In the State of Ohio, paternity establishes the father’s right to visitation and the mother’s right to child support. In some cases, it may not be apparent to a father that they are, in fact, the father of a child. Sometimes a mother needs to press the issue when a man claims a child she does not want him to see or requires the support of a reluctant father. Sometimes it’s the father who wants to establish or deny paternity. In these cases, the aim is to either establish or deny that a father has legal rights to a child or a mother has a legal right to child support.

Ohio paternity laws are complex. An unmarried mother is presumed the child’s residential guardians. Fathers may need to press the issue legally to gain access to the child. In addition, a mother may need to force the issue with a father who denies paternity. Lawrence Law Office can help with these issues.

Those who decide on prenuptial agreements may be surprised to know that the must be drafted according to Ohio law in order to be enforceable. When drafting a prenuptial agreement, you and your future spouse must disclose all of your assets, holdings, and property. You must also disclose your debts. Though Ohio law does not require it, attorneys for both spouses should review the agreement to ensure that it is fair. In addition, two witnesses must be present for the agreement to be legally valid.

The Lawrence Law Office of Columbus, Ohio can help with this process.

More and more families are realizing that love is better the second time around. Mixed families have increased, and with them, the need for formal legal arrangements to be reached between stepparents and the children they are inheriting in their new families. These agreements establish a legal parent/guardian relationship between parents and their children.

The team at the Lawrence Law Office can help mixed families establish their legal guardianship over the newest members of their family.

Family law attorneys also help families adopt children. In fact, it’s one of the best parts of our job. While the process of adoption is quite complicated and parents are expected to be prepared for the reality of bringing a child into their home, our attorneys can help facilitate the process. We will ensure that you have all your information in order and navigate the complex legal system that transfers guardianship of a child to a parent.

Divorce is hard on everyone, regardless of whether or not it is for the best. Sometimes grandparents fear that they will be left out when custody comes before the bench. We believe that it’s in a child’s best interests to maintain stable relationships with both sides of the family. We can help grandparents establish their rights to visitation.

Linda Lawrence is an OSBA certified specialist, a distinction granted to a few attorneys in certain areas of practice. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to family law in the State of Ohio.

As a mediator, Linda Lawrence provides a dispute resolution tool for former couples who need to hammer out post-divorce arrangements. This is often better for the children because the process is not as adversarial and tends to be resolved quicker. It’s also more cost-effective for the parents.

Mediation offers parents a chance to reach agreements outside of the courtroom where they run the risk of completely losing control of the situation. Lawrence Law Office can help make important arrangements between you and your former spouse without involving the courts and a judge.