how a married couple without children can divorce without a lawyer in indiana

by Mr. Jonatan Howell Jr. 8 min read

Make sure you qualify to use the self-service packet. The Indiana courts provide fill-in-the-blank forms you can use to file for divorce without an attorney, even if you and your spouse do not agree on the division of debts and property. To use these forms, you cannot have any biological or adopted minor children with your spouse.

Full Answer

How do I get a divorce in Indiana without a lawyer?

If you decide to handle your divorce on your own without employing a divorce attorney, you can download and use the forms that are made available by the Indiana courts on their website or you can get hard copies of the documents at the court clerk’s office.

What is an uncontested divorce in Indiana?

An uncontested divorce is less traumatizing than having to argue your case in court in front of a judge and it is less expensive too. In Indiana, you can opt for an uncontested divorce irrespective of whether your spouse and you have children or not. You need to fill out different forms if you have children.

Do couples without children divorce more often?

Couples without children divorce more often than couples that have at least one child, according to researchers, despite numerous studies that marital happiness nosedives in the first year or two after the birth of a child and sometimes never quite recoups.

Can a judge deviate from a straight split in an Indiana divorce?

Judges do have leeway to deviate from a straight split if circumstances warrant it. Gifts given to only one spouse in Indiana are considered separate property. A spouse must be able to prove that the gift was given only to them. In cases where gifts are commingled, they may become marital assets.

Can I file for divorce in Indiana without a lawyer?

Do I have to have an attorney to file a divorce? No, you do not have to have an attorney to file a divorce, but it would be helpful. It would be easier if you have an attorney, because the attorney is familiar with the divorce laws and with the courts.

How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Indiana?

Divorce Filing Fees and Typical Attorney Fees by StateStateAverage Filing FeesOther Divorce Costs and Attorney FeesIndiana$157Average fees: $9,000Iowa$185Average fees: $9,000+Kansas$400Average fees: $8,000+Kentucky$148 (without an attorney), $153 (with an attorney)Average fees: $8,000+48 more rows•Jul 21, 2020

Can you get a divorce without going to court in Indiana?

Getting Your Final Divorce Decree (Both spouses must sign the settlement agreement and the waiver of final hearing.) After reviewing and approving your agreement, a judge may sign a "summary dissolution decree" without holding a final hearing. At that point, your divorce will be final.

How long do you have to be separated before you can file for divorce in the state of Indiana?

60 daysIndiana divorce law requires a separation period of 60 days before a divorce can be finalized. The couple does not need to be separated prior to filing for divorce, but the court does require this waiting period before the divorce can be finalized.

Can I get divorced without a lawyer?

Yes, it is possible to file your own divorce and complete the process without the aid of an attorney.

Can we divorce without going to court?

No it is not possible for you to take divorce legally without going to court. If both parties are ready than go for Mutual Consent Divorce in which case you will have to appear in court only 4 times on different dates. If your marriage is legally solemnized than only way for legal divorce is through Court.

Does it matter who files for divorce first in Indiana?

Yes. It does not matter who files for divorce; the wife can get her maiden or former name back as part of the final divorce as long as she asks the court to do this.

How long do you have to be separated before divorce is automatic?

Most state courts will automatically enter a divorce decree if the parties have been legally separated for a period of time, often one to two years, and meet the basic eligibility requirements.

How do I start a divorce in Indiana?

Steps Involved in Obtaining a Divorce in IndianaPreparing for Your Divorce. ... Filing the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (and Other Forms) ... Service of Process. ... Financial Disclosures. ... Provisional Hearing. ... Negotiation, Mediation or Collaborative Law. ... Waiting Period. ... Going to Court.More items...•

Who pays for a divorce in Indiana?

Indiana follows the American rule in civil litigation, including an Indiana divorce. Under this rule, each party pays his or her own attorney's fees in the case. However, there are some instances in which a divorce court may order one party to pay part or all of the attorney's fees of the other party.

How much is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Indiana?

Generally, the Court will divide the property and debts of the marriage on a 50-50% basis. The Court can give more than 50% to one spouse if the Court has good reason to do this.

Can I get a divorce without my spouse knowing?

