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Once upon a time, it used to be a foregone conclusion that a divorcing husband would be expected to pay alimony to his ex-wife, possibly for the rest of her life.

Highland divorce lawyers know the tides shifted dramatically. In fact, there has been legislation mulled in at least a dozen states that would effectively eliminate alimony, or at least lifetime alimony. One of those, Massachusetts, has passed such a measure and another, New Jersey, is likely to do so before the end of this session.

No such measure is currently being weighed in Indiana, but such debate could be on the horizon in the near future.
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The Allstate Insurance Company has released its 9th annual “Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report” and it looks like Indiana made the cut. In this report, the nation’s largest 200 cities are ranked base on their car accident frequency and are ranked in order of the safest drivers.

Unfortunately, Indiana didn’t come in as the safest. Once again, Fort Collins, Colorado ranked as the safest city in the nation for car accidents and responsible drivers. Every year since the report launched, Fort Collins has made it into the top 10.

Our car accident lawyers understand that there were more than 188,000 traffic accidents in the state of Indiana that reported injury or property damage in 2011. According to the State of Indiana, 700 fatal accidents resulted in nearly 750 fatalities throughout the year. While this is a near 4 percent decrease from the previous year, it’s still far too many lives being lost on the roads.
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Few divorces involve a clean break.

Even fairly amicable splits can sometimes get messy in terms of finances. This is particularly true for older couples and those who have been married a long time, as their property and assets tend to be tightly intertwine and not easily extricable.

As divorces for those who are over the age of 50 are becoming exponentially more common, our Munster divorce lawyers want to stress that the importance of retirement considerations can’t be overstated.
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You’re not going to be alone on our state’s highways and byways this Labor Day holiday weekend. Not only are more than 43 million Americans expected to travel more than 50 miles to their Labor Day vacation destination, but there will also be roughly 250 local and state law enforcement agencies that will be on the lookout for dangerous drivers as a part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, according to the Kokomo Tribune.Our Highland car accident lawyers understand that close to 90 percent of the travelers this year will be getting to their destination by motor vehicle. There are more travelers this year than any other year since September of 2008. In 2011, there were roughly 140 people killed in traffic accidents that involved a drunk driver in the state of Indiana. Of the close to 5,000 alcohol-related accidents that happened on our state’s roadways in 2010, about 30 percent resulted in injury or death.

“AAA is forecasting a lift in Labor Day travel this year due to the increasingly positive economic outlook and optimism in the housing market,” president and CEO Robert Darbelnet said.
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The school bell is about to ring, and students across the state will be back to studying and homework. But they’re also back to increased risks for pedestrian accidents. During the first month of every school year, we see a significant increase in injury and a significant increase in the number of pedestrian accidents.And that’s why we have the Indiana Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation that was created to make walking and biking to school safe and routine.

Our Highland child injury lawyers understand that oftentimes children don’t understand all of the dangerous associated with walking near traffic. This is why it’s imperative for parents to step up and to address pedestrian safety. In 2010, nearly one in every five children between the ages of 5 and 9 who were killed in traffic crashes was a pedestrian, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Unintentional pedestrian injuries are the second leading cause of death in the United States for children between 5- and 14-years-old. Teenagers are also at greatest risk. Teenagers have a death rate twice that of younger children and account for half of all child pedestrian injuries in the past five years.

Before the big first day, share these safety tips with the young pedestrians in your family:

-Talk with your children about how to be safe while walking.

-Make sure you plan out a route for your child to take to and from school. This route should be along less-traveled roadways and it should be equipped with sidewalks as well as safe intersections.

-It’s always best to walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.

-Make sure that children always cross at an intersection. Accidents are more likely to happen at non-intersection areas.

-Before children step onto the pavement, teach them to look left and right for oncoming traffic. Teach them to keep looking left and right as they cross the road for any surprise dangers.

-Make sure your child crosses the road with their headphones off. Pedestrians can use their hearing to help to avoid an accident.

-Try to make eye contact with drivers when crossing the road. Just because you can see them, doesn’t always mean they can see you.

-If a child needs to use a cell phone, make sure they know to come to a complete stop on the side of the road before using it.

-Have your child walk with a group of kids from the neighborhood who go to the same school. Safety in numbers largely applies to pedestrians.

-Get out there and walk with them before the big day. Show your children how to walk safely.
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We may have passed the deadliest day to be on the road (July 4), but August 1 kicked off the deadliest month to be driving.According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more drivers died in the month of August than any other month of the year. This fact has held true every year since 1994. MSN MONEY reports that more than 90 people die each day during the month of August. That’s a fatality every 16 minutes. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), several of the deadliest days on our roadways occur during the month of August.

Our Highland car accident lawyers understand that many of you are using this time to get out and go on those summer vacations. Unfortunately, we can’t take a vacation from safety as your risks for a traffic collision on the way to and from your summertime destination are alarmingly high.

Officials believe that the risks are higher during this time because there are more people out on our roads and there are more miles being traveled. Whenever there is an increase in travel, there’s an increase in accidents as well. This is also why we’re likely to see more accidents during the weekend days. That’s when people are out running more errands and visiting places.

