The Situation

Attorney Audrey Lunsford represented a client who sought permission to relocate out of Indiana and build a safer life away from her abuser. The trial court denied the requested relocation, preventing the client from moving out of state.

The denial threatened the client's opportunity to distance herself from an abusive situation and move forward with her life.

Our Strategy

Attorney Lunsford did not accept the trial court's decision as the final word. She appealed the ruling to the Indiana Court of Appeals and argued that the trial court had incorrectly evaluated the relocation request.

The appeal required demonstrating that the trial court's findings and ultimate decision were not supported by the facts and applicable Indiana law.

The Result

The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed with Attorney Lunsford's arguments. It reversed the trial court and concluded that the lower court's ruling was clearly erroneous.

Why This Case Matters

An unfavorable trial-court decision does not always end a family-law case. When a ruling is unsupported by the evidence or inconsistent with Indiana law, an appeal may provide an important opportunity to correct the error.

Attorney Audrey Lunsford's persistence secured a reversal and gave her client another opportunity to pursue a safer future away from her abuser.