Domestic Violence Specialist in Greene County, Ohio – Role And Function

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Sheri Hall, A Domestic Violence Specialist, Reveals How The Position Functions In Greene County, Ohio, Domestic Relations Court

Domestic Violence SpecialistOur law firm represents clients in the greater Dayton, Ohio geographical area and we routinely accept cases in the counties of Montgomery, Greene, Warren, Clark, Preble and Miami.  On a recent afternoon in August 2013, I spent time at the Domestic Relations Court of Greene County, Ohio to interview their Domestic Violence Specialist, Sheri Hall.  This Family Law Blog article is intended to provide information to our readers relative to the roles and functions of this Court employee.

Sheri Hall was hired by the Greene County Domestic Relations Court in 2001 while Judge Judson Shattuck was the Judge of that Court.  He hired her away from the Family Violence Prevention Center where she served as an Advocate/Admissions Employee.  She emphasized to me that while she served as an “advocate” for her former employer, she is to serve an objective role in her present position of employment.

To prepare Sheri for this position with the Court, she obtained a degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from Ohio … Read More... “Domestic Violence Specialist in Greene County, Ohio – Role And Function”

Summer Vacations and the Divorced Family

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Divorced Family During Summer Vacations? How To Get through The Downtime

summer vacations divorced family“As I watched my children wait at the window for their father to arrive, I couldn’t believe the flood of feelings I experienced,” Julie, thirty-eight, a divorced mother of two boys, seven and nine, explained. “Their father is taking them to New York with his girlfriend. Her parents own a large summer house in the Adirondacks. She has six brothers and sisters, all married with children. They are all coming this week for a family reunion.”

“As an only child raised in a large city, I never had this kind of experience. I am excited for my children that they can have all these new people in their lives. They will get the experience of a large family. I find myself wishing that I could give them such an experience. I wonder if they will love this new family more than they love me. Of course, I know this is not the case. But sometimes, I feel so insecure.”

“I guess I am also envious of their experience. In some ways, I wish I were going, … Read More... “Summer Vacations and the Divorced Family”

Rape Aftermath: Child Custody And Control

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Can a Rapist Obtain Custody and Visitation of a Child Conceived Through Rape?

rapeVery few states have statutes limiting the ability of a man who fathered a child through rape from asserting his parental rights.  Rape and its aftermath is a serious and significant problem faced by our country.  Though many rapes go unreported, it is estimated that roughly 25,000 women become pregnant through rape each year. A significant amount of women who become pregnant through rape each year choose to raise their children.  Despite this, surprisingly little statutory protection exist for these women who chose to raise their children.

Statutory Protections Limited In Rape Parental Rights

Every state imposes criminal sanctions for rape. However, only sixteen states have promulgated statutes which aid women who became pregnant through rape and decided to raise their children. A man who fathers a child through rape has the same rights as any other father with respect to their children. Even in states offering some kind of statutory redress, the protections are typically quite limited. Several of the states with statutes offering redress require a conviction before there will be a … Read More... “Rape Aftermath: Child Custody And Control”

Same-Sex Marriage in Ohio: The Debate Begins!

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Ohio Judge Recognizes Same-Sex Marriage Performed In Another State As Legal

same-sex marriageOn Monday, federal Magistrate Judge Timothy Black could have opened the door to more lawsuits regarding same-sex marriage in Ohio.  Judge Black issued a temporary restraining order against multiple public officials (including Governor Kasich and Attorney General Mike DeWine) which prohibits those persons from enforcing provisions of Ohio law which prohibit state officials and institutions from recognizing same-sex marriages lawfully performed in other states in the case of Obergefell, et al. v. Kasich, et al., W.D.Ohio No. 1:13-cv-501 (July 22, 2013).

Background:

Jim Obergefell and John Arthur have been together for over 20 years.  John Arthur is currently bedridden with ALS, a neurological disease which all parties agreed will take his life in the very near future.   With the United States Supreme Court’s recent ruling in United States v. Windsor, striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Jim and John decided it was time to take the plunge and get married.  Knowing that same-sex marriage is not permitted under Ohio law, Jim and John needed the marriage solemnized in one of the … Read More... “Same-Sex Marriage in Ohio: The Debate Begins!”

Parent Questionnaire and Information Sheet

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Completing the Parent Questionnaire/Information Sheet in Your Divorce

parentIf you are a resident of the State of Ohio and the County of Montgomery, Rule 4.28 of the Local Rules of the Domestic Relations Court, reflects that the “Court requires that all parties in divorce or legal separation cases involving minor children, complete and return to the Court a Parent Questionnaire and Information Sheet prior to the final hearing in the proceeding. What information is addressed by the Parent Questionnaire and Information Sheet?

The Court is making inquiry regarding certain basic information from each party:

A.  Personal Information. The Court is seeking information as to the party’s mailing address, telephone number(s), current position of employment, current work schedule, employment history, and name and phone number of the party’s attorney.

How could this information be useful to the Court? The Court would see “red flags” if a party is without current employment as issues would be raised as to child support and spousal support. The Court would be much happier to see that both parties are gainfully employed with decent incomes.

B.  Marital History. Have the parties … Read More... “Parent Questionnaire and Information Sheet”

Custody Issues: Finding a “Qualified” Therapist

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Tips On How To Select The Right Therapist In Serious Custody Cases

custodyI have been asked repeatedly what is meant by “qualified” when selecting a therapist to deal with issues related to contentious custody situations.  Too often much valuable time is wasted on counselors who have no experience dealing with the ramifications of custodial interference, parental alienating behaviors and repeated false allegations.  Too many people just look at the words “family counseling” and don’t go the extra interview step to discover what experience the counselor has in custody issues and whether the person has even been qualified to testify in court.   Often the random selection of therapists does more harm than good and the client finds himself back at square one after the therapist finally admits the situation is outside his/her abilities and expertise.

Now that DSM-5 has finally included these behaviors, the effect on the parent-child relationship and the devastating psychological effects on the children, it is extremely important to select well skilled and qualified therapists.  This means the first “list” should be comprised of those psychologists and psychiatrists who have experience with these serious custodyRead More... “Custody Issues: Finding a “Qualified” Therapist”

DOMA Ruling: The Impact of this Historic Supreme Court Decision

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How Will DOMA Affect Individuals In Other States?

DOMAIn a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court overturned the federal 17-year-old DOMA act (Defense of Marriage Act), leaving many people wondering the effects this ruling will have on same-sex couples in their state.  Hopefully the following information might be helpful when trying to understand this major decision in the United States v. Windsor case. In order to dispel a misconception, it should be noted that this decision does not require states to recognize same-sex marriages.

The primary point to take away from this ruling is that it will ONLY affect individuals residing in the 13 states* and the District of Columbia that have legalized gay marriage.  So, in Ohio, the DOMA ruling will not have any real present substantive affect.  But it may end up becoming a step forward in legalizing gay marriage.

Now that DOMA has been overturned, legally married same-sex couples in those specific states will be granted the same federal benefits to which heterosexual married couples have been entitled.  These benefits include social security, estate tax, joint tax-returns, military benefits, health coverage, and child custody … Read More... “DOMA Ruling: The Impact of this Historic Supreme Court Decision”

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