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Noblesville Divorce Attorney
Know what’s at stake during divorce proceedings.
Why You Need a Noblesville Divorce Lawyer
Divorce can put your kids, your house, your money, and years of work on the table at the same time. And if custody is disputed, you may also be worried about how every argument, text message, accusation, or mistake will look in front of a judge.
A Noblesville divorce attorney can help you understand what you are entitled to under Indiana law and where you may need to stand your ground. Just as importantly, your attorney can help you recognize when negotiation makes more sense than fighting over every issue.
Knowing the difference can keep you from giving up ground you did not need to give up.
Summerfield–Dandurand Law Group, LLP, Founders of Custom Law helps you understand what the law says, what the other side is asking for, and what the record actually supports. We stay straight with you about where to stand your ground, where an agreement makes sense, and what you should understand before you sign anything.
Divorce may be cooperative, or it may become highly contested. Either way, you deserve straightforward legal guidance, careful preparation, and an attorney who understands what is at stake.
How Can a Noblesville Divorce Attorney Help You?
A divorce can become complicated quickly when spouses disagree about property, children, money, or support. The right legal guidance helps you understand your position before you agree to terms that may affect you for years.
At Custom Law, we look at the entire picture. That may include the marital home, bank accounts, retirement assets, debts, parenting arrangements, child support, and potential spousal maintenance.
We can also help you determine whether your case is better suited for negotiation, mediation, or litigation. We are not here to turn every disagreement into a war. We are here to make sure you understand what the other side is asking for, what the evidence supports, and what you could be giving up before you agree.
If the other side is pushing for terms you believe are unfair, preparation matters. If you and your spouse are already close to an agreement, careful legal review still matters before you sign.
You should know what you are giving up before you agree to it.
What Does Indiana Divorce Involve?
An Indiana divorce can involve several separate legal issues, and resolving one does not necessarily resolve the others. Your case may require decisions concerning property, support, children, and the legal end of the marriage.
Filing for Divorce in Indiana
Indiana is generally a no-fault divorce state. A spouse can petition for dissolution based on an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage without proving that the other spouse caused the breakdown.
Before filing, however, residency and jurisdiction requirements matter. Indiana generally requires that one spouse have lived in the state for at least six months and in the county where the divorce is filed for at least three months. If you and your spouse live in different counties and both counties have jurisdiction, the appropriate filing location may require consideration of your circumstances.
These issues are worth addressing before you file. A divorce attorney can help you understand where your case belongs and what the process may look like.
Exceptions to a No-Fault Divorce
Indiana law also recognizes limited fault-based grounds, including:
- A felony conviction against either spouse
- Impotence existing at the time the marriage began
- Incurable insanity lasting at least two years
Having a legal ground does not automatically mean it is the smartest way to handle the case. The question is what it changes, what you can prove, and whether using it actually helps your position.
Property and Debt Division
Indiana generally uses a marital “one pot” approach to property division. Property and debts may become part of the marital estate even when one spouse owned an asset before marriage.
The court begins with a presumption that an equal division of marital property is just and reasonable under Indiana Code § 31-15-7-5. That does not necessarily mean every divorce ends with a precise 50/50 division.
The court may consider factors involving contributions to property, property owned before marriage, the parties’ earning abilities, and tax consequences under Indiana Code § 31-15-7-7.
This is where assumptions get expensive. The house you bought before marriage, the retirement account in only one name, the business you built, or the debt your spouse ran up may still become part of the fight over the marital estate.
Spousal Maintenance
Indiana uses the term spousal maintenance rather than treating alimony as an automatic part of every divorce.
A court may consider maintenance in certain circumstances, including where a spouse is physically or mentally incapacitated or where a spouse cannot work because they are caring for a child with a physical or mental incapacity.
Indiana law also allows rehabilitative maintenance when one spouse interrupted education, training, or employment to care for the home or children. Under Indiana Code § 31-15-7-2, rehabilitative maintenance may be awarded for up to three years after the divorce is finalized.
