Determining Parenting Time (Visitation)

Ohio law refers to a parent’s right to spend time with his/her children as “parenting time,” although we still commonly hear references to the old terms “visitation” and “companionship.” Whenever the court determines that parenting time a parent should have with his/her children, the court is to consider all of the following factors:
(1) The prior interaction and interrelationships of the child with the child’s parents, siblings, and other persons related by blood or marriage, and with the person who requested companionship;
(2) The geographical location of the residence of each parent and the distance between those residences;
(3) The child’s and parents’ available time, including, but not limited to, each parent’s employment schedule, the child’s school schedule, and the child’s and the parents’ holiday and vacation schedule;
(4) The age of the child;
(5) The child’s adjustment to home, school, and community;
(6) If the court has interviewed the child in chambers, the wishes and concerns of the child, as expressed to the court;
(7) The health and safety of the child;
(8) The amount of time that will be available for the child to spend with siblings;
(9) The mental and physical health of all parties;
(10) Each parent’s willingness to reschedule missed parenting time and to facilitate the other parent’s parenting time rights, and with respect to a person who requested companionship or visitation, the willingness of that person to reschedule missed visitation;
(11) In relation to parenting time, whether either parent previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal offense involving any act that resulted in a child being an abused child or a neglected child…;
(12) Whether the residential parent has continuously and willfully denied the other parent’s right to parenting time in accordance with an order of the court;
(13) Whether either parent has established a residence or is planning to establish a residence outside this state;
(14) In relation to requested companionship or visitation by a person other than a parent, the wishes and concerns of the child’s parents, as expressed by them to the court;
(15) Any other factor in the best interest of the child.