Ohio Family Law Blog

Divorce: Child Custody Evaluations in Ohio

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Ohio Child Custody Evaluation – Supreme Court Approves New Rule

Child Custody Evaluations: Ohio Moves to Standardize Qualifications For Mental Health Professionals and Courts

The positives versus the negatives of Court ordered child custody evaluations in a divorce is still subject to debate. I posted a blog article about this controversy on January 7, 2017. Click here to read it. The same opposite positions exist today, 6 years later.

As a seasoned divorce litigator, I will share that in my opinion they can be very helpful in settlement negotiations and ultimately as evidence if custody is litigated at trial. The biggest logistical problem is finding experienced psychologists willing to perform them. That is certainly true, at least in the Dayton area anyway. There are individuals conducting them in the larger cities like Columbus and Cincinnati. This is the subject of frequent frustration of family law and divorce lawyers in Dayton wanting to move forward with this type of evaluation.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GUARDIAN AD LITEM INVESTIGATION AND A CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATION?

Here are the links to three past blog articles that we have posted … Read More... “Divorce: Child Custody Evaluations in Ohio”

Blast From The Past: Tips on Dealing with Your Divorce Lawyer [And Why it Matters]

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PUBLISHERS NOTE: Having recently completed 4 very lengthy high conflict cases over the last few months, I find myself reflecting about the facets of the attorney/client relationship in each. In a different way, each was exceedingly grueling. So I decided to reread several of my past blog articles on this topic. Below is one from 4 years ago which I like a lot.
I would now add another piece of advice to it – “Extreme perseverance may be required to obtain your goals”. While disentangling the parties quickly is always the goal, unfortunately that may not be possible in all cases. At the initial conference, I typically explain to clients that a divorce often is more like a marathon race than a sprint. Work closely and communicate well with your divorce lawyer to understand where your case is headed and all of your options! Stay strong and be prepared to persevere as necessary!

How To Get The Best Outcome From Your Divorce Lawyer

So, you have selected your divorce lawyer. Here are some tips for how to deal with him/her to hopefully achieve the best outcome possible.… Read More... “Blast From The Past: Tips on Dealing with Your Divorce Lawyer [And Why it Matters]”

The Truths Behind Some Ohio Child Support Myths

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Ohio Child Support: 8 Common Myths Debunked

Most parents are familiar with the concept of child support. Nonetheless, there are many myths and inaccuracies people believe to be true that are in fact false. If you pay or receive Ohio child support, you should take the time to learn the truth! Here are some common myths about the payment of child support in Ohio.

MYTH #1. ONLY FATHERS CAN BE REQUIRED TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT.

Both parents in Ohio have an obligation to support their children. There are many situations where mothers in Ohio are ordered to pay child support.

MYTH #2. THE CHILD’S NEEDS DETERMINES THE AMOUNT OF CHILD SUPPORT.

Child support in Ohio is generally calculated based on gross incomes of the parties, number of children, daycare or childcare expenses, health insurance costs, and the amount of time each parent spends with the child. The child support guidelines in Ohio are not uniform with those in other states. In addition to these factors, the court may consider any unusual needs of your children. The guideline calculations are a starting point in determining Ohio child … Read More... “The Truths Behind Some Ohio Child Support Myths”

Are You Looking for a Supervisor of Parenting Exchanges in the Dayton Area?

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Dayton Ohio Parenting Time Exchanges Begin This Summer

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: We posted a blog about the great work being done through the Dayton Mediation Center 12 years ago. Click here to read it. They keep expanding their work and the services offered. Now they are rolling out a new program offering to supervise exchanges of kids between parents and caregivers. A great service as these exchanges can often be troublesome!

Dayton Mediation Center Offering Program To Supervise Custody And Parenting Time Exchanges

Parenting time exchanges can be difficult in many cases. I have posted several articles here about the subject because it can be such a problem. Previously on the Ohio Family Law Blog in 2020, I posted one about suggestions for making parenting exchanges go well. Click here to read it. In 2022, I wrote another one about tips for smooth parenting exchanges for divorced parents. The content in them is very worthwhile to read again!

NEW PROGRAM THROUGH THE DAYTON MEDIATION CENTER

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Raven Cruz Loaiza, the unit coordinator for the recently established Mediation Response Unit (MRU) in … Read More... “Are You Looking for a Supervisor of Parenting Exchanges in the Dayton Area?”

How To Forgive And Let Go After Divorce

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How can I forgive and let go after divorce? The difficult challenges of healing post-divorce

No matter how you look at it, divorce is painful. Your life (and the lives of your children) are changed forever. And for a time you must face challenge after challenge – a seemingly endless stream of them. Yet you know you must continue to move forward so you persevere and eventually ask yourself the question, “How can I forgive and let go of all the hurt?”

This question is important because it’s at the core of all the pain you’re experiencing over your divorce. It’s also one of the most difficult challenges of healing after divorce because divorce brings with it so many hurts, betrayals, and lost dreams.

So let me walk you through how I help my clients learn how to forgive and let go after divorce.

The first step is to truly understand what forgiveness is.

What is forgiveness?

Simply put, forgiveness is a conscious decision to release your feelings of resentment, hurt, anger, or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you.

What I like … Read More... “How To Forgive And Let Go After Divorce”

Growing Up a Child of Divorce

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Children of Divorce should not be taken for granted!

PUBLISHER’S NOTE:
We were fortunate to have third year University of Dayton law student Shane McDonough extern with our firm this semester. Shane worked with us on a lot of divorce cases during his externship. We discussed his parents having divorced when he was a young boy and some of the effects. This blog he wrote about his childhood is emotional and very powerful! Hopefully, his sharing it will help both divorcing parents and other children of divorce to better appreciate how divorce can impact their children’s lives. We will miss you Shane! Best of success in your legal career. Stay in touch!

Negative Actions of Divorced Parents Can Impact Children of Divorce

If there is one positive aspect of my parents’ divorce, it is that I was too young to understand what exactly was happening. I was around two and a half years old when my parents were divorced. Although I have no recollection of the divorce proceedings or the ensuing months following the proceedings, one of my first memories is a supervised visitation meeting with my … Read More... “Growing Up a Child of Divorce”

April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month – Help Strengthen Families and Prevent Child Abuse

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Help Promote Child Abuse Prevention with these Programs and Activities

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month and throughout the year, Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues, encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making the Dayton, Ohio community a better place for children and families. There are many ways that each of us can help!

We all need to help promote the social and emotional well-being of children and youth and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities. Protective factors are the strengths and resources families draw on during difficult times to shield them from life’s stresses. Research shows that when parents possess protective factors, the risk for neglect and abuse diminish and optimal outcomes for children, youth, and families are promoted. It is important that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children. Major protective factors include knowledge of parenting, knowledge of child development, parental resilience, social connections, and concrete supports.

In support of these efforts, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, together with … Read More... “April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month – Help Strengthen Families and Prevent Child Abuse”

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