Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Southwest Ohio Law Office of Lauren L. Clouse - Warren, Montgomery, Butler, Greene Counties

This site provides frequently asked questions and answers about topics for each of our firm's practice areas. The content is intended as informational only and does not constitute advice from our attorneys. The FAQs are not a subsitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney.

Family Law FAQs

Criminal Law FAQs

Family Law FAQs

In an agency adoption, the child is placed with the agency after a court hearing or after the birthparents execute an irrevocable consent. Therefore, the agency can decide who should adopt the child, and is not legally obligated to choose the adoptive parents preferred by the birthparents. However, agencies typically try to honor the birthparents’ wishes.

In a private, attorney-arranged adoption, the birthparents select the adoptive family and the child is placed with the prospective adoptive couple following a court placement hearing. Assuming the home study of the adoptive family proves satisfactory, the child is released to the adoptive couple upon court approval. The child may be placed only with the family chosen by the birthparents.

Some courts require an agency to be involved, even in attorney-arranged adoptions. In such a case, the attorney handles all necessary paperwork and the agency accepts the birthparents’ surrender of the child.

A closed adoption is the "traditional" adoption, in which neither the birthparents nor the adoptive parents know each other’s identity, and do not communicate with each other after the adoption.

Generally, in an open adoption, birthparents and adoptive parents exchange information and agree to maintain some contact after the adoption. The degree of post-adoption contact varies according to the parties’ comfort levels. However, even if one party fails to comply with the open adoption contract, the adoption will not be jeopardized.

The birthparents should contact an adoption agency or an attorney who specializes in adoption. They will be asked to provide information about the type of adoptive family they prefer, and will receive information about available and appropriate families. With help from the attorney or the agency, the birthparents choose the adoptive family, and the attorney or agency contacts the family. Once the child is born, the appropriate paperwork is filed, a court hearing is held, and the child is placed with the adoptive parents.

Prospective adoptive parents must compile a "life book" to give to an adoption attorney or an adoption agency, and often are asked to complete a questionnaire. A home study is conducted to determine if the adoptive parents are suitable. The prospective parents then must wait to be selected.

Once the child is born, the appropriate paperwork is filed and a hearing is held in court. After the hearing, the child is placed with the adoptive couple. After the prospective parents have received the child, they will file a petition for adoption along with a request for a new birth certificate. The new birth certificate will name the adoptive parents as the child’s birthparents.

Yes, if the birthparent petitions the court before the adoption is final, and shows that the placement was made under duress, fraud, or that the adoption would not be in the child’s best interest. The court will hold a hearing to determine if it is in the child’s best interest for the birthparent to withdraw the consent to adopt.

Step-child Adoption creates a relationship between the adopting step-parent and the child that is the same as if the child were born to the step-parent. The legal relationship between the child and the "other" natural parent (the one not married to the adopting step-parent) is terminated. A decree of adoption is permanent. In the event of a divorce, the adopting step-parent will be responsible for the child support and is qualified to seek custody and/or visitation. The child is also eligible to inherit through the adopting step-parent. In cases where the child is adopted by his or her step-father, the child's last name can be changed to the step-father's last name. Following an adoption, a new birth certificate is issued for the child, recording any change in last name and listing the adopting step-parent as the child's natural parent.

To start a step-child adoption, you (the "petitioner") would file a Petition for Adoption, which requires basic information about the identity and circumstances of the step-parent and the child to be adopted. In some Ohio counties, a Supplemental Petition containing additional information (such as information about employment, military service, previous marriages, and other children) also must be filed.

Yes. There are two exceptions to this rule. If the "other" natural parent has failed, without justification, to 1) communicate with the child, or 2) financially support the child, for a period of one year before the filing of the adoption petition, that parent's consent is not required and the adoption can proceed. Other exceptions may apply to "putative fathers" and parents whose parental rights have been terminated by a juvenile court.

