how common are attorney fees granted indiana divorce

by Summer Hudson 9 min read

Do you need an attorney to get a divorce in Indiana?

As a general rule, each side pays their own legal fees under the American system of law. In divorce, paternity, and post- divorce litigation there are unique provisions not found in other civil law whereby attorneys fees may be awarded. They are not common, but the subject of this blog post. The first and newly decided way attorneys fees may be awarded is through divorce cases …

How are attorney fees determined in a divorce case?

IC 34-50-1-6 Attorney's fees and costs Sec. 6. (a) If: (1) a recipient does not accept a qualified settlement offer; and (2) the final judgment is less favorable to the recipient than the terms of the qualified settlement offer; the court shall award attorney's fees, costs, and expenses to the offeror upon the offeror's motion.

Can I appeal a divorce order in Indiana?

Additionally, attorney fees need to be considered and resolved in a way that makes sense for you and your spouse. The Family Code allows the court to award fees in the amount that are “reasonably necessary” to properly litigate and/or negotiate a divorce. “Need based” fees can be requested at any point during your divorce.

How long does it take to get a divorce in Indiana?

Apr 06, 2020 · Divorce in Indiana FAQs. Jim Lockwood April 6, 2020. May 30, 2021. The below questions are some of the most common we receive from clients. They only pertain to divorces filed under Indiana law. We will post an article with Divorce FAQs for …

Who pays attorney fees in divorce in Indiana?

Indiana follows the American rule in civil litigation, including an Indiana divorce. Under this rule, each party pays his or her own attorney's fees in the case. However, there are some instances in which a divorce court may order one party to pay part or all of the attorney's fees of the other party.

How much does a divorce attorney cost in Indiana?

While many factors can change the overall cost, it is typical for each spouse to spend $10,000 or more to complete their divorce....Divorce Filing Fees and Typical Attorney Fees by State.StateAverage Filing FeesOther Divorce Costs and Attorney FeesIndiana$157Average fees: $9,00051 more rows•Jul 21, 2020

Who pays for the divorce in Indiana?

Under the English Rule, the prevailing (winning) party generally paid the others legal fees. The American Rule is much different. With it, each side pays their own legal fees. There are three (3) major exceptions.

Can you sue for attorney fees in Indiana?

Under the so-called “American Rule,” a party must pay his own attorneys' fees unless there is a specific statute or some agreement between the parties that provides otherwise. ... Indiana's frivolous claim statute is found at IC 34-52-1-1, and most U.S. states have similar statutes.

How much does a divorce cost if both parties agree?

If both parties agree on all major issues, known as an uncontested divorce, you can keep the costs relatively low. If you do your own divorce papers and your divorce is amicable, costs could be under $500. Of course, there are filing fees in all states, which increase the cost.

Does it matter who files for divorce first in Indiana?

Yes. It does not matter who files for divorce; the wife can get her maiden or former name back as part of the final divorce as long as she asks the court to do this.Dec 15, 2016

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Indiana?

Divide the marital property and debts (usually on a 50-50% basis). Issue custody, visitation and child support orders for children of the marriage. The wife can get her maiden or former name back as part of the divorce.Aug 29, 2014

Does Indiana Do alimony?

Spousal maintenance, also commonly called alimony, is awarded in Indiana in certain circumstances. Based on the specific facts or circumstances of a particular case, the judge will determine whether temporary maintenance or maintenance for an indefinite period of time should be ordered.

Is my ex wife entitled to spousal maintenance?

Spousal maintenance is maintenance that is paid by a husband or a wife to their former spouse following a divorce. It is different to child maintenance. ... Spousal maintenance ends if the recipient remarries or if either party dies. It may be varied or dismissed by the courts on a change in circumstances.

What are the grounds for divorce in Indiana?

Besides irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, Indiana also recognizes three other grounds for divorce, but they rarely come into play: (1) The conviction of either of the parties, subsequent to the marriage, of a felony; (2) Impotence, existing at the time of the marriage; or.

What is the last stage of divorce in Indiana?

The last stage in the Indiana divorce process takes place after the court approves the settlement agreement or issues its ruling after a final hearing: a decree of dissolution is entered. The decree makes the divorce official and final. A divorce order cannot be attacked in another court.

What is the next step in the divorce process in Indiana?

The next step in the Indiana divorce process is the filing of the Petition for Divorce. In Indiana, a divorce is called a “dissolution of marriage” so under the divorce laws in Indiana, a divorce petition is actually titled a “Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.”

Can you appeal a divorce in Indiana?

APPEALS. After the Court issues the divorce order, many parties often feel that the Court got it wrong . To make sure that judges act appropriately and correctly apply the law, divorce laws in Indiana allows the parties to appeal the Court’s ruling to the Indiana Court of Appeals.

What is the process of filing a motion for divorce in Indiana?

