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In an interesting case that highlights a frequent issue in an Indiana divorce, the supreme court in South Carolina has ruled that divorced parents may have to pay for their children’s college.Indiana child custody attorneys understand that going through a divorce is trying, and often made even more difficult when one parent attempts to shirk responsibility for their children by putting the other parent in the position of having to cover major expenses – from dental work to education. This is where having an experienced attorney can be a tremendous advantage. Sorting through all of these details long before a child reaches college age will put everyone on the same page and save you from future headaches, heartaches – and a precariously low bank balance.

The Associated Press reports the South Carolina Supreme Court has decided that divorced parents who pay child support could also be made to pay for their children to obtain a higher education. Justice voted 3-2 in favor of the decision. The justices decided that because education is so vital to a child’s success, the state holds an interest in ensuring the child is not at a disadvantage.

This case had been entangled in the system for the last five years.

According to media reports, the plaintiff is a single mother who runs a day care, making about $40,000 annually. Her ex-husband, whom she divorced in 1993, had made about $30,000 when they separated. But his income soon shot up to about $250,000 annually. Still, the father’s child support payments for his two children stayed less than $200 weekly.

When the couple’s oldest son expressed a desire to go to college, the father said he would repay his son’s student loans and help with other expenses. The father also said he decided he would halve his child support payments.

But the mother said her ex didn’t hold up his end of the agreement. So she sued him. Originally, the court decided in his favor, saying that parents can’t be forced to pay for higher education. That court also officially reduced the amount of child support he would be made to pay and wouldn’t make him pay for his ex-wife’s attorney.

Then the state Supreme Court changed all that. It reversed the original ruling – and all related prior rulings.

One justice was quoted as saying that although the decision of whether to send a child to college is a personal one, it is not one that should be denied to a child just because his or her parents are divorced. While the court did say that not every parent who pays child support should have to also cover college expenses, some justices were annoyed that the father in this case gave no real explanation as to why he was suddenly going back on his word and refusing to pay. Another justice said that when marriages go sour, a divorce could cloud a parent’s filial or maternal sense of obligation. Children shouldn’t suffer for that, she said.

In this case, the son eventually did graduate from college without his father’s help, and is now a fingerprint analyst for the FBI. His mother was quoted as saying that it’s important for judges to at least take into consideration whether a parent is able to pay.

This victory, while only valid in South Carolina, could foreshadow the push for a similar case to be brought forth in Indiana.
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When you are in a car accident, you are usually left shaken both physically and mentally. You can even sustain permanent injuries that require extensive medical treatment and maybe even surgery. This is a very serious matter that requires the right a Highland injury attorney to get you the award you deserve.If you are involved in a Highland car accident, Padove Law has the experience in personal injury to guide you through the entire process of a lawsuit.

The case Roache v. Charney highlights some important aspects of a personal injury case. This case was decided by the Delaware Supreme Court and arose because of a car accident. This victim suffered injuries to her neck and back when she was twice rear ended by the defendant. This accident led to months of physical therapy for the victim as well as disc replacement surgery. The doctors treating the victim even found that these injuries would be permanent.

I am drawing your attention to this case because it is very typical of the results of car accidents that happen every day. These accidents can lead to injuries that if left untreated, can lead to pain and suffering for years to come. This is why choosing the right attorney to fight for your rights is such an important decision.

Injuries related to car accidents are very common, but so often people do not take the initiative to get help.

Roache is significant to Indiana personal injury claims because it illustrates some of the common laws surrounding car accidents that you need to know. Although the specific laws vary depending on the state, the central principles cross state lines. The Court in Roach clearly says that when a plaintiff is involved in a personal injury lawsuit, they have to prove that their injuries are the result of the defendant’s negligence. Essentially, the plaintiff has to show that it is more likely than not that their injuries were sustained because the defendant breached their duty of care and drove negligently.

