, twenty-seven local vendors, a pet costume contest, and more! This is an event you won’t want to miss, and we hope to see you there! For more informati ..read more