Top Rated Family Law Attorney in Zionsville, IN

Honors and Awards:

• The Gale M. Phelps Award is named in memory of Gale M. Phelps, a former chair of the ISBA Family & Juvenile Law Section, who passed away in 2003. Factors considered in the selection of the recipient include: Exceptional service to the profession: unsolicited mentoring to new attorneys, reaching out to other lawyers, and working with attorneys on an individualized basis; Highest level of competence/ improving the profession: reviewing legislation and shaping family law policies, contributing to educational seminars, serving in leadership positions for legal and nonlegal organizations; Raising the level of professionalism and civility in domestic relations matters: going beyond the client’s basic needs, maintaining respect for the court system and its participants; and High moral character and ethical standards., Gale M. Phelps Award, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015

Special Licenses/Certifications:

• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (recertified 2007), 2016
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (recertified 2007), 2015
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (recertified 2007), 2014
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (recertified 2007), 2013
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (recertified 2012), 2012
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (recertified 2007), 2011
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (recertified 2007), 2010
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (recertified 2007), 2009
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (recertified 2007), 2008
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (recertified 2007), 2007
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (since 2002), 2006
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (since 2002), 2005
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (since 2002), 2004
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board (since 2002), 2003
• Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board, 2002
• Registered Domestic Relations Mediator

Bar/Professional Activity:

• Member of the Indiana State Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee which seeks to raise the Bar’s ethical standards, promote the Bar’s ethical awareness, and clarify the Bar’s ethical responsibilities, all in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court of Indiana., 2017
• Member of the 2017 Indiana State Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Confernece Planning Committee. , 2017
• Member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, including the Solo & Small Firm committee, the Family & Juvenile Law Section, and the ADR Section. , 2017
• Member of the Hendricks County Bar Association , 2017
• Member of the Indiana State Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee which seeks to raise the Bar’s ethical standards, promote the Bar’s ethical awareness, and clarify the Bar’s ethical responsibilities, all in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court of Indiana., 2016
• Member of the 2016 Indiana State Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Confernece Planning Committee. , 2016
• Member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, including the Solo & Small Firm committee, the Family & Juvenile Law Section, and the ADR Section., 2016
• Member of the Indiana State Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee which seeks to raise the Bar’s ethical standards, promote the Bar’s ethical awareness, and clarify the Bar’s ethical responsibilities, all in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court of Indiana., 2015
• Member of the 2015 Indiana State Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Confernece Planning Committee. , 2015
• Member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, including the Family & Juvenile Law Section, and the ADR Section., 2015
• Member of the Indiana State Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee which seeks to raise the Bar’s ethical standards, promote the Bar’s ethical awareness, and clarify the Bar’s ethical responsibilities, all in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court of Indiana., 2014
• Member of the 2014 Indiana State Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Confernece Planning Committee. , 2014
• Member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, including the Family & Juvenile Law Section, and the ADR Section., 2014
• Member of the Indiana State Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee which seeks to raise the Bar’s ethical standards, promote the Bar’s ethical awareness, and clarify the Bar’s ethical responsibilities, all in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court of Indiana., 2013
• Member of the Indiana State Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee which seeks to raise the Bar’s ethical standards, promote the Bar’s ethical awareness, and clarify the Bar’s ethical responsibilities, all in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court of Indiana., 2013
• Member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, including the Solo & Small Firm committee, the Family & Juvenile Law Section, and the ADR Section., 2013
• Immediate Past Chair, Indiana State Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Conference, 2013
• Member of the Indiana State Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee which seeks to raise the Bar’s ethical standards, promote the Bar’s ethical awareness, and clarify the Bar’s ethical responsibilities, all in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court of Indiana., 2012
• Member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, including the Solo & Small Firm committee, the Family & Juvenile Law Section, and the ADR Section., 2012
• Immediate Past Chair, Indiana State Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Conference, 2012
• Chair, Indiana State Bar Association's Solo & Small Firm Conference, 2011
• Chair of the Indiana State Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Conference , 2010
• Vice-Chair of the Indiana Solo and Small Firm Conference, 2009
• Vice-Chair of the Indiana Solo and Small Firm Conference, 2008
• Chair, Famliy and Juvenile Law Section, Indiana State Bar Association, 2003

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Volunteer Guardian ad Litem with Kids' Voice of Indiana, 2017
• Voluntary Therapy Dog Team (with Mordecai), Paw & Think, 2017
• Volunteer Therapy Dog Team with Mordecai, Judges & Lawyers Assistance Program, 2017
• Volunteer Guardian ad Litem with Kids' Voice of Indiana, 2016
• Voluntary Therapy Dog Team (with Mordecai), Paw & Think, 2016
• Volunteer Therapy Dog Team with Mordecai, Judges & Lawyers Assistance Program, 2016
• Volunteer Guardian ad Litem with Kids' Voice of Indiana, 2015
• Voluntary Therapy Dog Team (with Mordecai), Paw & Think, 2015
• Volunteer Guardian ad Litem with Kids' Voice of Indiana, 2014
• Volunteer Guardian ad Litem with Kids' Voice of Indiana, 2013
• Volunteer Guardian ad Litem with Kids' Voice of Indiana, 2012
• Volunteer Guardian ad Litem with Kids' Voice of Indiana, 2011

Scholarly Lectures and Writings:

• Taught attendees that tools and techniques to prepare themselves and their clients for depositions and trials. Discussed the importantance of preparation in all manner of cases. , Speaker, Litigation Track: Witness Preparation, Deposition, & Trial, Indiana State Bar Association, Solo & Small Firm Conference, 2017
• Dealing with retirement accounts and employee benefits in a divorce can be some of the most challenging parts of a divorce case. In this session attendees learned how to correctly handle the division of retirement and benefit accounts such as IRA's, 401(k)s, pensions, and other benefits. , Speaker, Advanced Family Law: Divorce, Retirement & Employment Benefits, Indiana State Bar Association, Solo & Small Firm Conference, 2017
• Provided an hour and half presentation to attorneys and judges on the new cases and legislation affecting Family Law cases in Indiana. , Speaker, Family Law Update - Case & Rule Changes in the past year, Boone County Bar Association, 2016
• Presented on the proper way to divide complex retirement assets in a dissolution of marriage action, including the use of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders. , Speaker, QDROS & Complex Retirement Plans, National Business Institute , Family Law, 2015
• Advanced Child Support, Indiana Solo & Small Firm Conference, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Family Law Essentials for Staff, Indiana Solo & Small Firm Conference, Indiana State Bar Association, 2015
• Collaborative Practice, Annual Conference, National Association of Social Workers, Indiana Chapter, 2014
• My First Divorce, Indiana Solo & Small Firm Conference, Indiana State Bar Association, 2014
• Legal Ethics, Military Divorce, National Business Institute, 2014
• Starting the Process, Military Divorce, National Business Institute, 2014
• My First Divorce, Indiana Solo & Small Firm Conference, Indiana State Bar Association, 2014
• Fee Structures, Time Keeping, Billing, and Accounting, Law Practice Management Classes, IU McKinney School of Law, 2013
• Divorce Basics, Indiana Solo & Small Firm Conference, Indiana State Bar Association, 2012
• Nuances of a Successful Family Law Mediation, Indiana Solo & Small Firm Conference, Indiana State Bar Association, 2010
• Legal Ethics, Family Law from A to Z, National Business Instiute, 2010
• Legal Update:  A Year in Review, Family Law from A to Z, National Business Instiute, 2010

Educational Background:

• J.D., Indiana University McKinney School of Law, summa cum laude, 1984
• B.A., Ball State University, magna cum laude, 1979