As a matter of fact, Saturdays are the most dangerous day of the week. In 2009, Saturdays averaged about 123 fatalities a day. Sundays were ranked as the second-deadliest day in 2009, with an average of 107 deaths, followed by Fridays with 102 average fatalities.

Wherever your summertime destination may be, it’s important that you take a minute to review some safe travel tips before heading out from SaferCar.gov. Planning and prevention are the measures that are going to help to keep you safe:

Before You Go:

-Check the inflation in your tires. Proper tire pressure is going to help to prevent a breakdown or an accident.

-Look under your hood, make sure that all fluids are filled and belts are in good-working order.

-Check the lights in and out of your vehicle. Make sure that all are working properly.

-Make sure you windshield wipers work properly. In the middle of a rainstorm is not the time to figure this kind of information out.

On The Road:

-Stay off your phone and avoid all distractions while you’re behind the wheel. Driving needs your full attention.

-Make sure you share the road, especially with pedestrians. These individuals are just as vulnerable (if not more) than a bicyclist or a motorcyclist.

-Never drink and drive. Although you might want to let loose a little bit on your vacation, just make sure you don’t mix it with driving.

-Make sure you leave with plenty of time to spare so you can better avoid rushing and road rage.

-Know where you’re going. Behind the wheel is no time to mess with a GPS.
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Following the repeal earlier this summer of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, our Northwest Indiana divorce lawyers theorized that Indiana’s own gay marriage laws might soon be challenged.It now seems that could be happening sooner than we anticipated, and its happening in the form of a divorce case that’s been filed in Indianapolis.

The case involves an Indiana man who married his same-sex partner in Massachusetts. The two have since separated and are seeking a divorce.

The problem is that he doesn’t meet the residency requirements necessary to file for divorce in Massachusetts. So, he was directed by his divorce lawyer to file his petition with the Marion County clerk’s office in Indianapolis.

The problem, of course, is that Indiana doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages. Lawmakers say next year, they intend to push for the law to be entered into the Indiana constitution, making it much tougher to repeal.

However, unlike some states with similar statutes defining marriage strictly as a male-female union, Indiana also has a provision specifically barring same-sex divorce.

That means that unless the laws change in either Indiana or Massachusetts – or this man moves to Massachusetts – he is unable to obtain a divorce.

It’s unclear, though, what role the repeal of DOMA could have in this case and others like it. One Indiana University Maurer School of Law associate professor was quoted as saying that DOMA could potentially change the outcome of this case. The repeal of DOMA doesn’t require that the state recognize same-sex marriages or divorces.

However, if a judge wanted to rule in favor of recognizing one of these unions, or in providing a divorce, he or she could use the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion in the DOMA case as legal backing.

So the outcome of this case could just depend on how the judge handling it wants to interpret the law.

The Supreme Court decision focused on whether the federal government had a legal right to deny tax, pension and health benefits to same-sex couples in states where they were legally allowed to marry. Specifically, the question was whether denial of these benefits was a violation of the Fifth Amendment, which guarantees equal protection and due process.

In the end, the court ruled that DOMA did in fact violate the Fifth Amendment and the federal government had to extend the same rights to legally-married gay couples as it does to straight ones. However, it doesn’t force states like Indiana, which don’t recognize gay marriage, to now recognize it in any capacity.

This case is a wild card because there is really no telling how the family law judge will rule. A lot of people are watching closely to find out.

If the judge strikes down the divorce request, the plaintiff’s attorney said he will likely appeal to the Indiana Court of Appeals.
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You know that distracted driving is dangerous, but did you realize that those hands-free devices in your car are just as dangerous? That’s right. According to The Street, hands-free phones are just as distracting as holding a phone to your ear.”‘Hands-free’ is not risk free,” says David Strayer, who recently studied distracted driving for AAA.

Our Highland car accident lawyers understand that people feel that they need to be connected 24/7. At the same time, we’re forgetting how important it is that we’re safe 24/7, too. And that’s why officials with the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA) are working to focus on each state’s efforts to crack down on distracted driving. Sure, national ads and campaigns are great, but it’s true that local and state awareness, education and enforcement are just as (if not more) successful.

According to the recent report, “2013 Distracted Driving: Survey of the States,” much of today’s focus on distracted driving centers on the use of cell phones behind the wheel and our growing dependency on these versatile devices. From simple conversations to text messaging to mobile information sources, hand-held cell phone technology is an attractive answer to many of our mobile lifestyle needs. At the same time, rapidly advancing communication and information processing technologies have continued to capture the attention and spending of American consumers.

Officials with GHSA surveyed states in 2012 to see exactly out how they were responding to this significant safety issue. And the results were alarming.

