Your Future Deserves Experienced and Highly Effective Family Law Counsel
Biography
Michael G. Ruppert (he/him/his) is the senior partner in the law firm of Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C. Since his admission to the legal profession in 1978, he has represented clients in virtually all areas of Family Law.
Mr. Ruppert received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University and his Juris Doctorate from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He has taught at and written materials for continuing legal education seminars for lawyers on topics including asset distribution in divorce, child custody and support matters, and pension and retirement benefits. Additionally, he has authored a number of articles for the Indiana University Law Review concerning the development of issues and legal author in family law. Mr. Ruppert is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association and Hamilton County Bar Association.
Practice Areas
- Divorce
- Family Law
Past Positions
- Miroff, Cross, Ruppert & Klineman, Of Counsel, 1991-1996
- Ruge & Ruppert, Partner, 1986-1991
- Barteau & Deal, Associate, 1984-1986
- Ancel, Miroff & Frank, P.C., Associate, 1981-1984
- Legal Services Organization of Indiana, Inc., Staff Attorney, Children's Rights Project
- Cleveland Legal Aid Society, Legal Intern
Education
- Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio
- Honors: Editor-in-Chief, The Gavel
- National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Midwest Regional Institute
- 00/1983
- Indiana University
- B.A. - 00/1974
Classes/Seminars
- Lecturer, Family Law An Analysis of Current Issues of Interest to the Practitioner -- The Impact of Relocation On Custody Litigation: A Look at the Law, Case Evaluation, Negotiation and Trial, ICLEF, 1989 to 1989
- Lecturer, Matrimonial Law -- Military Retirement Benefits In Or Out Of The Pot?, ICLEF, 1990 to 1990
- Lecturer, Matrimonial Law -- Military Retirement Benefits In Or Out Of The Pot?, The Indiana Fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1990 to 1990
- Lecturer, Child Custody and Visitation in Indiana: Discovery Techniques; Experts; Modification; Ethical Considerations, National Business Institute, Inc., 1991 to 1991
- Lecturer, Divorce Drafting -- Notice and Intent to Leave Jurisdiction, ICLEF, 1991 to 1991
- Lecturer, Family Law Continuing Legal Education -- Worksheet Oriented Summary of Amendments to Child Support Guidelines With Cases to Watch, Indianapolis Bar Association, 1993 to 1993
- Lecturer, Family Law Continuing Legal Education -- Legislative Amendments to Indiana's Child Custody Statutes, Indianapolis Bar Association, 1994 to 1994
- Lecturer, Equitable Distribution in Divorce Settlements in Indiana, National Business Institute, 1996 to 1996
- Lecturer, Hot Tips From Family Law Experts, ICLEF, 1998 to 1998
- Lecturer, Family Law, PEC Bar Review for Indiana, 1998 to 1999
- Lecturer, Statewide Visitation Guidelines, Grandparent Visitation, Relocation and Paternity, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2000 to 2000
- Lecturer, Planning Your First Divorce Case, ICLEF, 2001 to 2001
- Lecturer, Family Law, Case Law and Ethics Update, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2001 to 2001
- Lecturer, Tax Issues for Family Law Practitioners, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2001 to 2001
- Lecturer, Family Law, Indiana Bar Review, 2000 to 2009
Professional Associations
- Indianapolis Bar Association
- Indiana State Bar Association, Family Law Section
- Hamilton County Bar Association
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Member
Certified Legal Specialties
- Certified Family Law Specialist – Family Law Certification Board
Bar Admissions
- Indiana, 1978
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
Honors
- Selected to Super Lawyers: 2005 – 2024
Published Works
- Family Law An Analysis of Current Issues of Interest to the Practitioner -- The Impact of Relocation On Custody Litigation: A Look at the Law, Case Evaluation, Negotiation and Trial, ICLEF, 1989
- Matrimonial Law -- Military Retirement Benefits In Or Out Of The Pot?, ICLEF, 1990
- Matrimonial Law -- Military Retirement Benefits In Or Out Of The Pot?, The Indiana Fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1990
- Child Custody and Visitation in Indiana: Discovery Techniques; Experts; Modification; Ethical Considerations (Co-Author), National Business Institute, Inc., 1991
- Divorce Drafting -- Notice and Intent to Leave Jurisdiction, ICLEF, 1991
- Family Law Continuing Legal Education -- Worksheet Oriented Summary of Amendments to Child Support Guidelines With Cases to Watch (Co-Author), Indianapolis Bar Association, 1993
- Family Law Continuing Legal Education -- Legislative Amendments to Indiana's Child Custody Statutes, Indianapolis Bar Association, 1994
- Equitable Distribution in Divorce Settlements in Indiana, National Business Institute, 1996
- Hot Tips From Family Law Experts, ICLEF, 1998
- Statewide Visitation Guidelines, Grandparent Visitation, Relocation and Paternity, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2001
- Planning Your First Divorce Case, ICLEF, 2001
- Family Law, Case Law and Ethics Update, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2001
- Tax Issues for Family Law Practitioners, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2001
- Developments in Social Security Law, Indiana Law Review, Volume 22, 1989
- Survey of Recent Developments in Family Law, Indiana Law Review, Volume 23, 1990
- Developments in Social Security Law (Co-Author), Indiana Law Review, Volume 24, 1991
- The Continuing Evolution of Indiana's Family Law (Co-Author), Indiana Law Review, Volume 25, 1992
- The Progression of Indiana's Family Law in 1992 (Co-Author), Indiana Law Review, Volume 26, 1993
- 1995 Survey of Indiana Family Law (Co-Author), Indiana Law Review, Volume 29, 1996
- Survey of Indiana Family Law in 1996, Indiana Law Review, Volume 30, 1997
- Survey of Developments in Indiana Family Law (Co-Author), Indiana Law Review, Volume 37, 2004
- Recent Development: Indiana Family Law (Co-Author), Indiana Law Review, Volume 28, 2005
- Recent Developments: Indiana Family Law (Co-Author), Indiana Law Review, Volume 39, 2006
- Recent Developments: Indiana Family Law (Co-Author), Indiana Law Review, Volume 41, 2008
Representative Cases
- Hammes v. Brumley, 659 N.E.2d 1021, 1995, Ind., 1995252823