Custody Law Firm in Ohio

Given their intimate nature, custody disputes can be enormously complex and emotionally charged. They’re often the most challenging and contentious issues parents must resolve in a divorce. If you and your spouse can’t agree on a custody arrangement before filing your divorce petition, a judge may order you to negotiate the issue in mediation or in the courtroom via litigation. If left to the court, the judge will decide a custody arrangement at their discretion, based on how the relevant laws apply to your circumstances. People may also pursue legal proceedings to resolve custody disputes for children born outside of marriage. 

Inadequate legal representation could risk your parental privileges, so it is important to consult knowledgeable attorneys who are experienced in Ohio’s custody laws. At Haynes Kessler Myers & Postalakis, we can help you pursue a custody arrangement that reflects your parental interests and best serves your child. Whether it’s through collaborative methods, mediation, or litigation, our goal is to help you restructure your family in a way that is beneficial to everyone involved. 

Contact our office to discuss your parental options with our child custody attorneys in Worthington. We serve Northwest Columbus, Westerville, Dublin, and Delaware County.

Ohio Child Custody Arrangements

Ohio law divides custody into parenting time and decision-making authority. Parenting time is the amount of residential time each parent spends with their child. Decision-making authority is the right to make important determinations regarding the child’s medical care, education, and other major life decisions. When courts are left to arrange parenting time or decision-making authority, their order is called an “allocation of parental rights and responsibilities.” Courts may allocate parental rights to one parent in a sole custody arrangement or to both parents in a shared custody arrangement. 

Sole custody is typically reserved for specific circumstances, such as one parent being incarcerated, absent, struggling with drug addiction, or a threat to the safety of the child. 

Shared Custody 

In shared custody situations, the most common arrangement, both parents retain some measure of decision-making authority and residential time. To pursue a shared custody arrangement one or both parents must petition the court and propose a shared parenting plan, outlining potential exchange times, visitation arrangements, residential time schedules, school placement, and other items needed to navigate co-parenting. Parents typically alternate days, but the specific arrangement differs widely from case to case. Under some schedules, parents may evenly split weekdays and alternate weekends; however, others may assign one residential parent for weekdays while still alternating weekends. If the parenting schedule is contested, the court will order adjustments to the schedule as it deems necessary.