Blog

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: Parenting Time, Custody, and Relocation in Indiana Family Law

Navigating family law matters in Indiana can be complex, especially regarding parenting time, custody, and relocation issues. Various laws cover these topics and can be overwhelming when handling these matters on your own. An experienced family law attorney can help you along the way and advocate for your interests. This blog will explore the good, bad, and ugly aspects of these important legal matters in Indiana.

Let us start with the good. Indiana courts prioritize the best interests of the child in all custody and parenting time decisions. This ensures that the child’s well-being remains the central focus. The best interests of the child encompass factors such as the age and sex of the child, the wishes of the parents, the interaction and interrelationship of the child, the child’s adjustment to home and school, and many other factors. Also, Indiana has established parenting time guidelines that provide a framework for parents to follow, promoting consistency and reducing conflicts. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines have an extensive list of scenarios and ways parents can split their parenting time and communications. Regarding custody, parenting time, and relocation, Indiana courts often encourage mediation, allowing parents to work together to create mutually agreeable parenting plans. Indiana law favors joint legal custody when appropriate, promoting shared decision-making and parental involvement.

Consequently, with such complex legal topics, there is also a bad side. Indiana’s relocation statute requires the relocating parent to file a notice and allows the non-relocating parent to object, which can lead to time-consuming and emotionally draining legal battles. Relocation goes hand in hand with modification challenges. Modifying existing custody or parenting time orders can be difficult, requiring a substantial change in circumstances. Relocation and modification can lead to intense legal battles and can be emotionally taxing on all parties involved. Despite clear orders from the court, some parents may struggle with the enforcement of parenting time or custody arrangements, leading to ongoing conflicts. In situations of high conflict between parents, children may be caught in the middle, potentially causing emotional distress. 

As previously mentioned, these complex legal topics can have a negative and even harmful impact on the parties involved in the family law dispute. The “ugly” of these family law matters are parental alienation, false allegations, relocation battles, and prolonged legal processes. Some cases involve allegations of parental alienation, where one parent attempts to turn the child against the other parent, causing severe damage to family relationships. In contentious cases, false allegations of abuse or neglect may be made, leading to unnecessary investigations and potential damage to parent-child relationships. When one parent wishes to relocate with the child, bitter legal fights can ensue, potentially resulting in significant changes to parenting time and relationships. Complex custody and relocation cases can drag on for months or even years, causing emotional and financial strain on all parties involved. 

Navigating these family law matters in Indiana requires patience, understanding, and often professional legal guidance. While the system aims to protect the best interests of children, the process can be challenging for all involved. Parents are encouraged to prioritize their children’s well-being and seek amicable solutions whenever possible. The assistance of legal counsel can make a significant difference in your experience with your family law matters. The attorneys at Ciyou & Associates, P.C. have an extensive background in family law, such as custody, parenting time, and relocations, throughout the state of Indiana. We are here to help you with your family law matter. This blog was written by attorneys at Ciyou & Associates, P.C., and this blog is not intended as specific legal advice or solicitation of services as this is an advertisement. 

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Email

Quick Contact

Need to talk now? Fill out the quick form below and we will contact you directly.

What Our Clients Say About Us

Contact Us

Name(Required)