Whether maintenance is appropriate depends on the facts, the statutory requirements, and the financial circumstances of both spouses.
Child Custody and Parenting Time
If you have children, custody and parenting time can become some of the most important issues in your divorce.
Indiana courts consider the best interests of the child when parents cannot agree. Issues may include where the child will live, parenting time, education, health care, and how important decisions will be made.
Parents can create their own parenting arrangements when they reach an agreement. When they cannot, the court may determine custody and parenting time under Indiana Code § 31-17-2.
A custody dispute does not have to mean an all-out courtroom fight. But you should understand your position before making an agreement that affects your relationship with your children.
Child Support
Child support is generally addressed alongside custody and parenting arrangements when children are involved.
Indiana calculates child support using each parent’s adjusted weekly income and the Indiana Child Support Guideline schedules. The calculation can also account for parenting time, health insurance costs, and other relevant expenses. A parenting time credit may affect the amount of support owed based on the parenting-time arrangement.
Indiana Code § 31-16-6 governs child support obligations. If your financial circumstances or parenting arrangement are unusual, the calculation may require closer review.
Why Choose Custom Law for Your Noblesville Divorce?
You do not need someone who just moves papers from one side of a case to the other. You need someone who will learn the facts, tell you where you stand, and be ready when the other side pushes too far.
Personalized Representation, Not a Cookie-Cutter Approach
Custom Law does not treat divorce like a form to fill out. Your kids, property, income, debt, and history are different from the next person’s, so the strategy has to start with your facts.
Divorce is a good example. Two couples may both be ending their marriages, but have completely different concerns. One may need to protect a business interest. Another may be focused primarily on custody. Someone else may need help addressing retirement assets, debt, or support.
Our attorneys take the time to understand those differences before developing a strategy.
Nicholas Dandurand Brings Family Law and Mediation Experience
Nicholas Dandurand is a partner and COO whose practice includes family law, criminal defense, collections, e-discovery, and mediation.
He is also a registered domestic relations mediator in Indiana. That background matters because not every point needs a trial, and not every point should be conceded. His mediation experience helps him see where agreements can be built and where the client may need to hold the line.
Nick can represent you as your attorney, protecting your interests throughout the process. His mediation experience also provides insight into how family disputes may be resolved through structured negotiation.
Experience on Both Sides of the Courtroom
Robert Summerfield is the firm’s founding partner and CEO. His experience includes working as both a defense attorney and a prosecutor in Hamilton and Madison counties.
As a former prosecutor with experience handling trials, he understands how legal arguments are developed and how cases are presented in court. His practice includes criminal defense, litigation, real estate, and other legal matters.
That broader litigation experience can be valuable when a divorce cannot be resolved through negotiation and requires courtroom advocacy.
Local Representation in Noblesville and Hamilton County
Our Noblesville office provides clients in Hamilton County with a local point of contact for legal representation.
That local presence matters. Divorce is not handled in the abstract. Your case proceeds through a particular court system, under Indiana law and applicable local procedures.
We Will Be Straight With You About Your Case
Divorce decisions have consequences. We explain what the law says, what the paperwork means, where the risks are, and what each option could change for your kids, money, or property.
You may not always hear the answer you hoped for. But you should know what the record supports before you make a decision that follows you for years.
What to Expect When You Work With a Noblesville Divorce Attorney
The divorce process can vary considerably depending on whether you and your spouse agree on the major issues. Some divorces move toward settlement quickly. Others require extensive negotiation, discovery, hearings, or trial preparation.
Step 1: Consultation and Case Assessment
The process starts with your story.
You explain what is happening, what you are concerned about, whether your spouse has already filed, and what you hope to accomplish. We then identify the major legal issues affecting your case.
That may include property, custody, child support, spousal maintenance, or questions about the divorce itself.
Step 2: Reviewing Your Documents
Divorce decisions are based on facts, and those facts often appear in documents.
