Life is full of twists and turns, and sometimes, young people make mistakes that can leave a lasting impact. In Indiana, young adult offenders (aged 18-24 at the time of the offense) may have their criminal records expunged after fulfilling their court-ordered sentences. This process offers a fresh start, allowing them to pursue educational and career opportunities that a criminal record might otherwise hinder. An expungement is not the same as having a record sealed. Sealed records are still accessible to law enforcement and certain other entities, while expunged records are essentially erase ..read more

Those accused of criminal activity, especially those facing non-violent charges, often decide to plead guilty. People don’t want to go to trial even when they maintain that they did not break the law. They think that pleading guilty is the fastest and simplest way to resolve the criminal charges they face. While a guilty plea is certainly more expedient than a trial at which someone attempts to fight criminal charges, the possible penalties are still a real concern. Anyone convicted of a criminal infraction in Indiana could face penalties ranging from driver’s license suspension to incarcerati ..read more

Issues related to money are some of the main reasons cited by couples as why they’ve chosen to divorce. There are numerous ways that money and financial issues can lead to divorce. What people tend to assume is that “financial issues” relate to a lack of finances or a lack of income. This is why divorce sometimes happens after one person loses their job, for instance, and tensions within a family rise as a result of that turn of events. Yet, this isn’t the only way that money can inspire a divorce. Two other issues commonly drive wedges between spouses in ways that may prove irreconcilable. Fi ..read more

It is common for people to worry about their most valuable property and the care of their dependent family members when estate planning. It is certainly true that an estate plan should address someone’s most expensive property and the family members who will require legal and financial support if they die. However, there are also many additional details that could lead to challenges and even disputes among beneficiaries after someone dies. Looking beyond just the most valuable property in an estate may give someone a chance to create a more profound legacy and limit the risk of conflict that c ..read more

When married parents divorce or unmarried parents start living separately, child support is almost always legally required. Child support obligations can put a lot of pressure on someone’s budget, but they can also help ensure a basic standard of living for someone’s children. How long do people typically have to pay child support in Indiana? Support lasts until specific milestones For most families, child support ends with adulthood or high school graduation. There are a few scenarios in which child support can potentially end immediately. These include when a child dies or in rare cases invo ..read more

Disinheriting someone can be a controversial process, and it is not something that most people do lightly. Doing so means removing a direct heir from your estate plan, so that someone who expected to inherit assets from you will not get anything. It’s generally assumed that this is done for a negative reason. For example, maybe a parent and a child had a falling out when they were younger and have not spoken in decades. But there are also positive reasons to disinherit someone. Perhaps that person is doing so well financially that they don’t need an inheritance, and it can be better used by di ..read more

A few decades ago, the digital currency became a small trend that bloomed into a massive and highly successful tool. Now, people use credit cards, online banking or payment apps to transfer money digitally from one device to the next without so much as seeing a bank teller. Digital money has grown so much that many people use it to invest in digital assets such as cryptocurrency or NFTs. Your spouse may have invested in some kind of digital asset during your marriage. You may not have known what it was at the time, but you do know it’s a marital asset. Now that you’re considering a divorce, yo ..read more

Your kids are all different ages. Now that you’re going through a divorce, you want them to have some control over what happens in terms of physical custody, but you also know what you and the other parent think is the right arrangement. Your youngest children may not care where they go, but your two teens have strong opinions. One, 17 now, is ready to go away to college and doesn’t want to have a custody schedule at all. They’re busy working, seeing friends and participating in school events. The younger teen can’t drive yet, but they’ve stated their preference to live with their father most ..read more

It is not an uncommon scenario: one party to divorce wants to sell the marital property, the other does not. What happens? Can the court force the sale of the property? The answer depends on the timing of the request and also the state. The following applies specifically to Indiana, as family law matters are generally governed by state law. Before the parties finalize the divorce There are situations when a party to the divorce can get a provisional – or temporary – order for a request during the divorce process. These orders are court orders that generally apply shortly after one party files ..read more

A divorce forces you to navigate a deeply personal breakup while also trying to separate financial ties to the other person. These are two very complicated, very involved processes that, if not handled properly, can impact your future. When it comes to the financial side of things, it can help to have a couple of basic goals in mind to help guide the process. Three broad ideas that can bring you to a relatively manageable and logical approach include: Assets. It is helpful to put together a list of all assets before moving too far along with the divorce process. Have a basic understanding of w ..read more