As the school year comes to an end, parents are scheduling camps, vacations and other activities for their children. Of course, this also means that the summer visitation requirements must be addressed for divorced families. Family law attorney, Lanae Harden, gives tips on how to ensure a smooth summer for both the parents and children involved.
If you don’t have a detailed parenting visitation schedule, create one. This may be difficult for former spouses to come to an agreement. If you are unable to come up with a mutually agreeable schedule, consult a professional to aid with this. The more detailed your agreement is, the less room for interpretation, therefore less conflict.
Recognize the emotional impact this may have on the children. A significant change in schedule can bring up emotions for the children. This could be positive or negative emotions, but usually a mixture of both. Children thrive on routine, and summer visitation schedules usually vary significantly from the routines that the children became accustomed to during the school year. Depending on the ages of the children, explain to them the exact schedule and where they will be at any given time. Create a calendar with color coded days signifying when they will be at mom’s house and when they will be at dad’s house.
Plan accordingly. This may include scheduling time off work or altering your work schedule when the children are visiting. Plan appropriate summer-time activities. If you are the non-custodial parent, this may also include arranging for care (nanny, babysitter etc.). If possible, utilize their same care provider at both homes for consistency. This
Be supportive if your child misses the other parent. Don’t take this personally or assume this means the child loves the other parent more than you. Look for ways to calm your child and allow them to speak frequently with their other parent. This will only help build your bond with your child.
The best interest of the child is always the most important thing to keep in mind. Both parents should communicate and cooperate to make sure reasonable visitation time is met and the child feels safe and secure. If you need assistance with determining child visitation or custody, contact HARDEN JACKSON at 317-569-0770 or www.hardenjacksonlaw.com.
Remember, these suggestions are not meant to be legal advice. You should consult an attorney to discuss the specifics of your situation.
Attorney Lanae Harden, who chairs Harden Jackson’s Family Law Practice Group, advises those parents who are considering relocating and how to ensure you are abiding by the state statute.
Job losses and the housing market decline during this economic recession have forced many people to relocate in order to downsize their residences or to pursue new job opportunities. A move may also occur following a divorce, especially if one of the former spouses had temporary living arrangements while the sale of the marital home was pending, or subsequently as the result of remarriage.
Divorce and relocation are two of the most stressful changes in an adult’s life. Numerous details and tasks must be managed and completed. When children are involved, the focus is usually whether the change will affect their friends or which school they attend. What many parents do not realize is that their move may violate a state statute. Pursuant to Indiana law, a relocating individual must file detailed written notice of their intent to move with the clerk of the court that issued a custody or parenting time order. The notice is required well in advance of a move, and applies regardless of whether the move is across the street, across town or to a different state. Many parents have been caught by surprise by the relatively new relocation statute (particularly those who divorced prior to its adoption), and have found themselves unwittingly in violation of such.
Previously, the statute only required filing of a relocation notice when a move was greater than 100 miles or out of state. Now, notice applies to every move and must be filed 90 days before the proposed relocation. The non-relocating parent then has 60 days to object to the move or request modifications in custody or parenting time from the court relevant to the relocation. The court considers numerous factors in determining whether any such modification should be granted, including the distance involved, and whether the relocating parent is making the move in good faith and has a legitimate reason for the move. The priority of the court is to confirm that the move is in the best interests of the children. If distance is a factor, other matters must be addressed, including how the move will affect parenting time and impact the non-relocating parent’s relationship with the children. This can be a volatile subject for many parents, and the financial and emotional stresses can exacerbate the situation. However, communication and cooperation can minimize the conflict and parents may be able to negotiate an agreement and alleviate many relocation hurdles and concerns. Consulting with an experienced family law attorney can help either the relocating or non-relocating parent understand how the statute applies to their particular situation and develop a plan of action to address their concerns.
March 8th, 2012 | Posted by Leah Potter | Posted in Family Law
Founding Partner, Lanae Harden was recently interviewed by a local new channel regarding the changes in Indiana’s Parenting Guidelines. Harden is considered among the top attorneys in Indiana in Family Law and is a skilled litigator with over 16 years experience with divorce and child custody cases.
