Indiana Custody Resources: Support for Parents
Don't go through the custody process alone. Even if you can't afford a lawyer, there are places you can turn to for help with your custody and parenting time case.
In-depth guides
Use the following guides to help you and your family through the various aspects of custody and parenting time.
- Helping children cope with divorce
- Financial planning through divorce
- Indiana guide to custody and parenting time
Self-representation (pro se) resources
The Indiana Self-Service Legal Center offers educational information about the court process for pro se litigants, and Indiana Legal Help provides court forms.
Many counties also have in-person or online resources for pro se litigants. Be sure to check your court's website.
Free/low-cost legal advice or representation
If you meet income eligibility requirements, you may be able to get free legal representation from Indiana Legal Services. Or look at Indiana Legal Help's map of legal service providers.
Many counties (and some private lawyers) offer modest means programs for parents who don't meet legal aid eligibility requirements but still can't afford a lawyer.
On the Indiana Free Legal Answers website you can submit questions and get answers emailed from a lawyer. There are no fees, and you can ask follow-up questions. Like with legal aid services, you must meet income eligibility requirements, which are assessed with a short online questionnaire.
Parenting coordination
Cases with domestic violence, substance abuse or high levels of conflict may need parenting coordination. Judges can recommend coordination, but they can only order it when both parents agree to participate.
Parenting coordinators are usually family psychologists. They meet with parents individually and together to help resolve disputes, teach communication skills and provide tailored parenting education. They also interview the children and possibly others who have insight into the family (grandparents, teachers, doctors, etc.).
During a case, the coordinator helps parents follow temporary court orders and negotiate a final settlement. When parents can't agree, the coordinator writes a report for the judge that recommends orders for legal custody, parenting time and more.
After the court issues final orders, the coordinator helps parents implement their parenting plan and monitors compliance for the court. They continue to help parents communicate so the parents can eventually succeed without coordination.
Parenting coordinators typically charge between $150 and $300 an hour. Parents share the cost equally or in proportion to their incomes.
Language interpretation
Only certified interpreters can interpret during court proceedings. The Indiana Certified Interpreter Registry provides contact information for American Sign Language interpreters as well as interpreters who speak Spanish, Russian, French, Arabic, Vietnamese and more.
Parents who need an interpreter should notify the court clerk and make arrangements with a certified interpreter as soon as their proceeding is scheduled. Most counties pay the interpreter's fees, but some may require parents to pay part if they can afford it.
Our professional sources
For more help, consider reaching out to one of our sources. The professionals below provided expertise for this guide to custody and parenting time in Indiana. We hope they can help you, too.
Ciobanu Law, P.C.
Andrea Lynn Ciobanu, Attorney at Law
Indianapolis, IN
Michael Wandling Law Offices
Michael Wandling, Attorney at Law
South Bend, IN
Patterson Law, L.L.C
Rex Patterson, Attorney at Law
Fort Wayne, IN
Robin B. Niehaus, PC
Robin B. Niehaus, Attorney at Law
Indianapolis, IN
Sterba & Swope, LLP
Jill S. Swope, Attorney at Law
Schererville, IN
Vining Legal, LLC
Nathan K. Vining, Attorney at Law
Indianapolis, IN
Custody X Change app
The custody process requires organization. You may need to create a parenting plan, draft multiple parenting schedules, calculate expenses, keep a record of communication with the other parent and more.
The Custody X Change app enables you to do all of this in one place.
You can customize this to fit your situation with Custody X Change.
With a parenting plan template, customizable custody calendars, an expense tracker, parent-to-parent messaging and more, Custody X Change makes sure you're prepared for whatever arises in your journey to child custody.
Take advantage of our technology to stay on top of all the moving parts of your case.