Dawn M. Boyd has practiced law since 1998 focusing in the areas of Family and Juvenile Law, Real Estate and Property, Contracts, Litigation, and Appeals. She began her law career in Virginia having practiced for three years in both the greater Virginia Beach and Northern Virginia areas between 1998 and 2001. She relocated to Indiana in late 2001 and in March of 2002 began working for the law firm of Myers, Hockemeyer, & McNagny located in Columbia City, Indiana. In June of 2013, she branched out into solo practice. She is a Certified Family Law Mediator in Indiana.

The term, “Family Law,” is a bit of a contradiction as the name itself should logically represent the building up of a family, when in reality, it denotes the legal process whereby a family is dismantled, at least partially. It includes, but is not limited to, divorce, paternity, custody, support, and property division. It is not a happy area of law. Nonetheless it is very important to assist parties to conclude legally what has already occurredboth emotionally and practically. By the time you come to my office, I understand I am most likely the last stop on what has been a long relational road.

I began practicing Family Law in 1998, initially delving into contested litigation for almost all of my cases believing I was best serving my client’s interests by battling it out in court and making the other side look bad. (Likewise, they tried to make me and my client look bad.) Over time it became apparent there were no winners at the end of the day, just battered parties with thinner wallets.

I believe there is hope for Family Law to serve as a spring board to assist clientswith making decisions and taking action by the most constructive means possible. Lengthy and costly court battles, although lucrative for the attorneys, are not necessarily the best course of action for the parties, especially where children are involved and the partieswill have to deal with each other long after the courthouse closes and the attorneys go home. Conversely, there are times when, due to the conduct of a party, it is the only productive route to take.

Whichever direction your case takes, know you have options. Take the time to educate and prepare yourself. The following is a guide and basic overview to assist you as you initiate or contemplate initiating divorce; however, the same principles will apply to other areas of Family Law as well. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss the specifics of your situation.

• Indiana State Bar Association – 2000 (Family & Juvenile Law Section)
• Virginia State Bar Association – 1998
• Whitley County Bar Association
• Passages Board of Directors – 2003 to 2009, Board Chair – 2007 – 2009
• Whitley County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors – 2013 – present
• Counsel for the Whitley County Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commission 2005 – present
• Counsel for the Columbia City Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commission 2005 – present

Ms. Boyd graduated from Regent University School of Law located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She earned her Juris Doctor Degree in 1998 with the distinction of being named the National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Woman Law Graduate. Prior to graduation, she interned with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, Civil Litigation Division/Employment Law Section and the Fifteenth District Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court of Virginia, in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1990 with a double major in Public Relations and Journalism from Radford University located in Radford, Virginia. As an undergraduate, she served as a student member of the University Judicial Board and Academic Policies & Procedures Committee. She was also a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority.