Fighting for Child Custody or Support? Our Ohio Family Law Attorneys Can Help

At Slater & Zurz, our family law attorneys are here to help you protect your parental rights and do what’s best for your child.

Find out if you have a claim!

At Slater & Zurz, our family law attorneys are here to help you protect your parental rights and do what’s best for your child.

Protecting Your Parental Rights While Putting Your Child First

Ohio has moved away from traditional custody labels like “sole” or “joint custody.” Instead, courts allocate parental rights and responsibilities, often through shared parenting plans and residential designations based on what’s in the child’s best interest.

Our child custody and support lawyers handle cases involving:

  • Shared parenting and residential custody
  • Parenting time (formerly called visitation)
  • High-conflict and relocation cases
  • Temporary custody and emergency orders
  • Child support orders and modifications
  • Paternity, unmarried parents, and child support enforcement

Why Ohioans Turn to Slater & Zurz’s Child Custody and Support Lawyers

For over 30 years, our child custody and support attorneys have helped families navigate life’s most important transitions.

  • Talk directly to family law attorneys who care
  • 6 offices across Ohio
  • Step-by-step guidance and full transparency

Contact Us Today!

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.

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How Do Ohio Courts Decide Child Custody?

Courts look at what’s in the child’s best interest, not what’s easiest for the parents. They consider factors like:

  • Each parent’s relationship with the child
  • The child’s school, home, and community stability
  • The willingness to support the other parent’s relationship with the child
  • Criminal history or allegations of abuse
  • A child’s wishes (depending on age and maturity)
  • Whether either parent has denied parenting time or failed to pay support

Our attorneys will help you present your case clearly and effectively, showing the court why your parenting goals align with the child’s needs.

What Is Shared Parenting in Ohio?

In shared parenting, both parents retain decision-making authority for major issues (including education, healthcare, and religion), even if the child spends more time with one parent.

Important points:

  • Shared parenting does not mean 50/50 physical custody
  • It also doesn’t automatically reduce child support
  • Courts focus on the parents’ ability to cooperate, not just proximity or schedules

Will the Court Split up Siblings in a Custody Case?

Courts generally aim to keep siblings together, recognizing the importance of sibling bonds in a child’s emotional well-being and development. 

However, in rare cases, a court may order separate arrangements if it believes doing so is in the best interest of one or more children. This might happen if the children have significantly different needs, there’s conflict between siblings, or one parent is better suited to care for a specific child. If sibling separation is being considered, the court will weigh all relevant factors carefully before making a decision.

How Is Child Support Calculated?

Ohio uses an “income shares” model that combines both parents’ income to determine a baseline obligation. That obligation is then divided proportionally. The calculation may also factor in:

  • Childcare and healthcare expenses
  • Existing support obligations
  • Parenting time and overnights
  • Potential income (if a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed)

Ohio’s child support guidelines changed in 2019. If your order was set before then, it may be outdated or inaccurate.

What Sets Slater & Zurz Apart

From your first call to final resolution, our attorneys handle the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. We investigate thoroughly, identify leverage early, and push back against tactics designed to minimize your claim.

You’ll work directly with an experienced attorney who keeps you informed and treats your case with the urgency and care it deserves.

What Happens When You Call Slater & Zurz

You’ll talk to an attorney

We know this is a difficult process, and the last thing you need is to be bounced around. When you call us, you’ll speak to one of our Ohio child custody and support lawyers.

We’ll take the pressure off your plate

From filing the initial petition to negotiating terms, we’re by your side through the entire legal process.

You only pay if we move forward together

Initial consultations are always free. If we move forward, you’ll know exactly what to expect when it comes to fees.

What Happens When You Call Slater & Zurz

You'll talk to an attorney

We know you’re hurting, and the last thing you need is to be bounced around. When you call us, you’ll speak to one of our experienced attorneys.

We'll take the pressure off your plate

From day one, we’ll gather medical records, file the proper reports, and deal with insurance companies on your behalf. In other words, you focus on getting better, and we’ll handle the fight.

We go after every dollar you deserve

We've recovered millions for injury victims across Ohio. We don’t stop at quick settlements; instead, we push for full accountability and compensation that reflects what you’ve really lost.

You only pay if we win

No upfront fees means there’s zero risk to get started.

FAQS: Child Custody and Support in Ohio
Parents often come to us unsure of what to expect. Here are a few of the most common questions we hear.

No, Ohio courts do not presume one parent is better suited based on gender. They focus on the child’s best interests, stability, and the ability of each parent to meet the child’s needs.

Unmarried mothers automatically have sole custody unless paternity is established. Once established, the father can seek custody or parenting time through the court.

Not necessarily. Shared parenting only works when both parties can communicate and cooperate. If there’s a history of conflict or abuse, a different arrangement may be safer and more effective.

Courts consider all income sources, including wages, commissions, bonuses, unemployment, disability benefits, and imputed income (what a parent could earn based on skills and work history).

A support order generally terminates when a child turns 18 and is no longer in high school, gets married, enlists in the military, is adopted or emancipated, or passes away. That said, some support obligations extend through high school graduation, and we can help you confirm whether your order qualifies for early termination or needs to be updated.

Yes. Child support may be modified if there’s a substantial change in circumstances, such as a parent’s job loss or disability, a significant change in income, increased expenses, a change in the child’s needs, a parent joining or leaving active military service, or incarceration or long-term institutionalization.

Failure to pay child support does not automatically affect custody rights. Parenting time and child support are treated as separate legal issues in Ohio. Even if one parent falls behind on payments, the court will not revoke their custody or visitation unless there’s evidence that continued contact is not in the child’s best interest.

 

That said, there are legal remedies available for unpaid support. The Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) can pursue wage garnishment, tax refund interception, license suspension, or even contempt proceedings. If support is significantly overdue or if a pattern of nonpayment continues, it may influence future custody or modification decisions.