Family Law

• Divorce
  Do you expect that you and your spouse will agree to an uncontested divorce or mediation? Or has your relationship deteriorated to the point that you expect the divorce to be bitter and contentious, requiring a more aggressive approach from your attorney?
• Child Support
  (1) The child is emancipated before becoming nineteen (19) years of age. In this case the child support, except for the educational needs outlined in section 2(a)(1) of this chapter, terminates at the time of emancipation, although an order for educational needs may continue in effect until further order of the court.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Indianapolis Divorce Lawyers and Child Custody Attorneys – Serving Marion, Morgan, Johnson, and the Surrounding Central Indiana Counties Law
• Adoption
  Whether it is a stepparent adoption or a private placement adoption, we can assist in most cases and will refer you to competent counsel if the matter is outside our expertise.
• Paternity
  According to the Indiana Department of Child Services, establishing paternity simply means establishing who is the legal father of a child. Fatherhood is presumed if a man and his wife were legally married when the child was born. If a child is born after a man and a woman end their marriage, fatherhood is still presumed if the child was born no more than 300 days after the dissolution took place. In all other cases, a court order or a paternity affidavit is required.
• Premarital Agreement
  Drafting and negotiating a prenuptial agreement should be done with each side having legal counsel, for a number of reasons.
• Guardianship
  Guardianship is a court-ordered relationship whereby a person (called the “guardian†) is vested with the legal authority to make financial, lifestyle, and other decisions on behalf of another person (call the “ward†).
• Spousal Support
  N Indiana, there is a presumption that permanent alimony (called “spousal maintenance†or “spousal support†) will not be paid.  However, courts are allowed to consider whether temporary spousal support should be paid based on the considerations set forth in Indiana statutes. These considerations are as follows...
• Legal Separation
  Sec. 1. (a) In an action for dissolution of marriage under IC 31-15-2, legal separation under IC 31-15-3, or child support under IC 31-16-2, the court may order either parent or both parents to pay any amount reasonable for support of a child, without regard to marital misconduct, after considering all relevant factors, including...
• Child Abuse
  Under Indiana child parenting laws, the courts presume that the best interests of the children will be to have meaningful time with both parents.  As a result, the courts will not exclude a parent from having parenting time unless there is a compelling reason to do so, such as a history of child abuse (and, even these cases, supervised parenting time may be allowed).

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  For decades our firm has been providing dedicated criminal defense representation to those charged with a crime, including the following...
• DUI/DWI
  One major traffic offense, coupled with nine speeding tickets in a ten-year period will result in a five-year habitual traffic violator driver’s license suspension.  Three major traffic offenses, such as DUI, driving while suspended, reckless driving, in a ten-year period will result in a ten-year habitual traffic violator driver’s license suspension.
• Traffic Violations
  Criminal defense and traffic violations. At Haggerty and Haggerty, we have a well-earned reputation for winning difficult criminal trials through hard work and experience. Our trial background gives us an in-depth understanding of defense tactics that are effective with judges and juries. Our knowledge of criminal law allows us to represent you assertively against prosecutor accusations.
• Sex Crimes
• Robbery
• Burglary
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
  If you, a friend, or a loved one have been charged with a crime, it’s important to seek experienced legal counsel as soon as possible.  Our criminal defense practice is focused on traffic and driving license issues, misdemeanors, felonies, and expungements. We appear in both adult and juvenile courts.
• Embezzlement
• Drug Crimes
• Assault
• Murder
  The story of the 1958 “Crime of the Century,†the murder of Lilly executive, Forrest Teel. Judson F. Haggerty was assigned as deputy prosecutor to this fascinating case.
• Juvenile Crimes
• Probation Violation
• Identity Theft
• Arson
• Shoplifting
• Forgery

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
• Business Formation
  Small business law.  We have helped many clients throughout Indiana start their own business and continue to help them grow. Our services include commercial and civil litigation, business formation, collections, business disputes, and buy and sell agreements.
• Business Disputes
  Because only one attorney will be handling your matter, you will not be charged for interoffice lawyer conferences, other lawyers “getting up to speed” when a file is transferred to another attorney, or multiple attorneys going to hearings, depositions, or business negotiations.  Having one attorney also ensures that your attorney will know all of the relevant information for your matter, as opposed to attorneys having different pieces of information.
• Limited Liability Companies
  In Indiana, new business owners can select from a number of legal structures under which a company can be organized, including corporations, limited liability companies, and limited and general partnerships, not-for-profit organizations, professional corporations, sub-chapter S corporations, or sub-chapter C corporations. We can assist you in understanding the differences between these business forms, and help you choose the business entity best suited for your needs.  (Owners may also choose to run their business as a sole proprietorship, although this option is generally not recommended because of the unlimited liability aspects).
• Small Business Law

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  We offer small businesses assistance in negotiation and preparation of contracts, collection of receivables, filing of mechanic leans, real estate matters and assistance in observance of appropriate business formalities.

Immigration Law

• Citizenship and Naturalization

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Except in cases involving personal injury where our work is typically done on a contingency fee basis, an advance fee, often referred to as a retainer, is typically collected prior to our beginning work on a case, as a pre-payment toward anticipated legal fees. This is not the entire fee, but an estimate or range of fees is given, following the initial office consultation. A payment plan is also established at this time.
• Medicaid Planning
  We can help you apply for Medicaid, including completing the complicated forms, as well as help you establish a Medicaid plan that helps you preserve your assets should you require nursing home care. We take the time to explain the complex Medicaid planning process and the tools we use to maximize your asset protection.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Elder law focuses on the specific needs of seniors, including needs for estate planning, future medical care and housing, and retirement.  As Indiana Elder Law attorneys, we focus on these matters and also help clients maneuver through the bureaucracy of Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies.
• Wills
  A will (sometimes referred to as a Last Will and Testament) is a legal document that provides instruction for asset distribution upon death.  All property owned by a person at death is distributed either in accordance with a will or, if a will does not exist, by intestate law.  The only exceptions for such distribution are assets that transfer by contract (such as “pay-on-death†bank accounts and property held in joint tenancy with a right of survivorship).  Assets held in a trust are not considered to be separately owned by a person; as a result, trust assets are governed by the terms of the trust.
• Trusts
  The death of a loved one can be difficult.  It can be even more difficult when facing the prospect of someone trying to deprive you of your loved one’s inheritance, or if a trustee is not complying with his or her fiduciary obligations in trust administration.
• Power of Attorney
  We provide experienced legal advice to adult children and their parents in situations such as when a parent is suffering from dementia or otherwise needs to consider a move to a long-term care facility. We help clients through the many legal aspects of making such transition, such as providing a power of attorney to sell a house if necessary.  We also discuss with clients the possibility of receiving coverage under Medicare and Medicaid, and, if such coverage is available, we help clients obtain the benefits to which they are entitled.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
• Tax Law
  In choosing the most advantageous business entity, it’s important to consider tax, ownership, legal liability, and other considerations.  We often work with the CPAs of clients to get their input concerning tax matters.   We help clients understand all of these aspects so that they make the business entity choice that is best for them.