Causation is one of the most crucial parts of most lawsuits. This is the proof of the connection between the defendant’s negligent actions and the plaintiff’s injuries. The court in Roache found that if a plaintiff is alleging that their injuries were sustained because of the defendant, they must provide a medical expert to testify directly. The court goes on to affirm that the plaintiff’s expert must be competent in medically proving a link between the defendant’s negligent actions and the plaintiff’s injuries.

Roache had a difficult time proving this link between the defendant’s negligence and the plaintiff’s injuries, leading to significant confusion. Our attorney’s know what it takes to prove causation as we have been doing it for many years. We can help you navigate through the medical terminology and explain what these personal injury medical reports actually say and how they can affect your case.

Your litigation experience and your award are dependent on the attorney you hire.We will take your case very seriously and assist you in getting the justice you deserve.
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Parents of young children should take note of recent media reports signaling the threat of possible child injury in Indiana when using the Bumbo seat.The seat, made of soft foam and manufactured in South Africa, has become monstrously popular, selling more than 4 million seats in the U.S. alone.

Many parents seem to love the seats because they allow their young infant to sit up, often for the first time. There are no safety straps or buckles, and manufacturers say this is a good thing, as it’s not meant to restrict the baby’s movement.

But, as our Indiana child injury attorneys know, babies need to be secured. A number of advocacy groups say the fact that that children are not strapped down while in these seats has led to skull fractures and other injuries.

It’s been five years since the seat was initially recalled. In 2007, a number of parents began reporting that their children were being hurt when they were placed in the seat that was then placed on an elevated surface, such as a bathroom counter top or kitchen table.
When the seats were recalled, warning labels were placed on the sides, alerting parents and caregivers to the potential dangers of using the seat up high.

Before the recall, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported it had received reports of 46 accidents. In 14 of those cases, the infants suffered a serious skull fracture. Unfortunately, it does not appear the accidents are being reduced after the recall. In fact, the commission reported that since the recall, it has received reports of 45 more children being hurt after falling out of the seats, with 17 of those suffering head injuries.

Additionally, the commission reports that it has received 50 reports of little babies who fell out of the Bumbo seats when they were on the ground. Of those, two had head injuries and another had a concussion.

One would think this would be enough for the commission to issue a second recall of the product. This is exactly what a number of children’s advocacy groups have been asking for, with a letter-writing campaign to the government agency. They are still waiting to hear back, according to various media outlets.

Even amid concern among parents, caregivers and government regulators, the maker of the Bumbo seat continues to say the product is not a danger. If used correctly, a spokesman said, the seats are safe.

Putting a strap or safety restraint on the seat isn’t an option, the spokesman said, because that would create a false sense of security for parents. The spokesman added that of the 45 new accidents, more than a quarter of them happened in the old seats with no warning labels.

A California pediatrician was quoted by one news agency as saying that even if a parent were standing or sitting right next to the child, an accident in one of these seats could unfold in a split second.
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Social media has become one of the biggest movements in our world in the last decade. People are able to connect worldwide over social networking web sites. Text messaging has been used as one of the easiest and quickest ways to spread a message.

All of these tools have become important in many people’s lives. They use them all the time to communicate and for some, they have become second nature. But while Indiana divorce attorneys understand their value in society, they also recognize the danger they could pose in an Indiana divorce.A recent story by Reuters suggests that text message evidence could be used against a spouse in a divorce case, which is just another way that the court system is adapting to the new use of technology.

As smartphone technology continues to develop, allowing for instant messaging and fast-moving texting, attorneys say they are seeing an increase in the number of cases where iPhones and other smartphones are cited in evidence of a divorce case. This is according to an association of divorce lawyers.

This follows a previous study from a few years ago, when the group of lawyers noted that there had been an increase in Facebook references in divorce cases as well. As social media and text messaging have become more and more prevalent, it makes sense that lawyers have attempted to use this as evidence to get an edge in court.

