Ind. County Local Rule: ripley-local-rules

IN THE RIPLEY COUNTY CIRCUIT AND SUPERIOR COURTS

LOCAL RULES OF THE RIPLEY CIRCUIT AND SUPERIOR COURTS

INDEX

Effective Date July 3, 2025

Effective Date for Case Assignment and Local Caseload Allocation Plan is July 14, 2025

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

LR69-AR-01: CASE ASSIGNMENT AND LOCAL CASELOAD PLAN

AR-02: CONTINUANCES

AR-03: COURTHOUSE SECURITY

AR-04: TRANSCRIPTS

AR-05: CAMERAS AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT

AR-06: DISTRICT 22 SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA VETERANS TREATMENT

COURT

AR-07: RETENTION OF EVIDENCE

AR-08: SPECIAL JUDGE REASSIGNMENT UNDER AR 21

TRIAL RULES

LR69-TR-01: SPECIAL JUDGE APPOINTMENT UNDER TRIAL RULE 79(H)

TR-02: PREPARATION OF COURT DOCUMENTS

TR-03: BANKRUPTCY

TR-04: WITHDRAWAL

CRIMINAL RULES

LR69-CR-01: SUBMISSION OF PLEA AGREEMENTS

CR-02: BAIL

CR-03: PRE-SENTENCE AND PRE-DISPOSITIONAL REPORTS

JURY RULES

LR69-JR-01: JURY SELECTION

JR-02: JUROR PRIVACY

FAMILY RULES

LR69-FL-01: TRANSPARENTING CLASS

FL-02: SUBMISSION OF FINANCIAL DECLARATION FORM

FL-03: PRO SE LITIGANTS FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE

FL-04: EX PARTE EMERGENCY CUSTODY OR EX PARTE GUARDIANSHIPS OR

MINOR CHILDREN

I. ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

LR69-AR-01 CASE ASSIGNMENT AND LOCAL CASELOAD PLAN

Unless otherwise required by statute, the Clerk of Ripley Circuit Court and Superior Courts and the

Prosecuting Attorney of Ripley County, to the extent applicable, are directed to file the following

types of cases in the following manner:

A. All A, B, & C Felonies, all Level 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 felonies, Murder and related Red Flag,

Post Conviction Relief Petitions and Expungements, Juvenile CHINS, Juvenile

Delinquent, Juvenile Status, Juvenile Paternity, Juvenile Miscellaneous, Juvenile

Termination of Parental Rights, Mental Health, Adoptions, Miscellaneous Estates,

Unsupervised Estates, Supervised Estates, Trusts, Guardianships, Grandparent

Visitation, Reciprocal Support, Domestic Relations, Domestic Relations with Children,

Domestic Relations without Children, Miscellaneous Civil, Civil Plenary, Civil Tort,

Commercial Court Eligible, and alternating Miscellaneous Criminal and unrelated Red

Flag in the Ripley Circuit Court.

B. All Level 6 and "D" Felonies, Criminal Misdemeanors and related Red Flag, Post

Conviction Relief Petitions and Expungements, Small Claims, Mortgage Foreclosure, Civil

Collections, Miscellaneous, Protective Orders, Judicial Review of Administrative Agency

Decisions, and alternating Miscellaneous Criminal and unrelated Red Flag, in the Ripley

Superior Court. The Prosecuting Attorney may file infractions and ordinance violations in

the Ripley Superior Court.

C. In criminal cases, the most serious count filed shall determine the proper court.

D. In the event the Prosecuting Attorney dismisses a criminal case and re-files against the

same Defendant or files another case in another court involving the same subject matter

and Defendant, the case shall be re-filed in the same Court in which the case was originally

filed or immediately transferred to the Court in which the same subject matter is pending.

