Few family law matters bring up as much passion and emotion as those involving child custody. It is common for warring spouses to disagree about what it means to make decisions that are in the child’s best interests. Unfortunately, we also see situations where parents use children as a way of getting back at their spouses.

When child custody decisions involve conflict, it is essential that parents seek the help of an experienced lawyer, as this will help protect them and their children.

Woodford Sathappan McGee solely represents women in family law matters in Ohio. This narrow focus gives us a unique advantage when it comes to supporting our clients. We understand the difficulties women face and how scary the idea of life as a single mother can be. Our goal is to support you so that you can walk away feeling empowered and confident about your future and the future of your children.

A court-issued child custody order is legally binding. Therefore, it is essential that you are properly supported and that the outcome meets your needs and your children’s.

Contact Woodford Sathappan McGee law office today for a free consultation and seek clarification on your next steps. Our practice areas cover Blue Ash, Columbus, Cincinnati, Westerville, and surrounding areas, so contact us today at 380-212-3731.

A Family Law Firm Dedicated to The Needs of Women

Women are often solely characterized as mothers and wives, despite being so much more. In 2001, three skilled family law attorneys, Katie Woodford, Hari Sathappan, and Natalie McGee came together through a shared passion for improving the lives of women. They are dedicated to helping women navigate family law issues such as divorce and child custody so that they can be secure and confident in their futures.

Our attorneys have successfully litigated hundreds of high asset and high conflict divorce and child custody cases. We offer a comprehensive approach, and our team of experts will keep you informed and engaged at every stage.

High conflict custody cases are particularly challenging and need a skilled family law lawyer who can determine what is important in your case and guide you and the other parent to communicate effectively so that your case can continue to move forward.

As a wife and mother, you have powerful constitutional rights. With our knowledge of the law, we will ensure that you can make informed decisions from a place of clarity. We will act as your guide in every settlement negotiation and will advocate vigorously in court where needed. From start to finish, we will be by your side.

Woodford Sathappan McGee is the only family law practice in the Blue Ash, OH, area to represent women exclusively. We will take the time to understand you and your goals so that we can strive for the right outcome in your case.

Child Custody Laws in Ohio

An experienced family law attorney at Woodford Sathappan McGee will empower you with knowledge of your rights and Ohio law so that you know exactly where you stand.

In Ohio, traditional terms such as ‘sole custody’ and ‘joint custody’ are no longer used. Instead, your court order will determine ‘Parental Rights and Responsibilities.’

Parental Rights

Parental rights will usually be granted to both parents unless there is a reason why one parent might be damaging to a child’s wellbeing. Parental rights allow parents to make decisions on behalf of a child, including decisions regarding medical care, education, and religion.

Parental Responsibilities

Parental responsibilities cover the time spent with the child. Again, this will usually be split unless there is a justifiable reason why one parent should not have custody.

Although a 50/50 split might sound like an ideal option, the daily logistics are often difficult. The court will try to make decisions that are in the child’s best interest, which usually involves a custodial parent with whom they live the majority of the time, while the other is awarded visitation. This creates stability and minimizes disruption in the child’s life.

Typically, a visitation schedule could mean every other weekend and one weekday evening with one parent and the rest of the time with the custodial parent.

There is a minimum amount of visitation that a court must award. They can award more, but not less. This minimum threshold must be met unless there is a reason not to, such as a history of domestic abuse or substance misuse. However, even in these situations, the parent may still be granted supervised visitation.

If you believe that you should have sole custody, then it is essential you speak to a skilled Blue Ash custody attorney as soon as possible. They will help you evidence your claims so that the judge understands your situation.

How Does the Court Make Child Custody Decisions In Blue Ash, OH?

Family courts must make decisions based on what is in the child’s best interests. That usually means keeping both parents in the child’s life (unless there is a reason not to) and minimizing any disruption.

The judge ruling on your child custody case may consider factors such as:

• The ability of each parent to meet the child’s ongoing needs.
• Each parent’s commitments such as work and their ability to care for and spend time with the child.
• Access to the child’s community, such as wider family members, friends, school, church, etc.
• Each parent’s involvement in the child’s life up until now.
• Each parent’s willingness to accommodate visitation with the other.
• The mental and physical health of each parent.
• The child’s preference, if they are 12 or older.

