Southern Indiana Law Blog

Signs your marriage is headed toward divorce

On behalf of Fifer Law Office posted in family law on Friday, May 17, 2019.

When you think that your marriage is over, figuring it out for sure becomes a priority. One thing that you don't want to do is try to stick it out when it isn't going to work. There are some signs that you can look for that might signal the need to just cut your losses and move on with life.

One huge sign is if you are being treated in a disrespectful manner. Part of being in a marriage is having mutual respect for each other. When this isn't happening, it is possible that your ex will continue to become more and more disrespectful and mean.

Pedestrians can face serious injuries when they are hit

On behalf of Fifer Law Office posted in personal injury on Friday, May 3, 2019.

Many things can lead to a pedestrian being involved in an accident with a motor vehicle. In almost all of these incidents, the person who was walking will need to have emergency medical care to address the injuries they suffer. This can be costly, and the person may be admitted into the hospital for a considerable amount of time. We understand that this changes your life in a major way, but you might have an option for reducing the financial impact the accident has on you.

If the accident was caused by the other driver's negligence, you might choose to seek compensation for the wreck. This is done through the civil court system and enables you to hold the driver financially accountable for the damages you suffered.

Set positive standards for your co-parenting relationship

On behalf of Fifer Law Office on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

Co-parenting arrangements have to be handled on a case-by-case basis with the approval of both parents. When either parent isn't willing to negotiate and work with the other one, the situation can become more stressful than helpful. What starts out as a positive relationship may devolve into negativity. How you address these conflicts can determine how things go from there.

It is usually best to try to keep things positive when you are co-parenting. While you will have to work at this, you will eventually see that your efforts aren't in vain.

Documentation is necessary for international travel with children

On behalf of Fifer Law Office posted in family law on Friday, April 19, 2019.

If you have a child custody agreement for your children, you will have to plan carefully for travel if you are going to an international destination. One consideration here is that if both parents aren't traveling with the child, you will need permission from the absent parent to leave the country with the child. This must be in written form.

You will likely need to have a passport for the child. The only exception to this is if the child is traveling with a school, religious, cultural, sports or social group into Mexico or Canada. In that case, there are other requirements that the organization will have to meet.

Important considerations when you develop a criminal defense

On behalf of Fifer Law Office posted in criminal defense on Friday, April 5, 2019.

Your criminal defense can include many elements, but there are some that might be more beneficial than others. What many defendants don't realize is that they have to take the circumstances of their case into account when they are trying to figure out what they are going to do about their defense strategy. What worked for someone else won't necessarily work for you unless everything about the two cases is identical.

There are two areas that you need to look into when you are trying to figure out what to do. One of these is whether you have a suitable alibi or not. The alibi has to be factual, and you have to be able to prove it. Claiming that you were with your parent might not be feasible unless there is something that shows you were actually there. Jurors might be wary to believe someone who is that close to you and may not accept the statement.

Constant co-parenting conflicts may require boundaries to be set

On behalf of Fifer Law Office posted in family law on Friday, March 22, 2019.

Sometimes divorce brings out the worst in people. When this is the case, child custody matters can be very challenging. It is imperative that you find ways to set clear boundaries if you have a co-parent who creates constant co-parenting conflicts.

One of the most important things that all parents must remember is that their children are watching them closely. By setting boundaries, you provide a clear example of what is appropriate to do in these situations. It shows them that they can be in control of what they are willing to deal with when they are adults.

Monetary damages can be costly after a car wreck

On behalf of Fifer Law Office posted in personal injury on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

Personal injury cases help victims of accidents caused by negligence, recklessness, or purposeful action to seek compensation for the financial damages they suffer. These damages come in many forms, including the expenses for medical bills, personal care costs and similar costs. We know that it is hard to come up with a figure that accurately represents the financial impact of the accident.

We are here to help you determine what monetary amount to attach to your case. This has many factors that must be considered before we file any paperwork. For example, we need to look at the medical bills you've already gotten, including any co-pays or deductibles you covered. Considering the future medical bills you might incur because of the crash is also necessary. Due to the legal concept of subrogation, we also need to look into what money the insurance company has spent on your behalf.

Working through conflicts with your ex during child custody

On behalf of Fifer Law Office on Tuesday, February 26, 2019.

When you and your ex are trying to work out a parenting plan, there is a chance that you aren't going to agree on everything. Once that main parenting plan is worked out, you might have to work together to come up with decisions about various aspects of the children's life.

Not being able to come to agreements about the children is stressful. Coming up with a plan for how you will handle these matters can mitigate stress while continuing to move toward a resolution.

Help your kids adjust to life after your divorce

On behalf of Fifer Law Office posted in family law on Friday, February 22, 2019.

Children are usually excellent at adapting to changes. This might not be so true when their parents are divorcing. This is such a major life upheaval that even the most adaptable children might find it challenging. As a parent, your job is to try to help them get through this.

One thing that your children might be worried about is that they will have to choose between parents. They need to know that this isn't how things will work now. In order to combat this mode of thinking, you and your ex might need to sit down together with the kids to talk to them about how the situation is going to be handled. If possible, have the parenting plan with you when you do this so that you can share the pertinent information from it with them.

Don't waste time when you need to plan a defense

On behalf of Fifer Law Office posted in criminal defense on Friday, February 8, 2019.

Your criminal defense strategy has to be based on the facts of the case. You can't lie or tell misstatements because this could land you in even more trouble. Instead, you have to present the facts in a way that represents your side of the story. As you are doing this, you must think about how the presentation will be received. We know that this might seem challenging, but we are here to help our clients plan their best strategies.

During the planning phase, we have to strategize about how to assemble various components of the case to create a defense that explains what happened. This can sometimes take considerable work, especially in more complex cases involving multiple charges stemming from the same incident.