E. In the event that a Defendant is charged with a Habitual Offender Enhancement

wherein Circuit Court Judge Ryan J. King prosecuted said Defendant for an alleged

predicate offense(s) and has recused (“recused Defendant”) and the State has also filed

a Motion to Join one or more other Defendant’s case(s) together with the recused

Defendant, then Superior Court Judge Jeffrey L. Sharp (or Special Judge from list)

may preside over the Motion to Join Hearing(s) and objections thereto, and, if joined,

any severance requests and related issues.

If Judge Sharp grants a Motion to Join two (2) or more cases and said cases remain joined

and proceed to a joint trial, then Judge Sharp will continue to preside over the joined

cases up to and through the joint trial and sentencing, if convicted, of all jointly tried co-defendants.

If a Motion for Joinder is denied or denied as to any Defendant’s case; or the cases are

later severed; or the cases do not otherwise proceed to a joint trial, then the Defendant(s)

cases not proceeding to a joint trial with the recused Defendant’s case shall, as a general

matter, be transferred to Judge King for further proceedings and/or final disposition.

However, if good cause exists, such as a Criminal Rule 4 issue and/or a jury having

already been summonsed, Judge Sharp may dispose of said cases as necessary.

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This subsection is to be construed so as to fulfill the purpose of allowing Defendant cases

to be tried together so long as a Judge finds that doing so is appropriate, but also to

ensure criminal cases are assigned as they otherwise would be, absent a joint trial, and

pursuant to the case allocation plan.

LR69-AR-02 CONTINUANCES

A. All requests for continuances shall be made as soon as the reason therefore has been

discovered or should have been discovered. All motions shall, except in the event of an

emergency or in open court, be in writing and on file with the Court no later than ten (10)

days prior to the scheduled matter unless the motion is accompanied by an affidavit that the

reasons for the continuance have occurred within the ten (10) day period. Exceptions may be

granted for matters scheduled with less than ten (10) days’ notice.

B. Each motion shall contain the reason for the requested continuance, that counsel has

contacted opposing counsel and opposing counsel's response to the request and the amount

of court time required for the hearing or trial. and shall be accompanied by sufficient copies

of a Chronological Case Summary Entry which will allow the Court to notify all parties of

rescheduling of the matter. Agreement of counsel does not necessarily mean the motion

will be granted.

C. The Court may require any written motion for continuance to be signed by the party

requesting the continuance in addition to his or counsel and may require the motions to

be served on the parties as well as the attorneys and on the victim or victim’s family in a

criminal case.

D. The Court, in its discretion, may assess any costs and expenses necessarily incurred by

the Court, the County or parties as a result of continuances or delays.

LR69-AR-03 COURTHOUSE SECURITY

No person shall enter the Ripley County Courthouse carrying a deadly weapon of any kind or

type, whether carried openly or concealed. This rule does not apply to law enforcement officers

under Indiana Code 35-41-1-17 or federal enforcement officers.

LR69-AR-04 TRANSCRIPTS

A. A court reporter shall be paid an annual salary for time spent working under the

control, direction and direct supervision of the Court during any regular work hours, gap

hours or overtime hours.

B. A $5.50 per page fee may be charged for county indigent transcript preparation.

C. The court reporter shall submit directly to the county a claim for the preparation of the

county indigent transcript.

D. A $5.50 per page fee may be charged for non-appellate transcript preparation.

E. A $2.25 per page fee may be charged for copies of transcripts.

F. A $2.25 per page fee may be charged for copies of exhibits to be included in the transcript.

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G. A minimum fee of $50.00 per transcript preparation may be charged.

H. Index and Table of Contents pages may be charged at the per page rate of $5.50.

I. An additional labor charge of $25.00 per hour may be charged for time spent binding the

transcript and exhibit volumes.

J. An expedited fee of $7.00 per page may be charged for an expedited transcript where the

transcript must be prepared within five (5) working days.

K. A reasonable charge for the office supplies required and utilized for the binding and

electronic transmission of the transcript, pursuant to Indiana Rules of Appellate

Procedure 28 and 29, may be charged; the costs of these supplies will be established and

published annually by the judges of the County.

L. When a non-appellate transcript is requested, a party must make satisfactory

arrangements with the court reporter for payment of the cost of the transcript. Payment

for appellate transcripts shall be in accord with Appellate Rule 9 H.

M. The court reporter shall report on an annual basis to the Indiana Office of Court Services,

on forms prescribed by the Indiana Office of Court Services, all transcript fees (either

county indigent, state indigent or private) received by the court reporter.

O. If a court reporter elects to engage in private practice through recording of a

deposition and/or preparing of a deposition transcript, and the court reporter desires to

utilize the court's equipment, work space and supplies, and the court agrees to the use of

court equipment for such purpose, the court and the court reporter shall enter into a

written agreement which must, at a minimum, designate the following:

1. The reasonable market rate for the use of equipment, work space and supplies

2. The method by which records are to be kept for the use of equipment, work

space and supplies; and

3. The methods by which the court reporter is to reimburse the court for the use of

equipment, work space and supplies.

P. If a court reporter elects to engage in private practice through recording a deposition and/or

the preparing of a deposition transcript, that such private practice shall be conducted

outside of regular working hours; and

Q. The Court shall enter into a written agreement with the court reporter which outlines the

manner in which the court reporter is to be compensated for gap and overtime hours; i.e.,

either monetary compensation or compensatory time off regular work hours.

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LR69-AR-05 CAMERAS AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT

1. No cameras or recording equipment will be permitted above the first floor of the Ripley

County Courthouse and in no event will any video or still camera or recording device be

permitted in the Courtroom at any time, without prior approval of the Court. News

media requesting to record, televise, stream, and/or take pictures in compliance with

Code of Conduct Rule 2.17, shall present verified news media credentials for the Court’s

consideration. No interviews will be conducted above the first floor of the Courthouse.

LR69-AR-06 DISTRICT 22 SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA - VETERANS

TREATMENT COURT

The Dearborn Superior Court No. 1 Veterans Treatment Court, hereinafter named the

Southeastern Indiana Veterans Treatment Court, shall be available for all other courts in

District 22 to refer cases to. If any referring district court identifies a potential United States

Veteran with a pending felony or misdemeanor criminal charge, and the referring judge,

prosecuting attorney, and defense attorney agree to the referral for potential placement in

Veterans Court, then the referring judge, prosecuting attorney, or defense attorney shall

contact the Veterans Court Coordinator to arrange assessments to determine eligibility and

appropriateness.

If a participant is accepted into the Veterans Treatment Court, the referring court shall

maintain jurisdiction of the case, and hold the guilty plea and potential sentencing hearing.

All court costs, fines, restitution, and probation fees shall be collected and received by the

referring court. If a participant is accepted into the Southeastern Indiana Veterans Treatment

Court, the Judge of the Dearborn Superior Court No. 1 shall oversee all of the participant's

Veterans Treatment Court proceedings, hearings, incentives, sanctions, potential termination

hearing and potential graduation hearing. The Judge of the Dearborn Superior Court No.1

shall have authority to issue arrest warrants when necessary for a sanction or termination.

Sanctions involving incarceration shall be served inside the Dearborn County Law

Enforcement Center. The schedule of fees set forth under Indiana Code 33-23-16-23 shall be

applicable in the Southeastern Indiana Veterans Treatment Court and procedures of

assessment and collection of fees pursuant to Problem Solving Court Rules Section 16 shall

be followed and received by the Southeastern Indiana Veterans Treatment Court.

All guilty plea and sentencing hearings shall be held in the courtroom of the referring court.

All other Veterans Treatment Court hearings shall be held in the Dearborn Superior Court

No. 1 courtroom.

If the participant is terminated from Veterans Treatment Court, then the referring court shall

maintain jurisdiction over the case and shall be responsible for sentencing. If the participant

graduates from Veterans Treatment Court, then the referring court shall ensure that any

appropriate dismissal of charges or imposition of the appropriate plea agreement terms of

sentence are imposed.

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LR69-AR-07 RETENTION OF EVIDENCE

RULES FOR EVIDENCE HANDLING, RETENTION AND DISPOSITION

Retention Periods for Evidence Introduced in All Non-criminal Proceedings.

All models, diagrams, documents, or material admitted in evidence or pertaining to the

case placed in the custody of the court reporter as exhibits shall be taken away by the parties

offering them in evidence, except as otherwise ordered by the court, four (4) months after the

case is decided unless an appeal is taken. If an appeal is taken, all such exhibits shall be retained

by the court reporter for two (2) years from termination of the appeal, retrial, or subsequent

appeal and termination, whichever is later.

Retention Periods for Evidence Introduced in Criminal Misdemeanor, Level 6

Felonies, Conspiracies, and Attempts.

All models, diagrams, documents, or material admitted in evidence or pertaining to the case

placed in the custody of the court reporter as exhibits shall be taken away by the parties offering

them in evidence except as otherwise ordered by the court, three (3) years after the defendant is

sentenced, unless an appeal is taken. If an appeal is taken, all such exhibits shall be retained by

the court reporter for three (3) years from termination of the appeal, retrial, or subsequent appeal

and termination, whichever is later, unless an action challenging the conviction or sentence, or

post-conviction action, is pending.

Retention Periods for Evidence Introduced in Level 1-5 Felonies and Attempts.

All models, diagrams, documents, or material admitted in evidence or pertaining to the case

placed in the custody of the court reporter as exhibits shall be taken away by the parties offering

them in evidence, except as otherwise ordered by the court, twenty (20) years after the case is

dismissed, the defendant found not guilty, or the defendant is sentenced, unless an appeal is

taken. If an appeal is taken, all such exhibits shall be retained by the court reporter for twenty

(20) years from termination of the appeal, retrial, or subsequent appeal and termination,

whichever is later, unless an action challenging the conviction or sentence, or post-conviction

action, is pending.

Retention Periods for Evidence Introduced in Murder, Life without Parole,

and Death Penalty Cases.

All models, diagrams, documents, or material admitted in evidence or pertaining to the

case placed in the custody of the court reporter should be retained for the lifetime of the

defendant in cases where the defendant is found guilty.

Biologically Contaminated Evidence

A party who offers biologically contaminated evidence must file a pretrial notice with the

trial court and serve all the parties so that the court may consider the issue and rule appropriately

before trial. A party may show contaminated evidence or pass photographs of it to jurors, but no

such evidence, however contained, shall be handled or passed to jurors or sent to the jury room.

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Notification and Disposition

In all cases, the court will notify all attorneys of record and/or parties, that the evidence

will be destroyed by a date certain, if not retrieved before that date. Counsel and parties have a

duty to keep the court informed of their current addresses and notice to the last current address

shall be sufficient. At the time of removal, a detailed receipt shall be given to the court reporter

by the party receiving and removing the evidence. The receipt will be made part of the court file.

In a criminal case, upon a dismissal or not guilty finding, the party submitting the evidence

shall retrieve said evidence within thirty (30) days of case closure, unless otherwise ordered by

the Court.

In all cases, evidence which is not taken back after notice shall be disposed of by the

Sheriff or other law enforcement agency on the court’s order. Said agency shall destroy the

material if its possession is illegal or if it has negligible value. Anything of value should be

auctioned by the Sheriff with proceeds going to the county general fund.

LR69-AR-08 SPECIAL JUDGE REASSIGNMENT

In the event it becomes necessary to reassign a criminal case under AR 21, in the Ripley Circuit

or Superior Court, the Clerk shall first reassign the case to the other sitting Ripley County

Judge and if that Judge cannot serve, then the Clerk shall reassign the case on a rotating basis

from the following list of judges in consecutive order:

