Custody can be complicated and things change as life moves on and children get older.  Unless the parties agree, you cannot simply change a previous custody order on a whim.   The party wanting to make the change has the burden of proof.  He/she must prove by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not) that there […]

Everyone knows that an OWI conviction is serious, with major long-term consequences that can reshape your life for years to come. Facing these types of charges can be overwhelming, especially with all the incorrect or outdated misinformation out there. To help cut through some of the confusion, Ryan Ellis, an experienced Indianola OWI attorney, of Ellis Law Offices, […]

Ellis Law Offices Gets Court of Appeals Victory and OWI Conviction Overturned  Our client, Joe, was driving his black truck on a gravel road in rural Warren County.  A Warren County deputy was investigating a report of a white truck with loud exhaust in the area.  As Joe traveled westbound, the deputy observed him from the bottom of a hill.  The […]

As summer heats up, many people try to cool down with a cold beer or other adult beverage.  Earlier this summer, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in the case of State v. Paye that it is not illegal for you to be intoxicated on your front porch in most cases. However, it may be a […]

As a former history major in college who became an attorney, I’m very interested in trivia, useless information and the origins of phrases and terms.  One day a friend of mine asked me, “so are you an attorney or a lawyer?”  I responded by saying that I am an attorney at law. Even though the […]