New Indiana Laws Coming

It's January, and that means the Indiana General Assembly is in session.  In just six months, a long list of new laws will go into effect, impacting millions of Hoosiers.  Most Indiana law are passed with an effective date of July 1 in the year the law was passed.  There are exceptions, but this is a common effective date for new laws in Indiana.

Do you know the laws that are passed each year?

Most Hoosiers have no idea what changes to laws are made each year.  In fact, most lawyers, accountants, financial advisors and even law makers are unaware of all the changes to laws made each year.  Yet, under the law, each of us is presumed to know the law and charged with the duty to follow the law.  Ignorance of the law is no defense, even if it is virtually impossible to know what the law is from year to year.  It is a "moving target" that gets harder and harder to hit each year.

What's the solution?

There is no 100% fool-proof way to know what the law is.  That's the harsh reality.  Don't blames lawyers.  Generally, we hate all the laws piling up on top of other laws.  It's ridiculous how complex our legal system has become.  Lawyers now have to specialize in just one or two areas of the law, just to stay knowledgeable.  It's not lawyers- but LAW MAKERS- who are creating all these new rules. 

Here are some suggestions for you, as a layperson, on how to conduct your affairs with the goal of staying legal:

1. Assume that there is a law governing whatever it is you are wanting to do.
2. Research the law.
3. Contact an attorney when in doubt.  A 15-minute call or a VIRTUAL LAW OFFICE QUESTION can save you $1,000's in legal fees by avoiding mistakes.
4. Join trade groups for your business field or job function.  Trade groups attract attorneys who stay current on the laws impacting the areas that concern you.

Most importantly, don't be "Penny-wise & Pound-foolish."  Contact a lawyer when in doubt.  It's always cheaper to get a good answer before causing a huge legal problem.