1. Judge of the Dearborn-Ohio Circuit Court;

2. Magistrate of the Dearborn-Ohio Circuit Court;

3. Judge of the Dearborn Superior Court 1;

4. Judge of the Dearborn Superior Court 2;

5. Judge of the Decatur Circuit Court;

6. Judge of the Decatur Superior Court;

7. Magistrate of the Decatur Circuit/Superior Court;

8. Judge of the Franklin Circuit Court 1;

9. Judge of the Franklin Circuit Court 2;

10. Judge of the Jefferson Circuit Court;

11. Judge of the Jefferson Superior Court;

12. Magistrate of the Jefferson Circuit/Superior Court;

13. Judge of the Jennings Circuit Court;

14. Judge of the Jennings Superior Court;

15. Magistrate of the Jennings Circuit/Superior Court;

16. Judge of the Switzerland Circuit Court

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II. TRIAL RULES

LR69-TR-01 SPECIAL JUDGE APPOINTMENT

In the event it becomes necessary to appoint a special judge under Trial Rule 79(H), in the

Ripley Circuit or Superior Courts, the Clerk shall first reassign the case to the other sitting

Ripley County Judge and if that Judge cannot serve, then the Clerk shall reassign the case on

a rotating basis from the following list of judges in consecutive order:

1. Judge of the Dearborn-Ohio Circuit Court;

2. Magistrate of the Dearborn-Ohio Circuit Court;

3. Judge of the Dearborn Superior Court 1;

4. Judge of the Dearborn Superior Court 2;

5. Judge of the Decatur Circuit Court;

6. Judge of the Decatur Superior Court;

7. Magistrate of the Decatur Circuit/Superior Court;

8. Judge of the Franklin Circuit Court 1;

9. Judge of the Franklin Circuit Court 2;

10. Judge of the Jefferson Circuit Court;

11. Judge of the Jefferson Superior Court;

12. Magistrate of the Jefferson Circuit/Superior Court;

13. Judge of the Jennings Circuit Court;

14. Judge of the Jennings Superior Court;

15. Magistrate of the Jennings Circuit/Superior Court;

16. Judge of the Switzerland Circuit Court

LR69-TR-02 PREPARATION OF COURT DOCUMENTS

A. A party filing any type of motion shall, at the time of filing, submit a proposed order with

sufficient copies and pre-addressed, stamped Clerk's envelopes to provide copies to all

parties.

B. The A motion for hearing, trial or continuance shall contain a statement estimating how

much court time will be required for the hearing or trial.

C. A party agreeing or directed by the Court to prepare an order, judgment or decree, shall

do so in accord with the directives of the Court and Trial Rule 58(B). Proposed orders

and judgment shall be on pages separate from the motion. Parties in Domestic Relations

cases, (Domestic Relations with Children, Domestic Relations without Children), shall

submit proposed Dissolution Decree and, in all cases calling for child support, a Child

Support Income Withholding Order.

D. All orders, judgments and decrees shall have, in the lower left-hand corner of the signature

page, a distribution list with the name, and mailing address and/or email address of

each party or attorney to receive a copy of the same.

E. Every person filing a pleading that requires service shall clearly designate the manner of

service, e.g. certified mail or Sheriff.

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LR69-TR-03 BANKRUPTCY

It shall be the duty of the debtor’s bankruptcy attorney to file with the Court, a notice of

bankruptcy, setting for the date of the bankruptcy filing, the bankruptcy court location and

case number, and an affirmation that the opposing party has been duly listed on the

bankruptcy petition.

LR69-TR-04 WITHDRAWAL

In all cases in which the Court retains a continuing jurisdiction and retained legal counsel and

client do not wish to continue representation, counsel shall, at the conclusion of the matter for

which counsel was retained, submit a motion to withdraw from representation and a proposed

order.

III. CRIMINAL RULES

LR69-CR-01 SUBMISSION OF PLEA AGREEMENTS

All plea agreements shall be submitted, in writing, to the Judge of the appropriate Court no

later than twenty-one (21) days prior to the trial date.

LR69-CR-02 BAIL

A. Bail for A, B, C, or D Felonies, all Level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 Felonies, murder and any

probation violations for those offenses shall be fixed at the initial hearing or by order

of the Court.

