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Indianapolis Divorce Lawyers

People contemplating divorce all too often allow their emotions to take over. At this critical point in their lives, they need clear-headed thinking and sound legal advice.

At Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C., we assist people during this difficult period in their lives by helping them make the right decisions about their futures.

We advise and represent clients in all aspects of marital dissolution and related matters, including:

A Comprehensive Plan For Your Future

We know that your situation is unique to you. We will develop a comprehensive plan to pursue your objectives and move into the future with the knowledge and information you need.

We start by educating you about Indiana law and the divorce process. We inform you of what to expect during and after the process, as well as the risks of the process. Working closely with you, we will identify your goals for the future and your hopes for your children’s future. We will then work to achieve those goals while being mindful of your rights at all times. We are also trained in forms of alternative resolutions including collaborative law and mediation, which may help you avoid going to court.

Simple To Complex Property Division

While a divorce involves intense emotions, it has important financial implications as well. We pay close attention to all financial aspects of your divorce, including property division. Our goal is to put you and your children in the best position possible. We have successfully represented clients with marital estates of all sizes and amounts, including cases involving complex assets and family-owned businesses. We also handle divorces involving military members and veterans, which involve special rules regarding division of military pensions and retirement benefits.

Helping Clients Move Into The Future

At Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C., we believe that divorce is about the future, not the past. Our goal in every case is to help our clients make successful transitions to the next stages of their lives. With sound advice, a real concern for what concerns you and experienced counsel, you can move forward with hope and expectation for a promising future.

For a consultation with a divorce lawyer at Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C., call 317-660-8150 or contact us online.

FAQ

Question 1: I inherited money from a family member. Is my spouse entitled to half of this inheritance?

Answer 1: The short answer is yes. In Indiana, all assets brought to the marriage and all assets accumulated during the course of the marriage, no matter the source of that asset came or how that asset is titled, is subject to division. Inheritance is no different. If the inheritance was accumulated during the course of the marriage, and prior to the filing of a divorce, even though it may only be titled in one spouses’ name, it is considered a marital asset. However, the court will consider several factors in determining what an equitable division of property may look like in any case. An inherited asset is indeed taken into consideration in determining how to distribute property. It may be that the inherited asset is in theory equally divided, depending on the rest of the marital estate, particularly if the inherited asset has been used to pay down marital debts throughout the course of the marriage. In other cases, the inherited assets may not necessarily be equally divided. Bottom line, unless there is a pre-nuptial agreement excluding an inheritance, then that asset is included as a marital asset subject to division by the court, just as a jointly titled asset would be.

Question 2: I am going through a divorce. How long will it take?

Answer 2: Legally, an Indiana court cannot divorce you earlier than 60 days after one spouse files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. Beyond the 60-day mark, each case is different. Certain factors, such as whether children are involved, whether marital assets and debts are known to both parties; and the size and extent of the marital estate can greatly impact the time it can take for a divorce to be finalized. Additionally, parties who can agree on some or all issues incident to divorce are more likely to experience a quicker legal process than those who require Court intervention. There is no legal requirement that a divorce matter be finalized in a certain time frame.