Child Custody in Ohio
Parents who cannot come to a joint decision regarding custody and child support issues as a part of their divorce or dissolution must leave these decisions up to the court.
Ohio courts will award shared or sole custody according to a set of pertinent factors.
The court considers the best interests of the child when reaching its decision.
Before considering custody however, Ohio parents are required to participate in a mandatory parenting class.
In general, the court will consider the desires of the child him/herself if the child is old enough to express a rational preference.
The court will also factor in the need to keep the child's environment - home, school, community, etc.
- as stable as possible.
The courts will likely consider the physical and mental health of the parents and the children.
The child's relationship with each parent, siblings, and other family members will also be a factor, in addition to how the parents themselves interact with each other.
Difficulties between the parents, such as issues of domestic violence, inability to parent cooperatively, and a desire of one or both parents to reside outside the state of Ohio will influence the court's decision.
Unless there are extenuating circumstances, both parents are considered equally able to parent the child.
The financial resources of the parents are not a factor in deciding custody.
An order of child support is not based on the circumstances of the divorce.
The court will assign responsibility for health insurance to one or both parents.
Ohio uses a child support computation worksheet to ensure a fair support award.
This worksheet adheres to established guidelines for determining child support.
In Ohio, the parent who is required to pay child support must do so through a child support enforcement agency and will continue to forward support for the children until each child has reached the age of 18 unless the child is still in high school, which means that support payments will continue until the child(ren) graduates from high school.
In the state of Ohio, a shared parenting decision must be requested by the divorcing parents.
A shared parenting agreement involves submitting a written plan to the court that requires the complete agreement of both parents.
Ohio courts will award shared or sole custody according to a set of pertinent factors.
The court considers the best interests of the child when reaching its decision.
Before considering custody however, Ohio parents are required to participate in a mandatory parenting class.
In general, the court will consider the desires of the child him/herself if the child is old enough to express a rational preference.
The court will also factor in the need to keep the child's environment - home, school, community, etc.
- as stable as possible.
The courts will likely consider the physical and mental health of the parents and the children.
The child's relationship with each parent, siblings, and other family members will also be a factor, in addition to how the parents themselves interact with each other.
Difficulties between the parents, such as issues of domestic violence, inability to parent cooperatively, and a desire of one or both parents to reside outside the state of Ohio will influence the court's decision.
Unless there are extenuating circumstances, both parents are considered equally able to parent the child.
The financial resources of the parents are not a factor in deciding custody.
An order of child support is not based on the circumstances of the divorce.
The court will assign responsibility for health insurance to one or both parents.
Ohio uses a child support computation worksheet to ensure a fair support award.
This worksheet adheres to established guidelines for determining child support.
In Ohio, the parent who is required to pay child support must do so through a child support enforcement agency and will continue to forward support for the children until each child has reached the age of 18 unless the child is still in high school, which means that support payments will continue until the child(ren) graduates from high school.
In the state of Ohio, a shared parenting decision must be requested by the divorcing parents.
A shared parenting agreement involves submitting a written plan to the court that requires the complete agreement of both parents.
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