B. Bail for the following offenses is fixed according to the following schedule:

Misdemeanors $500.00

Probation violation of Class A, B or $500.00

C Misdemeanors, other than commission

of an additional offense

In the event that an individual is incarcerated and has pending criminal charges or is

on probation, the Courts consider that factor to increase the risk of the individual’s

non-appearance and, accordingly, fixes bail at an amount equal to the bail fixed above,

times the number of pending cases.

C. Individuals arrested for Domestic Battery shall not be let to bail less than forty-eight

(48) hours from the time of arrest unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

D. Bail shall be posted by the defendant only and accepted by cash.

E. The Clerk of the Courts shall collect an administrative fee on each bail bond in the

amount of $50.00 plus a $5.00 Special Death Benefit fee pursuant to I.C. 35-33-8-3.2.

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F. Any defendant arrested without a warrant shall be released on his own recognizance

forty-eight (48) hours after his arrest unless a Judge of the Circuit Court or Superior

Court has issued a finding within forty-eight (48) hours of the arrest that probable

cause existed for the arrest.

LR69-CR-03 PRE-SENTENCE AND PRE-DISPOSITIONAL REPORTS

All pre-sentence investigations and pre-dispositional reports shall be submitted to the Court,

counsel and/or the parties no later than five (5) days prior to the sentencing or dispositional

hearing.

JURY RULES

LR69-JR-01 JURY SELECTION

Jury selection for the Ripley Circuit Court and the Ripley Superior Court shall be

conducted pursuant to the Indiana Jury Rules in effect January 1, 2019. Jury selection

shall be administered as directed by the Courts for Ripley County by members of the

Court staff and such other jury administrators as appointed by the Courts.

LR69-JR-02 JURY SAFETY AND PRIVACY

Juror questionnaires shall be handled in accordance with Jury Rule 10 and Indiana

Administrative Rule 9(G)(1)(b)(xii). Thus, juror questionnaires shall not be re-copied,

duplicated or distributed by counsel or the parties, and shall be returned to the Court at

the conclusion of trial in order to safeguard juror privacy.

V. FAMILY RULES

LR69-FL-01 TRANSPARENTING CLASS

In any dissolution of marriage, paternity or legal separation proceeding where there remain

minor children born of the marriage or relationship, both the father and mother shall

complete the Transparenting Class or equivalent program approved by the Court within sixty

(60) days after the filing of the petition and file with the Court a certification of completion.

Each party shall bear their own costs for the program with an allowance for waiver. No final

hearing will be scheduled until both certificates are on file with the Court. Failure to

complete the program within the required time period shall be punishable by contempt.

Completion of the program shall not be waived except in unusual circumstances approved by

the Court. The parties are directed to contact the Transparenting Class within ten (10) days

of service of summons at (513)405-6198 to make an appointment to attend the program.

Counsel for petitioner is responsible for notification of their clients of the requirements of

this rule.

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LR69-FL-02 SUBMISSION OF FINANCIAL DECLARATION FORM

A. Requirement: In all relevant family law matters, including dissolutions, legal

separations, paternity and post decree support or maintenance proceedings, the moving

party shall prepare and serve a Financial Declaration Form on the opposing party or their

counsel within thirty (30) days of the date of the filing of the action. The responding party

shall prepare and serve a Financial Declaration Form (available from the clerk's office)

within twenty (20) days after receipt of service of the moving party's declaration.

B. Exceptions: The Financial Declaration Form need not be exchanged nor settlement

conference conducted if:

1. The parties agree in writing to waive exchange;

2. The parties have executed a written agreement which settles all financial issues.;

3. The proceeding is one in which the service is by publication and there is no

response;

4. The proceeding is post-decree and concerns issues without financial

implications. Provided, however, when the proceeding is post-decree and

concerns only an arrearage, the alleged delinquent party shall complete the entire

Form, while the support recipient need complete merely that portion thereof

which requires specification of the basis of the arrearage calculation (with

appropriate supporting documentation); or,

5. Where the gross marital estate in a dissolution or legal separation is $5,000.00 or

less.

