Fishers Legal Separation Attorneys
Providing Top-Tier Legal Advice to Fishers Residents
When a marriage falls apart, it can leave the parties with many challenging legal issues in its wake. No one should go through a divorce or legal separation without professional advice from legal counsel.
Luckily, our Fishers family law team at Massillamany Jeter & Carson can help you deal with difficult divorce issues and answer any questions you may have about divorce. For instance, have you ever wondered about the term “legal separation?” How is legal separation different from divorce?
For answers to these questions and more, please contact Massillamany Jeter & Carson online, or call us at (317) 434-1490 to schedule a free consultation today.
Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce)
“An action for dissolution of a marriage” is legal jargon for what you might know as a divorce. It marks the end of a legal marriage due to one of the following reasons:
- Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage;
- A spouse being convicted of a felony;
- Impotence, existing at the time of marriage; or
- Incurable insanity.
If a marriage satisfies one of the above criteria it may be dissolved, resulting in the termination of all rights, privileges, and obligations that Indiana law imbues with married couples. In divorce proceedings, the family court judge makes determinations regarding the couple’s eligibility for divorce, any need and amount for spousal maintenance or child support payments, and property division. Indiana law presumes an equal division of marital property is fair. A party seeking an unequal division of property must convince the court why such a division is fair.
Legal Separation
Legal separation of married couples is similar to a divorce; however, it does not have the finality of a divorce. A court may grant a legal separation for up to one year. Legal separation is granted when it becomes intolerable for one or both individuals in the marriage to live together.
The court can award temporary orders pertaining to:
- Child support;
- Child custody;
- Parenting time;
- Certain financial matters; and
- Potential spousal maintenance.
Unlike a divorce, a court can order the couple to attend marriage counseling in legal separation matters.
Get Help from a Fishers Divorce Lawyer
Our family law attorneys at Massillamany Jeter & Carson can help counsel you on whether or not a legal separation is the best option for you.
Contact us online or call (317) 434-1490 to schedule a free consultation with one of our family law advocates today.