Yes. These requirements are clearly spelled out by the probate court. An "assessor" assigned by the court will visit the home where the child will be living, then report to the court his or her opinion about the suitability of home for the child. Also, other documents are required, such as letters of reference from the petitioner's employer, friends, acquaintances and/or clergy. These are all sent directly to the probate court. In addition, the petitioner must obtain a medical report from a physician, and a criminal record check, including fingerprinting, must be performed. Finally, the court will conduct a hearing, where the child, the petitioner, and the petitioner's spouse will be interviewed. After the hearing, the court will issue a judgment entry (or decree) of adoption. The judgment entry may be "interlocutory," or temporary. A temporary decree will become final automatically after six months. In some cases, the court may simply issue a final decree at the conclusion of the hearing. Once an adoption becomes final, it is extremely difficult to overturn.

No. After an adoption the "other" natural parent has no legal right to visit the child. The child will no longer inherit through the "other" parent or his/her family. The "other" parent no longer has an obligation to support the child. Any and all legal rights or duties the "other" parent has regarding the child are terminated.

To determine whether shared parenting is in the best interest of the children, the court considers many factors, including:

* the parents’ ability to cooperate and make joint parenting decisions;
* each parent’s ability to encourage contact and the sharing of love with the other parent;
* any history of, or potential for, child or spousal abuse or other domestic violence, or parental kidnapping by either parent;
* where the parents live in proximity to each other (for practical shared parenting reasons); and
* the recommendation of the child’s guardian ad litem, if applicable.

For cases in which shared parenting is not in the best interests of the children, the court will select a parent (the "residential parent") to have custody of the children. The court will grant parenting time rights to the other parent.

Ohio law does not specify an age at which a child may choose his or her own living arrangements. Rather, the court looks at the custody issue on a case-by-case basis, and custody determination is based on a number of factors, including:

* the wishes of the child’s parents;
* the wishes of the child;
* the child’s relationship with parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child’s best interest;
* the child’s adjustment to home, school and community;
* the mental and physical health of all those involved;
* the parents’ likelihood of honoring and facilitating court-approved parenting time rights or visitation and companionship rights;
* failure of either parent to make any past child support payments;
* either parent’s previous conviction or guilty plea for a criminal offense involving an abused or neglected child or domestic violence, or evidence that either parent has acted in a way that resulted in a child’s abuse or neglect;
* denial by either parent of the other parent’s right to parenting time;
* either parent’s establishment of a residence, or a plan to move, outside the state.

The court is not allowed to give a parent preference because of that parent’s financial status.

As always with regard to children, the court must determine what is in the child’s best interest. The child’s living arrangement preference is only one of many factors that may be considered by the court in determining what is in the child’s best interest. A parent may ask the court to interview the child to find out the child’s preference, and the court may decide to permit such an interview. The interview is not done in open court, but rather, in the judge’s or magistrate’s chambers. The child meets with the judge or magistrate and other court personnel as appropriate, but the child’s parents are not present at the meeting.

The court (judge or magistrate) will first determine the reasoning ability of the child. If the court determines the child does not have sufficient reasoning ability, then the child will not be asked his or her wishes with regard to custody. If the court decides the child does have sufficient reasoning ability, the court must then decide if there are any special circumstances that would suggest the child’s wishes should not be considered. Assuming the child has sufficient reasoning ability and there are no special circumstances, the court will then ask the child about his or her own wishes regarding custody.

Not necessarily. The court still must determine whether it is in that child’s best interest for custody to be granted to the parent chosen. The court also must consider many other factors to determine what is in the child’s best interest. The wishes of an older, more mature child are often weighed very heavily unless there is a negative reason why the child prefers one parent over the other (e.g., lax rules or supervision, substance abuse issues, etc.).

If a non-custodial parent objects to the relocation after receiving the notice of intent to relocate, the court in which the notice was filed will conduct a hearing to determine whether a modification of the parenting time schedule may be made to accommodate the relocation. For example, if an increased geographical distance between the parents makes weekly or bi-weekly parenting time impossible, then the court may allow the children to spend a long summer vacation and most school breaks with a non-custodial parent to compensate. Ohio law provides that a court may allow such a modification if it is determined to be in the children’s best interest.

Ohio law provides that a court must consider several factors to determine whether such a modification is in the children’s best interest.

These factors include, but are not limited to:

1) the reason for the anticipated move, such as employment opportunities or remarriage;
2) the distance that a relocation will put between the children and the non-custodial parent;
3) the involvement of the children’s extended family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins;
4) the non-custodial parent’s relationship with the children;
5) the parents’ ability to communicate and cooperate with each other about matters relating to the children; and
6) the financial, physical and emotional ability of the parents and the children to travel for parenting time purposes.

