The children are the treasures! The children are your legacy.Women have greater economic power and opportunity than ever and men participate more than ever in the raising of their children. The concept of father’s rights has emerged. Mothers today no longer automatically receive custody as they did a generation ago.
If custody is at issue, the court determines the matter based upon the best interests of the child. The law is gender-neutral. Each parent is equally eligible for custody consideration. For the judge who is assigned your case, the well-being of your child is absolutely paramount in his or her analysis and thinking.
When a household fractures and parents separate, the issue of where the child(ren) will live, go to school, have friends, go to church, play sports, etc. is the paramount question.
Initial legal maneuvers and blunders, sometimes made even before the lawyers are retained and the case begins, can have a dramatic impact on the final outcome of the case.
Clients Know the Best Interests of their Child(ren)
At the law firm of Gump Law we focus on helping clients assert their rights to further the best interests of their children. We help clients put aside their anger and educate them about their options in child custody and guardianship matters.
Stay involved with your kids after divorce.
Educating Clients About Custody and Guardianship
There are four basic types of child custody in Ohio — sole custody, joint custody, shared parenting, and guardianship:
- Joint custody is occasionally utilized in juvenile court between parties other than the natural/biological parents of the a child. This type of custody requires parties to cooperate in decision-making regarding education, health care and religious instruction. It does not mean that the children live with each party for an equal amount of time. The parties will agree or the court will assign a residential parent. The amount of time the children spends with the non-residential party is addressed in a visitation, or parenting time, agreement or order.
- Sole custody is the term that describes the arrangement that gives one parent the responsibility for deciding everything related to the child’s welfare. It does not mean that the other parent is out of the picture. Parenting time can be pursuant to the court’s standard order of parenting time, or can be modified to meet the parties’ and the child’s schedule.
- Shared Parenting This type of custody requires parties to cooperate in decision-making regarding education, health care and religious instruction. It does not mean that the children live with each party for an equal amount of time, however, the idea is for the child to be with one parent of the other the majority of the time. The parties will agree or the court will assign a residential parent. The amount of time the children spends with the non-residential party is addressed in a visitation, or parenting time, agreement or order.is a form of joint custody. It is appropriate when the child spends equal time with each parent, the parents reside in the same school district and are able to joint parent.
- Guardianship is applicable when a child’s natural parents are not available. It is possible and sometimes preferred for the non-parent to secure an order of custody instead of a guardianship order.
Guardianship cases are not heard in the Domestic Relations Courts but fall under the authority of the Probate Division of the Circuit Courts. We also handle cases regarding the permanent removal of a child from the State of Ohio.
Gump Law Office provides clients with helpful and caring legal assistance in child custody, visitation, and support. Dennis Gump believes the most important aspect of a child custody case is your child’s well-being and what is in his or her best interest. We ensure that your parental rights and your child’s best interest are considered throughout the legal process. Attorney Dennis Gump, as well as his staff, have decades of experience providing expert legal services to clients in Dayton and surrounding areas.
We know Ohio custody law
Ohio custody laws do not favor one parent over the other in custody matters. The courts are only concerned with what is best for your child. Custody can be decided in a variety of ways depending on the wishes of the parents, the child, and circumstances. Possible types of custody include:
- Shared parenting between both parents
- Temporary custody to one or both parents
- Sole custody to either parent
In Ohio, if either parent requests shared parenting and provides a plan determined to be in your child’s or children’s best interest, parental responsibilities and rights may be granted to both parents. Conversely, if circumstances show that your child is better served by custody with one parent over the other, then custody is granted to that parent.
Once your child custody matter is determined, several issues or questions may arise including:
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Dennis Gump’s experienced insight on child custody issues enables him to work closely with parents to understand all elements of their child custody case.