Gary Family Lawyers

Indianapolis Criminal Defense and Family Law- Father's Rights Law Firm is led by two attorneys with over 30 years of combined experience. We are not a high volume law firm, and each case will get the attention it deserves. Your case will not be passed down to an associate attorney. Your case will have a secure online portal where you can see all of your documents, upload your own documents, make payments and send secure messages. We do not shy away from court hearings and depositions, and if negotiating a settlement or a plea is in your...

Attorney Bryan L. Ciyou, an Eagle Scout, lives each day on the bedrock principle of the Boy Scout Motto, “Be Prepared.” This way of life – his mantra – was then forged on the anvil of hardships endured during his significant humanitarian aid work in places like Haiti and Central America. In these countries, making a plan and executing it, and always being prepared, was not a choice but a necessity in order to survive daily life.A few years later, Mr. Ciyou attended Indiana University, Indianapolis, completing the honors program and graduating with a bachelor of arts, with distinction, in...

Megan Wells is a 1999 graduate of Indiana University—Bloomington and a 2004 graduate of Indiana University School of Law –Indianapolis. Ms. Wells focuses her practice on family law in all of its capacities, including dissolution of marriage, paternity, establishing and modifying child custody, establishing and modifying child support, establishing and modifying parenting time, adoption and guardianship. In her practice, Megan thoroughly understands that she represents individuals and families in transitional phases in their lives. She understands that family law issues are often sensitive ones, and has the compassion, experience, and legal knowledge to provide representation to individuals at what...

I was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, attending Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where I majored in Political Science and graduated with honors.

While attending law school, I was actively involved with the Moot Court Board, serving as the Moot Court Board Chairman. I received several awards in law school, including the prestigious Leadership Achievement Award, the Frank Harper Achievement Award, and the Moot Court Board Chairman Awards.

After graduating law school, I was a certified legal intern with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, in the Narcotics Division, until I became a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in 2009. ...

Aubrey Crist joined Beasley & Gilkison, LLP in April 2020. Previously, she worked at litigation firms in Richmond and Greenfield. Aubrey currently focuses her practice on adoptions, personal injury (including motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall, etc.), bankruptcy, family law, estate planning, social security disability, municipal law, and general litigation. Aubrey is originally from Muncie, Indiana, and a 2008 graduate of Muncie Southside High School. Aubrey attended Ball State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Aubrey then attended the University of Dayton School of Law (“UDSL”) in Dayton, Ohio. During her time in law school,...

Deidra N. Haynes graduated from Indiana University School of Law, also known as McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, Indiana. She interned while in law school as a prosecutor, public defender, and state public defender defending those who were facing the death penalty. Immediately after law school, she worked for Barnes & Thornburg, the largest law firm in the state of Indiana as an employment litigator defending large corporations. Attorney Haynes decided to pursue her passion for advocating for those without a voice. As a result, she now represents employees, the injured, the mentally ill, those accused of criminal offenses, and...

Eric is a seasoned trial attorney with a diverse legal background and valuable courtroom experience that has honed him into a proficient family law attorney. Commencing his legal career as a deputy prosecutor, prosecuting some of the highest-level crimes in Indiana in the special victim’s unit, Eric swiftly garnered invaluable insights into the intricacies of family law proceedings and courtroom procedure. This experience laid the groundwork for his transition to private practice, where he diligently represents clients in a variety of complex and high stakes legal matters. Eric’s passion for providing zealous counsel to Hoosier families soon led him to...

Julie A. Camden is a partner at Camden & Meridew, P.C. She is licensed in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. She concentrates her practice in the areas of tax and litigation. Julie enjoys jury trials. Julie has litigated numerous cases in the areas of: family law, automobile cases, bad checks, mortgage foreclosure defenses, and debt settlement. Julie is very driven, and tries to resolve cases as quickly as possible. In Julie’s spare time, she enjoys laying tile (or most construction work), bowling, and helping children. She currently volunteers as a guardian ad litem for Kids’ Voice....