While e-mails usually allow a user to re-think what may look like a rant in hindsight, a text message is more immediate. People may be more likely to send exactly what they’re thinking or doing via text, whereas an e-mail provides the opportunity to clarify one’s thoughts.

Text messaging is the most popular form of evidence that comes from smartphones, following by emails, phone numbers, call histories, GPS and Internet search histories. Not every text message can be printed as easily as an e-mail, but there are ways to do it. Some divorce attorneys think that’s why people may be more willing to send a nasty text.

But if a person keeps their text message history for a long time, even if one person deletes the message doesn’t mean the other person has as well. Facebook is also a dangerous place to vent because many people can see it and possibly print a screen grab of the page.

These are all warnings for people who are considering divorce in Indiana. It is never going to be beneficial for a person in a divorce proceeding to go on a rant, vent against their spouses or otherwise use these communication tools to contact a person they are divorcing.

This can quickly go from a one-time rant to a long-term headache if the evidence is preserved and used against them at trial. No one is immune to these traps if they are constantly using these forms of technology. The warning is clear — be careful what you tweet, text or post. It could come back to haunt you.
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A number of storefronts have sustained damage, due to car accidents in Lafayette.

According to the Chicago Tribune, a number of those crashes involved drivers who were over the age of 65.

Thankfully, it doesn’t appear any of those involved suffered any serious injury as a result of these crashes.Our Indiana car accident attorneys know that as the elderly population continues to grow, the number of seniors behind the wheel increase as well. Not only that, but these older residents are holding on to their drivers’ licenses longer than ever before.

According to the AAA Foundation, nearly 95 percent of people between the ages of 65 to 69 have a driver’s license, and nearly 80 percent of those 70 and older had a license. Compare that to statistics from 1983, when the percentages were 80 percent and 55 percent, respectively.

The number of older drivers is increasing at a much faster pace than ever before. The AAA Foundation further reports that the number of young drivers (under the age of 40) decreased by 10 percent during that same time frame.

In Indiana, older drivers don’t face as many driving restrictions as you might think.
Drivers between the ages of 75 and 85 have to renew their licenses once every three years, compared to younger drivers who have to renew every six years. If you’re over the age of 85, you have to renew every two years.

Officials with the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles told reporters that the only thing that might prevent an older driver from renewing their license would be if they can’t pass the vision tests. Even if they do fail it, they can wait two weeks and take the test again. If they fail it a third time, they can get a six-month learner’s permit before retaking it yet again.

While no one wants to take away a person’s ability to be self-sufficient, that independence should not come at the cost of everyone else’s safety.

In what we think is a fair compromise, some organizations – including the AAA Foundation – are offering classes for aging drivers. The incentive for older drivers, in addition to decreasing their chances of an accident, is a break on their insurance, which tends to go up after a certain age.

Many older drivers do take certain safety precautions on their own, often avoiding driving at night, on the highway and during rush hour. They also are less likely to drink and drive and wear their seat belts, more often than younger drivers.

However, recent research has shown that older drivers, while they may have fewer actual crashes per person, have more crashes per miles driven. They may be generally safer on the road than younger drivers, who are more apt to take dangerous risks.
The risks they do pose are serious, though, and need to be addressed.

It’s a difficult conversation to have with an older loved one. The Hartford insurance company offers some excellent advice on how to open the conversation. This is particularly important if you have noticed that your loved one has been experiencing health changes, car accidents or near misses.

Some suggested conversation openers:

— “I’m glad you’ve cut down on driving at night. I wouldn’t ever want you to drive if it makes you uncomfortable.”

–“Have you talked to your doctor about how your medication might be affecting your driving?”

–“Yesterday was a close call. I’ve been worried about your safety when you’re on the road.”

–“I’ve been worried about you getting lost.”
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Many everyday citizens think of celebrity and Hollywood divorces as very complex and probably more contested than a normal Indiana divorce.

