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Family Law

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Family Law

Family Law Attorneys

Family law cases are a combination of emotional, financial, and legal issues intertwined into one. The case will take place in the Common Pleas Court, or the Domestic Relations Division if it involves a married couple. Cases involving minor children who were born outside the marriage will take place in the Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division. Your case can have the power to impact every intimate aspect of your life.

Relationships, access to children, finances, homes, retirement, and ownership of a business may be put at risk. You want to entrust your case to a law firm that has extensive resources, skilled attorneys, and a history of success. The VanNoy firm provides exactly this type of representation to clients with the added personal attention that they deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Law in Ohio

What Is the Difference Between Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage?

Divorce is an adversarial process where one or both parties contest the terms. Dissolution of marriage is a mutual, no-fault process where both spouses agree on all terms, including property division, custody, and support, before filing. Dissolution is generally faster and less costly, but it requires full agreement between both parties.

How Does Ohio Divide Marital Property in a Divorce?

Ohio follows an equitable distribution standard. Courts divide marital property in a way that is fair, though not necessarily equal. Factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse’s assets and liabilities, and the tax consequences of the division all influence the outcome. Separate property, or assets owned before the marriage or gained as a gift or inheritance, is generally not subject to division.

How Do the Courts Determine Child Custody Arrangements?

Ohio courts determine custody based on the best interests of the child standard. Relevant factors include each parent’s relationship with the child, the child’s adjustment to home, school, and community, the mental and physical health of all parties, and the child’s own wishes depending on their age and maturity.

What Is the Difference Between Legal Custody and Physical Custody?

Legal custody, referred to in Ohio as “parental rights and responsibilities,” refers to the right to make major decisions about a child’s education, healthcare, and welfare. Physical custody relates to where the child primarily lives. Courts may award sole custody to one parent or shared parenting to both, depending on what serves the child’s best interests.

How Is Child Support Calculated?

Ohio uses an income shares model. The formula takes into account both parents’ gross incomes, the number of children, health insurance costs, childcare expenses, and the parenting time schedule. The Ohio Child Support Guidelines provide a baseline amount that courts may adjust based on specific circumstances.

Common Family Law Cases

Family law involves many of the legal issues that occur between spouses, parents and children, unmarried parents, and sometimes even grandparents. These life-changing cases can provoke intense emotions and span many areas of law, such as real estate valuation and domestic violence charges. It requires a skilled team of attorneys with diverse experience to understand these cases from all angles and achieve a positive outcome.

Our attorneys have handled a wide range of family law matters, including the following: 

  • DivorceWhether your divorce is friendly and simple or highly contested and complicated, having reliable and experienced representation is important to a positive outcome. We can help you create a custom legal strategy to protect what’s most important to your family.
  • Child Custody (also known as Parenting Time or Parental Responsibility) – The right to raise your child as you see fit is one of the most important legal rights any parent has, and we help our clients defend and protect those rights during both divorce and paternity cases.
  • Parenting Time – Formerly known as visitation, parenting time is now awarded to each parent through a legal agreement called a parenting plan that must be approved by the court.
  • Child Support – Children have the right to be supported by both parents’ incomes, even if the parents are separated. When there is a significant difference in income between the parents, the court may award child support to one parent to assist in caring for the child.
  • Property Division – Our attorneys help clients to understand what is considered marital and separate property in Ohio, and how to report and divide these assets during a divorce.
  • High-Asset Divorces – When a divorce involves a large number of assets, high-value assets like a business, or difficult-to-value assets like stock options, it takes a knowledgeable attorney to determine an equitable division of property.
  • Spousal Support – Occasionally the court will allocate spousal support, or alimony, to one spouse whose income or earning potential is much less than the other, to assist them in supporting themselves after the divorce.

Who We Represent in Family Law Matters

No two family law cases are exactly alike. Our clients come to us from a wide range of situations, each with its own legal challenges and personal stakes. Here is a closer look at the people we regularly represent.

  • People Facing a Change in Their Marriage: You are considering divorce or separation, have been served with court papers, or need to determine your next legal steps, whether that involves ending the marriage, living separately, the family home, property and debts, financial support, or decisions about your children.
  • Families Resolving Legal Issues Involving Their Children: Parents or other involved family members need clear legal terms covering parentage, decision-making, parenting time, child support, relocation or a child’s care, whether the parents are married, separated, divorced or unmarried.
  • People With Important Financial Interests at Stake: Your family law matter may affect a home, business, professional practice, income, real estate, investments, retirement accounts, debts, financial support or your ability to remain financially independent.
  • People Whose Existing Family-Court Terms No Longer Work: A parenting, support, property, or divorce order no longer fits because of changes in income, employment, residence, health, or a child’s needs, or another person is refusing to follow the terms already in place.

If you recognize your situation in any of the descriptions above, our team is prepared to help you find a path forward.

Ohio’s Family Law Courts

In Ohio, family law cases follow a defined court structure. Matters involving married couples are handled by the Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division. Cases involving children born outside of marriage fall under the Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division. Knowing which court governs your case and understanding the procedural rules that apply is a critical first step that our attorneys handle on your behalf from day one.

Why Choose The VanNoy Firm for Your Family Law Case?

Family law cases sit at the intersection of the legal and the deeply personal. Relationships, access to children, homes, retirement accounts, and financial independence may all be at stake. You want to entrust your case to a firm with extensive resources, skilled attorneys, and a track record of results.

Here is what sets The VanNoy Firm apart:

  • Individualized representation: We treat every client’s case as unique. There is no one-size-fits-all approach here; our team develops a strategy tailored specifically to your goals and circumstances.
  • Comprehensive resources: Our in-house private investigative firm and court services firm give our attorneys access to information and support that strengthens your case.
  • Broad legal knowledge: Family law cases often intersect with real estate, business valuation, and domestic violence law. Our attorneys bring diverse experience that allows us to understand your case from every angle.
  • Commitment to results: Our primary goal is to ensure each client’s issue is successfully resolved. We do not stop working until we reach the best possible outcome for you.

Trust The VanNoy Firm for all Your Family Law Needs

The attorneys at The VanNoy Firm are dedicated to finding the best legal solutions possible for each and every client, and we’d be honored to assist you. Please contact us today to learn more.

How Can We Help You?

Our premier Dayton attorneys work diligently to defend our clients’ rights with aggressive and individualized legal representation.

Our Family Law Attorneys

Anthony S. VanNoy
Trial Attorney
Ileana G. Valdivia
Attorney

Why Do People Choose Us?

Because We Win!

You Can Trust Your Future To The VanNoy Firm

How Can We Help You?

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