Once you receive the notice of intent to relocate from the court, you must request a court hearing to determine whether it is appropriate to modify the parenting time schedule to accommodate the relocation. If a court determines that it is appropriate to make such a modification, the court will then determine an appropriate parenting time schedule. If the court determines that it is not appropriate to modify the current schedule, then your spouse will not be able to move with the children to any location that will make it impossible to follow the current schedule.

Ohio law provides that modification of a parenting time schedule to accommodate a relocation will not be allowed if the move would not be in the children’s best interest. Relocation requests may be denied for many reasons including the following:

1) there is no legitimate reason for the move;
2) there is significant local involvement of the children’s extended family; and
3) there is evidence that the relocating parent is unable or unwilling to cooperate with the parenting schedule.

If the custodial parent decides to move with the children despite the court’s denial of the request to relocate, then the custodial parent is in violation of the court order. The non-custodial parent may then ask the court to hold the custodial parent in contempt, order the return of the children, and grant custody to the non-custodial parent.

If the custodial parent decides to move anyway, but without the children, the court may issue an order granting custodial rights to the original non-custodial parent, and parenting time to the other parent. In either of these scenarios, the law requires the court to base its decision on the best interest of the children.

If the custodial parent decides not to relocate, the prior court order regarding parenting time will continue to be in force.

All support orders must be secured in one of three ways. Most common is the wage-order (garnishment of the payor's income source or bank account). Self-employed persons have bond orders (a requirement to post a cash bond, which is used if the payor misses a payment. The payee is paid from the bond, and the payor is then called in to reimburse the bond fund). A "reporting" order is used for unemployed parents. If a parent is not working at the time the child support order is issued by the court, then that parent is required to report regularly to state what he or she is doing to find work, and to report any income received or job obtained.

Any person involved in a support order has a support officer at the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Without cost, the CSEA officer will attempt to enforce a support order by filing contempt motions on behalf of the payee and by garnishing wages or bank accounts.

Certain sources of income can be usurped by the CSEA agency to meet past due support. For example, any tax refund, company bonus or similar lump sum of money received by a delinquent payor can be taken to pay overdue child support.

There are now "teeth" in the law which prohibit renewal of certain licenses for those who are delinquent in paying their child support obligations. For instance, recreational, professional and drivers' licences cannot be renewed if a license-holder owes delinquent child support.

No. A parent who deliberately denies court-ordered parenting time rights may be considered in contempt of court, which is punishable by a jail sentence, a fine, attorney fees, and court costs. Also, if the parent who is denied parenting time seeks a change of custody, the custodial parent's deliberate withholding of parenting time rights may be an important factor to the court in deciding who will receive custody. Depriving a parent of time with a child is not one of the ways to get legal help in collecting child support.

No. In the same way that a custodial parent may not deliberately disobey court-ordered parenting time rights in order to attempt to collect child support from a non-paying parent, the non-custodial parent also may not willfully disobey a child support order. Withholding support payments may be considered contempt of court, which is punishable by a jail sentence, fines, attorney fees, and court costs. Also, if the parent who withholds child support seeks custody, the deliberate non-payment of support may become an important factor in deciding that issue. The law provides remedies for denial or interference with parenting time. Depriving a child of support is not one of them.

"Divorce" and "dissolution" are two different legal actions used to terminate a marriage. In a dissolution, the spouses must agree that the marriage is over and should be terminated. The couple also must agree to divide their assets and agree on such issues as child custody, child support, spousal support, and parenting time. A dissolution will not be granted when the parties cannot agree on all the issues. When spouses cannot agree, the marriage must be terminated by divorce.

Divorce is based on the concept of a fault and is considered an adversary proceeding. A spouse must allege one of the eleven grounds for divorce. That is, one spouse asks for a divorce from the other based on a wrong committed against the first; this wrong becomes grounds for divorce. Having said this, at least two of the grounds for divorce are considered to be "no-fault" provisions. These are "living separate and apart without cohabitation and without interruption for one year" and "incompatibility, unless denied by either party."

