ALERT: Ohio Licenses No Longer Threatened for Non-Payment of Child Support

Tucked deep into the recently passed state budget is a new provision that will reduce driver’s license suspensions of alleged “deadbeat” parents.  Currently, a parent owing more than a month in child support faces the possibility of the loss of his or her driver’s license and professional licenses. Under current law, neither the courts nor the Child Support Enforcement Agency can grant limited driving privileges for occupational purposes on a child support license suspension.

The new law, codified in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3123, which went into effect on September 28, 2011,  provides that parents who pay at least half of their court-ordered child support will no longer face suspension of their driver’s or professional licenses. Another provision will allow parents to have prior suspensions for failing to pay child support removed from their driving record. Benjamin Johnson, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, said that under the new law, county child-support enforcement agencies must look back 90 days to see if a parent has paid less than 50 percent of his/her child support obligation.… View Full Article → “ALERT: Ohio Licenses No Longer Threatened for Non-Payment of Child Support”

Keep an Emergency Information Card in Your Wallet!

It is wise to keep an “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) information card in our wallets, purses, and car glove box at all times. An emergency can happen at any time. The leading cause of death for people under the age of 44 in America is emergency trauma. Emergency contact cards can prevent a bad situation from getting worse. An unexpected emergency can shatter the lives of any family at any time. But, by having emergency contact cards, you and your loved ones will be more prepared if a sudden crisis strikes. Give yourself a greatly improved chance to receive appropriate medical care by preparing information in advance that explains your medical needs immediately for first responders.

Without emergency contact information, hospital staff cannot immediately locate family members or access medical information that would be critical to treating the patient. Tragically, some patients die in emergency rooms without any of their family members present.… View Full Article → “Keep an Emergency Information Card in Your Wallet!”

The Mediation Process in Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court

Alternative dispute resolution can be a wonderful tool in divorce cases. Montgomery County’s Domestic Relations Court, along with many other divorce Courts, have adopted mediation conferences as a voluntary or, in some cases, mandatory prerequisite to trial. I am focusing this article on how that process works in Montgomery County.

So one might ask, “What is mediation?” In this context it is essentially a way of resolving disputes between the husband and wife and to hopefully eliminate issues in the divorce case.  In Montgomery County there are two neutral mediators (facilitators) involved in the session(s). One is a lawyer who has experience as a divorce court magistrate and the other has a family services social worker background.  They work to assist the parties to negotiate their own settlement. They can let the couple know what the laws are, but not give legal advice, and try to guide them through the complicated process in a way that helps them find solutions.… View Full Article → “The Mediation Process in Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court”

A Child’s College Education – Often a Hidden Cost in Divorce!

A divorce often leads to many changes within a family. Recognizing this fact is extremely important, especially when children are involved. Divorcing parents should ask themselves each step of the way what they can do to minimize the negative impact on their children. Parental funding of a child’s college education often becomes a casualty in the process.

A recent study published in the Journal of Family Issues which was led by Ruth N. Lopez Turley, an associate professor of sociology at Rice University, confirms a major disadvantage for children from divorced families: Kids whose birth parents divorce get less financial help with college costs, even if their parents remarry, the study finds.

Parents who stay married to each other meet 77% of the tuition costs and contribute about 8% of their income to their child’s college expenses, according to the study of 2400 undergraduate students. Not surprisingly, especially to most divorce lawyers, parents’ contributions to college costs fall after a divorce.… View Full Article → “A Child’s College Education – Often a Hidden Cost in Divorce!”

Marital Torts in Ohio … A Primer

I posted a blog article titled Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Alimony Proceedings on October 16, 2010. In it I promised a follow-up article discussing the status of Ohio law concerning domestic or marital torts.

In Ohio, like in most states, interspousal tort immunity has been abolished.  A person may bring a personal injury action against his current spouse or between a former spouse for personal injury which occurred during the marriage.  Marital torts can include any claim for personal injuries and are often referred to as domestic or marital torts because they are torts that occur within the family context, such as between spouses. Marital torts, moreover, can be lodged in connection with intentional or negligent acts, including the transmission of sexual diseases, psychological distress and emotional injury, slander and libel.

As in all torts, there must be a violation of some duty owed to the plaintiff, and generally that duty must arise by operation of law, not merely an agreement between the parties.  … View Full Article → “Marital Torts in Ohio … A Primer”

Tips on How to Prevent and Handle a Lost Child Situation

My wife and I have raised two (2) sons and we personally experienced the terror of a child becoming lost in a public place.  Fortunately, ours ended like most of these situations with our son being located and returned safely.  So, that being said, I want to thank Keith Kepler, the Vice President and General Manager at AlliedBarton Security Services, for sending the Ohio Family Law Blog these important tips about protecting our children from becoming lost or missing. I think that his advice is spot-on.  Please take a moment and read his practical suggestions:

A lost child is a parent’s worst nightmare.  As families plan to spend more time outdoors, on vacation and in busy public places this summer, it is important to be prepared. A survey of parents by the Center to Prevent Lost Children showed that 90 percent of families will experience losing a child in a public place at least once, and 20 percent said it has happened more than once.  … View Full Article → “Tips on How to Prevent and Handle a Lost Child Situation”

Tips to Help Avoid the Summer Parenting Blues…

Summers can be a difficult time for parents separated from their children for extended periods of time.  Ann Dunnewold, Ph.D., author of Even June Cleaver Would Forget the Juice Box, gave the following tips to Parenting magazine about ways to keep in contact with children away from home during the summer:

  1. Use your cell phone. Although the idea of entrusting a cellular device to your 6-year old (never mind kids younger than that) is appalling to many parents, allowing a child to have access to his or her mother or father’s voice is a simple and effective way to stay connected.  If the babysitter or another parent is with the child while you are not, simply ask them to cooperate and lend the child their phone.  A study conducted at University of Wisconsin-Madison shows that girls who talked to their mothers via phone felt calmer and happier as those whose mothers were physically available for hugs.  
… View Full Article → “Tips to Help Avoid the Summer Parenting Blues…”
Page 67 of 80
1 … 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 … 80