Indiana Juvenile Defense Lawyers

Your child’s future is worth every fight.

Why Hiring Indiana Juvenile Defense Attorneys Is the Right Move

If your child has been arrested or accused of a delinquent act in Indiana, the juvenile court system can move quickly. What happens in the first days can affect what happens next. You may already be worried about school, your child’s future, and what a delinquency case could mean for college, work, or other opportunities.

Indiana juvenile defense lawyers at Summerfield-Dandurand Law Group, LLP, Founders of Custom Law represent families when a child’s future is on the line, examining the facts and challenging problems in the State’s case.

Juvenile cases are not the same as adult criminal cases. Indiana juvenile courts are built around rehabilitation, but that does not mean the consequences are small. A juvenile adjudication is not an adult criminal conviction under Indiana law, but the case can still affect your child’s future and may require careful attention to the record and what happens next.

In serious cases, the State may also seek to move a case into adult court. When that happens, the stakes change sharply.

Your child needs someone who will look at the facts, challenge what needs to be challenged, and make the State prove its case.

What Custom Law Does When a Juvenile Case Is at Risk

Custom Law steps in before the case gets further ahead of you.

We review how the arrest happened, how evidence was gathered, what the police report actually says, and whether the State’s case holds up when the facts are examined closely.

We also look at every lawful option, including informal adjustment and diversion, when those options are available. Indiana law provides for informal adjustment programs, and the specific eligibility requirements and conditions can vary by county.

The goal is not to turn every juvenile case into a courtroom war. The goal is to understand what your child is facing and determine what needs to be fought, what can be resolved, and what protects your child’s future.

A delinquency adjudication according to the U.S. department of Justice is different from an adult criminal conviction, but that does not mean you should treat it casually. And in serious cases, the State may pursue a waiver or another path that brings adult-court consequences into the picture.

That changes everything.

Our criminal defense page shows the range of matters we handle for clients in Hamilton County and across Indiana.

Why Custom Law Handles Juvenile Cases Differently

Custom Law’s attorneys know the Indiana court system from both sides. Robert Summerfield and Nicholas Dandurand both served as prosecutors in Hamilton County before founding the firm.

They know how the State builds a case. They also know what happens when someone takes the time to test the State’s evidence instead of simply accepting the allegations.

Former Hamilton County Prosecutors on Your Side

Robert Summerfield worked as a prosecutor and defense attorney in Hamilton and Madison counties. Nicholas Dandurand served as a deputy prosecutor in Hamilton County.

That background matters.

They know how prosecutors evaluate evidence, how cases are prepared, and where the record deserves a harder look.

Now that experience is on your side.

Trial-Ready From Day One

Custom Law prepares every case with trial in mind.

That does not mean every juvenile case needs to go to a factfinding hearing. It means we do not wait until the last minute to figure out what the State has, what the defense needs, and what the record actually supports.

We examine the evidence early. We identify weaknesses early. We prepare early.

Local Courts, Local Knowledge

The firm is based in Noblesville, Indiana, and handles cases throughout Hamilton County and the surrounding area.

Local court knowledge matters. Juvenile cases move through specific courts, before specific judges and prosecutors, under Indiana’s juvenile statutes and local procedures.

Knowing how the system works is part of preparing the case.

A Boutique Firm, Not a Factory

Custom Law is a small firm by design.

Your child’s case does not get lost in a stack of files. You work with attorneys who know the facts, the allegations, and the issues that matter.

You should not have to explain your child’s situation over and over to someone new every time you call.

Spanish-Language Access

For families where English is not the first language, Custom Law has Spanish interpreters available on call.

You should understand what your child is facing, what decisions need to be made, and what happens next. Clear communication matters when the stakes are this high.

How Indiana Juvenile Cases Move Through the Courts

Indiana juvenile cases can take different paths depending on the allegations, your child’s age, prior history, and the circumstances of the case.

Some matters may be addressed through informal adjustment or diversion. Others proceed through formal juvenile court proceedings. If the court ultimately finds that a child is delinquent, the court enters a dispositional decree rather than an adult criminal sentence. Indiana Code § 31-37-19 provides the court with several dispositional options, including supervision, treatment, placement, and other measures directed toward rehabilitation.

The State still has to prove the allegations. In a delinquency matter, a child has the right to counsel, the right to confront witnesses, the right to remain silent, and the right to have the State prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

Step 1: The First Call

Your first step is a confidential case review with Custom Law.

