Child Custody & Support Lawyers in Troy

Serving Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, and Shelby Counties

The compassionate attorneys at Lopez, Severt & Pratt Co share your concern over the well-being of your children and make a great effort to ensure their best interests are protected. 

Like you, we want your children to grow up happily; live in a safe, loving home; and not feel guilty or responsible for the breakdown of their parents' marriage. We will work closely with you to satisfy both your needs and the needs of your children. 

Key Factors in Ohio Child Custody Decisions

In Ohio, there is no favoritism in custody matters — neither the mother nor the father is automatically presumed to be the custodial parent following a divorce. Instead, in the absence of an agreement between the parents, the court will determine what is in the best interest of the children when determining who will be awarded custody. 

Some factors that courts will look to in making this determination include:

• Who do the children want to live with?
• What are the parents' wishes regarding the children's care?
• How is the children's relationship with each parent?
• Will the children be able to easily adjust to a new home or school?
• Which parent is more likely to honor parenting-time rights and visitation?
• Is either parent likely to move out of state?

Once the best interest of the children is determined by the court, it will award sole custody to one of the parents or joint custody to both parents. In joint custody situations, a parenting plan agreement is put in place, the parents engage in "shared parenting," and both parents are considered residential parents of the children and share equally in making decisions for the children.

Get Started With Our Custody Support Team

It's important to keep in mind that child support is meant to benefit the children — not the parent. We will help you understand your rights in child support and child custody cases and always work to make your life — and your children's lives — better. With an extensive knowledge of Ohio's domestic relations laws, we know how the system works and how to work it to your advantage.

To find out more about how our lawyers can help you and your children, call us at (937) 400-3170.