Columbus Family Law Blog

In Ohio, child support awards are based on many different factors, and will vary according to the unique circumstances of each particular parent/family. However, once a court orders one parent to make child support payments, they must typically be paid until the child reaches the age of majority, generally somewhere between their 18th and 21st birthday.

It is never appropriate for one parent to simply ignore a child support award or modify it on their own, even if the ability of that parent to pay is extremely limited. In fact, if a parent feels that a modification is necessary, the court will have to make the ultimate determination based on the facts of the case.

The use of social media has spread throughout the United State's population like wildfire. One of the most popular outlets for those participating in online sharing in the state of Ohio is Facebook. For some residents of Ohio, posting status updates and photos is a routine part of each day.

People involved in contentious divorces and child custody battles need to take note however. In some places, these posts are of interest not only to one's Facebook "friends," but to family courts as well. This is because depending on where one lives, posts may be used against you in a court of law. This evidence is most commonly used in child custody battles.

In our previous post we provided suggestions on things that anyone facing a divorce should do to get the best possible result. In this post we will focus on ways that someone who is divorcing and has children, can prepare.

After child custody, perhaps the most obvious thing that needs to be determined in a divorce where children are involved is child support. Health insurance, a big concern in today's day in age, is often determined as a part of this. Looking forward, sometimes many years, it is also a good idea to determine how college tuition will be covered as well. However the financial responsibility is divided, it is a good idea to avoid using retirement funds to cover one's share.

The trauma associated with divorce is typically strongest with feelings of failure by the parties, child custody decisions and property settlement issues. While this is not exactly breaking news for those who have been through the experience, people should understand that reasonableness is a critical component of minimizing the disappointment and trauma of divorce.

Whether you live in Virginia Beach, Virginia or Los Angeles, California, you will face these challenges should you file a divorce petition. Often, the necessary property settlement agreement, the least "psychological" of the three primary areas, poses the greatest challenge to resolve. In community property states, such as California, these settlements can become even more contentious.