Best Lawyers in Indiana, United States for Family Law

Whether you’re navigating adoption, going through a divorce, or attempting to resolve questions of spousal support or child custody, confronting a family law matter in Indiana can be both emotionally taxing and legally challenging.

With so much at stake for your family’s future, this is no time to go it alone. Partnering with an experienced Indiana family law attorney ensures your rights are protected and empowers you to make informed, confident decisions for yourself and your loved ones.

As the most established global network of legal professionals and law firms, Best Lawyers makes it easy to connect with trusted family lawyers anywhere in Indiana. From Indianapolis and Fort Wayne to Evansville, South Bend and Bloomington, you can rely on our directory to help you find the right advocate to guide you through life’s most challenging moments.

When Should You Hire an Indiana Family Law Attorney?

Because family law matters are almost always emotionally charged, it's easy to lose sight of the big picture. By engaging an Indiana family attorney early on, you can avoid many common mistakes and ensure your rights—and those of your family—are protected every step of the way.

• Divorce or Legal Separation: Divorce lawyers in Indiana can ensure you’re treated fairly—no matter the circumstances of your case.
• Child Custody and Parenting Time Disputes: A seasoned attorney can safeguard your parental rights and ensure the best interests of your child.
• Modifications of Child Support or Custody Orders: Whether you’re requesting or contesting a modification, legal representation is essential to building a strong case and achieving the best possible outcome.
• Establishing Paternity: Family law lawyers in Indiana can help streamline this process and ensure proper procedures are followed so your rights to custody, visitation and support aren’t jeopardized.
• Adoption or Guardianship: While a family court attorney is not required in Indiana, their assistance is recommended to ensure compliance with Indiana statutes and procedures.
• Domestic Violence Protection Order: An Indiana family law attorney can represent you in court and ensure proper steps are taken to secure the temporary and permanent orders critical to your safety.

Key Practice Areas in Indiana Family Law

Family law encompasses a range of specialized practice areas, each subject to distinct legal frameworks and considerations. Family lawyers in Indiana typically focus on the following:

Divorce in Indiana

In Indiana, couples can file for divorce under the "no-fault" rule, meaning you don’t need to prove any wrongdoing — just that the marriage has faced an "irretrievable breakdown." Other valid reasons include a felony conviction, impotency at the time of marriage, or incurable insanity lasting two years or longer.

Property Division

In Indiana, dividing marital property in a divorce follows the principle of "equitable distribution," which does not necessarily mean equal. An Indiana family court judge will look beyond a simple 50-50 split and weigh factors like each spouse's financial needs, income and earning potential, contributions to the marriage (both financial and otherwise), tax considerations and any child support obligations.

Child Custody & Parenting Time

The best interest of the child is the overarching principle that guides all child custody and parenting time decisions in Indiana. Family courts may award a parent physical custody, legal custody or both. Legal custody refers to the right to make significant decisions about a child's upbringing, such as education, healthcare and religious training. Physical custody, on the other hand, determines the child’s primary residence and who handles their daily care. While one parent may have primary physical custody, both parents can still share legal custody.

Although courts follow the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines when determining visitation, judges have discretion to tailor parenting plans based on the unique needs of the family. Factors such as the child's age, the parents' work schedules and the distance between households may all influence the court's decision.

Child Support

Indiana uses a statutory formula under its income shares model to calculate child support. Considerations include parental income, health care costs and custody arrangements. These calculations are intended to ensure children receive the financial care they deserve and reflect what they would have had in a two-parent household.

Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)

While Indiana law does not allow "alimony " in the traditional sense, it does permit "spousal maintenance" under specific, limited conditions.

• Temporary spousal maintenance: Awarded during divorce or legal separation proceedings, temporary maintenance provides short-term support until the case concludes and ends automatically once the final divorce decree or separation expires.
• Rehabilitative maintenance: Intended to help a spouse who sacrificed career development, often due to caregiving or homemaking, re-enter the workforce. This is generally capped at a maximum duration of three years. Rehabilitative maintenance is typically awarded when one spouse lacks sufficient earning capacity and requires time for education or training.
• Maintenance for an incapacitated spouse: Available when a spouse is physically or mentally incapacitated to the extent that earning income is impaired. In such cases, the court may order support for as long as the incapacity exists, potentially indefinitely, unless otherwise modified.
• Caretaker maintenance (custodial parent of an incapacitated child): When a spouse is the primary custodial caregiver for a child with a physical or mental disability and lacks sufficient property or assets to maintain reasonable needs, the court may award support. This maintenance can continue as long as caregiving responsibilities persist.

Adoption and Guardianship

The adoption process in Indiana begins with the filing of a Petition for Adoption and requires written consent from all relevant individuals, including the child’s living parents. From there, a licensed child-placing agency will conduct a home study and background check before submitting a written report to the court on the suitability of the proposed home. Once the court grants the adoption, a Record of Adoption and a new birth certificate for the adopted child will be issued.

The guardianship process begins with the filing of a Petition for Guardianship in a court with probate jurisdiction. The petition must explain why guardianship is needed, its alignment with the ward’s best interests and why the proposed guardian is the most qualified candidate. A hearing will then be held to determine the validity of the petition and the proposed guardian’s ability to handle the ward’s affairs. If the court is satisfied, the guardian will be appointed.

Domestic Violence

Under Indiana law, family members or intimate partners facing violence can seek protection orders to prevent their abuser from contacting, harassing or harming them. A petition for a protection order can be filed at any time an individual feels they are in danger.

Upon reviewing the petition, an Indiana family court may issue a temporary order, known as an ex parte order, without prior notice to the respondent. This temporary order can last up to 30 days if there is an immediate threat of harm. A follow-up hearing will then determine whether a permanent protection order, typically valid for up to two years, should be granted.

