Lakewood Child Custody Attorneys
Child custody refers not just to the time spent with your children, but the decision-making capacity as a parent. When talking about “parental rights”, custody is the most impactful one. And parents with custody problems are rightfully anxious to get answers and help from an experienced team.
At Lanter Legal, LLC, as Lakewood-based child custody attorneys, we have developed a reputation of success in the most complex of Ohio family law issues. We have experience as guardian ad litem, and have over 30 years of combined experience in the most dire of custody situations. We know these cases are highly emotional and demand a different kind of approach, which we are happy to deliver.
How Ohio Makes Child Custody Decisions
Child custody decisions that go to a courtroom are not in your hands anymore. Once you and the other parent of your children go through the doors to the courtroom, the judge is the one who makes the decision in the end. To make that decision, that judge will refer to the child’s best interests, which include:
- Physical well-being: The physical health, safety, housing, food security of the child.
- Mental health: The emotional and social stability of the child and their surroundings.
- Opportunities: The educational and personal opportunities of friends of family connections that can impact a child’s life.
- Child’s preferences: While not always a major factor with very young children, if an older child has a preference the court will consider it.
Judges in Ohio have wide authority to make decisions about custody if the parents cannot come to a reasonable, healthy agreement on their own. However, when the judge makes these decisions, you do not have the control you want.
Understanding Modifications And Enforcement
After the custody decisions are made, the next step is following through and making changes as needed. And changes such as how to handle relocations, including those out of state, are natural parts of what comes next. We have helped our clients alter their agreements as needed as time and resources change.
But what happens if one parent refuses to follow the court order custody agreement? There is an escalation of efforts that you can pursue, starting with court orders and then potentially leading to changes in the custody agreement and contempt charges for the noncompliant parent. We’ve seen our clients face both sides of these concerns and are able to advise you in these high-stakes moments.
Free Consultation About Your Custody Questions
Our office is open and available to you when you need to get answers about custody. It’s not a simple, easy process, but we’re determined to help you find the right way forward. Call us today at 216-273-4013 or send an email using this online form to get started.