Family First Family Law
Biography
Ms. Douglas has been practicing for more than 25 years solely in the area of family law. She is an experienced litigator and advocate in both the traditional and collaborative law setting. Her experience as a trained mediator, parenting coordinator and guardian ad litem provides a strong foundation for helping her find solutions (often non-legal) to problems that arise in a family. She represents clients in the Indianapolis metropolitan area and throughout Indiana in a wide range of family law issues, including adoptions, appeals, premarital agreements, custody disputes, paternity issues, domestic partnership agreements, guardianships, divorces and grandparent visitation matters. She works closely with clients to understand their unique circumstances before recommending the best resolution options.
After receiving a bachelor's degree from Purdue University, Ms. Douglas received her J.D. from Valparaiso University Law School. Certified as a family law specialist by the Family Law Certification Board of the Indiana State Bar Association, Ms. Douglas is a frequent family law lecturer nationally and locally to attorneys and law students. She has completed the Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute program that is co-sponsored annually by the American Bar Association. In recognition of her legal achievements and high ethical standards, Martindale-Hubbell has awarded Ms. Douglas its AV-Preeminent* rating.
When not representing clients, Ms. Douglas participates in numerous professional organizations. She is an active member of the American Bar Association as well as the Indiana state and Indianapolis bar associations, and she is the current chairperson of the alternative dispute resolution section and the past chairperson of both the family law section and the women in law section of the Indianapolis Bar Association.
Ms. Douglas also serves her community through active involvement with nonprofit organizations. She has donated her time to various groups, including Operation Standby, a project that provides legal support and advice to military personnel, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society.
*AV-Preeminent and BV-Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.
Education
- Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana
- J.D. - 1996
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
- B.A. - 1990
Bar Admissions
- Indiana, 1997
Languages
- English
Fraternities or Sororities
- Kappa Kappa Gamma
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2002 to Present
- Indiana State Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2002 to Present
- Indianapolis Bar Association, Family Law Chair; ADR Chair; Women in the Law Chair, 2002 to Present
- American Inns of Court: Sagamore Inn, Vice President; Program Chair; Membership Chair, 2002 to Present
Specialties and Certifications
- Certified Family Law Specialist, Family Law Certification Board, 2002
Litigation
- 50%