Doug Garner graduated from the University of Cincinnati Law School in 1991 and spent three years as a contract Public Defender in Hamilton County, Ohio. In 1994, he established a private practice in Dearborn County, Indiana and was a Public Defender in the Dearborn County Superior Court from 1994 through 2001.

Since 2001, Doug has continued his private practice focusing on Social Security and criminal defense. He also represents several non-profit organizations, small businesses, and the Dearborn County Solid Waste Management District. Doug was on the Indiana Public Defender Council Board of Directors from 1996 to 2008 and Chairman from 2006...

Jim Hanson has a diverse background that provides him with context to find solutions to complex challenges. Jim has significant experience with Criminal Law and Family Law as well as both legal and practical experience with Business Law, Real Estate, Probate and General Civil Litigation. Jim served as a Korean linguist with the United States Army. This experience allows Jim to more easily navigate cultural and language barriers when resolving legal issues.

Our office prides itself on our willingness to communicate with our clients. Unfortunately, not all news is good news, but an informed client is usually a happy client. Whether it be personal injury, family law or criminal law, our office will strive to conclude your legal issue efficiently and with professionalism.

After graduating from law school with honors, Mr. Avnet began practicing insurance defense litigation in Hamilton County, Indiana for several years. Next, Mr. Avnet practiced transportation law at the largest transportation law firm in the country, defending trucking companies in large loss negligence and wrongful death suits around the country. Prior to forming Avnet Law, Mr. Avnet returned to Hamilton County to practice personal injury law, family law, and criminal law.

Currently, Mr. Avnet regularly practices trial court litigation in state and federal courts. His practice is devoted to serving clients on a wide variety of legal issues, but concentrates his...

Carmel family lawyer and founder of Hains Law, LLC. Mr. Hains provides personalized legal representation for clients. Attorney Hains focuses his practice on all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody, parenting time/visitation, child support, emancipation, adoption, paternity, guardianship, spousal maintenance, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and protective orders. He has the experience to resolve family law matters through agreement, mediation and trial. In addition, he is able to leverage his past business and criminal law experience to provide his clients with the best possible outcome for themselves and their families.

Shawn attended the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 2008. While in law school, she served as a member of the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association, a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Association, and as an Associate Member of the Mock Trial Board. Prior to studying law, Shawn obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Business Communication from Concordia University in Fort Wayne. During her time in undergraduate school, she served as the Campaign President for Toys for Tots. Shawn is licensed and ready to...

With nearly two decades of experience, Emily approaches issues in a practical and compassionate manner for clients. In her domestic and family law practice, Emily Szaferski concentrates on dissolutions, adoptions, paternity matters, custody disputes, child support issues, and guardianships. She handles various types of adoptions including private, agency and foster adoptions, adoptions that involve the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, and the finalization of international adoptions.

Christopher L. LaPan practices exclusively as a family lawyer, civil litigator, and mediator. He received his Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University in 2009, and is admitted to practice law in the Indiana Supreme Court and the United States District Courts, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. He also holds a Masters Degree from Purdue University. Chris is formally trained in collaborative lawyering, and is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. His ability to successfully navigate even the most contentious and complicated divorces to creatively advocate for his clients inspires a fluid transition from being together...

Born in Subic Bay, Philippines on a United State Naval Base, Angela Field Trapp moved to South Bend, Indiana with her family in 1981. Angela attended Penn High School in Mishawaka, IN. Angela resides in Fishers, IN with her family.

Tara Cragen is an attorney at the law firm Cohen & Malad. Tara was born and raised in Johnson County, Indiana. Tara earned her Bachelor of Arts at IUPUI and Juris Doctorate from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law. While attending law school, Tara worked as a Certified Legal Intern for the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office where she gained experience in the courtroom. During her time in law school, Tara served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and as a board member of the Family Law Society. Tara focuses her practice in the areas of Family Law, Criminal Defense,...

One of the most enjoyable parts of being a lawyer is combining my genuine interest in others with my passion for helping people and fixing situations.

