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

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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

If there truly is no custody order, parenting plan or visitation order on the record, and assuming you and father were never married, you may move. He has the right to file a motion to establish his rights however. You would be best served by investing in an attorney in the county in which you... View More

Tricky question. Technically a parent has an obligation to parent a child until they emancipate. That usually happens when the child is both 18 AND a high school graduate. This may be further complicated if a parent is receiving child support on behalf of that child. This question does not... View More

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answered on Feb 25, 2024

I would suggest taking a few steps to establish paternity:

1. Seek legal counsel. A family law attorney can advise you on your rights and the process for establishing paternity in your state. They can help you file a motion with the court to compel a DNA test if the mother is uncooperative.... View More

She and the ex need to file a joint entry (with the judge's signature) modifying the parenting plan to reflect this new situation. Once that is in place she needs to contact CSEA and provide a certified copy of the filed entry to them requesting the modification of the support award.

In the absence of a court order, married parents have equal rights to their children. Thus, she is within her rights to take them over to her mother's house, and you are within your rights to spend time with them as well. Your best course would be to hire an attorney and file a divorce and... View More

That must be very worrisome. But he cannot sell the home without your signature on the deed, even if you are not named on the deed. In Ohio, but spouses must sign any deed for real estate owned by either or both of them - so you both have to agree to any sale. If you file for divorce, you can... View More

Generally speaking, the judgment entry will be issued after the magistrate's decision. Generally speaking in Ohio, the court is expected to do so "timely" following an adjudicative hearing. If a magistrate is issuing a decision, you will have 14 days to file any objections to that... View More

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answered on Jan 22, 2024

In general the duty to support goes to age18 or graduation from high school, whichever comes later. If she hasn't graduated you may be able to enforce payment. If she has graduated then she is no longer part of your divorce decree and he has no duty to support.

The only way he can legally move out of his parents house karma is with the involvement of the court. If his home life is truly presenting a substantial danger to him, a child protective agency needs to be involved. The only way a non-relative could succeed in transferring custody is if they have... View More

The parent seeking retroactive child support will have to file a formal petition with the court. Their petition must specifically ask for retroactive payments for certain dates and needs to include reasons that justify the support award. Reasons to seek retroactive child support include:... View More

This really should be handled by an attorney. This case could turn on many facts not stated in the question. Why did Father have custody? Why is the chlid with maternal grandmother? It is likely your mother will need to file a Motion to intervene as a party and then file a motion to... View More

Under these facts no one is going to jail. If there is no order, there is no arrears. If there is a pending case, the Court may award arrears, however, the obligor will have an opportunity to pay back them back over time. Seeing the child is a separate matter from whether one must pay support.... View More

If he's paying child support then most likely it is Order or Judgment of the court----please contact a few family law attorneys in your area, set up a consultation and take a copy of Order and Judgment and discuss the pro and cons of going back to Court to change it where the father has... View More

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answered on Nov 6, 2025

You have several concrete paths. Start by opening a child‑support case with your county Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) on the father’s behalf so the State can locate the mother and set an administrative support order requiring her to contribute. CSEA uses state and federal locator... View More

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answered on Oct 29, 2025

In general the prosecutor's office can assist in delinquencies and child support collection efforts. Some attorneys are willing to take on the collection of child support by reducing the order to a judgment, and then enforcing the judgment, but they typically will take a large percentage of... View More

If someone has been incorrectly listed as the father of your children in child support records, you have the right to challenge that designation. Since paternity has not been legally established through a court order or acknowledgment, you can request that the Child Support Enforcement Agency... View More

I agree with my colleague. This is a long game. Getting some parenting time is your first goal. It is unlikely due to the amount of time this other person has served as a legal custodian that you will be the child's full time e custodian but you may ultimately achieve a shared parenting plan

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answered on Sep 22, 2025

Yes, incorrect income reporting can provide grounds to modify a child support order in Ohio. Courts base support calculations on both parents’ incomes, and if significant income was excluded or misstated, you may be able to request a recalculation. Since your ex omitted over \$3,000 in VA... View More