C. Admissibility: Subject to specific evidentiary challenges, the Financial Declaration shall

be admissible into evidence upon filing and shall comply with Indiana Administrative Rule

9 and Indiana Rule of Trial Procedure 5(G),

D. Supporting Documents: For the purpose of providing a full and complete verification of

income, assets, liabilities and values, each party shall attach to the Financial Declaration

Form all information reasonably required and reasonably available. At the minimum, this

shall include income tax returns and supporting documentation and current wage records.

"Reasonably available" means material which may be obtained by letter accompanied with

an authorization but does not mean material that must be subpoenaed or is in the possession

of the other party. The Court may require either party to supplement such Financial

Declaration with appraisals, bank records, and other evidence to support the values set

out therein.

E. Financial Declaration-Mandatory Discovery: The exchange of Forms constitutes

mandatory discovery. Thus, INDIANA TRIAL RULE 37 sanctions apply. Additionally,

pursuant to INDIANA TRIAL RULE 26(e)(2) and (3), the Form shall be supplemented

if additional material becomes available.

F. Settlement Conference: Within ninety (90) days of the date of filing conduct and verify to

the Court that a settlement conference between the parties and counsel has been conducted

and report to the Court any stipulations or agreement which have arisen from the

settlement conference. This section of the rule shall not apply unless both parties are

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represented by counsel.

G. Child Support: In all matters involving support, each party shall submit to the Court a

completed Child Support Obligation Worksheet, adopted as part of the Indiana Child

Support Rules and Guidelines, with supporting documentation within sixty (60) days of the

filing of the petition,

H. Forms: The Financial Declaration Form and Child Support Obligation Worksheet

is available from the Clerk.

LR69-FL-03 PRO SE LITIGANTS FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE

The Clerk shall distribute a notice provided by the Court to all persons filing a pro se petition for

dissolution of marriage together with a copy of LR69-02 and Financial Declaration Form and, if

applicable, LR69- FL-01 with a Child Support Obligation worksheet and Child Support

Guidelines along with a copy of the Indiana Supreme Court Parenting Time Guidelines.

LR69-FL-04 EX PARTE EMERGENCY CUSTODY OR EX PARTE

GUARDIANSHIPS OF MINOR CHILDREN

Whether in the context of a dissolution of marriage, paternity, guardianship, or any other

proceeding, where one is seeking ex parte or emergency custody of a child or ex parte emergency

guardianship of a minor child, the following minimum information will be required:

1. A sworn verified motion or petition signed by the person seeking relief.

2. The full name, physical and mailing address of the petitioner or movant, and their

relationship to the child or children for whom they are seeking custody or guardianship.

3. The full name, date of birth, and age of the child or children for whom custody or

guardianship is being sought.

4. The length of time the child or children have been in the petitioner's or movant's physical

custody, and a brief description of the circumstances as to how such physical custody

occurred. If the child or children are in another's physical custody, the same information

is required including that person's relationship to the child or children.

5. The name and physical, and mailing, address of every other person who has legal or

physical custody of the child or claims such right, including, but not limited to, the

biological mother, the biological father, or putative father(s). If it is claimed an address is

unknown, then the Court shall be advised what efforts have been undertaken to locate

said person and their last known physical and mailing address.

6. If any other interested party is represented by counsel, or known to have counsel, what efforts

have been undertaken to advise other counsel of the pending ex parte request and other

counsel's response.

7. A complete copy of the most recent custody order in effect, if any.

8. A statement whether the person seeking emergency ex parte custody or guardianship has

had their visitation or custodial rights to any of said child or children limited, restricted, or

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suspended in any way by prior court order.

9. The existence of any pending CHINS proceeding, or equivalent out-of-state proceeding, other

involvement by a child welfare agency and whether custody proceedings or guardianship

proceedings regarding the child or children are pending in or have been filed in another court

and, if so, sufficient information to apprise the court of the place and nature of the

proceedings.

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