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Questions Answered by Nicholas P. Weiss
2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law for Ohio on
Q: Caregiver says her company will sue her for $1000s if she quits the company and I hire her . Is this true or possible?
Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Oct 19, 2023

It is likely that her contract with her company contains non-compete and non-solicitation clauses that would prohibit her from sniping clients from them. There is likely a liquidated damages clause in the contract that the company would use to prevent her from working for you directly.

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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Ohio on
Q: If rental renewal was not given in lease form am I able to move with no penalty?

I have lived at my current rental property since June of 2020. We communicate with landlord via text. We have only seen him twice. Once when we viewed property. And another when we had a leak. He makes us do everything for maint. and he takes off of our rent. This year when we told our landlord we... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Aug 25, 2023

Text conversations would be enough to renew the lease at the new rate. If you left early you would be in breach.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Ohio on
Q: In Ohio does my niece need a court order to make her boyfriend move out?

My niece recently had a baby with her boyfriend. He’s lived with her for a little over one year now, but has become increasingly abusive. She wants him to move out. She lived there before they met, his name is not on the lease, there are no bills in his name. The only mail delivered there with... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Aug 8, 2023

Due to the length of time he's been living there, he transitioned at some point from a "guest", which doesn't need an eviction, to a "sub-tenant" who does.

As a practical matter, however, under these facts the likelihood of her getting in trouble for a...
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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Adoption and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: Will biological fathers court paper interfere with my husband and I's adoption process?

My husband and I are going to be starting the adoption process, we have had our appointment for a few weeks now. However, bio father just filed a petition to the courts for shared parenting/paternity. Paternity was never established. Bio father has not supported our child for 1 year and 1 month... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Aug 8, 2023

You will in all likelihood prevail on your stepparent adoption. In Ohio, when a biological parent has failed, without reasonable justification, to provide support for over a year to a minor child, his consent is not necessary to proceed with the stepparent adoption.

There will be two...
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2 Answers | Asked in Elder Law and Family Law for Ohio on
Q: What to do when an elderly parent is no longer competent.

My 2 young children, my wife and I have lived with my elderly mother in her house (that she owns) for the past 5 years to help care for her, as well as the home. She has recently stopped taking her medications and seeing her doctor. She drives her car recklessly. (Has new, lrg damage to drivers... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Aug 4, 2023

Unfortunately this is likely a time to seek guardianship over your mother. If she is declining and isn't able to take care of herself, you will need to petition the probate court to obtain guardianship over her. If she refuses to see a doctor who can perform a competency exam, you will also... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Ohio on
Q: How can I file for my child’s fathers rights to be revoked in ohio

I have a daughter who is 18 months old. Her biological father is on the birth certificate but has not done Anything for her in over 6 months. Can I file for abandonment and have him removed from the birth certificate and his rights revoked? He is on child support and has not paid one payment. I... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Jul 25, 2023

If you are unmarried, he already has no rights. Ohio law does not provide for any custody or visitation for an unmarried father absent a court order. You don't have to do anything.

If you would like to strip him of any parental rights, the only way to do that is through a stepparent...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law for Ohio on
Q: What are the Grandparents Rights for visitation in Ohio, my husband and I have full custody.

My Husband and I went no contact with our children’s Grandparents due to a toxic environment, and the Grandmother threatening me in my house, and we felt the decision was best for our family and kids. The Grandparents watched the kids while we worked and it wasn’t a positive time all of the... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Jul 13, 2023

If you are married to the father of the children, the grandparents have no rights whatsoever. Not even to visitation. The only way they could get rights is if they seek full custody by establishing that both you and your husband are an unfit parent, an extremely high bar.

If you are NOT...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: Is dower rights still a thing in ohio on 2023? Any way for spouse to waive all rights to everything their name is not on

From the start of the marriage so that neight have to deal with it?

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Jun 23, 2023

Dower is still a thing, unfortunately. A prenuptial agreement waiving claims to certain property will, as a matter of law, eliminate dower. However, as a matter of practice, most banks will not fund a transaction if the spouse does not waive their dower interest as part of the sale on the deed... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Construction Law for Ohio on
Q: I would like to fire my contractor for not completing a job in a reasonable time frame.

We were told the job would be done in Feb 2023, It is now June and we are still being delayed and not scheduled. Our contractor has been "scheduling" dates to start for months but then reschedules the day before, most times without notifying us unless we reach out to them. I asked to... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Jun 8, 2023

Under Ohio's consumer sales practices act, it is a deceptive act for a supplier (the contractor) to allow 8 weeks to elapse without services being rendered. O.A.C. 109:4-3-09.

If the contractor messes this up, they are liable for three times your damages (amount paid) plus reasonable...
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2 Answers | Asked in Contracts for Ohio on
Q: If I signed a contract with a company for exterior home improvement, how long do they have to do the work?

The paper stated that I had three days to cancel.

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Jun 7, 2023

Under Ohio's consumer sales practices act, it is a deceptive act for a supplier (the contractor) to allow 8 weeks to elapse without services being rendered. O.A.C. 109:4-3-09.