The term "guidelines" may be misleading. The Ohio Child Support Guidelines are more than just "guidelines" to be used in determining a child support obligation. They are the very means by which a child support obligation is calculated in Ohio. Ohio law further provides that the amount of child support calculated using the guidelines is presumed to be the correct amount of child support due. However, courts are allowed to deviate from the calculated amount if that amount would be unjust or inappropriate and not in the best interest of the child.

If a parent has maintained communication with the child and has kept up-to-date with child support payments, it is unlikely that a step-parent adoption will be allowed. However, if a parent fails to provide support or fails to communicate with the child without a valid reason for more than a year, the court might consider that adoption by a step-parent is in the best interest of the child. Even in this case, though, the adoption cannot proceed unless the natural parent is notified and given a chance to object and explain why there had been a failure to communicate or provide support.

If an adoption occurs, it will terminate all legal relationships between the adopted person and his or her biological parent and relatives. Also, the natural father would no longer have the duty to support his child; the adopting step-parent would become responsible for the care and support of the child.

The agreement will provide specific terms that will govern the relationship as well as a possible future breakup. If only one of the parties favors creating a prenuptial agreement, or if parties disagree about what the terms should be, discussions about the terms of a prenuptial agreement may cause conflict before a marriage. However, such discussions may bring to light issues that likely would surface later, and having an agreement in place may help prevent future disagreements about each party’s rights and duties.

In order for a prenuptial agreement to be enforceable, each of you must fully and accurately disclose your pre-marital assets and liabilities. It is wise to provide each other with a copy of your income tax returns and a balance sheet very early in the process. These documents also should be attached to the agreement as exhibits.

The domestic relations division of a common pleas court generally enforces such agreements. In the event of a divorce or dissolution of marriage, either party may ask the court to enforce the agreement as part of the divorce or dissolution filing. However, the court will enforce a prenuptial agreement only in the context of a divorce or dissolution. If there are provisions of a prenuptial agreement that have to do with matters other than a marital breakup, it might be wise to include within the prenuptial agreement itself a procedure for resolving any conflicts over these matters (through mediation or arbitration, for example).

Courts are not likely to enforce agreements where there is not a full and accurate disclosure, where there is fraud, misrepresentation, undue influence, duress, fraud and/or terms of the agreement are either contrary to law or against public policy. In addition, agreements that are presented on the eve of the marriage are likely not to be enforced.

In Ohio, a minor is someone who has not yet reached the age of 18, and, as such, is supported by a parent or guardian who is responsible for his or her actions. A minor has neither the rights nor the responsibilities of an adult. For example, a minor cannot vote, serve on a jury, or get credit in his or her own name. Someone who is 18 years old, but continues to be a full-time student at a recognized high school, is no longer a minor and has the legal rights and responsibilities of an adult, but the responsibility for his or her support usually remains the duty of a parent or guardian until graduation.

No. If you are still a minor or have not yet finished high school, your parents have a duty to support you and can be held responsible for your actions (such as your failure to attend school, or for contracts you might make such as for telephone service or an apartment). If a juvenile or domestic relations court has previously issued a child support order for your financial support (as part of a divorce or similar proceeding), your parents may file a motion asking the court to relieve them of their duty to support you financially. However, even if the court agrees, the court’s order only relates to your parents' duty to support you financially, and does not address other ways in which your parents still may be responsible for you. For instance, they may be found liable if you are not enrolled in school, a GED program or a job, and they still must give their consent before you can receive most kinds of medical treatment. If you marry or join the military service while still a minor, however, you would be considered emancipated. In such a case, your parents would no longer be responsible for supporting you financially; nor would they be liable for your actions.

No. While getting married generally constitutes emancipation, becoming pregnant and having a child does not. The difference is that a person who marries generally intends to substitute the parents’ support and responsibility with the spouse’s support and responsibility. However, if a minor becomes pregnant and has a child but does not marry, her parents continue to be responsible for her and she may continue to rely on their support. Please note that the baby’s father also may have support obligations in such a situation.

A person who wishes to "become emancipated" cannot do so by petitioning the court, as there is no provision for such a petition in Ohio. If a court has previously issued a child support order, parents may ask the court to relieve them of their duty to support a minor child financially, but this does not constitute that child’s emancipation.As explained above, the parents still may be held responsible for the child’s actions even though they no longer support the child financially.

