family law

The Greatest Gift for Your Kids: Why ‘Winning’ a Divorce is the Wrong Goal

A Better Path: Collaborative Divorce in Ohio

In my 40+ years of practicing divorce litigation, I’ve seen a common thread: parents walk into court wanting to “win,” only to realize later that the “battle” cost them far more than they gained. For many families considering collaborative divorce in Ohio, the goal isn’t to win a battle—it’s to reach a fair resolution while protecting the children involved.

When children are involved, the traditional notion of winning-getting more assets, paying less support, or “proving” the other spouse was wrong-often backfires. The real end goal should be arriving at a fair result while protecting the emotional health of your family. It’s important to note that Ohio’s legal landscape is catching up to this philosophy.

These changes are also relevant to parents considering collaborative divorce in Ohio. Recent changes, including Senate Bill 174, are moving our courts away from high-conflict terms like “custody” and “visitation.”… View Full Article → “The Greatest Gift for Your Kids: Why ‘Winning’ a Divorce is the Wrong Goal”

What ‘Over Your Dead Body’ Teaches About Divorce, Resentment, and Moving On

Why Ohio Divorce Advice Focuses on Solutions Instead of Revenge

The dark comedy Over Your Dead Body offers an exaggerated look at what can happen when resentment takes over a marriage. For anyone seeking Ohio divorce advice, the movie offers an important lesson: focus on solutions instead of revenge.

The dark comedy Over Your Dead Body follows a married couple who retreat to a secluded cabin in an attempt to repair their struggling marriage. Unfortunately, both spouses arrive with a secret plan to kill the other. While the movie’s premise is intentionally outrageous, it highlights a problem that family law attorneys see every day: what happens when resentment replaces communication.
Most divorcing spouses are not plotting murder, of course. However, many enter the divorce process carrying years of frustration, anger, and unresolved conflict. By the time the marriage ends, they may view their spouse as an enemy rather than someone with whom they once shared a life.… View Full Article → “What ‘Over Your Dead Body’ Teaches About Divorce, Resentment, and Moving On”

Summer Co-Parenting Tips: 10 Fun Activities for Kids with Divorced Parents

Summer Co-Parenting Tips Begin with Planning Ahead

Summer co-parenting tips can help divorced parents reduce stress while making the season fun and memorable for their children.. However, summer can be difficult on parents when it comes to juggling work, vacation, camps and childcare.

This is especially true for parents who are separated or divorced. Trying to coordinate summer schedules can cause tension and conflict. Although there is no easy way to resolve all the issues that may arise when raising children in two separate homes, there are some tips to follow to help make things easier for both the parents and the kids.

One of the most valuable summer co-parenting tips is to review your parenting agreement before school lets out. Make sure you have a clear understanding about what your agreement says aboutco-parenting during the summer months. Also, be sure to review the attached Court’s Standard Order which often adds more detail about Summer parenting terms.… View Full Article → “Summer Co-Parenting Tips: 10 Fun Activities for Kids with Divorced Parents”

Advocating for Your Mental Health as You go Through a Divorce is Really Important!

Publisher’s Note: May is Mental Health Awareness month. It has been observed in the United States in May since 1949. With all that is going on in the world we live in today, there are significant challenges to everyone’s mental health. Those include, dealing with increased anxiety leading to depression and burnout, often fueled by factors like economic instability and social isolation. For those of you going through a divorce this period in your life can be overwhelming and stressful, and it is so important that you take steps to prioritize yourself and your mental health wellbeing. I posted this article back in July of 2023, but I have updated it a bit and believe it is worth resharing especially during Mental Health Awareness Month.

May is Mental Health Awareness month. It is Important to Safeguard Your Mental Health during Your Divorce Process!

… View Full Article → “Advocating for Your Mental Health as You go Through a Divorce is Really Important!”

A Young Lawyer Reflects About Having Grown Up in the Midst of a Contentious Divorce – Constant Arguing is Damaging!

A child sitting between arguing parents, showing the emotional effects of divorce on children

Reducing the Long-Term Effects of Divorce on Children Through Cooperative Co-Parenting

PUBLISHER’S NOTE:
I frequently receive comments about this blog post. It was written in the spring of 2023 by Shane McDonough, who was at that time a third year law student at the University of Dayton School of Law. Shane did a great job externing for our firm, and is now enjoying a fine legal career in Chicago. Well done Shane, and it was great chatting with you this week!

Understanding the Emotional Effects of Divorce on Children

If there is one positive aspect of my parents’ divorce, it is that I was too young to understand the effects of divorce on children. I was around two and a half years old when my parents were divorced.

Although I have no recollection of the divorce proceedings or the ensuing months following the proceedings, one of my first memories is a supervised visitation meeting with my dad.… View Full Article → “A Young Lawyer Reflects About Having Grown Up in the Midst of a Contentious Divorce – Constant Arguing is Damaging!”

Blast From The Past: An Experienced Family Law Attorney – PRICELESS!

Blast from the past 13 years Ohio Family Law Blog

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This blog is as meaningful today as it was when we originally posted it on August 22, 2008. Securing an experienced divorce lawyer (that you are comfortable with) is EXTREMELY important! If after your first consultation your gut tells you that you still have questions, keep interviewing other potential lawyers. You will recognize the “right” one when you meet him/her!

Why You Should Hire an Experienced Family Law Attorney

Gordon Gibb recently wrote an excellent article for lawyersandsettlements.com about the importance of hiring an experienced divorce lawyer. He lasers in on the topic with his opening sentences. “If there ever was a more important role for lawyers and litigation professionals, it is in family law. Corporate law, environmental law, even real estate law has nuthin’ on the complexities and the drama that explodes from divorce petitions, custody battles-even who gets to keep the family dog”.

He concludes with “Experts suggest that if your relationship looks as though it is coming apart and you’re considering divorce, the best couple of hundred bucks you’ll ever spend is by sitting down with a reputable family law firm for a consultation.… View Full Article → “Blast From The Past: An Experienced Family Law Attorney – PRICELESS!”

Blast From The Past: Custody Wars: My Lawyer Suggested that I Fabricate a Child Abuse Allegation!

PUBLISHER’S UPDATE: Here is one of my favorites posts written by custody expert Judianne Cochran from back on September 18th, 2010! We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

Using False Allegations In Family Law Custody Cases. Will I get A Better Position?

In recent years there has been a steady and alarming increase in the use of false allegations of vague, unsupported claims of domestic violence and even vaguer claims of child abuse, used solely in an attempt to find a shortcut to a presumed better position in custody cases.

What is more alarming is the observation that more often than not the attorneys of record for the litigants making these claims have been those unschooled in and relatively new to the family law arena, who have chosen to step outside their actual specialty and add a minor “division” of family law to their practices.… View Full Article → “Blast From The Past: Custody Wars: My Lawyer Suggested that I Fabricate a Child Abuse Allegation!”

Page 1 of 2

1 2

« Previous