One of the most emotional and difficult aspects of the breakdown of a relationship is deciding how the children’s time should be split between parents. When you are angry at your ex for things that they have said and done, it is unlikely that you view them as the ideal person to be helping you to raise your children. However, unless your ex poses a risk to your children in some way, it is likely that they will have the right to custody or parenting time.
If you are currently in the midst of a separation or divorce, it is important that you do not leave the questions of child custody to the last minute. The following is an overview of the process that the Ohio courts follow when determining child custody.
The best interests of the child
The first priority of the Ohio child custody courts is making sure that all children are protected from abuse and neglect, and making sure that all decisions made are in the best interests of the child rather than the best interests of the adults involved. This means that the courts will consider many different factors to establish what the ideal outcome should be.
Some of the main factors considered in child custody courts
The best interests of the children are the primary factor. If the child is old enough to express their own wishes, those wishes will be taken into account. The child’s relationship with each of their parents, siblings and other members of the household will also be considered.
The individual situation of each child is important. For example, a child with autism may need routine and not react well to change. Therefore, in this case, an effort would likely be made to keep the child’s life as undisturbed as possible.
If you are concerned about how the child custody process in Ohio may affect your relationship with your children, it is important that you take action to understand more about the law. Our attorneys are active in working on these sorts of matters and routinely consult with clients about them.