Indiana’s Supreme Court is seeking the public’s opinion on possibly changing laws governing parental guidelines for divorced Hoosiers with children. Many Hoosiers said the current laws are far from perfect because many of them decide how much time a child spends with each parent. Divorce attorney Lanae Harden said the new proposed guidelines could provide some relief for parents and may put an end to the decision making.
“(Parent have to decide), whose weekend is it if I had two in a row? Do we switch? Who gets the birthday if it’s Thanksgiving and I have Thanksgiving and it’s his year to get the birthday?” Harden said.
Divorced parents have been dealing with those types of custody issues for years, RTV6’s Jenna Kooi reported.
“I think … with these guidelines, disputes will be reduced. Therefore, attorney fees will be reduced and parents can spend money on their children instead of litigating about children,” Harden said.
One of the proposed changes concerns holidays. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Presidents Day would be addressed, as well as who gets custody on fall break. Under the current laws, Christmas and New Year’s Day are two separate holidays, but under the new proposals, the two holidays would be combined into one and split between each parent.
“I’ve had situations where people are calling on Christmas Eve, and it’s really upsetting for a parent not to know if they are going to get their parenting time on Christmas Eve if they’ve made plans,” Harden said.
Currently, parents aren’t allowed to have a child three weekends in a row, but the new proposal would change that to what’s called a Parallel Parenting plan.
“There is now a special provision relating to situations where parents cannot get along, they are litigating every year,” Harden said. “In these situations, instead of calling your attorney or having them call their attorney and go back and forth, you go to this independent party that’s neutral. You kind of mediate these disputes between the parties.”
Harden said the new guidelines would only apply to new divorces, unless both parents who abide by the current rules agree to adopt the new rules. Court officials said the new guidelines could go into effect as soon as July 1.
ATTORNEYS FROM HARDEN JACKSON RECOGNIZED BY SUPER LAWYERS
CARMEL, IN – February 15, 2012 – Three attorneys from Harden Jackson, LLC have been recognized by Super Lawyers for 2012. Attorney Lanae Harden, who chairs the firm’s Family Law Practice Group, has been named to the “Super Lawyers” list as one of the top attorneys in Indiana for 2012. Attorney Michele Jackson, who chairs the firm’s Adoption and Reproductive Law Practice Group, has been named to the “Rising Stars” list as one of the top up-and-coming attorneys in Indiana for 2012. In addition, collaborative law attorney Clarissa Finnell has been named to the “Rising Stars” list.
The selection process for Super Lawyers employs a rigorous, multiphase process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis.
Super Lawyer Lanae Harden is a founding member of Harden Jackson, LLC where she practices divorce and family law litigation with more than 15 years of experience. She chairs the firm’s Family Law Practice Group and frequently handles complex custody and parenting time litigation cases. Rising Star Michele Jackson chairs the firm’s Adoption and Reproductive Law Practice Group and focuses her practice in domestic and international adoptions as well as reproductive law matters. Rising Star Clarissa Finnell is a seasoned attorney who practices exclusively in the area of family law, representing clients with cases including legal separation, divorce, child support, child custody, paternity, parenting time, modification and contempt issues.
Harden Jackson, LLC is a Carmel law firm providing personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. As effective and experienced litigators, the attorneys work with clients to develop strategies for negotiating settlements, while always preparing for litigation if necessary. The practice assists clients in all areas of family law, adoption and reproductive law matters. For more information, please contact Leah Potter at 317.569.0770 or www.hardenjacksonlaw.com .
This week, we learned of a tragic story out of Utah. Josh Powell, the husband of a missing Utah woman, killed his two sons and himself in an intentional house fire. This horrific act brings up questions about what could have been done to protect these children and the countless others who are caught in a child custody battle.
Powell, who was a suspect in the disappearance of his wife, had lost custody of his sons, yet they were still at his home when he took their lives. Custody in Powell’s case was handled much like many cases — the goal was to remedy the situation that caused the loss of custody while maintaining the relationship of the father and sons. Powell lost custody after his father, Steven Powell, who they were living with, was arrested on child pornography charges in September, police said. Powell had been granted visits with his sons twice per week in his home.
