Ripley County Courts, Indiana
Court-Level Rules, Filing Procedures & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Adjournments
- Continuance requests must be made promptly after the reason is discovered or should have been discovered; except for emergencies or motions made in open court, motions must be written and filed at least 10 days before the matter, subject to the stated affidavit and short-notice exceptions.
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Proposed orders and judgment shall be on pages separate from the motion.
Document Filing Requirements27 rules
Each motion shall contain the reason for the requested continuance, that counsel has contacted opposing counsel and opposing counsel's response to the request and the amount of court time required for the hearing or trial.
and shall be accompanied by sufficient copies of a Chronological Case Summary Entry which will allow the Court to notify all parties of rescheduling of the matter.
News media requesting to record, televise, stream, and/or take pictures in compliance with Code of Conduct Rule 2.17, shall present verified news media credentials for the Court’s consideration.
A party offering biologically contaminated evidence must file a pretrial notice with the trial court before trial.
Court's wording
A party who offers biologically contaminated evidence must file a pretrial notice with the trial court and serve all the parties so that the court may consider the issue and rule appropriately before trial.
In Domestic Relations cases that call for child support, parties must submit a Child Support Income Withholding Order.
Court's wording
Parties in Domestic Relations cases, (Domestic Relations with Children, Domestic Relations without Children), shall submit proposed Dissolution Decree and, in all cases calling for child support, a Child Support Income Withholding Order.
The A motion for hearing, trial or continuance shall contain a statement estimating how much court time will be required for the hearing or trial.
All orders, judgments and decrees shall have, in the lower left-hand corner of the signature page, a distribution list with the name, and mailing address and/or email address of each party or attorney to receive a copy of the same.
- Document
- Order judgment or decree
- Placement
- Signature block
A party filing any type of motion shall, at the time of filing, submit a proposed order with sufficient copies and pre-addressed, stamped Clerk's envelopes to provide copies to all parties.
- Document
- Motion
Must include
- •Proposed order
Parties in Domestic Relations cases, (Domestic Relations with Children, Domestic Relations without Children), shall submit proposed Dissolution Decree
Every person filing a pleading that requires service shall clearly designate the manner of service, e.g. certified mail or Sheriff.
A party agreeing or directed by the Court to prepare an order, judgment or decree, shall do so in accord with the directives of the Court and Trial Rule 58(B).
In all cases in which the Court retains a continuing jurisdiction and retained legal counsel and client do not wish to continue representation, counsel shall, at the conclusion of the matter for which counsel was retained, submit a motion to withdraw from representation and a proposed order.
- Document
- Motion to withdraw
Must include
- •Proposed order
It shall be the duty of the debtor’s bankruptcy attorney to file with the Court, a notice of bankruptcy, setting for the date of the bankruptcy filing, the bankruptcy court location and case number, and an affirmation that the opposing party has been duly listed on the bankruptcy petition.
All plea agreements shall be submitted, in writing, to the Judge of the appropriate Court no later than twenty-one (21) days prior to the trial date.
No final hearing will be scheduled until both certificates are on file with the Court.
Counsel and parties must not copy, duplicate, or distribute juror questionnaires, and must return them to the Court at the conclusion of trial.
Court's wording
Juror questionnaires shall be handled in accordance with Jury Rule 10 and Indiana Administrative Rule 9(G)(1)(b)(xii). Thus, juror questionnaires shall not be re-copied, duplicated or distributed by counsel or the parties, and shall be returned to the Court at the conclusion of trial in order to safeguard juror privacy.
Where minor children remain, both parents must complete the approved class or equivalent program and file a completion certification; completion may be waived only in unusual circumstances approved by the Court.
Court's wording
In any dissolution of marriage, paternity or legal separation proceeding where there remain minor children born of the marriage or relationship, both the father and mother shall complete the Transparenting Class or equivalent program approved by the Court within sixty (60) days after the filing of the petition and file with the Court a certification of completion. Each party shall bear their own costs for the program with an allowance for waiver. No final hearing will be scheduled until both certificates are on file with the Court. Failure to complete the program within the required time period shall be punishable by contempt. Completion of the program shall not be waived except in unusual circumstances approved by the Court. The parties are directed to contact the Transparenting Class within ten (10) days of service of summons at (513)405-6198 to make an appointment to attend the program. Counsel for petitioner is responsible for notification of their clients of the requirements of this rule.
All pre-sentence investigations and pre-dispositional reports shall be submitted to the Court, counsel and/or the parties no later than five (5) days prior to the sentencing or dispositional hearing.
Additionally, pursuant to INDIANA TRIAL RULE 26(e)(2) and (3), the Form shall be supplemented if additional material becomes available.
