The Elkhart County Unified Family Court is responsible for hearing Dissolution of Marriage, Paternity, Guardianship, Adoption, Custody, Grandparent Visitation, non-criminal Protection Orders, IV-D Child Support, Name/Gender Marker Change, Juvenile Delinquency, and Child in Need of Services (CHINS) cases.
The Family Court bundles related cases under one judicial officer to improve outcomes for families, triages cases to determine how involved the Court should be with a family, and provides case management services in cases with a high level of family needs.
Our statutes permit the Elkhart County Prosecutor to intervene in family law matters to establish paternity of a minor child, to establish or modify child support, or to enforce existing child support orders.
When the Prosecutor intervenes, the presiding Court refers issues of paternity and child support to the Title IV-D Court to be heard in front of the Title IV-D Commissioner.
If you are the victim of domestic or sexual violence, or if you believe you or your children are in danger of being harmed by someone in your life, there is help for you. Throughout the state of Indiana, hundreds of trained advocates work every day to help victims find safety, and in many situations, a protection order can be a useful tool.
For more information, contact the Elkhart Victim Assistance Office at (574) 523-2237.