Most people seem to have headaches in a few key areas. That’s why I focus on the fields of family law (divorce, visitation, guardianships, etc.), business law (business formation, law suits, breach of contract, etc.), real estate law and personal injury (car accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, and other acts of negligence).

My Experience
I started my career as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I “paid my dues” in busy courtrooms and...

Danica graduated from the IU Kelly School of Business with a major in Business Management and went on to obtain her Law Degree from the Indiana University at Indianapolis. During law school, Danica worked for Dean Andrew Klein while he helped the 7th Circuit Court revised, edit and draft its new standard civil Jury Instructions. Danica began her legal career with a firm in downtown Indianapolis, where she was exposed to almost every facet of the law from zoning and land use, to federal criminal defense, to business litigation and estates.

Danica focuses her practice at Webster & Garino LLC on...

Vanessa Villegas Lopez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A daughter of Puerto Rican, Irish and Colombian descent, she moved to the United States at the age of 8 and grew up in Bloomington, Indiana. She earned her B.A., in Spanish /Sociology at Indiana University, Bloomington; J.D. at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indiana University, Indianapolis. She opened her own law office, Lopez Law Office P.C., in January 2008 in Indianapolis. She concentrates her practice in family law, focusing on custody cases and parenting time disputes in divorce and paternity settings. She is also a...

Jonathan D. Harwell, owner and founder of Harwell Legal Counsel, grew up in Ohio before moving to Indiana in high school. Harwell attended Ball State University, where he majored in legal studies and graduated cum laude. He was also a member of the Legal Studies Honor Society before continuing his education at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He graduated with the CALI Excellence for the Future Award and Gold Level Pro Bono recognition before beginning his career.Harwell, a member of the Indiana Bar Association, has dedicated himself to serving the legal needs of Indiana’s residents. He...

Sean K. Hessler is an Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer dedicated to protecting the rights of the criminally accused. As a former prosecutor, he understands the approaches that the State may take in handling criminal cases. With this knowledge, Sean aggressively defends his clients to the best possible outcome by carefully reviewing the evidence and preparing a strong defense.

At the Law Office of Carman L. Malone, we are dedicated to providing top-notch legal solutions for everyday individuals. Our commitment lies in consistently delivering high-quality services and fostering trusting relationships with our clients. We pride ourselves on thoroughly understanding our clients' needs, maintaining open communication, and consistently acting in their best interests. Our clients are not just clients—they are the core of our work, and their success defines our success. We measure our achievements by their victories, and our satisfaction comes from ensuring our clients are genuinely pleased with the outcomes of our efforts. Whether dealing with significant or minor matters,...

Tony Gibbens is a trained and registered Collaborative Law Professional, as well as a Registered Family Law Mediator and a Registered Civil Law Mediator. As a Collaborative Law Professional, Mr. Gibbens has access to a network of similarly minded attorneys that seek to provide a low-conflict, co-operative outcomes to best suit all involved parties. Mr. Gibbens, however, does not shy away from hard or complex cases, preferring the “easy win.” He will fight the good fight for you and your family. Mr. Gibbens has a wealth of...

Clarissa Finnell is an attorney with Schultz & Pogue. Ms. Finnell practices exclusively in the area of family law, representing clients with cases including legal separation, divorce, child support, child custody, paternity, parenting time, modification and contempt issues. She also represents clients in stepparent adoption and guardianship matters. She has been practicing for twenty- four(24) years and has extensive litigation experience managing heavy volume caseloads in complex, contested family law matters. In addition to her work as a divorce and custody litigator, Ms. Finnell is a trained collaborative attorney and can assist clients who are seeking to resolve their family...

Zach Phillips is one of the founding partners of Bernhardt Phillips, LLP and an experienced litigator whose passion and drive will make all the difference in your case.

Clients need an attorney who understands their needs and who can be an advocate for them, while providing competent legal services. That is where I come in. My name is Felicia Locke, an attorney in central Indiana focusing on the legal needs of everyday people.

At Locke Law Firm, we focus in the areas of elder law, probate and estate administration, family law and real estate law.

