Resolving the Issue of Child Custody
As muddied as the picture of any divorce can become — a few things have become very clear to family court judges (and for that matter, to everyone else as well).
Number one, children are not property. Number two, most children not only want to have a meaningful relationship with each of their parents — they actually need those relationships for their own long-term well-being. And number three, issues of child custody, parenting time and child support should always be decided with the best interests of those children in mind.
Often times, both parents want to be involved in their children’s lives. A shared parenting plan can accomplish this goal for you. Even though your children may primarily reside with one parent, Ohio law allows both of you to have equal say in your child’s upbringing. Our office is committed to preserving your right to make decisions concerning your children.
At the Law Office of Michael Cretella, LLC, we are committed to both passionately representing our clients, and to looking out for the best interests of their children as well. If you are in Medina County or northeast Ohio and have concerns about your divorce and the issue of custody specifically — we are happy to help you resolve them.
If you have already been divorced but need to have the terms of your existing child custody, visitation, shared parenting plan, child support or alimony agreement altered because of a change in circumstances — talk to our lawyer about obtaining a modification. Just call us directly for a free consultation or take a moment to contact us online.
Financial Support After Divorce
If there are minor children involved in a divorce, child support must be considered. Ohio's child support formula takes into account the gross incomes of each parent and factors such as the custody-parenting time arrangement, the number of children in the family, previous court-ordered support obligations, daycare, health care insurance and more.
Alimony, also known as spousal support or spousal maintenance, is not always a certainty. Important factors that are considered include the length of the marriage; each spouse's age, health status and earning power; and the marital standard of living. If awarded, the trend has generally been toward granting alimony on a limited, rather than permanent basis.
We Do Not Charge for Initial Consultations
Local: 330.591.4963 / Toll Free: 866.679.6625
To arrange for a free consultation with attorney Michael Cretella — call our Medina, Ohio, law offices directly at either of the numbers listed above or, complete the brief e-mail form provided on the Contact Us page of this Web site.
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Evening, Weekend and Out-of-the-Office Appointments
