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Indiana Child Custody Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Tax Law, Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Indiana on
Q: Claiming kids on taxes.

When child support was established, we also signed an agreement with the prosecutor saying that we take turns every year claiming the kids on taxes as long as I am a certain percentage caught up on my child support, and if I’m not, then I’m not able to claim them that year. So earlier in the... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 25, 2024

Based on the agreement you signed with the prosecutor, you still need to meet the requirement of being caught up a certain percentage on child support in order to claim the children on taxes, even though your ex has temporarily stopped the formal child support order.

The key factors here...
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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Civil Rights, Family Law and Health Care Law for Indiana on
Q: I have attempted to complete treatmentfor my addiction only to be medically discharged to return the be discharged again

I'm intentionally being discriminatied against this a on going iusse with dcs. Hinding my progress my attorney will not help mor do his job

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 24, 2024

It sounds like you're facing a challenging situation with your treatment for addiction and experiencing discrimination from DCS. It's essential to document all instances of discrimination and keep detailed records of your treatment attempts and any correspondence with DCS. If your... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Civil Litigation and Child Custody for Indiana on
Q: Can I petition the court if my children I was set to adopt and fostered for 8 years to be placed back in my home. I a

I am the subject of an abuse from a foster child or 22 months after I called the authorities on him and dcs also took my other children it is not criminal it’s civil

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 24, 2023

In your situation, where you've fostered children for a significant period and are facing challenges due to allegations of abuse, it's important to understand your legal options. Yes, you can petition the court to have the children placed back in your home, but this process can be... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Child Custody and Family Law for Indiana on
Q: Is it illegal for one person to feed another person pet food without their consent?

My ex tricked me into eating dog cookies by telling me they were regular gingerbread cookies. They were shaped like any regular gingerbread man cookie you would see. It did not have any smells that seemed off and the taste was bland to me. She used our child to get me to eat it. My concern is that... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 12, 2023

Yes, tricking someone into unknowingly eating pet food without their consent could potentially be illegal in Indiana. Here are some key considerations:

- It could qualify as battery - intentionally causing offensive or harmful contact without consent. Feeding someone pet food fits the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Indiana on
Q: My son is 16 has been living with his mom but now wants to live with me. His mom agrees, do we need to go to court

I live in Indiana she lives in Ohio (approximately 32 miles apart) We never had child support issued by the court, we always had our own agreement. The state of Ohio determined paternity when he was 4 and that I had to carry insurance on him and have since. I’m am on the birth certificate as the... View More

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Jul 11, 2023

In situations where both parents agree to a change in custody arrangements, it is generally recommended to seek a formal modification of the custody order through the court system. While you may have had your own agreement and have been able to co-parent without involving the court in the past,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Indiana on
Q: We have full custody of my step daughter. Bio mom lost all rights. We placed a restraining order (pending court) against

her after an incident of her showing up at our house for the second time, so she can not come onto our property. In return she filed a restraining order on bio dad who has full custody and she filed it against the daughter to try to make it where he cannot be around her legally, even though he has... View More

Robbin Trowbridge Benko
Robbin Trowbridge Benko
answered on Jan 4, 2024

Hi ~ I'm a bit confused and need some answers from you so that I can properly address your concern.

What were the grounds Bio mom stated for needing a protective order? What parenting time, if any, does bio mom have? I don't understand how a protective order can be against dad...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Indiana on
Q: Service by publication forms
Heather L Franklin
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answered on May 3, 2023

Service by publication for family law matters - including custody modifications - should only be used when you don't have an address for the other party or reliable contact information to get an address for them. The Indiana Trial Rule governing service by publication is Rule 4.13 and the rule... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Indiana on
Q: My ex and I have a temp order that ends in Aug. He begged me and begged for a year to let him move back to Texas

With the kids. I broke and let him. Now with me having same job same home for yrs and he had moved 4 times and was engaged twice within a year shows me he is unstable. What are my chances if getting full custody?

James A Hanson
James A Hanson
answered on Jul 9, 2022

There is much confusion about what "custody" actually means.

If there is an active case in Indiana for either Paternity or Divorce, then any party wanting to move out of Indiana is going to have the burden of explaining why that move is in the child's best interests....
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Indiana on
Q: Married when baby was born. She didn't put father on birth certificate against his wishes. Got a divorce a month after

baby was born. Then she gave her rights up to her mother against his wishes.....now she lives 2 hours away and will only let him seed her if he comes down. She tried saying that he raped her while she was pregnant. He didn't. they been together 10 years.

James A Hanson
James A Hanson
answered on Jun 20, 2022

The question is a bit confusing. Here is what I think will help.

First, the divorce decree needs to be checked to see if the court presumed the husband to be the father. If she was divorced just a month after birth, then it is likely the divorce decree either has language acknowledging...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Indiana on
Q: How can I get proof of sole legal custody of my child? There’s no custody order because I was unwed to his father.

I’ve called the clerks office and they don’t seem to know. I need documentation of the sole legal custody to apply for passport.

