10 Commandments of Divorce Court

1. Thou shalt not bring your child to divorce court. The ultimate interest of the divorce court is the best interest of the child.  Unless it is requested by the divorce court, bringing your child to the court with you is not in the best interest of the child.  Children do not need to be…

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Divorce: Termination & Litigation

Marriages in Ohio can be ended in either a divorce or a dissolution.  A divorce is a contested hearing wherein one spouse alleges that  the other has been “at fault” under one of the statutory grounds for divorce permitted under Ohio law.  According to Ohio law, “fault” grounds include adultery, willful absence for more than…

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Child Support Directly to My Ex-Spouse?

In my practice, I receive a lot of questions involving child support daily.  One of the most common questions I receive is as follows:  “Should I pay support directly to my spouse?” A similar question: “Why should I be in arrears when I give her (meaning the ex-spouse or partner) a lot of extra money for the children?” …

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Temporary Restraining Order – A TRO Explained

What is a temporary restraining order? A temporary restraining order is a short-term, pre-trial, temporary injunction ordered by the court at the beginning of a divorce action.  The order is issued to protect both parties from immediate irreparable harm that they may suffer if the order is not issued.  The order protects a party from…

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Need an increase or decrease in child support? Think Deviation!!

  You think your child support obligation should be less than the child support guideline amount, or you believe the child support you are receiving isn’t high enough in your case?  You may ask the court to consider a deviation from the guidelines.  Ohio Revised Code 3119.23 governs the factors which much be considered by…

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Don't Listen to Them: Your Soon to be Ex

Your Soon to be Ex – Don’t Listen to their Lies or Legal Advice! I have written previous articles on the importance of not listening to the free legal advice of friends and family, unless of course they are a licensed attorney in Ohio (check out the article Free Legal Advice: Don’t Listen to It! ).…

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Summer Vacation and Divorce–Communication is Key!

When going through divorce, a summer vacation with your kids can be a needed retreat: just cover your bases with good communication. This is the time of year when hopefully the sun is around more, the flowers begin to appear, and kids start to look forward to the coming end of the school year.  Summer vacation…

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Mother's Day and Divorce

How to make Mother’s Day about the kids, and not about the divorce! Mother’s Day can be a challenge when a couple separates through divorce or dissolution.  Whether you are recently separated, contemplating divorce, currently going through a divorce, or are happily divorced and remarried, challenges can arise in many ways. Memories of Mother’s Day…

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