In many divorces, one of the most contentious issues is child custody. These type of cases are often the most difficult and emotionally wrenching conflicts that clients face. After all, there is really no substitute for being there to raise your child. Ideally, clients should only fight in Court about children if no other option will keep the children healthy and safe. We are experienced in suggesting options to resolve custody and parenting time disputes.
But, as attorneys who devote a very large portion of our efforts in the family law arena, we are extremely experienced in litigating the issue of child custody. Our attorneys are trial tough. It is important to know how to investigate and prepare a case to effectively demonstrate to a Court what is in the child's best interest. Might a shared parenting plan (which designates both parents as equal residential/custodial parents) be best for the kids? Should a Guardian Ad litem (GAL) be requested? Perhaps a motion should be filed with the Court requesting psychological evaluations of the parties. What witnesses should testify? What impact does the wishes of the children affect the outcome of the case? These are all important decisions that vary, of course, from case to case and require a great deal of consideration.
Children should never be used as "pawns" in divorce litigation. The attorneys at Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues are committed to protecting kids. Children are not "chattel" and their custody or parenting time status should not be bartered off against alimony or property division. Unfortunately, too many unscrupulous individuals will threaten the other party that if they don't agree to "x" that they will fight for full custody of the parties' child. This leveraging approach is despicable and, of course, potentially harmful to the child(ren)!
In 2007, recognizing the need for the public to have around-the-clock access to valuable Ohio divorce and family law information, we started publishing the Ohio Family Law Blog. Our attorneys are very passionate about custody and family law issues. That fact is apparent if you take a bit of time reading their blog articles. We have posted articles on a wide variety of family law topics, including ones written by psychologists and other expert guest contributors. Our blog, like our philosophy about the practice of law, encourages a holistic multi-disciplinary viewpoint.
If you have family law questions or wish to discuss your situation with us, please call our office at (937) 293-2141 to schedule an appointment. Or, click here if you wish to contact us online. We also have an emergency phone number,(937) 760-4357, which is answered by one of our lawyers around-the-clock!
Divorce and Family Law Matters
