Columbus Child Custody Attorneys

Divorce is a tough process for anyone to ever go through, and it gets even tougher when kids are involved. Couples who are looking at divorcing often face difficult questions but, unfortunately, not a lot of answers:

• How will this affect the kids?
• What’s going to happen to their quality of life after this?
• Is this what’s best for them?

Because of the uncertain and complicated nature of the divorce process, many couples decide to step back and stay in an unhappy marriage thinking that what they’re doing “is for the best.” Their fear of the unknown convinces them that an unhealthy, toxic, and even abusive family environment may just be a better option for their kids or future than a split household.

But it doesn’t have to go that way; divorce doesn’t always have to be full of unanswered questions and unsure decisions. With honest answers and professional legal guidance from an established child custody attorney, you can have access to the knowledge and insight that you need to make confident, informed decisions for yourself and your child.

Eliminating the Happy Home Myth

Many couples decide against divorce (even if they’re seriously considering it) because they know that their kids deserve an intact family. While this point is true and kids usually do best in intact homes, it’s important to note that an intact home isn’t always a happy one.

In certain situations, especially in high-conflict marriages, staying together for the kids may actually do more harm to you and your kids than good. According to the Harvard Study of Adult Development, living in the midst of conflict has negative effects on our health. The study also shows that staying in a high-conflict marriage that does not have much affection may be even worse than parting ways.

The family environment and relationships that your kids are constantly exposed to will help shape how they perceive their own relationships when they grow up. If they’re constantly exposed to unhappiness and dislike, they will grow up believing that unhappiness and dislike are normal in relationships. How you handle your relationship with your partner might as well be a picture of how your kids’ future relationships can possibly look like.

While divorce is definitely something we don’t want people to go through, it sometimes can be the only way for spouses and their children to get out of an unhealthy, hostile, and possibly traumatizing situation. When done peacefully, divorce may be a way for you to give your child a happier and healthier relationship with you and your spouse.

Our dedicated Columbus divorce attorney can help answer your questions as well as let you know what your legal options are under Ohio law.

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Parental Rights & Responsibilities

Child custody laws can vary depending on which state you’re in. In the state of Ohio, they no longer refer to it as awarding custody. Instead, Ohio courts allocate the parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the minor children of the marriage. And when doing so, the courts treat both parents as equals. They take into account the child’s needs and try to fashion an arrangement that works best for the child.

When determining what will be in the best interests of the child, Ohio courts make sure that all relevant factors are considered. These factors include:

• Preferences of the child’s parents
• Preferences and concerns of the child
• The child’s interaction and relationship with their parents, siblings, family, etc.
• The child’s adjustment to their environment and community
• Mental and physical health of both parents and all parties involved
• Fitness of the parents

Ohio courts may allocate parental rights and responsibilities primarily to one parent—who will be the residential parent and legal custodian of the child—and then divide the other rights and responsibilities between the two parents. The courts can also issue shared parenting (joint custody) order and allocate the rights and responsibilities to both parents. This will often include child support calculations and define both the mother’s and father’s rights to the child.

Whether you’re looking for sole or shared custody of your child, our child custody experts here at Panico Law Group, LLC are ready to study your case and provide you with the legal support you need to secure the best quality of life for your child.

Father’s Rights & Mother’s Rights

Divorce, dissolution of marriage, or legal separation is a difficult time for fathers and mothers, and we at Panico Law Group, LLC understand that. Every parent wants to spend as much time as possible with their child, which is why our goal is to help give your case the best possible outcome.

Contrary to what many believe, mothers don’t have an unfair advantage over fathers when it comes to custody of the child. By Ohio law, both parents come to the court on equal footing when child custody and parental rights are to be determined. The primary focus is on the child and its best interests. The courts are to determine an arrangement that works best for the long-term stability and health of the child—whether it’s shared parenting or sole custody to one parent. The courts recognize that children need both their parents. There has been a definite trend toward shared parenting and maximizing the role and parenting time of both parents.

However, you may not find shared parenting to be the best option for your child. If think an award of sole custody is instead best for you and your children, our team of family lawyers can help you with that. Call Panico Law Group, LLC to sit down, discuss, and plan with one of our experienced attorneys.

Your Columbus Child Custody Law Firm

Panico Law Group, LLC has successfully handled child custody cases for numerous clients, and we are confident that we have the expertise, experience, as well as the empathy to guide you through the challenging legal processes involved in fighting for child custody.

Our team consists of accomplished family lawyers who are experts in Ohio child custody laws so we can give you answers to your questions and honest legal advice on how you can move forward. We’re here to help you safeguard your rights as well as the rights of your child.

We are ready to listen. Call Panico Law Group, LLC now at (614) 964-9860 for a Free Consultation with an experienced Child Custody Attorney.