Indiana Family Law FAQs

Understanding your rights and options is essential when navigating family-related legal matters in Indiana.

How much do family law lawyers in Indiana cost?

In Indiana, legal fees for family law matters depend on factors such as case complexity, the attorney’s experience and your location within the state. Some Indiana family lawyers charge hourly, while others may offer flat fees for specific services like uncontested divorces or document preparation. Many law firms in Indiana provide an initial consultation to explain their billing practices and assess your legal needs.

When should I hire an Indiana family law attorney?

You should contact an Indiana family law attorney when navigating significant legal matters related to your family, especially regarding divorce, adoption, guardianship, domestic violence, or modification of a support order or parenting plan. Hiring an attorney early in the process is critical to achieving an optimal outcome, as they can help you avoid costly mistakes that could jeopardize your legal rights.

Who pays attorney fees in Indiana family law cases?

Typically, each party pays their own fees. However, under the divorce and paternity acts, Indiana family courts can order one party to pay the other’s legal fees. This is particularly common in situations where significant income disparity exists between parties.

Does Indiana recognize common-law marriage?

Indiana abolished common-law marriage in 1958 and does not recognize such unions, no matter how long the partners have lived together. However, live-in couples who don’t wish to marry may consider using cohabitation agreements, wills, trusts and joint ownership of assets to clarify their rights and responsibilities in their relationship. Indiana also recognizes common-law marriages validly established in states where they are recognized, such as Colorado and Texas.

Indiana-Specific Considerations

While Indiana family law is similar in many ways to the laws of other states, there are certain nuances you and your attorney will need to consider, depending on the circumstances of your case.

Residency Requirements for Divorce

To file for divorce in Indiana, the law requires that at least one spouse has lived in the state for at least six months before filing. Additionally, that spouse must have lived in the specific county where the divorce is being filed for at least three months. Divorce lawyers in Indiana understand that if these requirements aren’t met, a filing will be dismissed or delayed.

Divorce Case Timelines

No two divorce cases move at the same pace. At minimum, Indiana imposes a 60-day waiting period between the time the divorce petition is filed and when the court can issue a final decree.

However, most divorces take several months or longer to resolve, especially when there are disputes over child custody, property division, or spousal support. Case complexity, the parties’ willingness to negotiate and local court backlogs all influence how long the process will take.

“Whole Pot” Approach to Property Distribution

Unlike some states that separate assets acquired before marriage, Indiana takes a "whole pot" approach in which everything owned by either spouse at the time of marriage and everything gained during the marriage is considered marital property and subject to equitable split unless otherwise stipulated by a prenuptial agreement.

Parenting Time Guidelines

While the Indiana Supreme Court's Parenting Time Guidelines provide a standardized framework for dividing parental time, they are intended to be flexible and can be customized through mutual agreement between parents.

The guidelines promote frequent, meaningful and continuing contact with both parents, who are encouraged to cooperate and communicate effectively, especially when negotiating adjustments to the schedule for summer breaks or holidays. However, any agreed-upon modifications must be submitted to and approved by the court.

Local Court Variations

A clear divide in Indiana exists between how urban and rural courts operate, largely due to differences in population density, infrastructure and available resources. Rural counties—typically those with populations under 40,000 — tend to have fewer resources, which can mean longer travel times for litigants and attorneys and limited access to interpreters or specialized court services.

Judges and court staff in rural areas often serve as generalists and, unlike their urban counterparts, typically handle a wide range of matters beyond family law. Given these disparities, it’s critical to work with a family court attorney in Indiana who knows the local court’s rules and practices, especially when dealing with particularly sensitive issues like divorce or child custody.

Family Law Legal Hubs Across Indiana

Certain Indiana cities serve as major legal hubs for family law due to their larger court systems and concentrations of experienced Indiana family law attorneys.

• Indianapolis (Marion County): As the state’s capital and most populous city, Indianapolis is home to the state’s largest court system, including a dedicated family court division with judges who specialize in divorce, custody and support cases.
• Fort Wayne (Allen County): Fort Wayne is recognized for its focus on mediation in family law matters. Allen County courts often encourage or require parties to participate in mediation to resolve disputes before proceeding to trial.
• South Bend, Evansville and Bloomington: Cities like South Bend, Evansville and Bloomington also have active family court systems with attorneys who regularly handle divorce, custody and related issues. These cities offer a mix of private family law practitioners and court-affiliated resources such as parenting classes and mediation programs.

How to Use Best Lawyers® to Find the Right Attorney

Choosing a family law lawyer in Indiana is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your rights, your children and your future. Whether you're facing divorce, custody issues, or any other family law matter, you need an attorney with proven experience — and finding that person doesn’t have to be complicated.

As the original, most trusted source for legal referrals, Best Lawyers makes it easy to connect with a highly qualified Indiana family law attorney whose experience aligns with your needs.

Purely Peer Review

Best Lawyers does not accept paid placements—instead, attorneys are selected through confidential surveys completed by thousands of legal professionals who have known and worked with nominees. Only those who consistently receive positive reviews from their peers are ranked and they must maintain those votes each year to earn a place on each annual list.

A Recognized Mark of Excellence

Recognition by Best Lawyers is considered one of the most prestigious honors in the legal profession. It’s a sign that an attorney is not only trusted by clients but also respected by fellow attorneys across the state.

Find a Trusted Family Law Lawyer in Indiana

Family law issues can shape your future. Choosing the right attorney is critical. Best Lawyers connects you with peer-recognized Indiana family law legal experts who understand the state’s laws, court systems and client priorities.

Explore top-rated Indiana family law attorneys today.