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January 2012

In January of 2012, Angela Field Trapp was elected Vice Chairman of the Indianapolis Bar Association, Solo and Small Firm Section. As Vice Chairman, Angela will be working with other members of this section to plan and host continuing legal education opportunities for other Indiana attorneys in the areas of Criminal Defense, Bankruptcy, and Family Law. Further, Angela will work with other sections within the Indianapolis Bar Association to host events for young lawyers and law students in the Indianapolis area that may be contemplating starting or joining a small firm or solo practice.

In 2012, Angela Field Trapp’s appointment as a member of the Executive Committee for the Women & Law Division of the Indianapolis Bar Association was re-affirmed. This is Angela’s second year on this Committee. Angela works with this Committee to plan special educational events, networking opportunities, and community outreach events which focus on furthering the rights of women in the legal profession and in the Indianapolis area.

Angela greatly enjoys volunteering with the Indianapolis Bar Association and assisting other young attorneys and law students, in their own professional development.

February 2012

Unfortunately, at the beginning of a new year, most people make big decisions that affect their family. January and February are the most common times that people decide to get divorced, separate, or start to fight over their visitation schedule for seeing their children. Often, people decide that they need to make a big change for the new year or their jobs change, which results in a change in their visitation schedule. This is a common scenario for many people.

Trapp Law routinely handles family law cases related to resolving Contempt of Court hearings, divorce decrees, modifications of custody agreements, and custody evaluations. Sometimes, you may be able to work with your former spouse or loved one to resolve these issues on your own. However, there are other times when you may need the assistance of an attorney. I cannot tell you how many times I have had clients come to my office and tell me that they represented themselves in the former proceedings because they did not want to pay an attorney.

Unfortunately, they got a bad result, such as a substantial loss of funds or property in a divorce decree or a child visitation schedule that does not evenly split parenting time according to the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. Trapp Law routinely handles and assists people in achieving positive, collaborative results that benefit everyone involved in a family law proceeding. At the end of the day, the Court prefers that parents get along and resolve their disputes equitably and with as little input from the Court as possible. Trapp Law can help you through this process.

March 2012

As spring and summer approach, most of us start to drive more for family vacations, trips to see friends, and visits to the local pool or beach. However, with an increase in driving comes an increase in the risk of committing a traffic violation. The most common traffic violations are speeding tickets, failure to provide proof of insurance after an accident, driving with a suspended license or disregarding traffic signs or signals. All of these infractions can be avoided by driving carefully and safely. However, things happen, so do not think that you have to just pay your traffic fine in order to resolve your license issues.

Trapp Law can assist you in resolving your traffic infractions. Trapp Law routinely petitions for hardship licenses, resolves traffic violations (especially for people just traveling through the State of Indiana, but who live somewhere else), and fights criminal charges related to Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated or Driving With a Suspended License. Your driving privileges are very important to your ability to earn a living by driving to work or your ability to take your family places around town. If you lose your license due to a failure to show up for a court date or to resolve a traffic infraction, then your license could be suspended, which may result in more fines from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and more criminal charges.

People often try to resolve their traffic infractions on their own. If you only have one traffic infraction, then you may be eligible for a diversion program where your traffic ticket gets dismissed in exchange for paying a higher fine and taking a defensive driving class. However, this is not an option for people with multiple traffic violations or for people that fail to provide proof of insurance after an accident. The end result of not dealing with these types of issues is often a suspension of your driving privileges. Do not continue to drive after your license has been suspended by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. This is a criminal charge, which may result in you being arrested and your car being impounded. Trapp Law can assist you in petitioning for a conditional driver’s license during your suspension period or assist you in resolving your fines with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Call Trapp Law today to find out your legal options.

April 2012

Recently, the Indiana legislature changed the law regarding a parent’s legal obligation to pay child support. Basically, if a divorce decree is silent on a parent’s obligation to assist in paying for a child to attend college, then the parent’s legal obligation to pay child support may terminate upon the child’s nineteenth (19th) birthday. Further, if the child’s parents were never married, then the child support paid by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent shall automatically terminate without a hearing. Instead, a court will only send a notice to both parents that the child is nineteen (19) years old, so no further child support will be ordered by the court.

However, a custodial parent may decide to file a special petition with the Court to request that the non-custodial parent continue paying child support while their child is attending college or is participating in a post-high school training program. A court will consider many factors when it makes this determination, such as the custodial parent’s ability to pay for the child’s tuition, the cost of tuition, the child’s ability to support themselves, and the non-custodial parent’s other financial obligations.

This is a tough decision for a court. However, legal advice and experience from an attorney may assist you in obtaining a positive outcome. Call Trapp Law today to find out your options.