St. Patrick's Day and Divorce

Don’t Rely on the Luck of the Irish to Protect Your Case on St. Patrick’s Day St. Patrick’s Day is a great holiday to celebrate with friends and family, and the only time of year to drink as much green beer as anyone could want.  When you are recently separated, divorced, or involved in another…

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Visitation and Unpaid Support

Can you deny Visitation to your ex-spouse as a punishment for failing to make timely child support payments?  The answer is unequivocally NO!  Failure to pay support never justifies cutting off visitation.  Also, if you are denied visitation, you cannot stop paying support either.  The duties are separate in nature.  If you are denied visitation,…

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Divorce vs. Dissolution: When Divorce Should Be Your Choice

When to Choose Divorce (Instead of Dissolution) Dissolution can be a great way to terminate a marriage, while keeping costs low, but it is not recommended in all situations.  Divorce should be the process pursued instead of divorce in the following situations: A party needs immediate relief from the court; A party is absent from…

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Temporary Orders and Divorce

After the formal filing of the divorce “Complaint,” you may pursue restraining orders to prohibit your spouse from taking actions that may dissipate the marital assets.   If appropriate, you may also be able to go to court to ask for reasonable support during the pendency of the divorce proceedings.  Typically, the court will restrain both…

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Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Custody in Ohio)

Allocations of parental rights and responsibilities formerly referred to as “custody” are made in all divorces, dissolutions and legal separation where there are minor children that are not the subject of another court’s orders. Allocations are made consistent with the requirements and guidelines set forth in R.C. 3109.04. Specifically, the court will consider what is…

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Divorce Property Division: Marital v. Gift

Think That Was Gift?  – In Divorce, Not Unless it’s in Writing Prior to divorce couples often give each other gifts for various occasions and celebrations, or for no reason at all, but what happens to all those gifts when the couple splits-up is not so understood.  In Ohio, as a general rule, any property…

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Divorce and Children: Why is my child so stressed?

What about Your Divorce is Causing Your Child’s Stress: First Look in the Mirror When you are in the divorce process, in a failing marriage, or experiencing other hard times in life, you are likely very stressed.  Parents often try to hide life’s harsh realities from their children, keeping the scary, ugly facts to themselves.  Parents…

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Free Legal Advice: Don't Listen to It!

DANGER, DANGER! – Free legal advice can cost you a lot! When you have problems in your life you likely talk it out with your friends and family.  However, for legal advice you should only be seeking the advice of a licensed attorney in Ohio.  Attorneys often offer free legal advice about divorce and other legal…

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Am I entitled to Spousal Support?

Formerly known as “alimony,” spousal support is payments to an ex-spouse which can be ordered by the Court or agreed to by the parties as part of a settlement.  ORC 3105.18 sets forth that “spousal support” means any payment or payments to be made to a spouse or former spouse, that is both for sustenance…

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Be Careful of Online Child Support Calculators!!

The Child Support Guidelines are guidelines passed by the Ohio legislature which calculate  support orders based upon the financial circumstances of both parents.  Your attorney provides the information to the court, which will allow it to set a support amount.  Many people find Ohio support calculators online, but let this serve as your warning:  THESE…

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