Another step in the Indiana Divorce Process that can take place at any time after the filing of the Petition for Dissolution is the filing of Motions. A motion is simply a party asking the Court to make a decision about something or to take some specific action.

Is divorce a fact in Indiana?

Anyways, the divorce is a very fact-specific inquiry depending on the circumstances in each case. If you have more questions, we would be happy to discuss it with you in a free initial consultation.

What is a final hearing in divorce?

A final hearing is essentially a trial in front of the judge regarding the issues to be decided in the divorce: the division of assets, maintenance (if any), custody of minor children, parenting time, child support, etc. The parties present evidence and the judge makes the decisions as to all the contested issues.

What issues need to be resolved in a divorce?

The issues that need to be resolved in your divorce are property & debt, child custody, child support and spousal support. Additionally, attorney fees need to be considered and resolved in a way that makes sense for you and your spouse. The Family Code allows the court to award fees in the amount that are “reasonably necessary” to properly litigate ...

What is need based fee?

The Family Code allows the court to award fees in the amount that are “reasonably necessary” to properly litigate and/or negotiate a divorce. “Need based” fees can be requested at any point during your divorce.

Is California a no fault divorce state?

Since California is a ‘no fault’ divorce state, fees are not awarded for ‘bad’ behavior outside the context of the divorce action. So, for example, if the reason you are obtaining a divorce is because your spouse habitually cheated on you, the court will not consider that as a basis for awarding you fees.

Divorce in Indiana FAQs

The below questions are some of the most common we receive from clients. They only pertain to divorces filed under Indiana law. We will post an article with Divorce FAQs for a divorce filed in Michigan at a later time.

What are the grounds for divorce in Indiana?

Although Indiana is a “no-fault” divorce state, one of the items the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage must declare is the appropriate grounds upon which the dissolution is being sought. The appropriate lawful ground will be that which the parties agree upon and can substantiate, or that which the filing spouse desires to prove to the court.

How long does it take to get a divorce in Indiana?

Typically, it takes at least 60 days before the court can finalize a divorce in Indiana. Once the divorce is filed, the court can issue temporary orders, but the actual divorce cannot be finalized until 60 days have passed from the date that the divorce was filed.

What is a divorce going to cost me? Can I afford it?

Unfortunately, how much a divorce costs is based on too many variables to provide an estimate of anticipated costs. The costs depend on the actions of the parties, their needs and wants, and how they choose to seek those goals.

Do I really need to hire an attorney?

Yes. By its very nature, your dissolution involves the most important things in your life. It will impact your assets, future income, tax implications, and in cases involving minor children, your ability to maintain your presence in your child’s life.

Does Indiana grant divorces based on marital fault?

Yes, the grounds for which are the conviction of either party of a felony, impotence, or incurable insanity for a period of at least two years. However,

Can I get maintenance or will I have to provide maintenance to my spouse?

The court will make an award of maintenance from one spouse to the other in three circumstances:

How long does it take to get divorce in Indiana?

How long does it take to get a divorce in Indiana? Typically, it takes at least 60 days before the court can finalize a divorce in Indiana. Once the divorce is filed, the court can issue temporary orders, but the actual divorce cannot be finalized until 60 days have passed from the date that the divorce was filed.

How to notify your spouse of divorce?

If you cannot find your spouse and you have made reasonable efforts to do so, you can ask the court to notify your spouse of the divorce by putting a notice in the local newspaper. After this is done, you can finalize the divorce even if there is no proof that your spouse saw the notice.

Can you move to Indiana while dissolution is pending?

You are not required to remain in the state while your dissolution is pending. If you have children in the state, you may be prevented from relocating during the pendency of your dissolution. If you do move, you will still be expected to return to Indiana to attend any mandatory hearings in court.

Can a parent change a minor's last name?

A parent may not change a minor child’s last name without the other parent’s permission unless their right to consent has been removed by law. In the absence of these circumstances, the parent wishing to change the child’s name must petition the court and obtain consent from the other parent.

Is Indiana a no fault divorce state?

What are the laws for divorce in Indiana? Although Indiana is a “no-fault” divorce state, the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage must declare the appropriate grounds upon which the dissolution is being sought.

Equitable Distribution & Asset Division

  • Marital Property and Division of Assets in Indiana
    Indiana is an equitable distribution state which means assets are divided fairly and equitably, but necessarily equally. Assets acquired both during a prior to a marriage may be subject to division in a divorce. Property division is governed by several factors that are to be considered when divi…
  • Debts
    There is a presumption of a 50-50 split on debts in Indiana despite being an equitable distribution state. It is possible to make a case that debts should be divided differently, but you will need to convince a judge as to why this should be the case.
See more on survivedivorce.com