According to the report, the state of Indiana did include distracted driving in its state strategic highway safety plan. Unfortunately, the report also found out that there was a lack of funding for enforcement, as well as a lack of funding for media, campaign materials and enforcement support. It also found there is not a strong enough law on the books to discourage this dangerous behavior.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), only drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using a handheld cell phone while driving. On the other hand, all drivers are banned from text messaging. But how is an officer supposed to be able to tell if you were dialing a phone number (legal) or typing a text message to send (illegal)? You see that officers have a tough time determining which act is taking place and therefor have a tough time enforcing these rules.

Until lawmakers step up with stricter laws and tougher enforcement efforts, driver won’t feel the need to hang up. That’s why we’re turning to you, asking for your help in the battle against distracted driving. Step up, put the phone down (or bluetooth headset) and help to improve roadway safety for everyone. Keep your attention on the road at all times. Sharing that attention with a phone just isn’t worth the risks.
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With all of the anti-drunk driving campaigns, residents and visitors may be more likely to be involved in a pedestrian accident blamed on alcohol. While drunk driving campaigns are great in preventing drunk driving accidents, they only increase the risk of drunk walking accidents.According to Associated Press, there were more than 1,500 pedestrians who were legally drunk and the time of their fatal accident in 2011. This means that close to 40 percent of all of the pedestrians killed in 2011 were legally intoxicated. This is a new epidemic and we’re seeing an alarming increase in the risks. It’s a particularly important message as college classes resume.

Our Highland accident lawyers understand that there were nearly 100 pedestrians killed in the state of Indiana in 2011. These accidents accounted for close to 10 percent of all the traffic fatalities recorded during the year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is making prevention a priority. The agency recently announced a new set of tools to help communities fight to problem, allocated roughly $2 million in pedestrian safety grants and launched a new one-stop shop website with resources for community leaders as well as safety tips for residents.

“We all have a reason to support pedestrian safety, and now, everyone has new tools to help make a difference,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

The problem here is that alcohol can negatively affect a pedestrian’ judgment too, just as it would a driver’s. It can lead them to make poor decisions while traveling, like trying to beat a vehicle heading down the road, crossing against a traffic light or even crossing in the wrong place. Any one of these wrong decisions (among a multitude of other wrong decisions) can land you in the hospital or leave you for dead.

On average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every eight minutes in traffic accidents in the United States last year.

But it’s not just the pedestrians that have officials worried. They’re also seeing an increase in the number of intoxicated bicyclists who are injured or killed.

While you may think that walking home after a night of drinking is your safest bet, you might want to think again. Consider getting a cab or calling a friend or family member to come get you. Whatever you do, you want to stay away from moving traffic. It’s a move that could save your life.

Thanks to the AAA DUI Justice Link, that connection can be made. On this site, officials with the NHTSA created a listing of sober/safe ride programs across the country. Save a number in your phone, and you’re sure to have a save and sober ride home every time.
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As destination weddings have become all the rage in recent years, it was probably only a matter of time before someone began marketing “destination divorces.”The concept first caught on in the Netherlands, but it wasn’t long before an American reality show was proposed on the concept and now, a company out of Fort Wayne is offering to help couples do just that: Basically, take a long weekend at a resort and get divorced.

The Daily Beast recently ran an article on the phenomenon.

Our Highland divorce attorneys can understand why the concept is so appealing. Having your divorce over in the course of a weekend – while being pampered, no less – sounds great to a lot of people.

Plus, people like the idea of having more control during the litigation process and avoiding an acrimonious lawsuit that will be ultimately decided by a judge.

The Fort Wayne destination divorce service, meanwhile, offers you a weekend with “no lawyers, no judges, no courtrooms, no fear of billable fees.” The website offers three straight days of mediation, where amenities such as golfing, massages or pool time is available whenever time is needed to “settle down and come back to the table with a clear head.”

That sounds great, right?

Sure, until you realize that the outcome puts you at a disadvantage for being able to move on with the next chapter of your life. Not having an attorney to help guide you through the separation and divorce process, be your advocate and look out for your interests might leave you in a very bad position financially.

Plus, some people might be able to purge all of the pent up emotions from years of a toxic marriage during the course of an afternoon swim or round of golf. But that wouldn’t be most people. Your lawyer is the person you pay to have a clear head throughout the proceedings because you expect it will be an emotionally-charged event.

Additionally, there is really no way, especially if you have young children or if you were married a long time, that you can legitimately iron out all the legal concerns the two of you have over the course of three days. Chances are, you spent more time than that planning your wedding.

The end may have come sooner than you would have liked (or not soon enough, depending on your situation). Regardless, you have to view your divorce planning as preparation for the rest of your life. That means you probably have more to consider than who gets the car and who’s keeping the dog. There are tax considerations. There are retirement plans to divvy up. There could be issues of child custody or child support. There may be joint debts or assets that have to be carefully considered and divided.

The only cases for which we might be able to see a destination divorce working would be those in which the parties were married a very short time, had little or no shared assets or debts and had zero issues of conflict to work out. Even then, we would still suggest that an experienced family law attorney at least conduct a cursory review of your case to ensure that nothing is being overlooked.
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8320 Kennedy Ave
Highland, IN 46322
Phone: 219-836-2200
Fax: 219-836-9388

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