When you’re facing an OVI charge in Ohio, the criminal penalties might seem like your biggest concern. But if you’re involved in a custody arrangement, the implications can extend far beyond fines and license suspension. Your parenting time, decision-making authority, and even your relationship with your children could be at...

As the holiday season ends and the calendar flips to January, many contemplate significant life changes. One of the most notable trends during this time is the surge in divorce filings, earning January the reputation as the biggest month for marital dissolutions. People generally expect the holiday season to be...

Divorce is a complex and stressful time for anyone going through it, especially when children are involved. Many parents choose to co-parent after their divorce, which is a choice parents usually make thinking of the best interests of their children. Co-parenting is an excellent choice for parents who want to...

Divorce is difficult for anyone who goes through it, and tensions often run high between the parties. Between the legal aspects of divorce to the changes in family dynamics, divorce can take a heavy emotional and mental toll on anyone. The pressures involved in the process can easily lead people...

Making a parenting plan during a divorce is incredibly important. A well-written parenting plan can help your child succeed and help you feel good about the future. A poorly made plan, however, can hurt your kids. Creating a solid plan is challenging, and it can be difficult to avoid major...

Spousal support, often referred to as alimony or spousal maintenance, can be a significant financial consideration in divorce proceedings. It may feel like a burden, a duty, a blessing or a right — it depends on your perspective and what side of the funds you find yourself. However, spousal support...

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act stimulus checks are beginning to be deposited in bank accounts. On April 13, 2020, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, informed financial institutions and creditors the COVID-19 stimulus checks are protected from federal and state action related to garnishment, attachment or execution....

Deciding whether to terminate your marriage can be difficult and stressful enough without a pandemic causing additional financial pressures on your household. If you are thinking about terminating your marriage, you may be wondering whether this is even possible during the COVID-19 pandemic given the current “stay at home” order....

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently announced that Ohio’s mandatory “stay at home” order would be extended until May 1, 2020. During this time, whether you are working from home or using this time to complete tasks that have been put off for some time, you may have found yourself thinking...

COVID-19: Parenting exchanges On March 22, 2020, Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health, ordered that effective 11:50 p.m. on March 23, 2020, all persons are to stay at home or place of residence, unless they fall into one of the listed exceptions. For parents operating under...

You’ve tried everything to make your marriage work – compromising, enhancing communication or perhaps therapy. But you know when it’s time to say goodbye. Nobody deserves to stay in an unhappy or unhealthy marriage. After realizing you want a divorce, the next step is very difficult – you have to...

When you go through a divorce, you want to do everything you can to minimize the stress on your child. One major stress that divorcing couples go through is deciding on finances for the child. While discussing finances with your former spouse can be difficult, setting up a financial plan...

The end of marriage can be an overwhelming experience, and many people have a difficult time during the divorce process. This is completely normal, and if you encounter various challenges during your divorce you should not feel hopeless or become depressed. For example, it is common to have a lot...

Many fathers experience a lot of guilt after a divorce. Even if you’ve been a model parent for the most part, you might still feel responsible for the demise of your marriage and its impact on your family. According to Men’s Health, there are plenty of steps that can be...

Some people decide to end their marriage after a couple of years, while others may decide that divorce is necessary after decades of marriage. Moreover, divorce may involve young adults and those who are middle-aged, but some older adults decide that the time has come to move on as well....

Marital abuse can take on many forms. Along with physical violence and threats, an abuser may also employ a tactic known as gaslighting. This involves lies and other manipulative tactics that make the target of the ill-treatment question his or her grasp on reality. Psychology Today explains more about how...

How can I avoid child discipline issues after my divorce? Many parents disagree on how to properly discipline their children when they neglect chores and school work or talk back. These disagreements often become more pronounced after a divorce, especially when ex-spouses share in the decision-making responsibility. Very Well Family...