Depending on your circumstances, we may need to review financial statements, tax records, property documents, retirement accounts, debts, existing parenting arrangements, court filings, and other relevant records.
We want the full picture before you negotiate away something you cannot easily get back.
Step 3: Building a Strategy
Once the facts are clearer, we help you understand your options.
You may be able to resolve the divorce through negotiation or mediation. In other cases, litigation may be necessary because the parties cannot agree or because important rights remain disputed.
We build the strategy from the facts. If the other side makes a claim that affects custody, property, support, or your credibility, the question is simple: what does the record show, and can they prove it?
Step 4: Negotiation and Mediation
Not every divorce needs to be decided by a judge.
You and your spouse may negotiate through your attorneys or participate in divorce mediation with a neutral mediator.
Mediation can help spouses address issues such as property division, parenting arrangements, and support while maintaining greater control over the final agreement.
Nicholas Dandurand’s status as a registered domestic relations mediator provides additional experience in this area.
Step 5: Court Proceedings When Necessary
When agreement is not possible, your case may require court intervention.
That can involve motions, hearings, discovery, evidence, and potentially a trial. Settlement does not mean showing up unprepared. A stronger negotiation starts with knowing the evidence, knowing the law, and being ready to take the disputed issues to court if that becomes necessary.
Our attorneys prepare cases with the legal issues and potential courtroom requirements in mind.
Step 6: Final Resolution
A divorce may be concluded by an agreement approved by the court or by a decision following contested proceedings.
Once the case is resolved, the final orders establish the terms governing issues such as property, custody, parenting time, support, or other matters addressed in the divorce.
Before reaching that point, you should understand exactly what you are agreeing to and what the final order means for your life after divorce.
How Long Does a Divorce Take in Indiana?
Indiana generally requires at least a 60-day waiting period after a divorce petition is filed before a dissolution can be finalized. That waiting period does not mean every divorce will be completed in 60 days.
A straightforward case involving few assets, no children, and little disagreement may move relatively quickly. A divorce involving significant property, custody disputes, business interests, retirement accounts, or contested support can take considerably longer.
The more issues you and your spouse disagree about, the more work may be required to reach a final resolution.
Could Legal Separation Be an Alternative?
Divorce is not the only option available to spouses who need to live separately.
Indiana law also recognizes legal separation, which allows spouses to live apart while remaining legally married. A court may address issues such as property, maintenance, child custody, and child support during the separation under Indiana Code § 31-15-3.
A formal legal separation may last for up to one year. If you are considering separation instead of divorce, a Noblesville family law attorney can help you understand how the option may apply to your circumstances.
Talk to a Noblesville Divorce Attorney Today
Your kids. Your house. Your money. Your name in the court record. A divorce can put all of it under pressure at once.
Custom Law will be straight with you about where you stand, what the other side is asking for, and what is worth fighting over.
Whether you are considering filing, have already been served, or are struggling to reach an agreement with your spouse, you do not have to navigate the process without legal guidance.
Request a consultation with Custom Law. We listen to your situation, explain your options, and help you understand the next step.
Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce in Noblesville
How much does a divorce attorney cost in Noblesville?
The cost depends on the complexity of the divorce, the issues involved, and whether the case settles or requires litigation. A consultation can help you understand what may be involved in your particular situation.
How is property divided in an Indiana divorce?
Indiana begins with a presumption that an equal division of marital property is just and reasonable, but the court may consider circumstances that support a different division.
Can my spouse and I settle our divorce without going to trial?
Yes. Spouses can negotiate or use mediation to resolve disputed issues. If an agreement is reached, the appropriate terms can be submitted through the court process rather than requiring the judge to decide every issue.
What happens if my spouse and I cannot agree on custody?
If parents cannot agree on custody, an Indiana court determines custody based on the child’s best interests. The court may consider factors concerning the child’s relationships, adjustment, and the circumstances of each parent.