But that’s not necessarily the case. While most divorcees aren’t trying to determine who will get the Beverly Hills mansion, who will get the $250,000 sports car and the driver service, many of the factors are still the same. No matter who is involved, emotions can run just as strong.Indiana divorce attorneys are trained to look into every aspect of a divorce case, from the finances, to possible after-divorce payments, to child custody and asset and debt division. This is a complex process, regardless of the income level of the spouses. Money also has nothing to do with how stressful and emotionally draining this process can be.

A lawyer is an important part of the process because spouses who are getting divorced often don’t want to have the added stress of not trusting who is representing them. Not that they should have a hands-off approach, but they must trust that the person they have hired is going to work for their best interests.

Two high-profile divorce cases show that every couple can have its problems and require legal representation in a divorce. Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa are in the middle of a divorce.

Records show that Vanessa Bryant is slated to receive about $18.8 million in property from her husband. It’s unclear, though, if a prenuptial agreement was in place. The Los Angeles Times is reporting there was not. Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce several months ago, citing “irreconcilable differences” in their marriage.

The newspaper is reporting that millions of dollars in property has already been transferred from Kobe Bryant trusts to his wife.

In another high-profile case, model Heidi Klum and singer Seal are reportedly splitting as well. The New York Daily News is reporting that although the couple announced a breakup but continued wearing their wedding bands, the split is indeed going to happen.

Several news reports stated that Seal was seen in an airport without his wedding band recently and Klum spent Valentine’s Day alone at a private Los Angeles club. The couple was married for seven years and have four children together. The children are ages 7, 6, 5 and 2.

The couple has decided to not have contact with each other despite saying publicly after the divorce that they still loved each other and would always be tied together.

This is a common hurdle that couples must face when divorcing, especially when they have children. These emotions can tug on divorcees and make the proceedings much more difficult.

An experienced Indiana divorce lawyer can limit the amount of stress by being organized, knowing the law, having years of experience and being prepared to handle all financial questions that a client may have. Being ready to do what’s in the best interests of the children and the spouse should be the top priorities, and clients should notice the attorney’s work quickly in the process.
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Indiana drivers are still coping with the dangers of winter weather conditions on our roadways. To help to reduce the risks of a weather-related car accident in Indianapolis or elsewhere throughout the state, there are a few safe driving tips you should keep in mind on every car ride.Our Indiana car accident attorneys and the Indiana State Police are offering Hoosiers and visitors a few winter driving safety tips to help to keep drivers safe. First, we ask all motorists to prepare themselves for the dangerous conditions. Before you head out, check the weather and traffic conditions. If you have a passenger riding along with you, make sure they know where you’re headed so they can help you with driving directions. This way you can keep all of your attention on the roadways and avoid the distractions of a map or a GPS.

Before you head out, also make sure your gas tank is full. You don’t want to get stranded in the biting cold because you failed to put gas in your car. You’re also urged to keep a winter driving kit with you at all times. This kit should include a flashlight, some extra batteries, blankets to keep you warm in case you break down, a brightly colored cloth to tie to your antenna to signal help, sand (or cat litter), a candle, some matches, a shovel, non-perishable foods that have a high calorie count, a cell phone, jumper cables and a first-aid kit.

Adjust your driving to the current road conditions:

-When there are poor weather conditions, give yourself extra time to get there by leaving earlier.

-Be sure to clear all your vehicle’s windows of ice and snow. Remove snow and ice from the hood, the headlights, the roof and the taillights as well.

-Be cautious when traveling near bridges, shaded areas, underpasses and intersections. In these areas ice forms more quickly and takes more time to melt.

-Slow it down. Traveling at a slower speed will help you to increase traction between your tires and the roadways.

-Avoid using your cruise control on slick or icy roadways.

-Try not to start or stop abruptly. Slow down and accelerate at a slow speed. Keep your wheels turning to stop you from losing traction.

-To reduce the glare of your headlights on the ice, use your low-beam headlights.

