Getting a court order is supposed to settle certain issues. Sometimes it does. Other times, your ex starts ignoring parts of it almost immediately. Maybe parenting time keeps getting canceled. Child support payments have stopped. Your ex may have been ordered to transfer property, pay a debt, or take some other action and simply has not done it. You do …
What Rights Do I Have If My Ex Violates Our Custody Agreement While Living Out of State?
When your ex lives in another state, even a small custody problem can feel much bigger. A missed exchange may involve plane tickets, school schedules, work, and hours of travel. If your ex refuses to return your child, the situation can escalate quickly. You may also be unsure which court to contact. Moving to another state does not allow a …
How Can I Enforce a Shared Parenting Plan That My Ex Is Ignoring?
A shared parenting plan should tell both parents what happens and when. You should not have to argue every Friday about pickup times, holidays, school decisions, or whether your child is coming home. When your ex keeps ignoring the plan, it can wear you down quickly. You may start wondering whether the order means anything if you are the only …
Can I Establish Paternity and Full Custody if the Father Is Absent and Unsupportive?
If your child’s father has been out of the picture, you may already be doing everything on your own. You handle school, doctor visits, childcare, bills, transportation, and the countless small decisions that come with raising a child. At some point, you may want the legal situation to match what’s happening in real life. In Ohio, you can establish paternity …
How Should I Approach Hiring a Divorce Attorney and Asking About Fees?
Legal fees are a normal part of the first conversation. You should leave the consultation knowing how the firm charges, who may work on your case, and what you will need to pay before work begins. You may not receive a precise estimate because nobody can predict every disagreement, filing, or hearing. Still, the attorney should be able to explain …
Can a Parent With No Current Income Still Owe Child Support?
A parent may be laid off, waiting for disability benefits, recovering from an injury, or looking for work after a business closes. Ohio courts do not treat all of those situations the same way. The reason the income stopped matters. So does the parent’s ability to work, access to other money, and effort to find another job. An existing support …
Can the Other Parent Legally Withhold Our Child’s Passport During My Custodial Time?
No automatic rule gives the parent currently exercising parenting time the right to hold it. One parent may keep the passport between trips. Your order may require you to exchange it before approved travel. In some families, the court has never addressed the issue. When the order clearly allows the trip and tells the other parent to provide the passport, …
What Can I Do If My Ex Keeps Refusing Court-Ordered Visitation?
If an Ohio court ordered your parenting schedule, the other parent cannot simply decide it no longer applies. You may be able to ask the court to enforce the order and hold your ex in contempt. The right response depends on what happened, how often it has happened, and what proof you have. Keep your side of the situation calm. …
How Can I Prevent My Child’s Grandparent From Gaining Custody?
If your child’s grandparent is trying to get custody, it can feel like a direct attack on your role as a parent. Most parents do not expect a family member to take that step, especially when they believe their child is safe, cared for, and already living in a stable home. You may be worried about losing time with your …
Can an Ohio Court Force Me to Share Custody if My Child Objects?
A child’s opinion can matter in an Ohio custody case, but it does not control the outcome by itself. If your child does not want to spend time with a parent, grandparent, or another person seeking custody, the court may listen to that concern. But the judge will still look at the full situation. The court’s focus is not only …