Children who are going through a divorce are forced to face extreme changes in their lives. One of the biggest changes may be transitioning to a single-parent household from a traditional-family household. This may mean moving from a home to an apartment or moving in with grandparents. Child support is...

If you are currently going through a divorce, you know first-hand how extremely overwhelming the process can be. Not only are there a host of issues to negotiate, but there are often strong emotions involved when terminating a marriage. One of the most difficult tasks to tackle during the procedures...

Infidelity is a common reason for many divorces in Ohio. When a spouse is unfaithful the whole family is affected, and even suspicions of infidelity can be enough to cause strife. If you think your spouse may be cheating, Psychology Today offers the following insight. While these signs don’t apply...

Whether you have recently filed for divorce or you are considering entering into the process, there are a myriad of factors that must be negotiated. Divorce can be overwhelming and emotional, especially when there are children involved. It may be difficult for you and your spouse to determine what type...

If you’ve recently gone through a divorce in Ohio, you may be feeling depressed about your situation. Even if it’s only a temporary feeling, it’s important that you take the right steps to manage your emotions to ensure you’re able to get back to the things you enjoy most. Healthline...

Whether you are recently separated or divorced in Ohio, life is changing. The start of a new year is an ideal opportunity to clean up loose ends and move forward. The Law Offices of Saia, Marrocco & Jensen Inc., Inc can help you navigate the complex areas of divorce, custody...

As if a divorce in Ohio is not hard enough, the challenges that come with sharing custody of your children make the situation even more difficult. This is especially true when it comes to the holiday season. This time of year is stressful on its own but add in the...

If you’ve recently gone through a divorce in Ohio, you may be dreading the holidays. Many families experience conflict during this time of year, which can be stressful for both you and your kids. In this case, VeryWellMind.com offers the following advice on how you can mitigate holiday conflict. Prepare...

Divorce is a common means by which an Ohio couple may choose to dissolve a marriage that is not working. A less common way of dissolving a marriage, which is only available under certain circumstances, is to obtain an annulment. Perhaps the best way of understanding annulment is by examining...

It’s no secret that divorce can be expensive. As a result, many divorcing couples in Ohio find themselves in a precarious financial state once the dust settles. Not only might you lose half of your assets, you’ll also be responsible for legal fees and child support if you’re the non-custodial...

It’s a sad fact of life that the natural aging process can diminish a person’s capabilities. If you notice this happening to a loved one, it may be time to consider the next steps into home health care or even assisted living. Caring.com urges you to look for the following...

Divorce can be extremely tough on kids as well as parents. This is particularly true of very young children, who often lack the coping mechanisms to deal with the aftermath of a marital separation. In this case, it’s up to you to help your kids navigate their emotions after a...

It’s no secret that caring for a child is expensive. That’s why it’s crucial that the non-custodial parent provides financial assistance to his or her child after a divorce. However, in some cases these payments are never made, which can greatly impact a child’s well-being. Accordingly, U.S. News & World...

Ending a marriage can be a very difficult decision, but some people come to the conclusion that it is necessary to move on from a toxic marriage. In doing so, life may change in all sorts of ways and there are many different issues that may arise, such as financial...

Immediately following your divorce in Columbus, it can be difficult for you, your ex-spouse and especially your kids to become acclimated to your new custody situation. Yet eventually things settle in and life goes on. Then summer comes and you want to take the kids away for an extended vacation....

There are many reasons for a divorce, and every couple has a unique experience during the process of divorce. Sometimes couples end their marriage due to problems that arose unexpectedly, such as one spouse having an affair or a domestic violence incident. On the other hand, there are more chronic...

If you are a resident of Ohio going through a divorce, you might be wondering whether spousal support is an option. While it may have been associated in the past with financial support given to a woman, spousal support can be awarded to either party in the proceedings as long...

It may be next to impossible to expect that there not be some strain placed on the relationships parents in Columbus have with their children following their divorces. That strain is compounded not only by the time they spend away from their kids, but also the amount of distance that...

