July 2020

Ohio uses what is referred to as the “best interest of the child” standard to make custody determinations. This determination is made by the courts evaluation of the statutorily defined factors. Ohio law allows the judge to consider the wishes of both parents and the children involved in custody decisions, if the child is old enough to communicate those wishes. Courts will look at how a child interacts with their parents and any siblings. Courts are generally not inclined to break up siblings or otherwise break relationships with family members. Courts examine the actions of the parents. Courts look for parents who have shown respect for prior custody orders and for the other parent’s relationship with the child. A parent who has consistently fulfilled child support obligations will be viewed […]

Grandparents rights have been under debate for decades. Parents have a fundamental right from the constitution to choose who will and will not be involved in a child’s life. In some states, grandparents have a right to have a relationship with their grandchild. The term grandparent’s rights refers to the legal concept that courts can order parents to allow grandparents to spend time with their grandchild. Ohio grandparents have a right to have a relationship with their grandchildren, but the facts of your circumstances must show that the visitation with the grandparents is in the child’s best interest. The statutes that govern these rights in Ohio are com When does Ohio order Grandparents rights for visitation? Ohio grandparents rights of visitation are allowed by statute in limited circumstances. When the

In Ohio, child support is calculated by a formula that has been codified into state law. That formula takes the parent’s gross income and combines them. The formula allows for certain deductions, such as local income tax, child support for other children, or spousal support paid or received. This adjusted gross income is then applied to a chart that calculates the amount of child support required to equalize the costs of raising a child. The paying parent will pay his or her share of the amount to the other parent. There is also an adjustment made for if there is private health insurance being paid for the child or work related childcare. The final figure of the calculation is called the guideline child support and is presumed to be the correct amount