Carter Legal Services LLC is well experienced in all aspects of these areas mentioned above representing all parents in divorce, paternity, adoption and guardianship actions. In addition to seeking initial orders in these areas, there are also the questions of modifying existing orders to accommodate changes in the family situation as well as proper review of child support, college expenses, special needs children and so on. Whether or not your case involves a traditional family or a same sex family, the ramifications of this recent evolution of Indiana law will affect your situation. Your advocate in court and in negotiations must be willing and able to adapt to what we expect to be a new analysis of families and family needs. You can schedule a one hour strategy consultation using the convenient and secure CONTACT page.  This consultation can be at one of our several locations throughout central Indiana or via telephone.  We can accommodate your need for discretion in arranging this meeting..

Whether or not your case involves a traditional family or a same sex family, the ramifications of this recent evolution of Indiana law will affect your situation. Your advocate in court and in negotiations must be willing and able to adapt to what we expect to be a new analysis of families and family needs.
​The recent decisions overturning Indiana's ban on same-sex marriage will have long-lasting effects on the all areas of family law, not just the right to marry. However, Indiana law is actually quite well prepared to assimilate and accommodate these changes. The overall trend in recent decisions by the Indiana Court of Appeals and Supreme Court has been to focus less on the needs or desires of the parents and much more on the best interests of the children. Statutes and case law have moved significantly away from traditional sex roles or household roles of husband and wife or mother and father and much more on the roles actually performed by each parent with in that family and in relation to the children. To that end, same-sex divorce, same sex paternity and the same sex guardianships and adoptions can be accommodated within the framework established by Indiana law looking at the role of the parents rather than the role of the father and of the mother. It will not be an easy transition as every participant in the process will bring his or her personal viewpoints on these complex issues. However, one role of law and courts is to overcome individual approaches to these issues and to look to the law and precedence to determine appropriate decisions.
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This approach and the experience of litigating during 2 decades of extraordinary changes and advancements in how Indiana courts view family and family relationships helps to develop a strategy that includes and transcends what is happening now to envision what must happen as your family changes.

Erik Carter has been representing clients in Indiana family courts for over 20 years.  What this range and depth of experience means for you is an approach to family disputes that seeks to balance the needs and goals of the present situation with the fact that every party, child or relative involved have to still be involved with each other possibly for a decade or more.

FAMILY LAW in Indiana continues to evolve.  Whether you are involved in a divorce, paternity, adoption, or guardianship of a minor, or modification of an existing domestic relations order, your attorney needs to not only vigorously advocate your position and goals, but also needs to be flexible and adaptable to what surely will be rapid and continuing changes in Indiana family law.