About Kim Van Valer

Kim Van Valer has been a judicial officer for 30 years.  She has served as Magistrate for the Johnson Circuit & Superior Courts (1994-1996), Judge of Johnson Superior Court No. 3 (1997-2008), Franklin City Court Judge (2012-2019) and IV-D & Family Commissioner for the Bartholomew County Courts (2017-2024).  She is currently, and has been since 2009, a Senior Judge (semi-retired), and has served in courts throughout the State of Indiana in addition to conducting mediations and training mediators as Van Valer Dispute Resolution.  Kim strongly believes in self determination in problem solving with legal action as a last resort.    

She joined the Indiana Association of Mediators, served as its President in 2012 & 2013 and still sits on its Board of Directors.  Kim has mediated hundreds of cases, in civil tort, real estate and foreclosure as well as her primary area of family law.  She is also a Registered Private Judge.

Kim has served on several Judicial Conference Committees by appointment of the Supreme Court including Courthouse Security and Protection Orders to guard against Domestic Violence.  She presents at legal education programs on Court matters as well as on Mediation.  Kim served on the Supreme Court Task forces for revision of Indiana's Rules for Alternative Dispute Resolution and the refinement of Records & Privacy rules.  She also spent 6 years as a member of the Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee of the Judicial Conference of Indiana and served as Chair of the subcommittee drafting the guidelines for Parent Coordinators.