Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way we planned.
Attorney Beverly Cox can help you through the difficult times.
I am here to answer all of your questions about divorce, dissolution, domestic violence, child custody, grandparent rights, property division and support. I practice in Domestic Relations and Juvenile Courts throughout Northwest Ohio assisting clients with traditional and non-traditional family issues. I also assist families in Monroe County, Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can my spouse/partner and I use the same attorney if we have come to an agreement?
A: No. Due to conflicts of interest, an attorney can never represent parties on both sides of a case. Sometimes, when the parties have reached an agreement, one of the parties chooses to represent himself/herself and proceed without obtaining his or her own legal counsel.
Q: What is the difference between divorce and dissolution?
A: While the differences are far too many to list here, the simple answer is that a divorce is an adversarial proceeding to end a marriage, whereas dissolution is a non-adversarial alternative to achieve the same goal. I am happy to explain the various procedures to you during your initial consultation.
Q. What if I was never married to my child’s other parent?
A. I can guide you through obtaining a finding of paternity, establishing custody and parenting time, and determining child support. This may include administrative proceedings through the local child support enforcement agency/friend of the court or actions in the appropriate Juvenile Court.
Q. Do I have any rights to custody or visitation with my grandchild?
A. “Grandparent rights” is a complex area of law. Because your rights depend greatly on the facts and circumstances of your individual case, it is best to consult with an attorney. However, if you are a grandparent who is raising your grandchild in Ohio, you may be eligible to complete a caretaker affidavit that will permit you to handle school matters and obtain medical, psychological and dental care for the child. Click here to access the form: Caretaker Affidavit
Q. When can I ask for a review of my child support?
A. Generally speaking, you may request a review of your child support order every three (3) years. An earlier review is possible under certain circumstances.
Q. Where will my case be filed?
A. Where a case is filed depends on the type of case, where you and the other party live, and whether or not you and the other party were ever married.
Q: Can I afford an attorney?
A. The question you should be asking is, “Can I afford to not hire an attorney?” Having an attorney assist you from the beginning of your case can prevent problems and save you money in the long-run. The cost of a divorce, dissolution or custody proceeding can vary widely depending on a number of factors. These include such things as where you live, the complexity of the parties’ finances, issues of domestic violence, and the parties’ willingness to discuss alternatives and compromise. The attorney fee structure and costs will be discussed during your initial consultation.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Ohio State Bar Association LawFacts:
https://www.ohiobar.org/ForPublic/Resources/LawFactsPamphlets/Pages/LawFactsPamphlets.aspx
Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services: www.jfs.ohio.gov
Ohio Child Support Customer Service Portal: https://childsupport.ohio.gov
Lucas County Clerk of Courts Docket Search: http://co.lucas.oh.us/index.aspx?NID=99
Fulton County Clerk of Courts Docket Search: http://pa.fultoncountyoh.com/pa/
Wood County Domestic Relations Court : https://courtofcommonpleas.co.wood.oh.us/domestic-relations/http://www.co.wood.oh.us/drcourt/
Wood County Clerk of Courts Docket Search: http://clerkofcourt.co.wood.oh.us/WCCOC_2009_PublicAccessDisclaimer.htm
Monroe County Friend of the Court (MI):
http://www.co.monroe.mi.us/government/courts/circuit_court/friend_of_the_court/index.html