Divorce In Indiana – Your Complete Guide

divorce in indiana guide
Worthy Staff

By Worthy Staff | Aug 13th, 2019

While the process of obtaining a divorce may seem overwhelming, Indiana is a no-fault divorce state, which streamlines matters somewhat. Knowing what to expect as your case unfolds can ease your mind and help you navigate through court proceedings. Let’s get started. 

Basic Divorce Laws in Indiana

To file for divorce in Indiana, you and/or your spouse must be a resident of the state of Indiana for at least six months. If neither of you has been living in Indiana for at least six months, you will need to wait until this minimum residency requirement has been met prior to filing. 

Additionally, either you or your spouse should be a resident of the county where you plan to file, and you should have lived there for at least three months. While it is possible to file for divorce without living in a certain county for the minimum time period, the court has the option of transferring or even dismissing your case if your spouse objects to the divorce.

Once you file for divorce, you and/or your spouse may move out of the county where you filed, and you may also move out of state before the divorce has been finalized. The court will still be able to finalize the divorce on your behalf.

Even if you haven’t been living in the state or county for the minimum amount of time required by law, you can still obtain assistance from law enforcement officials and/or the court system if you need child support or an Order of Protection in cases where abuse may occur.  

Because Indiana is a no-fault divorce state, neither party has to prove wrongdoing on the other person’s part. Either party may simply state that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Circumstances such as abandonment, abuse, and/or adultery are taken into consideration by the court when deciding on issues such as child custody, child support, spousal support, and the equitable division of property and debt.

How to File for Divorce in Indiana

If you have an attorney, he or she will help you with all aspects of filing for divorce or responding to a petition for divorce. 

If you are planning to file for divorce on your own, you may obtain the necessary forms at the county courthouse. Indiana offers online divorce forms as well. There are four different sets of divorce forms from which to choose, so be sure to select the right one:

All four sets of court documents come with specific instructions for determining whether you have selected the correct packet for your case, as well as for filling out divorce papers and filing them with the court. 

The basic steps for filing your own divorce in Indiana are similar in all divorce types:

There is a 60 day waiting period before the divorce can be finalized. In Indiana, divorce is finalized after 60 days have passed and you have reached an agreement with your spouse or the court has made a decision during a final hearing. 

Do I Need a Lawyer for an Indiana Divorce?

Since court officials may not provide you with any advice about your case, it is a very good idea to consult with an attorney before you begin the process of filing for a divorce in Indiana. 

While it is of course possible to file for a divorce on your own, there are some circumstances when it is even more important to seek legal assistance:

Insights From Jumping In: Dating After Divorce in 2019

In 2019, Worthy conducted a study on how divorce women approach divorce and dating in today’s world.

Age of Today’s Divorced Woman
Of the women we surveyed, 42% divorced between the ages of 35-44 and 28% between 45-54, indicating that midlife is the most common time for marriages to break up. Only 9% divorced after the age of 55 and the younger women, 34 and under, made up 22%.

Divorce Proceedings in the 21st Century
We asked our participants to share what legal processes they were familiar with for divorce. Litigation (53%) and mediation (48%) were at the top of the list but many were also familiar with alternative routes such as low-conflict collaborative divorce (25%). Services like working with a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst are much less well-known (5%).

Divorce Finances 101
When it came to the big issues, the majority of women felt sufficiently informed to make decisions. This included issues like health insurance (60%) and the marital house (56%). However, when it came to issues outside of the immediate household, such as taxes, the participants felt less informed.

Dating After Divorce
Dating is at the forefront of many divorcees’ minds. 78% of the women have already started thinking about dating by the time the divorce papers are signed. 40% of women feel confident about dating after divorce, 68% feel excited and hopeful. 59% of divorced women meet dates on online dating websites or apps.

Getting Divorced The Easier Way

Divorce can be a complicated, draining and expensive process, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re looking to file for an uncontested divorce in Indiana, do it the easy way with our friends at It’s Over Easy, the only online divorce solution that guides you through every aspect of your case, founded by celebrity divorce lawyer Laura A. Wasser.

laura wasser

“After practicing Family Law for over 20 years I came to realize that people deserve a better way to get divorced. I founded It’s Over Easy to give people a high-quality, less expensive & more amicable option. Our platform takes the user through the entire dissolution process. We provide information and support along the way through our content on our Insights Blog, the Divorce Sucks! Podcast and The Index, our curated professional and lifestyle resource guide. Divorce is difficult but the legal part shouldn’t have to be.” 
–Laura A. Wasser

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Divorce Resources In Indiana

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Focus Area OrganizationWebsite
Divorce
Professionals

National Association of
Divorce Professionals
(NADP)

TheNADP.com
Divorce
Coach

Certified Divorced
Coaches
(CDC)

Certified
DivorceCoach.com
Financial
Planners


Association of
Divorce
Financial Planners
(ADFP)


DivorceAndFinance.org
Lawyers
Avvo


Avvo.com
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Divorce process guide for main US states

Legal Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice on any subject matter. Consult with an attorney for more information regarding your individual situation.

Worthy Staff

Worthy Staff


The Worthy Blog is a place for inspiration, insight, and advice for all things surrounding life's greatest transitions - divorce, losing a loved one, retirement, and so much more. You can find us on our blog, Instagram, and Facebook.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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