Document Actions
Family Law: Child Custody
Find local court forms and rules - Use this tool to find and link to the webpages of local courts that contain that court's local rules and forms. Not all courts have a website or have posted local rules or forms to their website.
Legal Education
A Child Cannot Choose Where to Live
- Information sheet from Southeastern Ohio Legal Services discussing factors a court must consider in deciding a custody case.
Change of Custody Fact Sheet
- This fact sheet discusses the legal grounds for changing custody where there is already an existing custody order.
Children's Wishes Are Considered in Custody Matters
- To determine whether shared parenting is in the best interest of the children, the court considers many factors.
Court Hearing on Change of Custody
- This brochure from the Ohio State Legal Services Association offers general advice on how to prepare, what you must prove, how to present your case during a court hearing on change of custody.
Facing Suspension or Expulsion from School
- A guide to Ohio law and procedures for students facing removal from school.
Identifying Homeless Youth
- A guide to identifying children and youth experiencing homelessness in Ohio.
Legal Rights of Teenage Mothers
- Overview of the legal rights of teen mothers and a project at the Legal Aid Society of Columbus to provide teen moms with legal representation.
List of Ohio Trial Courts' Websites
-Here's a list of all of Ohio's courts, by county, and links to the available courts' websites.
My Child Is 18; Now What?
- What happens to your responsibility as a parent once your child turns 18.
Representing Yourself in Court -- Domestic Relations
- This brochure explains how you can use photos, letters, business records and other evidence to prove your case when you are representing yourself.
Sharing Parental Responsibilities After Separation
- When parents come before the domestic relations court to terminate their marriage, the most important issues the court must address involve what will happen to their children. The marriage may end, but both former spouses will still be parents, and their children will still need to be cared for and protected.
Student Eligibility for School Meals
- A guide to the nutritional rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness in Ohio. Information on obtaining school lunch.
Termination of Marriage and Legal Separation in Ohio
- This brochure from Community Legal Aid Services, Inc., discusses Ohio laws concerning annulment, dissolution of marriage (a type of voluntary, joint divorce), divorce and legal separation.
The Supreme Court of Ohio - Public Inquiry Case Information
-Search for cases filed with the Supreme Court of Ohio on or after January 1, 1985.
Unmarried Mothers Have Legal Custody
- This information sheet discusses Ohio custody law when a mother is unmarried and there is no court custody order.
What is a Dissolution of Marriage?
- In a dissolution of marriage in Ohio, the husband and wife file a joint petition where both parties are requesting the court to grant the same relief, namely, that their marriage be terminated and that their separation agreement that is attached to the joint petition be reviewed and approved by the court.
What is a Legal Separation?
- In Ohio, some people seek a legal separation because they do not meet the six-month residency requirement for filing a divorce action in Ohio.
Other Resources
Adoptions Raise “Right to Know” Questions
- From the Ohio State Bar Association website - Information regarding finding a birth parent.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Provisions for Individuals
- Information on how ARRA funds will affect various programs.
Checking the Status of a Child Support Payment
- This secure Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website provides child support payors and payees with payment and balance information on their case, including the last payment and date received, current balances, arrearage balances and a total balance.
Domestic Relations Mediation Program - Franklin County
- Mediation is a problem solving process in which a neutral professional (the mediator) facilitates communication between parties involved in a divorce or a domestic relations dispute. The mediator helps parents understand the needs of their children, reach agreements in their children’s best interest and develop a cooperative parenting relationship.
Ohio Domestic Violence Crisis And Support Resources
- Website with links to many resources concerning all forms of domestic violence. Also provided is a list of shelters in each of the counties of the state of Ohio.
Ohio Domestic Violence Resource Center
- This site provides information on domestic violence and stalking, including information on the law and community resources available to help you stay safe and complete the court papers necessary to get legal protection.
Related Library Topics
Adoption and Foster Care
Child Abuse and Neglect
Child Care
Child Support
Legal Separation, Divorce and Dissolution
Visitation
See More Family Law Topics
| Back to Top of Page | Back to Step 1 |