Valerie Chatel Horvath

Valerie Horvath has a breadth of experience from her 26 years as an attorney. She opened Horvath & Pelkey, LLP in 2025 to provide personalized attention, transparency, and fight to win for her clients.  Horvath & Pelkey, LLP practices family law (divorce, custody modifications, child support modifications, parenting time, protective orders, paternity, guardianships, and adoptions), criminal defense (DUIs, misdemeanors, diversions, felonies, and domestic violence), and estate planning with will packages.

Valerie was a Master Commissioner in Marion Superior Court directing civil and criminal matters. She served as Deputy General Counsel at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, overseeing the legal department, Human Resources, Civil Rights, and Branch Operations. Valerie has a behind-the-scenes perspective on traffic law and BMV administrative proceedings.

She left public service in 2017 to open a private practice representing clients in criminal defense and family law matters. She was appointed to the Indiana Federal Public Defender CJA Development Panel in 2017, and appointed to the CJA Public Defender Panel in 2020, adding federal cases to her criminal defense experience.

She has Lean Six Sigma green, yellow, and white belt certifications. She received the BMV's 2015 Commissioner's Award for Excellence, was the 2012 St. Monica School PTO Parent Volunteer of the Year, and was nominated for IUPUI Student Leader of the Year in 1998.

Away from the office, Valerie is outside with her three daughters and her dog hiking, running, or stand-up paddle boarding if the weather is nice. If the weather is not nice, she is inside practicing yoga or reading.

Education
Indiana University School of Law (McKinney), Indianapolis, Indiana, 1998 J.D. (cum laude)
Bar Admissions
Indiana, 1998

Courts of Practice
U.S. District Court - Southern District of Indiana
U.S. Immigration Court

Associations
Indiana State Bar Association
Indianapolis Bar Association
Indiana Federal Public Defender CJA Panel

Volunteer Work
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) Protective Order Pro Bono Project
ICADV Expungement Clinic

We serve the entire state of Indiana including the following localities: Marion County (Indianapolis); Boone County (Lebanon, Zionsville, Thorntown, and Whitestown); Hamilton County (Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers, and Westfield); Hancock County (Greenfield, McCordsville, Fortville, and New Palestine); Shelby County (Shelbyville); Johnson County (Franklin and Greenwood); Morgan County (Martinsville and Mooresville); Hendricks County (Danville, Avon, Brownsburg, and Plainfield); Madison County (Anderson & Pendleton); Bartholomew County (Edinburgh & Columbus); Monroe County (Bloomington); Brown County (Nashville); Carroll County (Logansport); Clinton County (Frankfort); Decatur County (Greensburg); Fayette County (Connersville); Franklin County (Brookville); Grant County (Marion); Henry County (New Castle); Jackson County (Brownstown);Lawrence County (Bedford); Miami County (Peru); Montgomery County (Crawfordsville); Ohio County (Rising Sun); Orange County (Paoli); Putnam County (Greencastle); Rush County (Rushville); Scott County (Scottsburg); Tipton County (Tipton); Vigo County (Terre Haute); Wabash County (Wabash); Washington County (Salem); Wayne County (Richmond); White County (Monticello); Whitley County (Columbia City)