Yes. In Ohio, grandparents can see court-ordered visitation if the child's parents are unmarried, if the child's parents file for a divorce or dissolution or legal separation, or if one of the child's parents has died. Ohio courts must consider a parent's wishes when deciding whether to award visitation, and the court must also consider whether grandparent visitation would be in the child's best interest.

Under certain circumstances, your grandparent visitation can be terminated. Visitation rights can always be modified or terminated by the court. You may lose court-ordered visitation if one of the parents establishes that there has been a change in circumstances and that the best interests of the child make it necessary to terminate those previously granted visitation orders. Or (assuming your son’s ex-wife has custody of your granddaughter), if your granddaughter’s mother remarries, her new husband may wish to legally adopt your granddaughter. If this step-parent adoption is granted, your right to visitation is terminated and the child becomes a "legal stranger" to you because under current law, there is no difference between stranger adoptions and step-parent adoptions when it comes to the rights of relatives to maintain familial ties. However, House Bill 144 of the 125th General Assembly has been pending for a couple of years; if approved, it would allow grandparents to seek court-ordered visitation after a step-parent adoption.

Not at this time. Some grandparents have tried to re-establish visitation after adoption, but Ohio courts have found that they do not have the authority to grant post-adoption visitation. Above-mentioned House Bill 144, which is now pending in the Ohio Senate, would allow grandparents and possibly other relatives to seek court-ordered visitation after a step-parent adoption.

A parent and step-parent must first file a petition for adoption. The court generally will not issue an adoption decree until 30 days after the adoption is finalized, assuming the child has lived in the home for at least six months. Also, the adoption becomes finalized, in many Ohio courts, only after the parent and step-parent have been married for at least one year.

Currently in Ohio, what your attorney says is correct. Courts have continued to ask the legislature to address the issue of preserving grandparents' rights to visitation in step-parent adoptions. Some states have created laws that allow post-adoption visitation to continue, but Ohio courts cannot force the Ohio legislature to act. You can write to your legislator, asking that a statute be passed that helps protect grandparent visitation.

Yes. Grandparents can adopt their grandchildren in Ohio. A home-study must be conducted, a petition for adoption must be filed, proper notice must be given, and the adoption must be in the child’s best interest. Once the adoption is completed, the child’s birth certificate will be changed to show you and your husband as the child’s parents.

No. Only the people adopting the child, in this case you and your husband, can file the petition to adopt. Generally, if the mother or father have not visited, talked with, or sent any mail (including e-mail) for at least one year, then you do not need their consent—or, if they have visited or communicated, but have not given you any money or items for the child, then you do not need their consent. In your case, since the father has neither communicated nor paid support for more than one year, you most likely will not need his consent. In your daughter’s case, the amount of money she provides in support may determine whether or not you need her consent. Some courts say that any support payment, no matter how small, means the parent’s consent is necessary. Other courts say that a small amount of money cannot be considered support, and consent is not necessary in cases such as yours. Ask your lawyer how the courts in your area treat such cases.

No. Once you’ve adopted your grandson, you, rather than your daughter or the child’s biological father, are his legal parents. The biological father and his parents are no longer considered related to the child, so they cannot get court-ordered visitation. Depending on the circumstances, though, you may choose to allow visitation.

A caretaker power of attorney (POA) and a caretaker authorization affidavit (CAA) are both documents that allow grandparents to exercise parental authority over their grandchildren who live with them. However, neither a POA nor a CAA changes legal custody or child support. These can be changed only by a court order after certain legal requirements have been met. Also, the law creating the POA and the CAA does not address health insurance coverage for children. Rather, coverage is determined by the policy of the particular insurance company.

Grandparents are authorized to provide care, physical custody, and control of the child, including the ability to enroll the child in school, obtain school information, and consent to school-related matters. They also may consent to medical, psychological, and dental treatment. Neither the POA nor the CAA gives grandparents the authority to consent to the marriage or adoption of the child.

