According to the Child Custody Laws in Ohio the non-custodial parent is always given liberal visitation rights provided it serves the best interests of the child. This is done to make sure that both parents have enough time to care for the child. The court requires a visitation schedule or parenting plan from parents petitioning for custody. If the parents cannot agree on a schedule, the court will step in to enforce the use of a model schedule.
Child Custody Laws in Ohio and Abusive Parents
Ohio child custody courts will not grant custody to a parent who has been neglectful in the past, or one who has had prior convictions for child abuse, or pleaded guilty to some form of domestic violence. The court will always look to place a child in a safe and loving environment. The State of Ohio permits Grandparents visitation rights if such contact is in the best interests of the child. It is rare that Grandparents would find themselves having to file for visitation rights but there are circumstances where the separation of parents and the exclusion of one from having custodial rights may alienate other members of the family with whom the child has formed strong bonds. Child custody laws in Ohio recognise the importance of such ties and will not disadvantage the child by legally cutting such ties.
The child’s input is also considered in Ohio child custody rulings. The information that he or she gives to the court will be evaluated and may help make rulings that work for all parties concerned. For instance, a teenager might not appreciate having weekends planned for him or her when there are friends, parties and other things they would rather be doing than fulfilling a visitation order.
Denying another parent their right to see the child or denying the child the right to see their other parent, siblings and Grandparents might be a direct contravention of Ohio child custody laws. If a parent feels that their rights are being denied by the custodial parent, then the non-custodial parent has the right to petition the court for a modification of the original ruling. It isn’t fair for parents to use a child as a bargaining tool or a way to get back at each other and there are Child Custody Laws in Ohio that ensure this does not happen.
As far as re-locations are concerned Ohio custody laws are not structured in such a way as to become a stumbling block. If a parent has to move because they have found a better job elsewhere they may do so, unless the other party decides to use that as a way of frustrating the process by going to the courts to have rulings modified. A far as the child custody laws in Ohio are concerned, if joint custody causes more grief than it should, the court can award sole custody to allow everyone to be able to move on to a more normal, stable life.
Ohio child custody laws are open to interpretation. Unlike some other states, Ohio laws on child custody do not require a significant material change in circumstances for one parent to launch an appeal. There are some rulings that can be modified or challenged. If a party feels that the court has been in some way biased in its ruling or that the judge did not have all the facts or sides of the argument, parents can apply for a modification or appeal a decision.
Ideally, going back and forth through the court system making frequent changes should be avoided wherever possible; it is time consuming, emotionally exhausting and costly. It is always better to first learn all that you can about child custody laws in Ohio and also the child custody guidelines from the outset so that any subsequent rulings satisfy all parties.