I agree with my colleague for the most part.. However, I feel the need to stress that OH typically doesn't speak in the language of full custody versus part custody. Typically, Ohio courts speak as to whether or not a parent is the primary residential parent. Very rarely does a parent not have... View More

If by "she" you mean mother and you are father, then the answer is NO. In Ohio an unmarried mother is presumptively the sole custodian of a child until a Court ORDERS otherwise. Your "verbal agreement" means nothing to a reviewing court. You need to file a motion for... View More

After you receive a finding from the Child Support Enforcement Agency, you should also receive information on how to appeal the decision or rather file an objection. Send in that paperwork as the instruction states. An additional hearing will then be set up, and in the meanwhile, it would be wise... View More

I differ slightly. I would want to know about your co-parenting relationship. How well do you and the other parent communicate? What does your custody agreement say about monitoring the child? Does your custody agreement have a provision for how you should communicate about substantial... View More

When a term within a legal document such as a contract, agreement or Order is not defined within, then a court will typically apply the usual meaning or definition. Merriam-Webster defines the adjective "extracurricular" as :

not falling within the scope of a regular curriculum... View More

If you have not been served, the case cannot move forward. However, you are only prolonging the inevitable. Parents have a paramount right to raise their children. It is in your interest to engage with the process. Father may have to jump through some hoops but he will eventually get you... View More

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answered on Jul 17, 2025

Unfortunately there is no legal way to force your ex to be a good parent. If he chooses not to exercise visitation or spend time with your son, you can't make him (outside some therapy that he also likely would refuse). You could seek a change to your parenting plan (and potentially a... View More

I agree with my colleague. Further, if your hope is to completely cut off father from communicating or visiting with your son, under the circumstances you describe that will not happen. Were you to take him back to court the very best you could possibly hope for is that the court would change the... View More

No one here can tell you what you "should" do as that is subjective. If you and father are not married then you are the sole custodian and my do whatever you wish. However, father may sue to establish his parental rights and responsibilities. The Court may (but not necessarily will)... View More

I am assuming you and your daughter have lived in Ohio for the past 6 months and have lived in the same county for the past 90 days.

Based on that assumption you need the file a motion to establish parental rights and responsibilities. Hopefully, you were listed as the father on the birth... View More

Under these facts it is possible but highly improbable. There is much that you did not include that I would want to know. When you said "labeled" unfit. By who? Was that part of a court order? If so, mother would need to file a motion to modify the current custody order. In order to... View More

If you are going to successfully file for an ER custody order you need to show that Father is presenting an existential risk to your child. Merely stating that the behavior is deteriorating or disturbing may not be enough. You should be able to tell the court why it should Order a change without... View More

It sounds like you really need to hire a domestic relations attorney i the city where your husband filed for divorce. While you have a right to represent yourself, I do not recommend it. This forum is for answering general questions. No attorney can teach you within a single answer each rule of... View More

I believe you should listen to your attorney. I would be highly offended if one of my clients were trying to crowdsource a second opinion. Trying to use a recording of a child in court is highly inadvisable. It never sounds the way to a judge the way a client thinks it will. At the most i... View More

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answered on Feb 28, 2025

Don't overthink this. Make a list of all the documents that you want to present. Put the court information at the top of the list along with a caption like "Plaintiff's Exhibit List". File it with the clerk of courts and serve it on all other parties.

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answered on Jan 21, 2025

If you were never married and there is no custody order in place then you literally have all the power. Unmarried father's have no custodial rights in Ohio unless a court grants them parenting time. You would be within your rights to simply not give him any parenting time. In short, you... View More

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answered on Sep 17, 2024

You can file for a step-parent adoption in your county's probate court. Because the biological father has not been involved or paid support to you in over a year (even without a support order) his consent is not required to commence the adoption. You do not need to file for abandonment.

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answered on Jul 21, 2024

You can start by gathering all evidence that demonstrates your efforts to maintain contact and the barriers you've faced, including the recorded voicemail and any documentation of missed visitations due to the grandma's interference. Present this evidence clearly to the court and insist... View More

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answered on Jul 3, 2024

You are in a very tough position. A biological parent's consent is not needed for a step-parent adoption if they have had less than de minimus contact with the minor children for more than one year without reasonable excuse. A court will have a hard time concluding that your failure to file... View More

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answered on Jun 6, 2024

If the biological father has EITHER gone more than one year without de minimus (negligible amount) of contact with the minor child without reasonable cause OR has failed to provide support for the minor child, even without a child support order, then the biological father's consent is not... View More