Domestic Relations Court In Greene County Hires Nidiffer

An Introduction to Greene County Domestic Relations Court Staff Attorney Justin C. Nidiffer

domestic relations court greene county ohio
Justin C. Nidiffer

On February 9, 2015, I traveled to the Domestic Relations Court of Greene County, Ohio to interview Justin C. Nidiffer, the newly hired Staff Attorney for the named Court.  Justin advised me that he had completed an internship with the Court during his last year in law school and that he was so very pleased with that experience.  It was apparent to me that the Domestic Relations Court was very satisfied with Justin’s performance as the Court hired him as their very first Staff Attorney to commence his position on January 1, 2015.

What will Justin’s responsibilities be?

  1. He will be reviewing new cases filed with the Court and examining the pleadings and Financial Affidavits of the parties.  He will then be preparing and filing the Court’s Temporary Orders of Custody and Support.  He will be working closely with Judge Steven Hurley, Magistrate Cynthia Martin, and Magistrate Kimberly Combs.
  2. He will be conducting Case Management Conferences with the attorneys involved in each case.  If a Guardian ad Litem or a Family Investigation is needed, he will prepare the Entry regarding same.  He will
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Divorce: Options to Dispose of the Marital Residence

What Are The Options To Consider When Disposing Of The Marital Residence In A Divorce Proceeding?

divorce marital residenceIn the usual divorce or dissolution proceeding, the disposition of the marital residence is often one of the most important decisions in the case and one of the most emotional issues with the exception of “custody” of the minor child or children. One or both parties may have very strong emotional ties to the home and may overlook important financial considerations in their quest to “keep” the family home.

I now provide to you my list of available options in disposing of the marital residence during divorce:

  1. Sell the residential property for the “best obtainable price” and divide the net sale proceeds.
  2. Sell the residential property for the “best obtainable price” and use the net sale proceeds to pay off marital debt or to pay down marital debt.
  3. Determine the equity in the marital residence, if any, with one party “buying the other party out” of his or her interest in the marital residence.
  4. Determine if the home is “upside down” meaning that the mortgage indebtedness is greater than the fair market value of the home.

I shall next discuss each option in … Read More... “Divorce: Options to Dispose of the Marital Residence”

Artemis Center Provides Assistance To Victims Of Domestic Violence

An Update on Dayton’s Domestic Violence Resource Agency – The Artemis Center in Montgomery County, Ohio

artemis center domestic violence dayton ohioAs the month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I chose to update an Ohio Family Law Blog article I had posted six (6) years ago on October 25, 2008.  Click here to read it. On Friday, October 10, 2014, I again travelled to Artemis Center to meet with and interview the new Executive Director, Judy Strnad.  Ms. Strnad is a graduate of DePaul University and received a Master in Social Work degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago. The new Director has over twenty-four (24) years of experience in administrative positions with non-profit organizations.  She commenced her position as Executive Director on April 28, 2014.

We began our discussion regarding the topic of Domestic Violence by addressing the “new” wallet-sized cards being issued to persons obtaining a Civil Protection Order (“CPO”) in Montgomery County, Ohio.  The wallet-sized card contains all the information that is included in a multi-page document that includes the Petition for Civil Protection Order in Domestic Violence and the resulting Civil Protection Order.  The wallet-sized card is the result of collaboration between the Domestic Relations Court, the Montgomery … Read More... “Artemis Center Provides Assistance To Victims Of Domestic Violence”

Divorce During Pendency: Living Separately or Living Together?

Should Couples Live Separately Or Together Through A Divorce Or Dissolution? – List Of Factors Crucial In Each Case

divorce pendencyThe parties agree the marriage is not working; the decision is made by one of the parties to initiate a divorce proceeding.  Do the parties live separately or together during the pendency of a divorce?  There are many factors to be considered:

Finances:  If there is adequate income available to cover the living expenses of two (2) households, it is probably easier and less emotionally draining to live separate and apart while the divorce is taking place.  This arrangement allows each party to experience what it feels like to live alone and to take care of one’s home or apartment without the physical assistance or presence of the other party.  If the money or income is not sufficient to pay for two (2) households, some parties will elect to move in with a relative or friend.

