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Visitation Family Law Attorneys

Visitation Laws in Ohio

Your child’s life is precious and invaluable. To not be allowed to partake in the development and growth of your child could be absolutely devastating to both you and your child. Although it has been generally accepted by courts nationwide that a child can develop and flourish best when under the care of both parents, complicated family law cases could threaten a parent’s right to custody or visitation.

When your parental rights are at risk, or when you need assistance in the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities through a parenting plan, a Columbus family lawyer from The Law Offices of Saia, Marrocco & Jensen Inc. can be of assistance. We have more than 100 years of combined legal experience representing individuals and families in their family law matters. When you need personal, attentive, and experienced legal counsel, our firm is the family law firm to trust in Columbus, Ohio.

We know how stressful it can feel when you cannot control a legal matter that will directly influence your child’s life. Clients can rely on us to provide effective, responsive, and dependable legal representation. Our reputation is reflected in our accolades and national recognition, including Founding Attorneys Jon J. Saia’s AV Preeminent® Ratings by Martindale-Hubbell®. Our firm has also been recognized as one of the Best Law Firms by Best Lawyers® U.S. News and World Report.

Court-Determined Visitation

When a couple decides to get a divorce, legal separation, or annulment, there are many important issues to sort out. Not only must a separating couple consider property division, but in any family law case involving children, the couple must also carefully consider child custody and visitation rights as well. The parents can share the rights for custody or establish primary rights for one of the parents.

The non-custodial parent will be given visitation rights based on a number of factors. Visitation rights can be determined by the Ohio court and then turned into a court-mandated order that both parents must follow. Typical factors the court will take into consideration include the:

  • Child’s age
  • Child’s maturity
  • Parents’ physical proximity to the child’s primary residence
  • Parents’ schedules and financial burdens
  • Religious beliefs
  • Whether or not the child has special needs
  • Child’s own preference if the child is over 14 years old

Not following a visitation order can have severe penalties. When visitation rights are being determined, you will most likely need a Columbus family lawyer to represent your best interests. The court has a lot of power in determining what the visitation rights for a child will be. The primary guiding factor for any court or judge will be the best interest of the child.

Stepparent Rights in Ohio

Visitation, also known as parenting time, can be modified until the child is of age or until the birth parent’s rights are terminated through the process of stepparent adoption. According to Ohio Revised Code 3119.83 and 3119.84, however, just because a birth parent discontinues visitation or custody rights does not mean the parent can discontinue child support.

If you are a stepparent who has developed a relationship with a child but have not gone through stepparent adoption, you may be worried about your rights to visit the child after a divorce. Our Columbus visitation lawyers can help you understand your rights if you want to pursue parenting time. The courts can award visitation rights to a stepparent if it is proven that awarding parent time to the stepparent will contribute to the well-being, welfare, and best interest of the child.

Protect Your Rights as a Parent with Help from Our Family Law Firm

If you need an advocate to speak for your rights as a parent, we are here to listen.We are eager to hear your side of the story and get to know your specific family dynamic. Understanding your visitation goals, objectives, and needs can help us represent you in the best possible way. Instead of allowing a judge or court to decide your child custody or visitation orders, speaking with a Columbus visitation lawyer from our firm can help you keep some sort of control over your family’s matters. We can:

  • Establish parenting responsibilities
  • Establish fair child custody schedules
  • Provide mediation or negotiation to ensure that both parents communicate and cooperate
  • Draft a shared parenting plan that is customized to your family’s needs and dynamic

Our approach to strong and effective legal representation has allowed countless clients to rest easy knowing that their legal matters are being handled professionally. Our attorneys combine years of experience and genuine concern for our clients’ well-being. We are completely dedicated to providing a solution to your present legal dilemma!

Call a Nationally Recognized Columbus Lawyer

Contact a Columbus visitation lawyer from The Law Offices of Saia, Marrocco & Jensen Inc. to help you with a visitation matter. We have assisted countless mothers and fathers in similar circumstances. When your family is in need of peace of mind, we can offer legal assistance that can allow your family to move on positively after divorce or legal separation.

We offer free case evaluations to each of our clients. By meeting with one of our skilled lawyers, you can get started on creating a parenting schedule that is in the best interest of your child and that is customized to fit your needs as a parent. Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so call us today!