Melanie Rasmussen
Family Law Attorney
Guardian ad Litem
Parenting Coordinator
Registered Domestic Relations Mediator
Melanie Rasmussen primarily practices in the area of Family Law, representing clients in their CHINS, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, Guardianship, Legal Separation, Name/Gender Marker Change, Parenting Time, Paternity, and Protective Order matters. Melanie's goal in working with clients with children is to assist families in rebuilding or retaining a positive coparenting relationship after separation. Melanie works with her clients to attempt to settle matters outside of the courtroom; however, there are times when court intervention is necessary and Melanie has the litigation experience necessary to represent clients when settlement is no longer realistic.
In addition to representing clients, Melanie is a domestic relations (family law) mediator, guardian ad litem, and parenting coordinator. In each of these roles, Melanie serves as a neutral professional, assisting individuals navigate their family law matters outside of the courtroom. Melanie recognizes and appreciates that each family is unique and she works with each person and family unit in a way that honors their culture and their lived experiences.
As a mediator, Melanie works with individuals in talking through their goals and the issues they want to settle related to their marriage, children, property, and other matters related to their family law case. Throughout the mediation process, she remains solution-focused and forward-looking, assisting families in reaching agreements that will ultimately work for their individual and specific situations.
As a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), Melanie is a voice and advocate for the best interest of the children in family law and DCS cases. Throughout the court process, she speaks with children, parents, guardians, other people with whom the children are living, professionals, and other individuals important in the children's lives. Melanie will visit with the children, get to know them, and determine what supportive services they may need. After reviewing relevant documents and speaking with identified individuals, she will then make an independent and objective professional recommendation to the court about what should happen in the case to serve the best interests of the children, in a manner that works for the specific family dynamic, their internal and external resources, and schedules.
As a parenting coordinator (PC), Melanie assists families in working through all matters that impact the best interest of their children. She helps families open up lines of healthy communication and reach agreements they both support, are manageable for their households, and are focused on the betterment, health, and safety of their children. Melanie works with the children's parents and/or legal guardians to help them understand and follow their Court Order related to the children and improve their coparenting and communication, with an eye toward their children's best interest.
Melanie has an extensive background in working with high conflict families, survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, both as an advocate and attorney. Melanie has volunteered for victim service providers since she was a teenager and was a shelter and criminal court advocate in Iowa from January 1999-March 2001. During law school, Melanie volunteered for the Julian Center, Indiana Protective Order Pro Bono Project, and Marion County Prosecutor's Office Domestic Violence Division, meeting with victims and survivors prior to and following their protective order hearings.
Melanie is a 2000 graduate of Iowa State University, where she completed her undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Child and Family Services, before earning her Juris Doctor degree from IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2004. Melanie opened her private practice in December 2004 and continues to operate as a solo practitioner.
In addition to her private practice, from 2011 until 2022, Melanie was the Director of Legal Advocacy for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services in Columbus, Indiana. Melanie developed and oversaw the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) program, in which clients received holistic and collaborative case management and legal representation in family law, housing, immigration, and protective order matters. In the LAV program, she represented clients and supervised four case managers and two attorneys. Additionally, she served as a consultant for Turning Point's advocates and case managers and provided domestic abuse-related legal training to professionals, including advocates, attorneys, Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardians ad Litem, first responders, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and social service providers who work with victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking.
Melanie has written and presented a number of Continuing Legal Education seminars, including:
Melanie is a member of the American Bar Association, Family Law Division and Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence; Indiana State Bar Association, Family Law Division and Pro Bono Committee; Indianapolis Bar Association, Family Law Division; Johnson County Bar Association, Services Committee Chair; and 100+ Women Who Care Johnson County, Steering Committee Co-Chair.
In addition to representing clients, Melanie is a domestic relations (family law) mediator, guardian ad litem, and parenting coordinator. In each of these roles, Melanie serves as a neutral professional, assisting individuals navigate their family law matters outside of the courtroom. Melanie recognizes and appreciates that each family is unique and she works with each person and family unit in a way that honors their culture and their lived experiences.
As a mediator, Melanie works with individuals in talking through their goals and the issues they want to settle related to their marriage, children, property, and other matters related to their family law case. Throughout the mediation process, she remains solution-focused and forward-looking, assisting families in reaching agreements that will ultimately work for their individual and specific situations.
As a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), Melanie is a voice and advocate for the best interest of the children in family law and DCS cases. Throughout the court process, she speaks with children, parents, guardians, other people with whom the children are living, professionals, and other individuals important in the children's lives. Melanie will visit with the children, get to know them, and determine what supportive services they may need. After reviewing relevant documents and speaking with identified individuals, she will then make an independent and objective professional recommendation to the court about what should happen in the case to serve the best interests of the children, in a manner that works for the specific family dynamic, their internal and external resources, and schedules.
As a parenting coordinator (PC), Melanie assists families in working through all matters that impact the best interest of their children. She helps families open up lines of healthy communication and reach agreements they both support, are manageable for their households, and are focused on the betterment, health, and safety of their children. Melanie works with the children's parents and/or legal guardians to help them understand and follow their Court Order related to the children and improve their coparenting and communication, with an eye toward their children's best interest.
Melanie has an extensive background in working with high conflict families, survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, both as an advocate and attorney. Melanie has volunteered for victim service providers since she was a teenager and was a shelter and criminal court advocate in Iowa from January 1999-March 2001. During law school, Melanie volunteered for the Julian Center, Indiana Protective Order Pro Bono Project, and Marion County Prosecutor's Office Domestic Violence Division, meeting with victims and survivors prior to and following their protective order hearings.
Melanie is a 2000 graduate of Iowa State University, where she completed her undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Child and Family Services, before earning her Juris Doctor degree from IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2004. Melanie opened her private practice in December 2004 and continues to operate as a solo practitioner.
In addition to her private practice, from 2011 until 2022, Melanie was the Director of Legal Advocacy for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services in Columbus, Indiana. Melanie developed and oversaw the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) program, in which clients received holistic and collaborative case management and legal representation in family law, housing, immigration, and protective order matters. In the LAV program, she represented clients and supervised four case managers and two attorneys. Additionally, she served as a consultant for Turning Point's advocates and case managers and provided domestic abuse-related legal training to professionals, including advocates, attorneys, Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardians ad Litem, first responders, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and social service providers who work with victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking.
Melanie has written and presented a number of Continuing Legal Education seminars, including:
- Recognizing and Addressing Domestic Violence in the Practice of Law, Johnson County Bar Association, 2020; Indiana State Bar Association Annual Meeting, 2016; and Bartholomew County Bar Association, 2016
- Ethics & Professionalism in Representing Victims of Crime, Indiana University-Purdue University- Indianapolis, 2020
- The Intersection of Domestic Violence and Paternity, Center for Victim and Human Rights, 2017
- Domestic Abuse: Understanding the Impact and Working with Children from Abusive Homes, GAL/CASA Annual Conference, 2017
- Would you Tap that App: Technology and Dating Abuse, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Annual Conference, 2017
- Fundamentals of Domestic Violence for Prosecutors, Prosecutor’s Summit, 2016
- Ethically Representing Victims of Domestic Violence, Center for Victim and Human Rights, 2015
- Orders of Protection, Johnson County Bar Association, 2012
Melanie is a member of the American Bar Association, Family Law Division and Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence; Indiana State Bar Association, Family Law Division and Pro Bono Committee; Indianapolis Bar Association, Family Law Division; Johnson County Bar Association, Services Committee Chair; and 100+ Women Who Care Johnson County, Steering Committee Co-Chair.