If you get stranded, there is a whole new list of things you should do. Listen up! If you’re car breaks down in the middle of winter conditions, your best bet is to stay with your car. It is the best protection you have after all. This is where that brightly-colored cloth comes in. Tie it to the antenna of your vehicle to signal to passing motorists that you need help. It may be cold outside, but you want to keep your window cracked to get some fresh air. Keep an eye on your exhaust pipe. If you allow it to get blocked, you run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep your exhaust pipe clear of snow and ice. Avoid panicking. Remember that an idling car uses about a gallon of gas every hour. If you kept your gas tank filled, you should have no problem.
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Indiana is the home of this year’s big game — Super Bowl XLVI. Football fans from across the country will be flocking. Unfortunately, this is likely to mean increased risks for drunk driving car accidents in Indianapolis. To help to combat these dangers, the Indiana Governor’s Council on Dangerous Driving will be funding even more drunk driving enforcement efforts on Super Bowl Sunday.Officers from around the state will be on the hunt for drunk drivers before, during and after the big game, which starts at 6:30 p.m. This year’s face off will be between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Some areas, like Porter County, are even offering rewards to anyone who reports a drunk driver that result in an arrest.

Our Indianapolis drunk driving car accident lawyers understand that almost 350 million people are expected to gather in front of a TV to watch this Sunday’s showdown between the Giants and the Patriots. While the game starts at 6:30 p.m., you’re urged to have your night planned out before then. Super Bowl Sunday is one of the deadliest days on roadways across the U.S. It’s estimated that more than half of all fatal car accidents that happen on this football Sunday are alcohol-related. The big game Sunday was recently ranked in second place as the deadliest day of the year, behind New Year’s Day.

Our personal injury lawyers and GEICO are here to remind you to plan your plays wisely to avoid a DUI arrest or a potentially fatal accident. The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) reports that in 2010, nearly one out of every three fatal car accidents involved a drunk driver. The same statistics report that roughly 48 percent of all fatal accidents that occur on Super Bowl Sunday are alcohol-related.

Tips to Avoid Drunk Driving, from GEICO:

-Be sure you’ve got a designated driver on your team. Make sure they know who they are before the party begins and that they’ve agreed to drunk ZERO alcoholic-beverages.

-Eat plenty of food. Food will help you from over-drinking.

-Bring phone numbers to taxi companies just in case. You never know if you, a friend or another fan may need the assistance.

-Remember that you can be held liable if someone at your Super Bowl party is served too much alcohol and ends up getting into an accident on their way home.

-Watch how much you drink. You want to pace yourself.

-If you’re designated driver bails, call a sober friend or family member, get a cab, stay in a hotel or crash at a friend’s house. Whatever you do, don’t drive if you’ve been drinking.

-Buckle up! Drinking or not, your best defense is a seat belt when you’re in a traffic accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that midnight to 3:00 a.m. is the deadliest time to be on our roadways. Once the game is over, you’re urged to head home swiftly. The more time you spend on our roadways, the greater your chances are for getting into an accident.

Remember, if you think you’ve spotted a drunk driver on our roadways on Super Bowl Sunday or on any day of the yeas, contact local authorities. Your report could help to save a life.
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A recent car accident in Munster was just one of 100+ driving offenses committed by a man who moved from Highland. When the man moved to Munster, Highland police contact the police department in the man’s new town to notify them of his driving record, according to the Munster Community. The man had received so many driving violations that the Highland police turned to the Lake County prosecutor’s office for help.

The department asked that his tickets be dealt by a different court to stop them from being dismissed. Still, these efforts didn’t stop the dangerous driver. Recently, he is accused of causing the drunk driving car accident in Munster that took the life of a Lansing man.As a result of the most recent accident, the driver was charged with nearly 20 traffic and criminal offenses. Those 20 offenses were added to the 100+ offenses that he already had. Some of the previous offenses included watching TV while driving, failing to obey traffic signals, driving without a seat belt, driving with a suspended license, driving without car insurance and speeding.