Each party must attach reasonably required and available verification materials to the Financial Declaration Form, including tax returns, supporting documentation, and current wage records.
Court's wording
For the purpose of providing a full and complete verification of income, assets, liabilities and values, each party shall attach to the Financial Declaration Form all information reasonably required and reasonably available. At the minimum, this shall include income tax returns and supporting documentation and current wage records. "Reasonably available" means material which may be obtained by letter accompanied with an authorization but does not mean material that must be subpoenaed or is in the possession of the other party.
An ex parte or emergency child-custody or minor-child guardianship motion or petition must include the listed information and supporting materials.
Court's wording
Whether in the context of a dissolution of marriage, paternity, guardianship, or any other proceeding, where one is seeking ex parte or emergency custody of a child or ex parte emergency guardianship of a minor child, the following minimum information will be required: 1. A sworn verified motion or petition signed by the person seeking relief. 2. The full name, physical and mailing address of the petitioner or movant, and their relationship to the child or children for whom they are seeking custody or guardianship. 3. The full name, date of birth, and age of the child or children for whom custody or guardianship is being sought. 4. The length of time the child or children have been in the petitioner's or movant's physical custody, and a brief description of the circumstances as to how such physical custody occurred. If the child or children are in another's physical custody, the same information is required including that person's relationship to the child or children. 5. The name and physical, and mailing, address of every other person who has legal or physical custody of the child or claims such right, including, but not limited to, the biological mother, the biological father, or putative father(s). If it is claimed an address is unknown, then the Court shall be advised what efforts have been undertaken to locate said person and their last known physical and mailing address. 6. If any other interested party is represented by counsel, or known to have counsel, what efforts have been undertaken to advise other counsel of the pending ex parte request and other counsel's response. 7. A complete copy of the most recent custody order in effect, if any. 8. A statement whether the person seeking emergency ex parte custody or guardianship has had their visitation or custodial rights to any of said child or children limited, restricted, or
In all matters involving support, each party shall submit to the Court a completed Child Support Obligation Worksheet, adopted as part of the Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines, with supporting documentation within sixty (60) days of the filing of the petition,
The Court may require any written motion for continuance to be signed by the party requesting the continuance in addition to his or counsel
The Court may require either party to supplement such Financial Declaration with appraisals, bank records, and other evidence to support the values set out therein.
The Financial Declaration must comply with Indiana Administrative Rule 9 and Indiana Trial Rule 5(G).
Court's wording
Subject to specific evidentiary challenges, the Financial Declaration shall be admissible into evidence upon filing and shall comply with Indiana Administrative Rule 9 and Indiana Rule of Trial Procedure 5(G),
The Clerk must distribute the specified notice and accompanying materials to everyone filing a pro se petition for dissolution of marriage.
Court's wording
The Clerk shall distribute a notice provided by the Court to all persons filing a pro se petition for dissolution of marriage together with a copy of LR69-02 and Financial Declaration Form and, if applicable, LR69- FL-01 with a Child Support Obligation worksheet and Child Support Guidelines along with a copy of the Indiana Supreme Court Parenting Time Guidelines.
The listed information includes pending CHINS or equivalent proceedings, other child-welfare-agency involvement, and any related custody or guardianship proceedings in another court.
Court's wording
The existence of any pending CHINS proceeding, or equivalent out-of-state proceeding, other involvement by a child welfare agency and whether custody proceedings or guardianship proceedings regarding the child or children are pending in or have been filed in another court and, if so, sufficient information to apprise the court of the place and nature of the proceedings.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Plea agreements must be submitted no later than 21 days before trial.
All plea agreements shall be submitted, in writing, to the Judge of the appropriate Court no later than twenty-one (21) days prior to the trial date.
Page 9 | CRIMINAL RULES — SUBMISSION OF PLEA AGREEMENTS
Both parents must complete the approved program and file a completion certification within 60 days after the petition is filed.
In any dissolution of marriage, paternity or legal separation proceeding where there remain minor children born of the marriage or relationship, both the father and mother shall complete the Transparenting Class or equivalent program approved by the Court within sixty (60) days after the filing of the petition and file with the Court a certification of completion.
Page 10 | FAMILY RULES — TRANSPARENTING CLASS
Pre-sentence investigations and pre-dispositional reports must be submitted no later than five days before the sentencing or dispositional hearing.
All pre-sentence investigations and pre-dispositional reports shall be submitted to the Court, counsel and/or the parties no later than five (5) days prior to the sentencing or dispositional hearing.