A POA is signed by the parent, guardian, or custodian, who transfers authority to the grandparent. A POA can only be created in certain circumstances, including when the parent, guardian, or custodian is: incarcerated, physically or mentally ill, or homeless; being treated for substance abuse; or when the parent, guardian, or custodian believes that that the POA is in the child's best interest. By contrast, a CAA is not signed by the parent, guardian, or custodian, but, rather, by the grandparent, who assumes authority when the parent, guardian, or custodian is absent after efforts to locate have been unsuccessful.

The POA or CAA must include particular language and be completed on a specific form as provided in the statute. The required signatures must be notarized by an Ohio notary. The POA or CAA must then be filed, within five days after it is notarized, in the juvenile court of the county where the grandparent lives or in another court that has authority over a child, such as a domestic relations or probate court. Certain other information about the grandparent and the child’s custodial history ("child custody affidavit") must be filed along with the POA or CAA. Either the POA or CAA can be sent to the court. A filing fee is not required. Once the POA or CAA is filed, no hearing or court approval is necessary. The court may, however, report to child welfare authorities any information that indicates the grandparent has been convicted of or is responsible for child abuse or neglect, or that the POA or CAA is not otherwise in the child’s best interest.

Either a POA or a CAA can be terminated at any time by a parent, guardian, or custodian. The POA or CAA also ends when the child moves from the grandparent's home, when a court orders termination, or when one year has passed. When a POA or CAA ends, the grandparent must give written notice to the court, the child's school, medical providers, and certain other persons that the POA or CAA is no longer in effect. After a termination, a second or subsequent POA or CAA can be filed, but a court hearing and approval are necessary to make the documents effective.

Although grandparents can use both a POA and a CAA to handle many school matters, neither document can be created simply to take advantage of athletic or academic programs that are available in the grandparent’s school district. If a POA or CAA is created for this purpose and not for the purposes outlined in the law, the POA or CAA is void from the start. Also, a grandparent who creates a POA or CAA for an invalid purpose can be subject to prosecution for falsification, a first-degree misdemeanor.

If you have responsibility for your minor grandchild, you must plan carefully so that he is taken care of if something happens to you. Because grandparents are older during the grandchild’s minority years, planning becomes all the more important. Basic planning includes:

* a Will that designates who should care for your grandson in the event of your death;
* a general durable power of attorney designating someone to make financial decisions for you if you are unable to do so;
* a health care power of attorney designating someone to make health care decisions if you are unable to do so;
* a "HIPAA" authorization form that allows the release of medical information for you and your grandson;
* "Medicaid triggers" in your documents to allow Medicaid planning so that your assets can be arranged to enable you to qualify for Medicaid for yourself, your spouse, and your grandson.

If you have considerable assets, additional advanced planning may be necessary. For example, grandparents must be aware of the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax, a federal tax that is in addition to the usual estate tax. The GST tax applies whenever anyone gives assets to someone who is two or more generations younger. Currently, the GST tax rate is between 45 percent and 46 percent, depending upon the year of the transfer. You may pass down as much as $2.0 million without paying the GST tax. There are several techniques you can use to pass down assets for the benefit of your grandson without paying the GST tax. For example, you may wish to do the following:

* Arrange to have your grandson’s tuition and medical expenses paid for directly. As long as the payment is directly to the educational or medical provider, no GST or gift tax is triggered.
* Set up a "grandchild’s trust." A grandchild’s trust is irrevocable and must be used for the benefit of a particular grandchild. At the grandchild’s death, the assets are included in the grandchild’s estate for estate tax purposes. Transfers of up to $12,000 each year for the grandchild may be free from tax. If you are married, this amount may be doubled.

For example, parents are the natural guardians of their minor children, an aunt may be appointed guardian of a minor child who has lost both parents, or a friend may serve as guardian for the property of a temporarily disabled person. A guardian is appointed by the court, and must follow certain procedures, such as providing the court with regular reports, but is not required to have specific training to carry out this role. The guardianship may last for a short time or indefinitely.

The role of a guardian ad litem (sometimes called a "next friend," or "GAL") is more specialized than that of a "regular" guardian. A GAL is specifically responsible for protecting the interests of a minor who is in some way involved in a lawsuit, generally only until the legal proceedings are completed. All GALs must have training specific to their role in representing a child’s best interests, though they come from all walks of life (e.g., attorneys, social workers, teachers, business professionals, etc.).