Child Custody Order Modifications in Blue Ash, Ohio

Once you have been issued a child custody order, you will have legal obligations assigned to you. That may include factors such as facilitating visitation and caring for your child. However, sometimes life gets in the way, and an arrangement that once worked no longer meets your or your children’s needs.

When this happens, you are not allowed to simply stop abiding by your court-issued order. Instead, you will need to seek a child custody order modification. A family law attorney can help you provide the evidence necessary to show a substantial change in circumstances.

Some justification for modification include relocation, continued missed visitation, illness of any party, or changing needs of your child.

Failure to Abide By a Court Order

If the other parent continuously fails to comply with a child custody order, then an attorney can help you file for contempt proceedings. This may be justification for a modification, or they may take action to enforce compliance.

It is important to note that if your ex-spouse fails to pay child support, you cannot use this to justify denying visitation. They are separate issues. If you do this, then you yourself could be guilty of contempt. Instead, you should take the proper legal avenues and hold them accountable.

Child support payments never disappear, which means that if your spouse misses payments, then the court can garnish their wages or seize their assets to repay you what you are owed.

Child Support

Usually, the noncustodial parent will pay child support to the other. Both parents are required to contribute to the upbringing of their children, and child support can help them meet their basic needs.

The Benefits of Settlement Mediation

At Woodford Sathappan McGee, we believe in a collaborative law process. That means bringing in experts when necessary and working as a team to secure the best possible outcome in your case.

Although we are always prepared to use litigation, we also understand the importance of settlement mediation. We can help you navigate even the most complex issues, whatever it takes. Mediation has many benefits, including:

Personalized Arrangements

If you cannot come to your own settlement, then the Judge can take over to make decisions. If you can come to decisions such as what your visitation schedule will look like, then you can ensure that it meets your needs and those of your children.

Encourages Harmonious Relationships

When you and the other parent both have a space to express yourselves and feel heard, it can help you to stay amicable with each other. You probably won’t come away being best friends, but you should have a healthier relationship than you otherwise would have. This can help protect children from witnessing ongoing conflict.

Save Time and Money

Court involvement is expensive and time-consuming. You may need a hearing for each contested issue, which relies on waiting for the court to be available to hear your case. When you can come to some of your own arrangements and only rely on the court for lingering issues, it will save you time, money, and stress.

When Litigation is Needed, We Are Here

Our Blue Ash child custody lawyers have successfully litigated hundreds of cases for our clients. Our high-conflict custody cases range from those involving abuse and psychological evaluations to cross-country co-parenting.

The key to our success is that we take the time to understand what’s important. We empower the women we work with to understand the laws surrounding their case so that they can communicate effectively with the other parent and keep records in a way that will benefit their court case.

Like most family law matters, much of the legislation surrounding child custody is determined by state laws. Therefore, it is important to secure a law firm that is well versed in Ohio family law. While some law firms try to serve several states or practice areas when a law firm has a focused practice, it means that they will have in-depth knowledge of the issues surrounding your case. They will probably even have knowledge about the judge overseeing your case and can tailor their advice accordingly.

At Woodford Sathappan McGee, we have extensive experience in Blue Ash and surrounding areas. We focus solely on representing women in family law matters, and this narrow focus gives us a clear advantage when litigating on behalf of our clients.

Domestic Violence in Blue Ash, OH

If you or your children have suffered abuse at the hands of your ex-spouse, whether physiological or physical, you should act as quickly as possible.

We know how hard it is to take the first steps, but we are prepared to give your case the care and dedication it deserves. We have handled numerous cases involving domestic violence, and we are prepared to handle even the most high-conflict cases.

First, we can advise you on how to get you and your children somewhere safe. Then we will continue to help you gather the evidence you need to ensure that the Court understands what you have been through.

If you are in immediate danger, contact the Ohio Domestic Violence Network at 1-800-934-9840 or 911.

Blue Ash Child Custody Lawyer For Women FAQ