Steady the present: temporary orders for the home, the children and the bills
The first weeks decide a lot. We ask the court for temporary orders on parenting time and support when the family needs stability now.
Family law
Family law attorneys in Columbus
When a family changes shape, the children and the next few months come first. We help you steady the present, plan the long term, and reach agreements that hold up, going to a hearing only when an agreement is not possible.
Where families start
- 01Divorce or dissolutionContested or agreed, with property division.
- 02A parenting planSchedules built around school and work.
- 03A change after the decreeA move, a new job or a new need.
The first decision
Divorce or dissolution: which path fits you?
Ohio offers two ways to end a marriage. A dissolution is agreed: both spouses sign the terms first and attend one hearing. A divorce starts with a complaint and may be contested. The right path depends on how much you already agree on.
30 to 90Days
Ohio holds a dissolution hearing 30 to 90 days after filing.
1 hearingIf agreed
Both spouses confirm the agreement in court.
What we handle
Which family matters do we take on?
Family cases are legal problems and personal ones at the same time. We aim for agreements that hold up, and we litigate when an agreement is not possible. These are the matters we handle most often.
Divorce and dissolutionContested divorces and agreed dissolutions, including property division.Parenting plansShared parenting and custody schedules built around school and work.
Child and spousal supportCalculations under Ohio guidelines and requests to modify orders.
Prenuptial agreementsClear agreements drafted well before the wedding date.
Post-decree changesModifying custody or support after a move or a change in income.
Mediation supportPreparation and review for clients working with a mediator.Parenting time
What do Ohio courts weigh in a parenting plan?
The child's routine
School, activities and how the child is adjusting at home and in the community.
Each parent's role
The relationship with each parent and who has been doing the daily care.
Cooperation
Which parent is more likely to support the child's time with the other.
Stability
The home, the school and the community the child already knows. A move can be approved, but it needs a plan that keeps both relationships.
Fees
What does a family case cost?
Agreed matters are often handled for a flat fee. Contested cases are billed hourly against a retainer, with a written estimate and monthly statements so nothing arrives as a surprise.
Agreed dissolution
Separation agreement, filings and the hearing
Parenting plan modification
Motion, negotiation and an agreed entry
Contested divorce
Hourly against a retainer, with a written estimate
Illustrative demo figures, confirmed in a written engagement letter.
How we handle family cases
What will working with us feel like?
Three commitments we make to every family client, from the first call to the final entry. Family cases are long, and how they are handled matters almost as much as how they end.
- 01Steady the present
- 02Agreements first, hearings when needed
- 03Keep the children out of it
Agreements first, hearings when needed
Most families settle. We prepare as if a hearing may be needed, which is what makes a fair agreement possible.
Keep the children out of it
We help you build a plan your children can live with, and we never put them in the middle of the negotiation.
Common questions
Family Law questions
Short answers to the questions families ask first. Every family is different, so call.
A dissolution is an agreed ending where both spouses sign terms before filing. A divorce starts with a complaint and may be contested.
Courts look at the best interest of the child, including each parent's involvement, stability and the child's needs.
An agreed dissolution can finish in a few months. A contested divorce often takes longer depending on the issues.
Yes. A substantial change in circumstances can support a request to modify child or spousal support.
Courts look at the best interest of the child, including each parent's involvement, stability and the child's needs. Ohio uses the terms shared parenting and sole residential parent rather than custody in many orders.
An agreed dissolution can finish in a few months. A contested divorce often takes a year or more depending on the issues, the court's calendar and how much is disputed.
Yes. A substantial change in circumstances, such as a new job, a move or a change in the child's needs, can support a request to modify child or spousal support.
Court filings are generally public, but many details, including some financial records, can be protected, and dissolutions keep the conflict out of a courtroom.