Dixon & Moseley, P.C. Legal Blog

An Indiana Litigation Guide for Preserving Error on Appeal In Indiana litigation, one of the most common mistakes a trial lawyer can make is failing to object at the right time and in the right manner. The rule is simple but unforgiving: if you do not properly object, you may waive the issue for appeal. An objection must be timely…

In Indiana appellate practice, many appeals do not fail because the underlying issue lacked merit. They fail because the issue was waived. In plain terms, waiver means the appellate court will not decide an argument because it was not properly preserved in the trial court, properly supported on appeal, or properly presented under the Indiana Rules of Appellate Procedure. Common…

Executive Summary There are several things that an attorney can do to ensure that an error is preserved for appeal. Making timely and specific objections and obtaining an explicit ruling from the judge on such objections can ensure that a matter is preserved. If evidence is excluded, the attorney should make offers of proof through questioning the witness outside of…

The answer depends on several important legal factors, including paternity, custody orders, and the best interests of the child. An unmarried mother has sole legal custody in Indiana unless a court orders otherwise. An unmarried father does not have enforceable rights until paternity is established by either signing a paternity affidavit or filing a paternity action in court. If paternity…

Executive Summary A house is considered marital property if it is owned by one or both spouses, even if it was acquired before the marriage. Indiana law presumes that a 50/50 division of marital property is fair, but this presumption can be rebutted by a number of factors. As for the house specifically, the court may award the house to…

Retirement accounts are generally considered marital property to the extent that were earned during marriage. Although retirement funds that accumulated before the marriage are not automatically excluded from the marital property, they can affect how the marital property is divided. 401(k)s and employer-sponsored retirement plans are divided using a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), which is a court order directing…

Executive Summary Indiana is a “one-pot” property state when it comes to marital property. This means that almost all property owned by either spouse at the time of the dissolution is included. Common types of marital property include property acquired during the marriage, property owned before the marriage, inheritances and gifts, retirement accounts and pensions, businesses, and debts and liabilities.…

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…