Parenting Class
Divorce cases are often more complicated when divorcing spouses have children together. In order to ease the transition, local courts require divorcing parents to attend an educational program. In Summit Continue Reading →
Author Archives: Elisa Staats
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 Continue Reading →
Determining Shared Parenting
In determining whether shared parenting is in the best interest of the children, the court shall consider all relevant factors: (a) The ability of the parents to cooperate and make Continue Reading →
Determining Custody
When making the allocation of the parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the children, the court shall take into account that which would be in the best interest Continue Reading →
Custody distinctions
Courts in Ohio have two choices when it comes to making a custody order: (1) Give each parent equal decision-making authority over the children. Each parent is the “residential parent Continue Reading →
Ohio’s child protection laws now under review
The Supreme Court of Ohio Advisory Committee on Children, Families, and the Courts established the Subcommittee on Responding to Child Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency to determine if Ohio’s statutory guidelines Continue Reading →
What can be done if a parent fails to pay child support?
The parent who is to receive the support (the “obligee”) can seek legal action in which the non-paying parent (the “obligor”) is found in contempt of court. If the court Continue Reading →
Can a child support order ever be changed?
Yes. A child support order is subject to modification until the child is emancipated. “Emancipation” usually occurs when the child is 18 years old and graduated from high school, but Continue Reading →
Does the amount of the child support order change when the parents have shared parenting?
Not necessarily. Ohio law presumes that the higher-earning parent will pay child support to the lower-earning parent. The court can reduce the child support order: (1) if it determines that Continue Reading →
Under what circumstances can a parent pay less child support?
The court may consider any of the following factors in determining whether to allow a parent to pay less child support than it would otherwise. This is called a “deviation.” Continue Reading →