Page 10 | CRIMINAL RULES — PRE-SENTENCE AND PRE-DISPOSITIONAL REPORTS
The Child Support Obligation Worksheet and supporting documentation are due within 60 days after the petition is filed in matters involving support.
In all matters involving support, each party shall submit to the Court a completed Child Support Obligation Worksheet, adopted as part of the Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines, with supporting documentation within sixty (60) days of the filing of the petition,
Page 12 | LR69-FL-02 SUBMISSION OF FINANCIAL DECLARATION FORM
Service and Proof of Service Rules
A party offering biologically contaminated evidence must serve all parties with the pretrial notice before trial.
A party who offers biologically contaminated evidence must file a pretrial notice with the trial court and serve all the parties so that the court may consider the issue and rule appropriately before trial.
Page 5 | Biologically Contaminated Evidence
The moving party must prepare and serve a Financial Declaration Form within 30 days after filing the action.
In all relevant family law matters, including dissolutions, legal separations, paternity and post decree support or maintenance proceedings, the moving party shall prepare and serve a Financial Declaration Form on the opposing party or their counsel within thirty (30) days of the date of the filing of the action.
Page 11 | LR69-FL-02 SUBMISSION OF FINANCIAL DECLARATION FORM
The responding party must prepare and serve a Financial Declaration Form within 20 days after receiving the moving party's declaration.
The responding party shall prepare and serve a Financial Declaration Form (available from the clerk's office) within twenty (20) days after receipt of service of the moving party's declaration.
Page 11 | LR69-FL-02 SUBMISSION OF FINANCIAL DECLARATION FORM
and may require the motions to be served on the parties as well as the attorneys and on the victim or victim’s family in a criminal case.
and may require the motions to be served on the parties as well as the attorneys and on the victim or victim’s family in a criminal case.
Page 2 | LR69-AR-02 CONTINUANCES
The Financial Declaration Form need not be exchanged in the listed circumstances, subject to the stated arrearage exception.
B. Exceptions: The Financial Declaration Form need not be exchanged nor settlement conference conducted if: 1. The parties agree in writing to waive exchange; 2. The parties have executed a written agreement which settles all financial issues.; 3. The proceeding is one in which the service is by publication and there is no response; 4. The proceeding is post-decree and concerns issues without financial implications. Provided, however, when the proceeding is post-decree and concerns only an arrearage, the alleged delinquent party shall complete the entire Form, while the support recipient need complete merely that portion thereof which requires specification of the basis of the arrearage calculation (with appropriate supporting documentation); or, 5. Where the gross marital estate in a dissolution or legal separation is $5,000.00 or less.
Page 11 | LR69-FL-02 SUBMISSION OF FINANCIAL DECLARATION FORM
Filing Fees and Waivers
The Clerk must collect a $50 administrative fee on each bail bond.
The Clerk of the Courts shall collect an administrative fee on each bail bond in the amount of $50.00 plus a $5.00 Special Death Benefit fee pursuant to I.C. 35-33-8-3.2.
Page 9 | CRIMINAL RULES — BAIL
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
When both parties are represented by counsel, a settlement conference must be conducted within 90 days after filing, verified to the Court, and followed by a report of any resulting stipulations or agreement.
Within ninety (90) days of the date of filing conduct and verify to the Court that a settlement conference between the parties and counsel has been conducted and report to the Court any stipulations or agreement which have arisen from the settlement conference. This section of the rule shall not apply unless both parties are represented by counsel.
Page 11 | LR69-FL-02 SUBMISSION OF FINANCIAL DECLARATION FORM
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuance requests must be made promptly after the reason is discovered or should have been discovered; except for emergencies or motions made in open court, motions must be written and filed at least 10 days before the matter, subject to the stated affidavit and short-notice exceptions.
A. All requests for continuances shall be made as soon as the reason therefore has been discovered or should have been discovered. All motions shall, except in the event of an emergency or in open court, be in writing and on file with the Court no later than ten (10) days prior to the scheduled matter unless the motion is accompanied by an affidavit that the reasons for the continuance have occurred within the ten (10) day period. Exceptions may be granted for matters scheduled with less than ten (10) days’ notice.
Page 2 | LR69-AR-02 CONTINUANCES
Agreement of counsel does not guarantee that a continuance motion will be granted.
Agreement of counsel does not necessarily mean the motion will be granted.
Page 2 | LR69-AR-02 CONTINUANCES
The Court may, in its discretion, assess costs and expenses necessarily incurred by the Court, County, or parties because of continuances or delays.
The Court, in its discretion, may assess any costs and expenses necessarily incurred by the Court, the County or parties as a result of continuances or delays.
Page 2 | LR69-AR-02 CONTINUANCES