Indianapolis, IN 46256 
- :: Divorce / Dissolution of Marriage
- Divorce Fundamentals
- Division of Assets and Liabilities
- Complex Marital Estate Valuation & Division
- Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)
- Spousal Maintenance
Divorce Fundamentals
Indiana is a no-fault state. This means that the reason for the breakdown of the marriage is not relevant to the court. Instead, the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (the document filed to initiate a divorce case) will generally state that there has been an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and it should therefore be dissolved. Once the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed, there is a 60 day “cooling off period” before the divorce can be finalized. Most counties now require that the parties also attend a parenting class if there are children of the marriage.
The attorneys at Mitchell & Associates understand that divorce can cause permanent changes in one’s life, and are dedicated to helping their clients through the challenges of divorce with compassion.
Division of Assets and Liabilities
Indiana follows the “one pot theory.” This means that any assets and debts brought into the marriage, or acquired during the marriage, are all included in the marital estate. Assets include real and personal property, bank accounts, investment and retirement accounts. In Indiana, the presumption is that the marital estate is divided equally (50/50); however, if one party does not believe this a just and reasonable division of the marital estate, then there are factors that can cause the courts to deviate from this presumption.
Complex Marital Estate Valuation & Division
The attorneys at Mitchell & Associates frequently assist clients with handling sizable assets including businesses, real estate and personal property. We work with leading business valuators and property appraisers to determine the value of all assets within a parties’ marital estate. Our experienced attorneys, coupled with these financial experts, can also often identify assets that one or both of the parties may not be fully aware of. In addition to working closely with financial and real estate experts in order to value property, attorneys at Mitchell & Associates are very accustomed to dealing with adverse expert opinions in the courtroom.
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)
During the course of a divorce, parties will often divide one or both of a spouse’s retirement accounts. Depending on the type of account, these accounts may be divided by a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). A QDRO is a legal document, drafted by one of the parties’ attorneys, which the IRS recognizes as a method of allowing a penalty-free transfer of retirement funds to a non-participant spouse pursuant to a divorce. The QDRO process can be lengthy as it generally requires pre-approval by the plan administrator of the account, approval by the court and then final submission.
Spousal Maintenance
Indiana is a not an alimony state. However, there are three circumstances in which a court can require that one spouse pay maintenance to the other. First, if a spouse is the custodian of a child with a physical or mental incapacity that inhibits that spouse's ability to work. Second, if the spouse is physically or mentally incapacitated such that he/she cannot work. Third, if the spouse is in need of rehabilitative maintenance due to a lack of education or training. While the court is limited to these three circumstances, this does not mean that parties cannot agree to alimony or to another form of spousal maintenance, which may be financially advantageous to both parties.