March 15, 2004

Indiana Law - Clark County to Fund Alternative Ways to Resolve Family Disputes

"Paternity, divorce, separation fees rising in Clark County" is the headline to this story in the Louisville Courier-Journal today that begins:

Clark County is raising the fees it charges for filing a divorce, separation or paternity petition by $20 to give low-income people access to mediators in such cases.

This month Clark County became one of 11 Indiana counties to take advantage of a 2003 state law that authorizes the higher fees to support a fund for alternative ways to resolve disputes.

The $20 increase, which will take effect April 1, will bring the cost of divorce and separation filings to $129 each and paternity filings to $149.

Officials expect the increase to bring in $16,000 a year, which will pay some or all of the cost of mediation for low-income people.

Posted by Marcia Oddi at March 15, 2004 04:41 PM