You will walk us through what happened, what your child has been accused of, and what the police, school, prosecutor, or probation department has said so far.

Be honest about every detail.

Your lawyer needs the full picture. The facts you are worried about may be exactly where we need to start looking for the defense.

Step 2: Document and Evidence Review

We review the available records, including the police report, witness statements, charging documents, and information from the juvenile probation department.

This is where problems in the case can start to show up.

Was there a lawful basis for the stop? Was the search supported by the required legal grounds? Does the police report match the evidence? Are there witnesses or video that tell a different story?

Indiana juvenile law gives children important legal rights. If those rights were violated, that matters to the defense.

Step 3: Building a Strategy

Once we understand the record, we build a strategy around the facts.

Depending on the circumstances, a case may involve informal adjustment, diversion, a formal delinquency proceeding, or a potential move toward adult court.

The right path depends on the allegations, your child’s age, prior history, and the specific circumstances of the case.

We explain the options plainly before you make decisions that could affect your child’s future.

Step 4: Court Appearances

Juvenile cases can involve an initial hearing, followed by a factfinding hearing if the allegations are contested.

A fact-finding hearing is the juvenile equivalent of a trial. The State presents evidence, witnesses may testify, and the court determines whether the allegations have been proven.

Custom Law prepares for that hearing from the beginning.

Every filing, argument, piece of evidence, and witness matters.

Step 5: The Dispositional Hearing

If the court adjudicates your child delinquent, the case moves to disposition.

Indiana Code § 31-37-19 governs dispositional decrees and gives the juvenile court several options. Depending on the circumstances, the court may order probation supervision, treatment, placement, or other measures directed toward rehabilitation.

The defense still matters at this stage.

We present the facts that matter to your child’s circumstances and argue for an appropriate disposition supported by the record.

Step 6: After the Case Closes

Closing the case does not necessarily mean the record disappears automatically.

Indiana law provides procedures for sealing or expunging certain juvenile records. Indiana Code § 31-39-8 governs expungement of records concerning delinquent children and children in need of services, and the law provides different procedures depending on the circumstances of the case.

Some qualifying juvenile offenses may also be subject to automatic expungement under Indiana Code § 31-39-8-3.5, although that provision has exclusions and exceptions.

We can review the record and explain what options may be available.

The full process can take weeks or several months, depending on the allegations, court schedule, evidence, and whether the case is contested.

At each stage, you should know what is happening and why.

Talk to Indiana Juvenile Defense Lawyers in Noblesville

Your child’s case is not just another file.

You are thinking about school, college, work, housing, and the person your child is becoming. You may also be angry about what happened and worried that the State’s version of events will become the only version anyone sees.

Do not assume the allegation tells the whole story.

Your child deserves a defense that reads the record, tests the evidence, and makes the State prove what it says.

Not a quick plea. Not paperwork pushed across a desk.

A real defense.

The next step is simple. Contact our Noblesville office to request a confidential case review. Tell us what happened. Be straight with us. We will tell you what your child is facing, what the record shows, and what options may be available.

Questions Indiana Parents Ask About Juvenile Defense

Can my child’s juvenile record affect their ability to join the military or get a job?

It can. Juvenile records are treated differently from adult criminal records, but some records may still be accessible in particular circumstances or relevant to certain background investigations. Indiana law also provides procedures for sealing and expunging qualifying juvenile records.

What happens if my child is charged in adult court?

Indiana law allows certain cases involving minors to proceed in adult court depending on the offense, the child’s age, and other statutory requirements. If adult-court jurisdiction is involved or being considered, the stakes can change significantly. Your child’s lawyer should examine the specific statute and circumstances rather than assume the case will remain in juvenile court.

Will my child have to appear in court, or can a lawyer appear for them?

Your child’s required appearances depend on the type of hearing and the circumstances of the case. Some hearings may require the child’s presence. Your lawyer can explain which appearances are required and handle filings, negotiations, and advocacy on your child’s behalf where permitted.

How long does a juvenile case in Indiana usually take to resolve?

There is no single timeline. A straightforward matter may resolve relatively quickly, particularly if an informal adjustment or diversion is available. A contested case involving significant evidence, hearings, or potential adult-court issues can take considerably longer.

Can my child avoid a formal adjudication if this is a first offense?

Possibly. Indiana counties may use diversion and informal adjustment programs for qualifying cases, but eligibility, conditions, and program length depend on the circumstances and applicable local procedures. Indiana’s informal adjustment statute provides for programs that generally cannot exceed six months.