Columbus, Ohio Child Custody Attorney

At D. Winkler Law Offices, LLC, we understand the difficulty in resolving child custody matters. As such, you can depend on our experience to best serve your interests in addressing your particular child custody dispute.

Since the custody of children can be difficult on everyone involved, it is the responsibility of every parent to limit the adverse effects of a child custody matter on their children. Child custody matters entail two parts: “legal custody”, which pertains to the person or persons vested with the legal rights and obligations to make major decisions on behalf of the child, and “parenting time”, which focuses on the amount of time each parent has with the child.

Legal Custody
There are two types of custody arrangements – “sole legal custody”, where legal custody and residential parent status is vested with one parent, and “shared parenting”, where parenting rights and responsibilities are vested jointly with both parents. Shared parenting does not automatically denote equal parenting time with the child. All child custody issues are dependent upon the best interest of the child.

Parenting Time
Ultimately, the Court must find that a parenting time arrangement is in the child's best interests. The amount of parenting time one has with a child is very fact dependent and considers, among other things, the relationship the parent has with the child, how close the parents live to one another, the daycare and school needs of the child, the child’s extracurricular activities, and the child’s wishes (if old enough).

Below are links to Central Ohio Domestic Court’s Standard Visitation Schedules:

• Franklin County
• Delaware County
• Fairfield County
• Licking County
• Pickaway County

As your Columbus, Ohio Child Custody Attorney I work hard to protect the rights of custodial parents and non-custodial parents to ensure that the Court has all of the relevant information necessary to best protect a parent's relationship with their child. The Court retains jurisdiction to modify an original child custody order.

Child custody issues are very fact dependent. Generally, all things being equal, the Court prefers a shared parenting arrangement where both parents are actively involved in the care and upbringing of the child. However, should a shared parenting plan be unworkable, than sole legal custody with one parent may be the only recourse. In most instances, it is beneficial for parents to work together to achieve a mutually agreeable child custody and parenting time arrangement tailored to the child’s needs and the parents’ schedules.

Should you and the other parent agree on a custody and parenting time arrangement, it is very important to have a qualified and experienced family law attorney review your arrangement to better protect your rights and to prepare for any unforeseen consequences.

Columbus, Ohio Child Custody Lawyer

If you would like to speak with me regarding divorce, dissolution, child custody, child support, establishing parental rights, legal separation, spousal support, grandparent / companionship rights, stepparent adoptions and annulment of marriages, please e-mail or call (614) 461-5708 for a FREE telephone consultation.

Columbus, Ohio, Family Law Attorney Dirken D. Winkler