If the contractor messes this up, they are liable for three times your damages (amount paid) plus reasonable...
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1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Construction Law for Ohio on
Q: How long can a contractor take to bill me?

Had roof done on 5/5/22. City inspector found out they didn't have permit. They apparently have an issue with getting the permit and still do not have it. This has been over a year now. I have the money waiting to pay them and am of course willing to pay them if they ever get their legal... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Jun 6, 2023

They can bill you whenever. If there was a written contract then they have six years from the last date of work performed to bring a claim against you for non-payment.

If they were required to get a permit, and didn't, then you have a strong claim under Ohio's Consumer Sales...
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2 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Divorce, Family Law and Banking for Ohio on
Q: In OH marriage can debts obtained by one person affect the other and...

..if so can you do anything to keep each person isolated having having any tie to any debts/mistakes by the other during the marriage.

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Jun 2, 2023

There are a few parts to this question. Debt incurred by a spouse alone will not, generally, expose you to liability from the creditor, even during marriage. This debt, during divorce, may be considered marital debt, and it is possible that some or all of the debt may be apportioned between the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Cannabis & Marijuana Law, Car Accidents and Employment Law for Ohio on
Q: what happens if im driving a company vehicle and im not high but weed is in my system and someone hits me or i hit some1

i usually only smoke like one bowl a day and if i get a medical card will i be ok no matter what

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Mar 29, 2023

It is illegal to smoke marijuana in Ohio. This is true even if you have a medical card. Your employment is also not protected from the use of marijuana even if you have a medical card. Marijuana in your system will likely be determined to be a contributing factor in any accident.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Civil Litigation and Family Law for Ohio on
Q: I am being harassed over text. Should I take action?

My coparent and his wife continuously harrass me over text. They attack me, my character and parenting style. No threats of harm have been made. I do not respond to these messages yet they continue to send them. I don't block their number because my son lives in their household during... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Mar 27, 2023

If you don't have an existing custody order, I'd recommend pursuing one and making a condition of the order being that everyone uses a third-party messenger service, like Our Family Wizard, to communicate. The benefit there is that anyone, including the court or GAL, will have instant... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts for Ohio on
Q: Are both parties required to provide a mailing address to make a contract valid and enforceable?

We are trying to contract with an illustrator. Our CEO is insistent that we require the illustrators physical mailing address for the contract to be valid, the illustrator is only offering us his email at this time.

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Jan 27, 2023

It can be valid without an address. I agree with your CEO though that you should require a physical mailing address in the contract. If the contract is breached and you need to sue then you will need their address to start the lawsuit.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce and Family Law for Ohio on
Q: What are my rights as far as child support? I wanted a civil dissolution but now ex hasn't helped in 4 months.

My ex moved out in May. He stopped paying on the car i drive months ago and we had an agreement for him to help financially weekly but he stopped back in November and only has our 2 kids overnight 2 times a week. Now he is moving in with his current girlfriend who has 4 kids, 2 seniors 2 freshman,... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Jan 16, 2023

If you are married, you should file for divorce and seek a temporary child support and spousal support award as part of your filing. If you are not married, you should go to your county's child support enforcement office to obtain an administrative child support award.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption for Ohio on
Q: Can I adopt my grandson that I have had custody of for 3 years? The dad is in federal prison on drug charges.
Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Jan 13, 2023

If the father has failed without good cause to see the child OR has failed to provide more than de minimus support for at least one year prior to a petition for adoption, you can obtain adoption over your grandchild without his consent.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: my parents are getting dicorced soon and idk how to convince the court in unsafe at my moms and abused with no pictures

the divorce might be this summer but idk, im scared my dad wont get custody and my mom will hurt me for trying to live with him, i never get a chance. to record her or anything and she isnt psychically abusive, but i have been sent to mental wards twice because of the stree, im only 13 and i want... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Jan 5, 2023

Your father needs to seek a guardian ad litem to represent you in the divorce. Talk to the guardian once they are appointed and tell them this information. It is very likely that the guardian will recommend custody to your father if they hear you say that, even without proof.

If you are...
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1 Answer | Asked in Divorce for Ohio on
Q: Can I switch the title over to my car to someone else's name
Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Dec 22, 2022

Why are you doing this? The short answer is "yes", but there can be consequences to doing this if it is in the context of a divorce. If you are doing it pre-divorce, and transferring for no value, then the court can make you pay back the marital equity to your spouse in the divorce as you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Business Formation, Business Law and Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: Does transfering property into an established Partnership-LLC affect ownership levels, like initial capital contribution

If I were to be in a partnership LLC, and my partner wants to transfer a property into the company, would that automatically affect his amount of ownership like an initial capital contribution would? Or is there a choice to not give over ownership for the contribution to the company

The... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Dec 22, 2022

This first question is "what does your operating agreement say about it?" If you don't have one, then the question becomes whether this is being transferred for value received, transferred without value, and why the transfer is being made.

If it is being made for value from...
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