Attorney, Lanae Harden, who chairs the Family Law Practice Group at HARDEN JACKSON, LLC, and has over 15 years experience with Child Custody cases commented that while this situation is very tragic, it is unlikely that a court could have ever predicted something like this. “Unless the child appears in immediate danger and/or the parent has a history of violence, it is very unlikely that a court would not allow the children to have visitation with the parent in their home.” Harden goes on to say “Child custody laws are designed for ‘the best interest of the child’, and typically this means that children should spend time with their parents.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Press Contact:
Amber Burton Small
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC
11450 N. Meridian
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317.569.0770
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site address: http://www.jhdj-law.com
CARMEL, IN – February 17, 2010 –Three attorneys from Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson, PC (JHDJ Law) have been recognized by Super Lawyers for 2010. Attorney Lanae Harden, who chairs the firm’s Family Law Practice Group has been named a “Super Lawyer.” In addition, family law attorney and mediator Elisabeth Edwards and adoption attorney Michele Jackson, have been named “Rising Stars.”
The selection process for Super Lawyers, employs a rigorous, multiphase process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. As stated under the Selection Process on the Super Lawyers website, “[The Super Lawyers selection process] is a comprehensive, good-faith and detailed attempt to produce a list of lawyers that have attained high peer recognition, meet ethical standards, and have demonstrated some degree of achievement in their field.”
Super Lawyer Lanae Harden is a founding member of JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC where she practices divorce and family law litigation with more than 15 years of experience. She chairs the firm’s Family Law Practice Group and frequently handles complex custody and parenting time litigation cases. Rising Star Elisabeth Edwards is a family law attorney who is also a registered domestic mediator and specially-trained collaborative law attorney. Elisabeth has previously been recognized as an Up & Coming Lawyer in 2008. Michele Jackson chairs the firm’s Adoption Practice Group and focuses her practice in private and agency domestic and international adoptions as well as international family law matters. She is also an adjunct faculty member at IU’s School of Law-Indianapolis, where she teaches on subjects involving international adoption and family law.
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC, is a Carmel law firm providing personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. Experienced attorneys offer assertive advocacy for clients complemented by a philosophy focused on minimizing conflict and negotiating resolution. The practice assists clients in all areas of family law, adoption, mediation, and business litigation. For more information, please contact Amber Burton Small at 317.569.0770, or visit http://www.jhdj-law.com.
February 23rd, 2009 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Family Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Press Contact:
Amber Burton Small
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC
11450 N. Meridian
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317.569.0770
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site address: http://www.jhdj-law.com
CARMEL ATTORNEY FEATURED IN BOOK ABOUT INDIANA SPORTS LEGENDS
CARMEL, IN – March 9, 2009 – Attorney Lanae Harden is featured in the book Local Legends: The Stories Behind the Headlines by author Ron Eaton. The hardbound book of more than 300 pages and photos covers 100 years of sports history in Southwestern Indiana, and recognizes Ms. Harden (maiden name “Renschler”) as being the first player in Indiana to win four state tennis titles. Read the excerpt from the book: Lanae_Renschler-A_Perfect_4_for_4.pdf
Ms. Harden is Chair of the Family Law Section of JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC. She received her Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Indiana University School of Law, finishing in the top 5% of her class. She also graduated magna cum laude with her undegraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of the university’s tennis team. Ms. Harden is a skilled litigator with extensive trial experience and focuses her practice in complex custody matters. She has successfully represented a diverse clientele from stay-at-home mothers to professional athletes. Ms. Harden’s professional career includes 9 years at one of Indianapolis’ large law firms where she was the only attorney who practiced exclusively in the area of family law. As an assertive advocate and trusted advisor, Ms. Harden is able to provide a professional, yet personal level of service for her clients during a difficult and emotionally draining period.
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC is a Carmel law firm providing personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. Experienced attorneys offer assertive advocacy for clients complemented by a philosophy focused on minimizing conflict and negotiating resolution. With a dynamic team of professionals, the practice assists clients in all areas of family law, collaborative law, adoption, mediation, business litigation and appeals. For more information, please contact Amber Burton Small at 317.569.0770, or visit http://www.jhdj-law.com. For more information or to order Local Legends, please visit the publisher’s website: http://www.mtpublishing.com/
The attorneys of Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson appeared on WZPL 99.5 as guests of Kelly McKay, answering callers’ questions on family law and adoption matters.