Support Issues

  • Spousal Maintenance in Indiana
    There are several factors that will determine if spousal maintenance (alimony) in Indiana should be awarded or not. Spousal maintenance may be awarded for a set period of time, or there may be rehabilitative maintenance that will be awarded, but not for a period of longer than three years fr…
  • Child Support in Indiana
    Indiana uses the Income Shares Model for calculating child support. This formula uses weekly gross income of the parents and the number of children for which support is required. Deductions are made for child support paid to other children and maintenance paid to other spouses. Court…
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Custody and Visitation

  • Child Custody in Indiana
    Indiana uses Parenting Time guidelines which subscribe to the belief that it is usually in a child’s best interests to have frequent and meaningful contact with each parent. A parent who is not granted primary custody is entitled to reasonable parenting time unless there are extenuating cir…
  • Substance Abuse
    By itself, substance abuse is not considered one of the grounds for divorce in Indiana. However, if the use of drugs or alcohol is present in a marriage it could impact parts of the divorce settlement. Specifically, any drug use that negatively impacts children or a parent’s ability to car…
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Process

  • Bifurcation of marital status
    Bifurcation means that both parties in a divorce can legally declared as a single person while the other issues in their divorce are still being worked out. It does not affect things such as child custody, visitation, child support, alimony or other contentious issues that may have stalled or b…
  • Disclosing Assets
    As part of the divorce process, both spouses must provide financial disclosures. This includes, assets, income and debts. This is so equitable distribution can take place in an appropriate way. Any attempt to hide assets could result in serious repercussions. If one spouse suspects that th…
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Other Issues

  • Domestic Violence
    Domestic violence in Indiana can include any kind of physical abuse, emotional abuse, stalking, or any other kind of harassment including those made through phone calls, mail, or social media inflicted on one spouse by the other. It can play a factor in a divorce, but those actions are secon…
  • Health Insurance
    Indiana courts generally require that both parties maintain status quo when it comes to health insurance during a divorce. However, after a divorce is granted, this does not mean that health insurance is required to continue. In fact, most employers will not carry an ex-spouse after a div…
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Pre-Petition For Divorce

  • This is not really a stage “in” the Indiana divorce process but it is still important. This is a stage where many people reading this article may be right now – researching the divorce laws in Indiana. Many people have not yet filed for divorce but they are contemplating it, or have been separated for some time and are now getting ready to file. But this stage includes everything bef…
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Petition For Dissolution of Marriage

  • The next step in the Indiana divorce process is the filing of the Petition for Divorce. In Indiana, a divorce is called a “dissolution of marriage” so under the divorce laws in Indiana, a divorce petition is actually titled a “Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.” If you were not the one who filed for divorce, or did not know your spouse was going to file for divorce, being served with divorce pap…
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Notice / Service

  • Indiana Code 31-15-2-8states: Whenever a petition is filed, a copy of the petition, including a copy of a summons, shall be served upon the other party to the marriage in the same manner as service of summons in civil actions generally. This is known as Notice or Service of the divorce petition. The notice requirement can be accomplished in a few ways, including: by certified mail, …
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Waiting Period

  • After filing the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and providing notice to the other party, you need to be aware of the waiting period.
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Provisional Hearings

  • If the parties cannot come to an agreement on some or all of the issues in the divorce, a final hearing may be necessary. A final hearing is essentially a trial in front of the judge regarding the issues to be decided in the divorce: the division of assets, maintenance (if any), custody of minor children, parenting time, child support, etc. The parties present evidence and the judge makes th…
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Discovery

  • Discovery is the next step is the Indiana divorce process. While I call it the next step, discovery can actually occur immediately after the filing of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and any time after until the final hearing, or other court order setting a time period for discovery. Discovery is the process in a lawsuit or divorce where each party can obtain evidence from the other party …
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Motions

  • Another step in the Indiana Divorce Process that can take place at any time after the filing of the Petition for Dissolution is the filing of Motions. A motion is simply a party asking the Court to make a decision about something or to take some specific action. For example, as we discussed above, a party could file a motion asking the Court to set a date for a provisional hearing. Likewi…
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Mediation

  • Mediation is another step in the Indiana divorce process that can take place at any time after the filing of the divorce. In fact, the parties could even mediate before the Petition for Dissolution was filed to reach agreements for an uncontested divorce. Usually though, the parties have conducted some discovery or exchanging of information before mediation. Sometimes, mediation is ordere…
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Settlement Agreements

  • If the parties are able to agree on all the issues in the divorce, including a division of the assets and custody arrangements for the minor children, then they can sign and submit a settlement agreement to the court instead of having a judge decide the issues at a final hearing (trial). Usually, the parties will also sign a Waiver of Final Hearing, letting the Court know that the partie…
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Final Hearing

  • As I stated earlier, if the parties cannot come to an agreement on some or all of the issues in the divorce, a final hearing may be necessary. A final hearing is essentially a trial in front of the judge regarding the issues to be decided in the divorce: the division of assets, spousal maintenance(if any), custody of minor children, parenting time, child support, etc. The parties present evidence …
See more on avnetlaw.com