Sec. 2. (a) In an action:

(1) for the dissolution of a marriage;

Terms Used In Indiana Code 34-57-5-2

  • Attorney: includes a counselor or other person authorized to appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • in writing: include printing, lithographing, or other mode of representing words and letters. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Judgment: means all final orders, decrees, and determinations in an action and all orders upon which executions may issue. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(2) to establish:

(A) child support;

(B) custody; or

(C) parenting time; or

(3) to modify:

(A) a decree;

(B) a judgment; or

(C) an order;

entered under IC 31;

both parties may agree in writing to submit to arbitration by a family law arbitrator.

     (b) If the parties file an agreement with a court to submit to arbitration, the parties shall:

(1) identify an individual to serve as a family law arbitrator; or

(2) indicate to the court that they have not selected a family law arbitrator.

     (c) Each court shall maintain a list of attorneys who are:

(1) qualified; and

(2) willing to be appointed by the court;

to serve as family law arbitrators.

     (d) If the parties indicate that they have not selected a family law arbitrator under subsection (b)(2), the court shall designate three (3) attorneys from the court’s list of attorneys under subsection (c). The party initiating the action shall strike one (1) attorney, the other party shall strike one (1) attorney, and the remaining attorney is the family law arbitrator for the parties.

     (e) In a dissolution of marriage case, the written agreement to submit to arbitration must state that both parties confer jurisdiction on the family law arbitrator to dissolve the marriage and to determine:

(1) child support, if there is a child of both parties to the marriage;

(2) custody, if there is a child of both parties to the marriage;

(3) parenting time, if there is a child of both parties to the marriage; or

(4) any other matter over which a trial court would have jurisdiction concerning family law.

As added by P.L.112-2005, SEC.2.