Now, though, it's possible to file for divorce even when you don't know where your spouse is. The only catch is that you can't get a divorce without at least attempting to formally notify your spouse about the proceedings.

What are Indiana's divorce laws?

Although Indiana is a “no-fault” divorce state, the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage must declare the appropriate grounds upon which the dissol...

How long does it take to get a divorce in Indiana?

Typically, it takes at least 60 days before the court can finalize a divorce in Indiana. Once the divorce is filed, the court can issue temporary o...

How much does a divorce cost in Indiana?

Unfortunately, how much a divorce costs is based on too many variables to provide an estimate of anticipated costs. The costs depend on the actions...

Can I file for divorce in Indiana without an attorney?

Yes. By its very nature, your dissolution involves the most important things in your life. It is imperative that you have someone who understands t...

Does Indiana grant divorces based on marital fault?

Yes, the grounds for which are the conviction of either party of a felony, impotence, or incurable insanity for a period of at least two years. How...

Does it matter who files for divorce first in Indiana?

From a legal standpoint, there are no implications for who files for divorce first in Indiana. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to s...

How is property divided in a divorce in Indiana?

In Indiana, property will typically be divided in half. While that does not mean items will always be split 50/50, the value of marital property wi...

How is spousal support or maintenance determined during a divorce in Indiana?

The court will make an award of maintenance from one spouse to the other in three circumstances. The first is if the court finds a spouse to be phy...

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Indiana?

During the divorce process, the court will examine the assets involved in the case and make a determination about who is entitled to what. Property...

Equitable Distribution & Asset Division

  • Marital Property and Division of Assets in Indiana
    Indiana is an equitable distribution state which means assets are divided fairly and equitably, but necessarily equally. Assets acquired both during a prior to a marriage may be subject to division in a divorce. Property division is governed by several factors that are to be considered when divi…
  • Debts
    There is a presumption of a 50-50 split on debts in Indiana despite being an equitable distribution state. It is possible to make a case that debts should be divided differently, but you will need to convince a judge as to why this should be the case.
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Support Issues

  • Spousal Maintenance in Indiana
    There are several factors that will determine if spousal maintenance (alimony) in Indiana should be awarded or not. Spousal maintenance may be awarded for a set period of time, or there may be rehabilitative maintenance that will be awarded, but not for a period of longer than three years fr…
  • Child Support in Indiana
    Indiana uses the Income Shares Model for calculating child support. This formula uses weekly gross income of the parents and the number of children for which support is required. Deductions are made for child support paid to other children and maintenance paid to other spouses. Court…
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Custody and Visitation

  • Child Custody in Indiana
    Indiana uses Parenting Time guidelines which subscribe to the belief that it is usually in a child’s best interests to have frequent and meaningful contact with each parent. A parent who is not granted primary custody is entitled to reasonable parenting time unless there are extenuating cir…
  • Substance Abuse
    By itself, substance abuse is not considered one of the grounds for divorce in Indiana. However, if the use of drugs or alcohol is present in a marriage it could impact parts of the divorce settlement. Specifically, any drug use that negatively impacts children or a parent’s ability to car…
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Process

  • Bifurcation of marital status
    Bifurcation means that both parties in a divorce can legally declared as a single person while the other issues in their divorce are still being worked out. It does not affect things such as child custody, visitation, child support, alimony or other contentious issues that may have stalled or b…
  • Disclosing Assets
    As part of the divorce process, both spouses must provide financial disclosures. This includes, assets, income and debts. This is so equitable distribution can take place in an appropriate way. Any attempt to hide assets could result in serious repercussions. If one spouse suspects that th…
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Other Issues

  • Domestic Violence
    Domestic violence in Indiana can include any kind of physical abuse, emotional abuse, stalking, or any other kind of harassment including those made through phone calls, mail, or social media inflicted on one spouse by the other. It can play a factor in a divorce, but those actions are secon…
  • Health Insurance
    Indiana courts generally require that both parties maintain status quo when it comes to health insurance during a divorce. However, after a divorce is granted, this does not mean that health insurance is required to continue. In fact, most employers will not carry an ex-spouse after a div…
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