Columbus Lawyer Blog

If you work in Columbus but live outside Franklin County, you may wonder whether you can file your divorce in Franklin County Domestic Relations Court. Working in Franklin County alone is generally not enough. Ohio law has separate requirements for state residency and county venue. How long must I live in Ohio before filing for divorce? The person filing the divorce complaint must have lived in Ohio for at least six months immediately before filing. Both spouses agreeing to a

One of the most common questions parents ask during a divorce or custody case is: "Why am I paying for daycare when I only have my child every other weekend?" The answer is more complicated than many people expect. Under Ohio law, daycare expenses are generally treated as part of the child support calculation—not simply as an expense of the parent who uses the daycare. Understanding how these costs are allocated can help parents better prepare for divorce, child support, and

When couples undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF), they rarely expect to one day fight over frozen embryos in a divorce. Yet as IVF becomes increasingly common, Ohio courts are seeing more disputes involving embryos, reproductive rights, and the enforceability of fertility clinic agreements. If you are considering divorce and have frozen embryos, you may be wondering: Who owns the embryos? Can my spouse use the embryos without my consent? Does the IVF agreement control? Could

Military service creates unique challenges for divorced and separated parents. One question we frequently hear at our Columbus, Ohio family law office is: If a parent is deployed, can that parent give their parenting time to a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or another family member instead of the other parent? The answer is: sometimes, but not automatically. Ohio Law Specifically Addresses Military Deployments Ohio has enacted protections for military parents so that deployment do

Divorce is stressful enough on its own. But what happens if one spouse becomes seriously ill or unexpectedly passes away before the divorce is finalized? This is a question I have seen arise more than people realize, especially when older spouses, high-net-worth individuals, or individuals with significant health concerns are involved. The answer often surprises people. In Ohio, a Pending Divorce Usually Ends If a Spouse Dies Under Ohio law, a divorce action is considered a p

If you’re going through a divorce or custody case in Columbus, Ohio, one of the most common questions we hear is: “If child support starts at the end of the month, do I have to pay for the whole month?” The short answer is: No. In most cases, child support in Ohio is prorated. Here’s how it actually works in Franklin County and the Columbus area. When Does Child Support Start in Columbus, Ohio? In Ohio, child support begins on the effective date listed in your court order fro

If you’re going through a divorce in Columbus, Ohio, and one spouse is a teacher with STRS while the other pays into Social Security, this issue comes up all the time: “Can my spouse get half of my Social Security AND keep their STRS pension?” The short answer: No—but it’s more complicated than most people think. 1. Social Security Is NOT Divided in an Ohio Divorce Under federal law, Social Security benefits cannot be divided like marital property. That means: The court canno

If you’re involved in a divorce case in Columbus, Ohio, there’s a chance your attorney will prepare you for a deposition. One issue that comes up frequently in depositions—especially in contested divorce and custody cases—is something called a “speaking objection.” Understanding this concept can make a real difference in how your case unfolds. What Is a Speaking Objection? A speaking objection happens when a lawyer objects to a question and then says more than necessary, ofte

If you are navigating a divorce in Columbus, Ohio, and one spouse is a police officer or firefighter, the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) account may be one of the most valuable—and often misunderstood—assets in the case. This issue frequently arises with members of the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund (OP&F), which covers Columbus police and firefighters. A common question that arises is: If DROP is funded during the marriage—but based on a pension earned before the ma

If you are navigating a divorce in Columbus and one spouse has served in the military, you may have encountered the term “DFAS account.” The short answer is yes—what is commonly referred to as a DFAS account typically pertains to a military pension. However, dividing this asset during a divorce—particularly in Franklin County or the surrounding Central Ohio courts—is not as straightforward as splitting a 401(k). Federal regulations overlay Ohio law, and if the division is not