McCormack Family Law | Top Divorce Lawyer | Child Custody & Support

The bottom line is this: courts often reduce a difference in income between the two households for a period of time by the sensible use of spousal support and child support.

Ohio statutes and case law propose equal division of property as a place to start. The statute says that ‘the division of marital property shall be equal’ unless equal division is unfair or if it is established that one spouse has engaged in financial misconduct.

There are many individual situations, however, so a court may make adjustments. Here are some common examples.

Child support is not a favor to a former spouse. It is fulfilling a responsibility to children. To put it in a nutshell: in Ohio, each parent is responsible for paying his or her share of the total support each child needs. That’s pretty simple, but here are things to know.

There is no law that forces you to end your marriage in a certain way. You can end as partners or as adversaries, fighting in court or agreeing in court, breaking the bank or limiting your emotional and financial damage. And at any time, you can change your mind.

In some situations, people other than birth parents play important roles in a child’s life. It may be a step-parent and step-child who want to strengthen their relationship through adoption. It may be a relative who cares for a child when parents are unable to do so.

When the State of Ohio says that decisions about everything from living arrangements to financial support must be structured to serve ‘the best interests of the child,’ what does that really mean? Here are some basic principles.

A collection of useful links for northeast Ohio courts and other helpful websites.