We believe that everyone deserves fair and affordable legal representation. We are committed to helping our clients get through the tough moments in life. We are committed to advocating your best interests.

An Indiana native, Robert J. Nice has practiced law in Indiana for three decades. With a legal career that began in 1985, he focuses his practice in the areas of Real Estate, Small Business, Business Litigation, General Litigation, Legal Malpractice, and Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury.

Following law school at Villanova University, Robert Nice was employed as an associate with a large Indianapolis law firm for six years before establishing his own firm in 1992. As the Managing Partner of The Nice Law Firm, LLP, he now rises to the challenge of operating five offices located throughout central Indiana. He is adept...

Attorney K. Aaron Heifner is a skilled criminal defense, family law, and personal injury attorney. He is the founder of Heifner Law Inc., where he assists clients with a broad range of legal issues, including DUI/OWI defense, probation violations, domestic violence charges, divorce, child custody and support, car accidents, and more. Attorney Heifner has developed a reputation as an aggressive advocate for parents and defendants, as well as those injured due to the negligence of another person, company, or entity. With every case he takes on, Attorney Heifner strives to provide his clients with personalized, one-on-one attention and open communication....

We provide bankruptcy and personal injury legal services to the greater Indianapolis and Central Indiana area.

When a divorce or family law matter arises in your life, it is common to feel overwhelmed by the situation. This is likely one of the more challenging times in your life, and having a compassionate lawyer in your corner can provide some peace of mind and reassurance throughout the process of your case. Ranger Davis is a caring Associate Attorney with Stange Law Firm. He can help individuals throughout Marion County, Indiana, and nearby, from the firm’s Indianapolis, Indiana family law office. Ranger attended the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate. He...

Romy has been practicing law since 2014. He received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University in 2011 and his legal education from Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Romy has been selected by his peers as a Rising Star from 2020-2023. Romy began his legal career as a Criminal Defense attorney in Lafayette, IN from October 2014 to May 2016. He then made the transition to Family Law with a firm in Hamilton County until August of 2021. Romy also spent time in Shelby County practicing primarily family law. He will continue his career here at Banks & Brower...

I have been practicing family law since 1989. I previoulsy worked with James A. Buck and James A. Reed. I also have a family law mediation practice and I am a trained Parenting Coordinator. I can assist clients with any family law issue, from simple non-contested divorces to very complex, high asset cases. I have an accounting background from getting an accounting degree from Indiana University prior to going to law school.

Mr. Mann has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers SuperLawyers Edition for 2009 through and including 2023. Mr. Mann is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the Family Law Certification Board. Many think this certification applies only to divorce, it also applies to custody, support, orders of protection (commonly called protective orders or peace bonds), visitation matters, adoptions, guardianships, juvenile matters such as paternity, criminal and Children in need of services. Mr. Mann and his firm are proud to have been one of the firms who represented Same-Sex couples who were successful in overturning Indiana's ban on Same-Sex marriage....

I am an Attorney with 25 years of experience who was born and raised in Evansville. If you decide to hire me, I answer my own phone, and preform my work. What you see is what you get. I have extensive experience in criminal law. For six years I was a public defender in Chicago. For one year, I was a prosecutor in Evansville. I have substantial experience in both family law and business litigation. I agree with those who claim that an experienced lawyer is better than an unexperienced lawyer. In addition, I believe that a good relationship with...

I have been serving the legal needs in Muncie and surrounding areas for 16 years. The areas of law in which I practice are estates, estate planning, real estate, business, guardianships, adoptions and family law.

Barrows Legal Group, LLC tailors its services to the client depending on the client's goals, financial concerns, complexity and amount of conflict involved. The goal of Barrows Legal Group, LLC for each client is to end the legal representation with the client in a better position than when we were retained. That goal is achieved through creative thinking, advocacy when called for, and negotiated resolution when possible. Just like every marriage is different, every divorce, paternity matter, or custody dispute is unique. The solutions to the conflict should reflect that each client's needs are also unique.