Superior Court 1
Judge R. Kent Apsley
Court House
Room 209
407 S. Harrison St.
Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: 317-392-6350
FAX: 317-421-2468
Hours:
Monday – Friday
8AM – 4PM
Closed for Lunch
12PM – 1PM
Judge R. Kent Apsley was elected judge of Shelby Superior Court 1 in November of 2014. He is a 1981 graduate of Indiana University with degrees in Forensic Studies and Political Science. Judge Apsley graduated from Indiana University Mauer School of Law in 1983 and was admitted to bar in 1984. Prior to going on the bench, Judge Apsley was engaged in the private practice of law for fifteen years as a trial attorney and a Public Defender. He later served as Shelby County Chief Deputy Prosecutor. From 1999 through 2014 he was the elected Prosecuting Attorney for the 16th Judicial District.
Judge Apsley currently serves as a member of the Board of Managers of the Indiana Judges Association. He was also appointed by the Chief Justice to serve as Chair of the Indiana Judicial Conference, Criminal Law Policy Committee. He is a member of the American Judges Association, Indiana Judges Association, Indiana Council of the Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the National Council of the Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
Shelby Superior 1 has not issued any jury summonses at this time. Please contact our office at (317) 392-6350 with any questions.
Shelby Superior Court No. 1
General Guidelines for Pro Se Litigants in Dissolution Cases
You have filed a Dissolution of Marriage case on your own. Divorce often involves complex child custody, child support, division of property and debts, and other long-term financial considerations. Any person may represent himself or herself in Court without a lawyer. However, this does not make the judge or Court staff your lawyer. The Court cautions you that if you choose to “do-it-yourself”, you do so at your own peril. The Court strongly urges both parties to seek the assistance of legal counsel. Often the agreements you make or orders that are entered, cannot be undone simply because you made a mistake or later change your mind. The Clerk, the Judge, and the Court staff are not permitted to assist you in preparing or presenting your case. They are also not allowed to offer legal advice.
If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, you may qualify for a volunteer attorney at no cost. Contact: Legal Aid District Eleven – 1531 13th Street, Suite G330, Columbus, IN 47201; Phone: 877-378-0358.
Sample Court forms for self-represented parties can be found at: www.in.gov/judiciary/selfservice.
Your divorce may be finalized by either a contested Final Hearing or by an Agreement and Waiver of Final Hearing.
Contested Final Hearing
In the event the parties are not in agreement on the terms of their divorce, at least one party must:
- File a Motion for Final Hearing, and
- Provide the Court with a proposed Order to Appear setting the case for Final Hearing.
- Before a Final Hearing can be set, the Petitioner must ensure the Respondent has been served with a Summons and the Petition for Dissolution.
- If the parties have children in common, the parties must complete the Children Cope with Divorce Class, pursuant to local Court rule. Proof of completion must be submitted to the Court before a Final Hearing will be scheduled.
- The parties must attempt mediation of custody and parenting time issues prior to requesting a Final Hearing, pursuant to local rule.
- The parties are required to provide the Court with a Child Support Work Sheet at the Final Hearing. The worksheets can be found at: http://myCourts.in.gov/csc/parents/.
Agreed Dissolution/Waiver of Final Hearing
In the event the parties are in agreement on the terms of their divorce, the parties must:
- Complete the Children Cope with Divorce Class if the parties have children in common, pursuant to local Court rule. Proof of completion must be submitted to the Court before the Court will approve the dissolution.
- No sooner than 60 days from the date of filing the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, the parties must submit:
- a Verified Waiver of Final Hearing signed by both parties, and
- a NOTARIZED Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, signed by both parties.
- All documents must be completely filled out. The Court cannot make changes to the document provided.