Currently, spousal support is tax deductible to the individual that is paying it (payor) and considered taxable income to the recipient (payee). That is all changing due to the new tax laws enacted by Congress. Starting January 1, 2019, spousal support will no longer be tax deductible for the payor...

Although typically painful in the beginning, a divorce can ultimately open doors for future opportunities and happiness. However, before many reach that state of contentment, they must jump through the legal hoops of the divorce process. Like many states, Ohio enforces its own child custody laws but attempts to create...

If your family is breaking up, you know the heartbreak and pain of the process. It is difficult enough without divorce proceedings turning into an ugly fight that you might reasonably want to avoid. There is an alternative, and it’s called collaborative divorce. It’s available in Ohio as an option...

Divorce filings tend to rise and fall with the seasons and January is one of the highest months for filing. Peak divorce months are actually March and August, but filings steadily increase from January and the first Monday of the New Year is actually known as “Divorce Day.” After the...

Divorce is difficult, even if it’s what you want. But whether litigating the issue is the best way to take care of it depends on your particular circumstances and goals. Many couples seeking a divorce will instead turn to family mediation, which may be what is right for your family....

Cohabitation and common law marriages have become more common in Columbus in recent years. Those participating in such relationships may believe that they do not need any formal record or documentation to prove their commitment to their partners. While they certainly may be within their rights to carry on such...

When Ohio parents are going through a divorce, it can be a time when their ability to focus on their child’s best interests diminishes due to emotions or acrimony between them. Parents may also find that they are unable to agree on what is best for their child when reviewing...

While some see the end of a marriage as a reason to celebrate, others may find themselves feeling grief. According to an article from Psychology Today, it is normal for people to go through “The Five Stages of Grief” when a relationship ends. These five stages are denial, anger, bargaining,...

The electronic age has brought us access to more information than ever, but is all of that information accurate? It’s important to remember that your best source for legal information is your lawyer. Do you believe any of these myths about divorce and the division of assets? Myth 1: Getting...

A study published recently in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found evidence that some people whose parents divorced during their childhood may be at increased risk of health issues later. Not everyone whose parents divorced was affected, however. The increase risk was only observed in those...

Sara Woodard-Ortiz of The HeartFull Journey, a publisher of divorce-related coloring books, workbooks, and courses for women, believes that divorce is a journey. And, as with any journey, you’ll need to pack accordingly. Divorce is an emotional time for virtually everyone. What you pack in your “divorce suitcase” are the...

Divorce is a touchy subject for some, even with the stigma pretty much no longer present. As a couple’s marriage hits rocky patches, some will go down the road of reconciliation, while others will move towards divorce. So, what are the common signs of divorce in Ohio? A big sign...

A divorce can drastically impact your finances now and after the final court order. Property division, support payments and court costs have the potential to severely affect your quality of life. Fortunately, with proper planning from the start, you can keep the financial blow of a divorce under control. You...

Questions often come up regarding the parental rights of a father. In Ohio, the father’s parental rights of a child depend on the marital status of the parents when the child was born. In Ohio, if a child is born during a marriage, the husband is presumed to be the...

In Ohio, there are two types of custody/parenting arrangements: shared parenting and sole custody. In a shared parenting arrangement, commonly referred to as “joint custody,” both parents are designated as legal custodians and residential parents of the minor child. One parent is then usually designated the residential parent for school...

Under Ohio law, a prenuptial agreement must meet three important criteria: It must have been entered into freely without fraud, duress, coercion or overreaching; There must have been a full disclosure, or full knowledge, and understanding, of the nature, value and extent of the prospective spouse’s property; and The terms...

You have already reached a point where you are ready to terminate your marriage, but which avenue do you choose: dissolution or divorce? Both avenues will result in the same outcome, the termination of your marriage, but which route is best for you and your situation? Taking the Dissolution Route...