Powell Child Custody Attorneys
Serving the greater Columbus, Franklin county and Central Ohio areas.
Schedule a consultationPowell Ohio Child Custody Lawyers
Resolve Child Custody Disputes Efficiently & Effectively
Legal disputes involving children are often very emotional. Sometimes parents cannot reach an agreement on the best way to raise their children, a problem made worse when parents have unresolved feelings for each other.
At Lawrence Law Office, our team understands the pain involved with divorce and separation. We also know that not every child custody dispute needs to be fought in a courtroom. Instead, our Powell, Ohio child custody lawyers use our experience to help clients clarify their goals. We are then better positioned to diligently strive for a just resolution to the dispute that allows you to hit the ground running in a productive manner. Please contact us today to get started.
Types of Child Custody Disputes
We have broad experience in this area and can help a parent with the following:
- Child custody as part of divorce or separation
- Child custody disputes between unmarried parents
- Paternity disputes
- Modifications of existing child custody orders
- Enforcement of an order after a violation
We have represented both mothers and fathers, as well as those in same-sex relationships. If you have some dispute involving children, please contact us today.
Ohio Law on Child Custody
Ohio now speaks of “parental rights and responsibilities” instead of custody, but they are basically the same thing. When two parents live together, they share in the raising of their children. After divorce or separation, however, their rights and responsibilities need to be divided somehow. These rights include:
- The right to make legal decisions affecting the children, such as whether they undergo surgery or other medical care, and issues around schooling and religious upbringing. If you have this type of legal custody, you have a say.
- The right to have possession of a child. This is a type of physical custody and is probably what most people think of when they say they want custody.
Custody can be shared between parents, though physical custody is rarely split 50/50. Parents can agree how to allocate these rights and responsibilities between themselves and submit their plan to a judge for approval. If the plan looks reasonable and like something that will benefit your child, a judge will usually approve it.
How Judges Decide Custody
Parental agreement isn’t always possible, unfortunately. Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04 identifies how judges should analyze and decide child custody disputes. Put simply, judges focus on promoting the child’s wellbeing, and the law instructs that they look at many factors, such as the child’s current relationship with the parents and each parent’s ability to meet their child’s needs. Other factors include the stability of each parent’s home and any history of abuse.
Our state prefers that parents share custody. But the details—such as who the child spends the holidays with—need to be worked out and committed to writing in a parenting plan. A judge will only award full custody in unusual situations, such as a history of abuse.
How Our Powell, Ohio Child Custody Lawyers Can Help
Based on our decades of experience, we can help squabbling parents find common ground on custody and avoid the court process altogether. We can also assist our clients with mediation, where parents explain a dispute to a mediator who is also trained to offer creative solutions to disputes. This type of low-conflict resolutions works well for many parents and sets them up for successful coparenting in the years ahead.
Where negotiations break down, our lawyers can step up to the plate and advocate for your interests in a courtroom. Partners Linda J. Lawrence and Rodd S. Lawrence are not afraid of court and realize that litigation might be the only way to protect their client’s relationship with the children.
Child Custody Modification & Enforcement
For many clients, obtaining a divorce decree does not put an end to all disagreement. Instead, problems arise down the road when a parent realizes that the custody arrangement is no longer working. In that case it might be time to request a modification if changed circumstances warrant it. Until a judge modifies the order, however, you should continue to follow it.
Enforcement issues are also common. The other parent might deny you visitation or not listen to your input even if you have legal custody. When necessary, our team can request a hearing before a judge to air the disagreements, and Ohio judges are empowered to take corrective action, which can include holding a parent in contempt.
Other Practice Areas
- Family Law
- Paternity
- Prenuptial Agreements
- Stepparent Adoption
- Adoption
- Grandparent Visitation Rights
- Mediation
- Divorce
- Spousal Support
- Equitable Distribution
- Military Divorce
- Social Media in Divorce
- Dissolution
- Contempt & Enforcement
- Post Divorce
- Relocation
- Delaware Business Owner Divorce Lawyers
- Business Owners Divorce
- Tax issues
- Child Custody
- Grandparent Rights
- Same-Sex Couples Child Custody
- High Asset Divorce
- Retirement Assets
- Estate Planning
Client Review
The place to go.
Lawrence Law Office is the place to go if you need expert and experienced legal counsel. Very knowledgeable about the court system. Been around along time. I highly recommend them!
StephenSpeak with a Powell Ohio Child Custody Lawyer Today
Nothing is more important than your children. At Lawrence Law Office, we strive to maintain these precious bonds with effective legal advocacy on our client’s behalf. Give us a call to schedule a confidential, no-risk consultation.