Children:  If there is a child or children, both parties may want to remain in the marital residence or apartment especially if each party is seeking “custody” of the minor child or children.  Even though “abandonment” is not recognized as a cause of action in … Read More... “Divorce During Pendency: Living Separately or Living Together?”

An Interview with Michael Newsom, Fatherhood Coordinator for the Montgomery County Child Support Enforcement Agency

Michael Newsom Montgomery County Child Support Enforcement Agency

Let us first look at some important statistics published by the National Fatherhood Initiative.

The Effects of Father Absence in the Home of Minor Children:

Children of Father-Absent homes are:

  • Five times more likely to live in poverty.
  • Three times more likely to fail in school.
  • Two times more likely to develop emotional or behavioral problems.
  • Two times more likely to abuse drugs.
  • Two times more likely to be abused and neglected.
  • Two times more likely to become involved in crime.
  • Three times more likely to commit suicide.

Compare the facts with children having Father’s involved in their lives:

  • Better cognitive (“knowing and perceiving”) outcomes.
  • Higher self-esteem and less depression as teenagers.
  • Higher grades, test scores, and overall academic achievement.
  • Lower levels of drug and alcohol use.
  • Higher levels of empathy and other pro-social behavior.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Michael Newsom, an employee of the Montgomery County Child Support Enforcement Agency (“CSEA”).  Historically, Michael (“Mike”) commenced employment with the CSEA in November of 2000 as a Supervisor at the Agency’s Call Center.  He later became an Intake Unit Supervisor and in November of 2010, he became the Fatherhood Coordinator with the Agency.  An alternate title for Mike … Read More... “An Interview with Michael Newsom, Fatherhood Coordinator for the Montgomery County Child Support Enforcement Agency”

Child Support: Should You Talk To A CSEA Ombudsman?

Interview With Montgomery County CSEA (Child Support Enforcement Agency) Ombudsman Anne Bissacco

Child Support CSEA OmbudsmanOn May 28, 2014, I had the opportunity to spend time with Anne Bissacco in an interview for this Ohio Family Law Blog Article.  Anne is the Ombudsman and Customer Relations Supervisor for the Child Support Enforcement Agency (“CSEA”) for Montgomery County, Ohio.  What is an “ombudsman”?  Webster’s New World Dictionary defines the word as follows: “A public official appointed to investigate citizens’ complaints”.  This is exactly the role that Anne performs.  She listens to complaints and works to find solutions for identified problems.

Questions that I posed to the Ombudsman included the following:

Q. How long have you been working for the Child Support Enforcement Agency?  In September of 2014, Anne will have completed thirty-four (34) years of service with the Agency.  For those of us with longevity with the Court, Anne was hired by Judge Arthur Fisher, a former Juvenile Court Judge, as he wanted a person with an accounting background at the Agency.

Q. What is your education and training for holding this position?  Anne graduated from Carroll High School and began to work for the Agency in the Auditing Department in 1980.  Subsequent to … Read More... “Child Support: Should You Talk To A CSEA Ombudsman?”

Divorce: Service Of Process In Ohio

Don’t Know Your Spouse’s Location? How to Complete “Service of Process” When Seeking A Divorce In Ohio

divorce service of processWhen I am retained by a client (Husband or Wife) who is seeking a divorce from his or her spouse, one of my initial questions is:  Do you know where your spouse is residing?  Or, do you know where your spouse is living or working?  This information is important as the spouse will need to be formally “served” with the Complaint for Divorce and associated pleadings (Financial Affidavit, Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, Family Questionnaire, and Title IV-D Application for Child Support Services).  The two (2) most commonly used methods of serving a party with the necessary divorce papers are:

  1. Personal Service of Process:  A Process Server is identified to personally go to the residence or place of employment of the Defendant and to personally deliver the divorce packet (containing all the pleadings and Summons of the Court) to the Defendant.  The Process Server then notifies the Court that personal service of the Defendant has been completed or accomplished.  What are the qualifications of a Process Server?  The person must be eighteen (18) years or older, not a party to the case, and appointed by
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