Ohio Family Law Blog

Updated Guardian Ad Litem Rules in Ohio

By Robert "Chip" Mues | December 25th, 2021

New Guardian Ad Litem Changes Coming to Ohio

Did you know the Supreme Court of Ohio Added New Amendments to Guardians ad Litem? New Changes, Requirements and Redefinitions Explained

As of January 1, 2021, the Supreme Court of Ohio added new amendments regarding Guardians ad Litem, or GALs, including a redefinition of the responsibilities for those appointed as GALs, new training requirements, as well as the penalties for unauthorized disclosure of GAL reports once they are complete.

It is important for attorneys in Ohio appointed as Guardians ad Litem to know and understand the changes made at the beginning of this year.

A Refresher

A “Guardian ad Litem” (GAL) is an individual who is appointed by the court to assist with determining the best interest of the child in domestic relations and juvenile cases. This person is usually an attorney (though in the state of Ohio this is not a requirement) who represents only the child and no other parties involved.… View Full Article → “Updated Guardian Ad Litem Rules in Ohio”

Dealing with the Holidays if You Are in Divorce Transition

By Guest Contributor Donna F. Ferber, LPC, LADC | December 18th, 2021

Going through a divoce transition? Tips for the holidays

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Donna F. Ferber, LPC, LADC is a psychotherapist in private practice for over 35 years in Farmington, Connecticut. She is a licensed professional counselor, a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor and an educator. In her private practice, Donna specializes in issues related to life transitions. These include but are not limited to divorce, remarriage, chronic illness, loss, relocation. Donna has been a guest contributor to the Ohio Family Law Blog since 2010. We have enjoyed collaborating on several articles over the years.

Make The Holiday Season One That Is Meaningful

Every major life event, whether joyful or sad, brings on a period of transition as we adjust to the “new normal.” Even though these periods of transition occur throughout our lives, each requires us to discover a new and unique path as we struggle to move through uncharted waters.… View Full Article → “Dealing with the Holidays if You Are in Divorce Transition”

Six Divorce Myths Busted!

By Robert "Chip" Mues | December 11th, 2021

Divorce Myths: Don’t Fall For Inaccurate Information. Be Proactive, Consult With An Experienced Family Law Attorney

There are a ton of myths and misconceptions surrounding obtaining a divorce. Having practiced family law work for 40+ years, I thought I would try to provide some accurate information and perhaps shatter some of the falsehoods.

Myth #1: Mothers Always Get Custody

Many years ago, this may have been true. But that is not the case now. There is a national trend towards equalizing parenting time as much as possible between the parties. Facts really matter in determining custody! In Ohio, the core principle of determining custody/shared parenting comes down to determining the “best interests” of the children. A lot of fathers get custody and/or equal parenting time under a shared parenting plan.

Myth #2: Only Women Get Spousal Support (Alimony)

This was never really the case. Sure, in the past men were the predominant “bread winners”.… View Full Article → “Six Divorce Myths Busted!”

Tips to Avoid Holiday Scams

By Joseph E. Balmer | December 4th, 2021

Online Purchase Scams Most Reported Con During Holiday Season. Avoid Being Victimized with These Tips from the Better Business Bureau

Holidays are a time for shopping and gift giving. With all the shopping online and with social media, holiday scams are at an all-time high. Don’t be a victim of scams this holiday season. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has just released their top 12 holiday scams to look out for. A great list! Here they are:

Misleading Social Media Ads
As you scroll through your social media feed, you often see items for sale from a small business. Sometimes the business even claims to support a charity to try to get you to order, or they offer a free trial. BBB Scam Tracker receives reports of people paying for items that they never receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the one advertised.

… View Full Article →

Blast From The Past: Holidays: Just Say No & Feel Empowered!

By Guest Contributor Donna F. Ferber, LPC, LADC | November 27th, 2021

Holidays Got Your Down?

PUBLISHERS NOTE: “Congratulations! We all made it through Thanksgiving. So, the mad dash of the holiday season is officially upon us. This sage advice from psychotherapist, Donna F. Ferber, from 2013 warrants another repost. Take a breath. Slow down. And just say “no”.”

A Guide to Happier Holidays: Replace HO–HO-HO with NO-NO-NO!

Well, the holiday hoopla is ramping up. Displays of sparkly red and green stuff has taken center stage in our stores, catalogues are arriving in droves, internet sites are offering deals, discounts and sales on every imaginable product. Magazines at the grocery checkout display unbelievable glossy covers of gorgeous people, in gorgeous houses, serving gorgeous food. Now with the sudden drop in temperature and the promise of snow this week, the reality that the holidays are descending on us is unavoidable.

It feels impossible to slow this down or simply get a grip.… View Full Article → “Blast From The Past: Holidays: Just Say No & Feel Empowered!”

The 6 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Healing After A Divorce Or Breakup

By Guest Contributor Dr. Karen Finn | November 20th, 2021

Commit to avoiding the mistakes that only make things worse.

It sucks. It just does. The hurt, the anger, the loss (of seemingly everything — companionship, security, self-esteem). The process of healing after a divorce or breakup can feel like insult on injury. It’s tough enough trying to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. But now you have to fight against being your own worst enemy.

The inherent challenge of moving on from a breakup is fighting the urge to connect. You build a relationship by striving in all you do to connect more genuinely, more intimately. To suddenly have that call-to-action ripped out from under you is a real blow. It’s like expecting a moving train to stop on a dime and go back to where it came from.

Healing after a Divorce or Breakup? Read on!

But whether or not it is apparent to you now, this time of healing after a divorce or breakup is a time of great potential.… View Full Article → “The 6 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Healing After A Divorce Or Breakup”

What is a Platonic Parenting Arrangement?

By Robert "Chip" Mues | November 13th, 2021

Platonic Parenting More Common Than Ever Before

For those people who want children, the typical path to follow is to find your soulmate, get married, have children and have a family. However as our society has evolved and changed, so has the definition of family. The relationship status including gender and whether or not two people are married is no longer a defining issue in becoming a parent. Many people are more focused on wanting children rather than in finding that special someone to have a romantic relationship with. Platonic parenting is becoming more and more common.

What is platonic parenting? It is when two, (or even more than two people) decide to commit to raise a child together, yet have no romantic involvement. This trend was initially spearheaded within the LGBTQ community. Until fairly recently same gender folks could not legally marry, and if one of the couple had a child and they were raising him or her together, they did not have the support of the court system to help if they were to split up.… View Full Article → “What is a Platonic Parenting Arrangement?”

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