Usually the judge or magistrate will appoint a GAL to serve on a case. In domestic relations cases, where custody of a minor child or children is an issue, the attorneys often will agree that a GAL should be appointed, and will ask the court to appoint one. Similarly, probate and civil division courts will appoint a GAL where the child’s interests in the litigation are potentially contrary to his or her parents’ interests in the matter. When there are several children whose interests need to be protected in a particular case, usually only one GAL is appointed to represent all of the children’s interests. If a conflict arises, then additional GALs may be appointed.

Any cases involving a child who has been neglected or abused, or is considered dependent (e.g., one whose parents are unable to provide care due to mental or physical illness) will likely result in the appointment of a GAL. Also, GALs may be appointed in cases involving custody disputes between parents or other family members, or in cases involving visitation problems or reunification of parents and children after a long absence.

A GAL is an independent advocate for the child, and must make recommendations about what is in the child’s best interest.In a custody dispute, the GAL should meet with the child alone in a comfortable setting and also observe the child’s interactions with each parent and any siblings. Also, the GAL should obtain the child’s school records and any pertinent medical or counseling records, and may wish to speak with other parties or professionals who have been involved with the child.

In cases involving allegations of dependency, neglect or abuse of a child, a GAL will review the records and reports surrounding the allegations, meet with the child and parents separately and attend all court hearings. In all cases, GALs must submit written reports to the court regarding their investigation and recommendations. They also may arrange for home visits to any past and possible future residences of the child. They will also accompany the child to speak with a judge or magistrate if an interview is necessary.

Most laypersons serving as GALs are volunteers and donate their time to the cases. Attorneys also often agree to serve on a pro bono basis. Some courts have funding that pays for the non-volunteer GALs in dependency, neglect and abuse cases or on cases where the parents are indigent.In private custody disputes, the attorney GAL is paid by the parents in a pro-rated share determined by the court.

For most cases, the GAL serves only a few months until the investigation and legal proceedings have been completed. For other cases, the GAL could serve for a period of years until the child reaches the age of majority. If a case is resolved and reopened at a later time, the same GAL may be reappointed to serve on the new matter.

In determining whether spousal support is appropriate and reasonable, and in determining the amount, terms of payment, and duration of spousal support, the court, by law, must consider a number of factors. These include the income and relative earning abilities of the parties; the ages and physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the parties; the retirement benefits of the parties; the length of the marriage; the standard of living which was established during the marriage; the extent to which it would be inappropriate for the custodian of a child to seek work outside the home; the educational background of the parties; the property and debts of the parties, including any court-ordered payments; the contribution of each party to the education, training, or earning ability of the other; the time and expense necessary for the person seeking spousal support to acquire education, training, or job experience; the lost income production capacity of either party resulting from that party's marriage responsibilities; and the tax consequences for each party of an award of spousal support. The court may also consider any other factor that it finds to be relevant and fair. The law does not require the court to consider who is at fault, or who filed the divorce.

Some magistrates and judges use a general rule of thumb that allows one year’s worth of spousal support for every three or every five years of the marriage’s length. It is not uncommon for the court to include, in the spousal support award, provisions stating that the spousal support will stop if the former spouse remarries or cohabits with another person. There is no general rule used when determining the amount of spousal support that should be awarded. The award amount is determined on a case-by-case basis and largely depends upon each party’s wages, the discrepancy between the wage amounts, and each person’s monthly necessary expenses. Other factors also are considered, including the education, earning capacity and health of each spouse.

A court may award either party temporary spousal support and allocate the responsibility to pay debts before a divorce becomes final. While a divorce action is pending, a court may also issue restraining orders prohibiting harassment by a party. Since a dissolution of marriage proceeding can only be initiated upon the full agreement of both parties, matters involving support and the conduct of each party before the final court hearing would need to be worked out by the parties.

A court must issue a temporary protective order the same day as requested if a spouse has committed acts of domestic violence, whether or not a divorce is filed.

Anyone failing to comply with court-ordered spousal support payments may be subject to being brought before the court at a contempt-of-court proceeding and asked to present evidence concerning the allegations of nonpayment. If found in contempt of court, a person ordered to pay spousal support must pay court costs, reasonable attorney fees, and may be sentenced to a jail term.

