Dublin Ohio Family Law Blog

When you're not married but want to start a family, you need to take steps to protect the integrity of your family unit. Fathers, in particular, must take special steps to guarantee their parental rights in Ohio. When they are not married, there is no assumption that they are the father of a child (after all, the only obvious biological parent would be the mother).

When any child is born out of wedlock, it's a very good idea for fathers to take steps to establish paternity. Even if the mother agrees that this is your child, you should make sure you are the one acknowledging paternity. If there is any question of paternity, get a DNA test to prove that you are the father of your child.

While the divorce rate has seen a slight decline in recent years, almost half of those who marry still face the prospect of divorce. When a marriage ends in Ohio, the couple divide the assets and are free to continue their respective lives as newly single individuals without legal ties to each other -- except where the issue of federal retirement accounts might be concerned. Failure to address beneficiary designations can have unintended consequences following a divorce.

When a person starts a new job and signs up for an employer-provided 401(k) plan, one is asked to designate a beneficiary. The beneficiary is typically one's spouse. If the employee predeceases the spouse, the proceeds of the account will transfer to the beneficiary. In the event of a divorce, the owner of the account must designate a new beneficiary, or the ex-spouse could still receive the proceeds.

Divorce is becoming a more frequent occurrence among older people in Ohio and elsewhere in the country. It even has its own nomenclature, the gray divorce. Many divorces begin as trial separations and may end in divorce or a legal separation. For those who separate, divorce is not necessarily the end result of the separation. Some couples may choose to remain separated indefinitely.

Reasons for this decision can be many and are often financial. One reason couples who haven't been married that long give is the 10-year requirement for certain Social Security benefits. If a couple is married for 10 years or longer there may be Social Security advantages to waiting to divorce until after the 10-year mark. Health insurance may also be a concern if a spouse is covered by an employer. There may also be tax benefits to remaining married and filing jointly.

May is here and that means school vacations are coming. This can be a challenging tome for divorced families in Ohio with young children as summer vacation plans take shape. Even an amicable divorce can be a challenge when children are involved, even when both parents want to act in the best interest of the child. And it is now widely held that both parents remaining as involved as possible in the child's life is the preferred scenario.

Summer vacations are a time for travel and exploration with one's children. This sometimes involves international travel. When parents are divorced the parameters around international travel are typically governed by the parenting plan included in the judgment of divorce. In a joint custody situation, decisions must be agreed on by both parties. This can be a detriment to spontaneous traveling, but proper planning can enable one to enjoy a carefree vacation with one's child.