GRIFFITH | In many cases, divorcing couples no longer have to fight over who gets the house -- the sheriff does.

The number of Lake County residents losing their homes to foreclosure accelerated by 40 percent during 2008, Lake County Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez said.

In many cases, foreclosures make divorce and child support cases more difficult, Highland lawyer Debra Dubovich said.

She said the Indiana Supreme Court is so concerned about the rising tide of home foreclosures it is offering incentives to lawyers who agree to learn more about the foreclosure process and provide free legal advice to families falling victim to the process.

"I don't know that foreclosures cause the breakup of families, but it does add a lot of stress and will be a contributing factor," Dubovich said.

The high court is encouraging lawyers to attend a seminar at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Jedi's Garden restaurant, 444 W. Ridge Road, Griffith, to discuss how the current economic recession is complicating marriage dissolution and child support cases.

Dubovich said lawyers who take on foreclosure cases free of charge will be reimbursed the cost of attending the seminar.

Stephanie Shappell Katich, a Crown Point attorney and a recent Indiana Supreme Court appointee to the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program, is scheduled to discuss how foreclosures impact family litigation.