Our Highland car accident attorneys understand that the man also had two operating while intoxicated counts. One of them was dropped down to reckless driving while the other was taken down to a misdemeanor. When the drunk driving car accident happened, the man was driving on a six-month restricted license that only allowed him to drive to and from work.

“Law enforcement did whatever it could to keep him off the street,” said Highland police Cmdr. George Georgeff. “Once he moved out of our town, he pretty much stayed clear of Highland.”

Unfortunately these types of occurrence aren’t uncommon. According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, about 20 percent of all accidents that result in a fatality involve a driver who does not have a proper driver’s license. AAA examined accident reports from 2007 to 2009 in a recent study to get a grasp on just how many of these improperly licensed drivers there are on U.S. roadways.

Of the drivers who were involved in fatal accidents:

-Nearly 7 percent had a driver’s license that was either suspended or revoked.

-More than 1 percent had a driver’s license that was either canceled or denied.

-Another 5 percent were completely unlicensed.

These fatal accidents, involving improperly licensed drivers, took the lives of nearly 21,050 people.

With improperly licensed drivers, hit-and-run accidents and drunk driving accidents are much more common. More than 51 percent of the drivers who left the scene of an accident during the study time were improperly licensed.

With improperly licensed drivers come uninsured drivers. Motorists are asked to be cautious on our roadways. With no insurances comes a harder time covering the damages resulting from an accident. If you’re involved in an accident with an improperly licensed driver or with an uninsured driver it’s critical for you to contact an experienced lawyer to help you to get the compensation you deserve.
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When some people think about getting divorced, they think about the split in general terms — how they are going to be able to afford renting an apartment and paying monthly bills?

But often, soon-to-be divorcees don’t consider the financial implications beyond those basic terms. A recent article on Nasdaq.com looks at how divorcees can expect to build their credit after a divorce. When people are tied together financially, they may not realize how some joint decisions have affected their standing with creditors.This is especially true today, as many Americans have seen their credit scores fall significantly as they deal with foreclosures and short sales after their houses have depreciated in value. If a couple has lost their house to an Indiana foreclosure, it’s possible that their Indiana divorce is going to feel the effects.

The job of an Indiana divorce lawyer is to do what is in the best interests of the client under the laws of the state. Division of assets and child custody or child support issues are going to be big in the eyes of the divorcees.

But a lawyer should also be thinking about the things not considered by the client. That often includes tax implications of getting divorced, how their debts will be paid off and who will be responsible for certain costs incurred by both parties.

The article offers some tips for divorcees about how to improve their credit scores after they complete a divorce. A joint credit score may get them by in life, but once they split, they can be exposed for having poor credit and that can leave them helpless if they don’t have a good credit score and can’t obtain loans.

Pull the credit score: The first step is to see where the divorcee stands. Scouting the files for late payments or collection accounts can help point out red flag issues that will hurt the person’s chances of getting credit in your own name.

About 70 percent of Americans don’t do an annual credit check, which they can do for free under federal law. This often leads to people bringing financial baggage into a marriage and they can leave the marriage with that same baggage when they try to go out on their own.

Fix any credit report mistakes: This is critical because if there is inaccurate information, it can make moving forward that much more difficult. Creditors and banks can misreport data and only you can correct it. Even if a divorce agreement states who should pay off which joint debts, if they don’t, it can hit your credit score.

Nix the joint credit obligations: A divorce is about splitting and cutting off financial ties. The last thing you want to do is hold any joint accounts anymore. As mentioned above, the other spouse could continue using a credit card account in both people’s names and if they make late payments, it can affect your score, too.

Open a secured credit card: Secured credit cards can help people with poor scores build their credit. Secured cards require people to deposit an amount into the account, which creates your spending limit. This gives the creditors some assurances that you will pay.

Pay all your debts on time: The last thing you want to do is start getting behind on payments right out of the gate. Thirty five percent of your FICO score is based on your payment track record. So, missing payments can sink you in a hurry. Pay on time and you can start to get your credit fixed.
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