Dear Members,
We are excited to bring you the latest updates and events from the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Indiana Chapter. AFCC is the premier interdisciplinary and international association of mental health and legal professions dedicated to the resolution of family conflict.
Understanding Legal Custody in Indiana
Legal custody refers to parents’ authority to make major decisions for a child, including choices regarding education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. The court must consider the facts established in Ind Code § 31-17-2-15 when determining legal custody. Joint legal custody grants parents equal decision-making responsibility regarding legal custody decisions. A Court may award joint legal custody of a child if the court finds that joint legal custody would be in the best interest of the child. Sole legal custody grants one parent the decision-making authority for legal custody decisions. Joint legal custody is not appropriate when parents have made child-rearing a battleground. To modify legal custody, the moving party must show that (1) a substantial continuing change in circumstances has occurred and (2) that the modification is in the Child’s best interest. Legal custody is distinct and separate from physical custody.
Sincerely,
Hon. Jillian Kratochvil
Member Spotlight: Lauren Glanders
Licensed Mental Health Counselor | Private Practice Owner | Reunification Therapy Provider
Lauren Glanders earned her Master’s and Specialist degrees in Counseling from Indiana University. She has clinical experience working with depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal ideation, school and transition issues, self-esteem, disordered eating, grief and loss, insomnia, trauma, early substance use and family conflict. She also enjoys working with military families and has received specialized training to support them. She has practiced in many clinical settings before starting her private practice in early 2024.
Lauren has worked with children and families throughout her career which inevitably led to working with high conflict families involved in the Court. She heard about AFCC from a family law attorney and joined in 2022. She appreciates the continuing education, networking opportunities and support from other providers serving families in a variety of roles. She was, and continues to be, eager to support high conflict families and since 2022 has expanded her practice to provide Reunification Therapy, Brief Focused Assessments, and Child Consultant services in Child Inclusive Mediation.
Outside of the therapy room, Lauren enjoys reading, needlepoint, and good meals with family and friends. Lauren is part of a military family as her husband is in the Army. She also has two fluffy dogs.