
Mario J. Zappia, Attorney at Law
Attorney Mario J. Zappia has been a lifelong resident of Indiana and has been practicing law in the South Bend, Indiana area for over 30 years.

Jessica Ribaudo, Paralegal
Jessica has worked with Mario since 2016.
Practice Areas
Family Law
- Divorce
- Custody
- Child support
- Parenting Time
- Property division
- Temporary Spousal Maintenance
- Rehabilitative Maintenance
Estate Planning
- Wills – If you do not have a will the laws of the State of Indiana tell you how your estate is distributed. Your estate will most likely not be distributed the way you want it be distributed. You also are not able to choose who will be appointed as a guardian to take of your children.
- Power of Attorney – A Power of Attorney is a document which allows you to appoint who will take of your financial affairs and even make medical decisions for you when you are not able to.
- Living Will – If you become terminally ill this document is your declaration indicating that you do or do not want life prolonging procedures to be performed.
- Appointment of Healthcare Representative – You are able to appoint another person to make your medical decisions on your behalf when you become unable to make decisions for yourself.
Mediation
Going through a divorce is one of the most challenging times in one’s life. It can be very confusing and complicated. Often, crucial decisions need to be made regarding your future and your children’s future. Mediation can make divorce more efficient and less stressful by reducing the financial burden and keeping the case out of litigation. It also lets you be in control of the outcome. Choosing mediation over litigation will also reduce the emotional strain on children during an already stressful time, As a mediator I utilize my 24 years of family law experience to resolve your disputes without court intervention.
Guardianship
- Adult – When an adult becomes incompetent and their treating physician has indicated they are not able to take care of themselves physically and/or financially a guardian needs to be appointed.
- Minor – A minor needs a guardianship when both parents have died or neither natural parent is capable of taking care of their child(ren). Unlike adoption, which grants permanent rights, a guardianship will terminate when the child turns 18 years old. When a guardianship is needed for your family, I can guide you through the process.
Adoption
Adoption is a process that transfers permanent rights from the biological parent/parents to the adoptive parent/ parents. Whether you are a step-parent wanting to adopt your step-child(ren), a family member wanting to adopt another’s child(ren) or considering a private adoption, I can guide you through the legal process. Adoptions are the most rewarding part of my job.
Autism
In a time where one out of every 68 children is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is very likely that you or someone you care about is facing a challenge stemming from Autism. Whether you are an adult with an ASD and need legal guidance on financial self advocacy for your future, or you are the parent of a child with an ASD going through a divorce, Mario can help guide you through your options.
Having a child with an ASD can make the sometimes already difficult process of divorce even more complex. Differing opinions on education, therapy, parenting time, and medical treatments can put parents at odds. Mario will work with you to help design specific parenting plans that will legally spell out all the details, so you can co-parent amicably.
Guardianships –
Legally, once a person reaches the age of 18, they are exclusively responsible for their healthcare and financial decisions and responsibilities. ASDs can complicate things, as many times there has been extensive medical and financial decision making done by the parents. A Guardianship can help. A Guardianship legalizes the parent or caretaker as a person with whom all contracts and medical decisions are made.
Power of Attorney-
A high functioning adult with an ASD may be quite capable of living an independent life in most aspects. High functioning adults may choose to consent to a Power of Attorney as a way to integrate their parent into their decision making process with respect to finances and healthcare, while still maintaining a high level of independence.
LGBTQ
As of June 25, 2014 Indiana gave same-sex couples the freedom to marry. Same-sex couples have been afforded the same benefits and legal protection as all married couples. The right to marry also brings challenges. While same-sex marriages face many of the same challenges as traditional marriages such as divorce, child custody and estate planning, additional challenges are placed on gay and lesbian couples. These additional hurdles include second-parent adoption and discrimination. Gay and lesbian couples who choose to marry have the same goals as traditional marriages but oftentimes have many more needs. I will provide expert service to your family’s needs.
CHINS
“A Child in Need of Services” or CHINS for short, is a child under the age of eighteen who is neglected or abused, and who is not getting care or treatment that the child needs.
Legal Terms

During the course of an attorney/client relationship, there may be certain terminology within correspondence or documents that you don’t recognize. The glossary below contains some of the most common terms you may encounter during the course of your legal proceedings. If you receive documents from our office and still have questions about legal terms within, please contact our office.
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