Ruppert & Schaefer, PC

Legal Separation vs. Divorce

If you and your spouse have decided to separate, you should both seek counsel with an attorney who is experienced in handling family matters. While “separation” simply means living apart, a legal separation is a major change in the status of your marriage. In many ways, a legal separation is similar to a divorce. Both divorce and legal separation may involve child custody decisions, visitation, child support, and spousal support. However, if the court awards you a legal separation, you are still legally married, and the wife may not resume her former name. Additionally, a legal separation can only last for one year.

Many Indianapolis couples opt for a legal separation because of certain religious beliefs or in order to retain health insurance coverage. If you have made the decision to dissolve your marriage, call the dedicated divorce lawyers at Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C. today at (317) 580-9295.

Tips for Meeting with a Divorce Lawyer for the First Time

Are you anxious about your upcoming meeting with a divorce attorney? If you are like many Americans, your family attorney may be the first lawyer you have ever hired, especially to handle such a personal matter. Be sure to select an experienced divorce lawyer who makes you feel comfortable, and review these tips to prepare for your first meeting.

Full Disclosure
Divorce is an emotional process, and you may feel understandably hesitant to disclose your personal feelings to a complete stranger. The important thing to remember is that divorce attorneys have seen it all, and your lawyer is focused solely on how to ensure that you are satisfied with the legal outcome of your case. In order to move on with your life and secure your fair financial share, always answer your attorney’s questions fully and honestly so that he or she can provide the best guidance.

Proper Documentation
While your attorney will not need comprehensive paperwork right away, it is always a safe bet to plan ahead by gathering necessary documents to support any claims for financial support or child custody. For example, if you are seeking child support, your attorney can help you calculate an estimated sum. You will need to have access to both parents’ weekly incomes, child care expenses, and health insurance premiums. If you have one, you should bring with you any existing prenuptial agreements to your initial meeting with the attorney.

Established Goals
Finally, have a good idea of your future goals so your attorney knows how to secure the best legal outcome. This can include everything from sole child custody to ensuring continued parental financial support for your children through college to complex property matters. An experienced divorce lawyer should also be prepared to provide client testimonials, evidence of good standing with the Indiana bar, and a contract outlining specific legal expenses.

If you live in Indianapolis, Carmel, or Avon, call the team of divorce attorneys at Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C. at (317) 580-9295 today. Our lawyers are proud to represent clients in all family law matters, and we offer more than 70 years of combined experience.

Complex Property Division Cases

When you make the decision to get a divorce, your first step should always be to hire an experienced divorce lawyer who can make sure your rights are protected as they guide you through the legal process. In the divorce process, determining child custody and dividing marital property are incredibly important steps. Unfortunately, complex property division cases involving significant marital assets, complex financial situations, or jointly owned businesses are frequently contentious.

Your divorce lawyer can help you understand how to analyze and value your real property, pension plans, liquid assets, and other financial matters. If necessary, your attorney may recommend bringing in experienced forensic accountants to bolster your financial claim. When the court determines how your marital property should be distributed, you need an experienced family attorney on your side to achieve the best possible outcome.

The Indianapolis family attorneys at Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C. have dedicated their legal practice to handling divorce cases, child custody hearings, and other family related legal issues. Whether you have just made the difficult decision to dissolve your marriage, have a complex property division matter, or want to appeal a judge’s decision in your child custody case, call us at (317) 580-9295 for help.

Looking For Helpful Divorce and Family Law Tips? Then Read Through These Articles

Divorce is a difficult time for any family. Whether you are pursuing a no-fault divorce with your spouse or have to undergo a contentious child custody battle, the divorce lawyers at Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C. have helped hundreds of Indianapolis families successfully navigate this critical period. Click the links below to learn even more about how our family attorneys can help you:

• Find out everything you need to know about divorce and separation with this overview from Cornell University’s Legal Information Institute.
• Are you a grandparent whose visitation rights have recently been restricted? Read this article from the AARP to find out why you should contact an experienced family lawyer.
• Read these tips from Parents magazine for how to help your child cope with the difficulties of divorce.
• You can familiarize yourself with Indiana law regarding marriage annulment by clicking on this link.
• If you are a practicing Catholic, you may want to have your marriage annulled in order to re-marry later in life. Check out Catholics’ top 10 questions about annulment here.

Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C. advises and represents clients in all divorce proceedings, including child custody hearings, property distribution, and spousal maintenance. Protect your legal rights and ensure your family’s successful recovery from this difficult time by calling our experienced team of lawyers today at (317) 660-8243.

Can Grandparents Obtain Visitation Rights?

If you are a grandparent, you already know how precious your time with your grandchildren is. Unfortunately, certain family circumstances may make it difficult for you to visit regularly. The family attorneys at Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C., are dedicated to helping grandparents remain active in their grandchildren’s lives. Here are three reasons why grandparents may be legally entitled to visitation rights.

Dissolution of Marriage

Is your relationship with your grandchildren’s parents strained? All families sometimes suffer from communication problems or boundary issues, and these troubles are frequently exacerbated when a couple’s relationship dissolves. When the parents’ relationship falls apart, grandparents may find themselves shut out of their grandchildren’s lives entirely. If you have been unable to see your grandchildren due to changing circumstances after a divorce, a family lawyer can guide you through the legal process of securing visitation rights.

Death of Parent

When one parent passes away, the court usually grants primary custody of any children to his or her spouse. In short, Indiana law presumes that the natural parent can meet the child’s best interests. The loss of a partner is an emotionally devastating experience for anyone, and some parents unfortunately elect to cut their children off from their former spouse’s extended family. If your attempts at communicating with the child’s parent have failed, a family attorney can help you petition the court for visitation.

Interest of Child

Grandparents should remember that they cannot petition for visitation rights if the parents’ marriage is still intact, and visitation is usually not extended to a step-grandparent. But for children of single parents, the court may agree with the grandparents that regular visitation with their grandchildren provides greater family stability and serves the child’s best interests.

Our family lawyers have more than 70 years of combined experience helping Central Indiana families find resolutions to their difficult legal situations. If you are a grandparent and want to learn more about your visitation rights or discuss third party child custody issues, call Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C. today at (317) 660-8243.