James A Hanson
James A Hanson
answered on Jun 6, 2022

Indiana Code 31-14-13-1 states that the biological mother of a child born out-of-wedlock has sole legal custody of the child. There are exceptions, but absent a court order this is the general rule.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law and Child Custody for Indiana on
Q: Soon to be ex scare tactics or?

Soon to be ex husband says his lawyer said he doesn’t have to prove me incompetent to get full custody just that he’s the better situation. In his mind he's the better situation because he's the money maker. I'm still however fully capable of taking care of my children and have... View More

James A Hanson
James A Hanson
answered on Jun 1, 2022

The fact that your ex has a lawyer only underscores the importance for you to retain an attorney and ask these detailed questions to that attorney in a confidential setting.

More generally, the legal standard in Indiana is the "best interests of the children" meaning that the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Indiana on
Q: How do I file a motion to consolidate my custody hearing for two children on two separate houses?

Both parent are attending eachother hearing in cahoots to alienate me from my child with various accusations. I would like to consolidate the cases so that I do not have to go from court to court, and can go to the same hearing and court for both children

James A Hanson
James A Hanson
answered on May 22, 2022

There are rules of procedure that make this theoretically possible, but it is not at all common in practice.

Your best bet would be to hire an experienced attorney who can put together a compelling argument for why the Court should at least consolidate the evidentiary hearings for the two...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Indiana on
Q: Does suspended parenting time mean NO CONTACT?

My parenting time has been suspended pending a hair follicle test being submitted to the court and my ex-husband in Indiana.. does that mean NO CONTACT? He won't let me speak to them by phone and has even changed my son's play station account password and email so I can't send vbucks.

James A Hanson
James A Hanson
answered on May 22, 2022

It is impossible to answer your question specifically with the information provided. Also, it would not be appropriate to provide more detail in this venue.

I would presume from what you have shared that the Court simply suspended in-person parenting time. You should read the actual order...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Indiana on
Q: I live in indiana and was granted sole custody of my girls. My daughter turned 18 in August and had a baby the day befor

My ex husband was abusive and is racist. My daughters baby is mixed. 3 weeks ago she stormed out of my house with the baby because I said her boyfriend had to leave. What can I do to protect the baby or stop my daughter from taking him to Alabama. My ex husba beat me and my kids and my grandson... View More

Troy Tyson
Troy Tyson
answered on Dec 6, 2021

By default, your daughter, as the parent of a child born out-of-wedlock, has sole legal custody of the child and may make decisions on the child's behalf. However, if you feel the child is truly in danger and/or have evidence of the same, you can contact CPS to request an investigation, and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Indiana on
Q: What should I do. I don't even know my choices here.

My ex & I have joint custody with me being the sole care giver. He hasn't had our kids since the weekend of August 15th. Our son was hit by a car on August 29th & was transported to the hospital where he had 2 surgeries & was in the hospital for a week. His dad came for 2 hours the... View More

Troy Tyson
Troy Tyson
answered on Oct 5, 2021

Very sorry to hear about your son, I hope he makes a full recovery. Regarding the custody questions, if the father is not exercising the time he is entitled to under the current order, you may consider requesting a modification of the order to something that better fits the situation. Also, on... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Indiana on
Q: What can i do if the mother who has primary withholds her address so I won't know where my kids are staying
Troy Tyson
Troy Tyson
answered on Sep 21, 2021

If you have a court order and/or share some form of custody of the children, you are entitled to know that information. You might consider filing a motion for contempt against mother. It might also be a good idea to sit down with an experienced family law attorney to discuss your case in detail.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Indiana on
Q: Order dismissing Upon motion of the petitioner, this action is dismissed without prejudice and stricken from the docket
Troy Tyson
Troy Tyson
answered on Sep 14, 2021

It is unclear what exactly you are asking, but just as a general answer, if a filing or an action was "dismissed without prejudice and stricken," that means that the court has terminated it and will take no further action on it, but the "without prejudice" part means that the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Indiana on
Q: I was served with court papers from my ex boyfriend for paternity/custody. I’m not pregnant what do I do?
Troy Tyson
Troy Tyson
answered on Sep 2, 2021

You may consider filing a counterclaim or challenging his paternity in court. However, your question does not provide many specifics so it is difficult to say. You might seriously consider sitting down with an experienced family law attorney to discuss your case in more detail.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Indiana on
Q: My ex is dating a child predator, I have asked that he not be allowed around my daughter, this wish has not been done.

How do I get him to stay away from my daughter

Troy Tyson
Troy Tyson
answered on Aug 3, 2021

You may need to consider filing a petition with the court to modify parenting time or otherwise restrict this person's access to your children. You should consider speaking with an experienced family law attorney about your case.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Indiana on
Q: Are overnights allowed on court ordered supervised visits?

Grandma does the supervising

Troy Tyson
Troy Tyson
answered on Jun 28, 2021

That's not the norm but it will depend on what is stated in your court order. Consult the order for that and you may also want to consider speaking with an experienced family law attorney to get clarity on this and other issues.

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