Generally, spousal support will end upon the death or the remarriage of the person receiving the support. It is possible under certain circumstances, however, that the obligation to pay spousal support may continue beyond either of these events. Spousal support is sometimes guaranteed by life insurance should the payor die before support is terminated. It is also possible for a court to retain the ability to modify a spousal support award upon a showing of a substantial change in the circumstances of either or both parties. It is very important that an attorney familiar with Domestic Relations Law be consulted concerning these matters in drafting the divorce orders.

Enforcement of parenting time is often a more complicated process because it may involve not only the relationship between parents but also between parents and children. Parents who feel that a current parenting order is no longer in the best interest of a child should ask the court to modify the order and not simply refuse to comply with it. If you are the parent who has been prevented from exercising parenting time with your children, you may file a motion which would require the other parent to show cause as to why the court-ordered parenting schedule is not being followed. If a non-residential parent later seeks to change a prior parenting order, one of the factors the court must consider is whether the residential parent has continuously and willfully denied the non-residential parent court-ordered parenting time.

Criminal Law FAQs

The acronyms DUI, DWI, OMVI and OVI all refer to the same thing: operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The most commonly used terms are DUI, an acronym for Driving Under the Influence, and DWI, an acronym for Driving While Impaired. However, Ohio law no longer uses the DUI and DWI acronyms because, in 1982, Ohio enacted a law that refers to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs as "OMVI," an acronym for Operating a Motor Vehicle Impaired.

Because a more recent change in Ohio law removed the requirement that a vehicle must be "motorized," the current acronym that refers to driving under the influence is "OVI" for Operating a Vehicle Impaired. It is now a crime in Ohio to operate almost any vehicle while impaired. This includes not only motorized "vehicles," but also, bicycles, horse-drawn carriages and several other types of "vehicles."

If you are over 21 years of age and your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) and breath alcohol content (BrAC) is .08 or greater, you are considered to be "operating a vehicle impaired." The .08 figure refers to the concentration of alcohol in your breath or in your blood.

The fact that the legal limit for breath and whole blood are the same is not a coincidence. The breath machine equates the amount of alcohol in your breath to the probable amount of alcohol in your blood. Although state legislatures have generally accepted this principle, many toxicologists and other scientists do not necessarily accept it as scientifically sound.

No. There are also "legal limits" for the concentration of alcohol in a person’s blood serum or plasma and urine. For a urine sample, you will be over the "legal limit" if the alcohol concentration in your urine sample is .11 or greater. While Ohio still considers this a valid way to determine alcohol content, many states have done away with urine testing because handling and testing procedures have produced errors.

If a blood serum or plasma sample is taken, the legal limit is .096. A test of blood, whether whole blood, serum or plasma, is the most accurate, but such tests must be completed according to Department of Health rules to be admissible in a court proceeding. Also, improper blood testing procedures still may yield inaccurate results.

Ohio currently has enhanced minimum penalties for so called "high tier" test results (alcohol levels that are considerably higher than the legal limits). The high tier test results are .17 for breath and blood, .204 for blood serum or plasma, and .238 for urine. The enhanced penalties for "high tier" offenders double the minimum jail time requirement.

Absolutely! The law presumes that, if you operate a vehicle and are found to be at or over the "legal limit," you are guilty of OVI. However, Ohio law allows you to argue against this presumption of guilt, within limits, in court. If it is proven that the alcohol level in your system is at or over the legal limit, you can be convicted of OVI even if you show no other signs of being under the influence.

If you refuse to allow law enforcement to measure the amount of alcohol in your breath, blood or urine, you still may be convicted of OVI based upon evidence of impairment such as poor driving performance, alcohol odor, slurred speech, red and glassy eyes, and staggering and poor performance on field sobriety tests. Further, Ohio law has made it a criminal offense to refuse to submit to testing once you have been arrested for OVI.

First, pull to the right side of the roadway as soon as you can do so safely. Keep your hands on the steering wheel. Do not begin to search for paperwork until the officer asks you to. After providing your identifying information, you have a right to politely inform the officer that you will not answer any further questions without first speaking to an attorney.

An officer on OVI enforcement is trained to look for various signs of drunk driving, including:

1) signs of impairment exhibited by a person while driving a vehicle (called the "vehicle in motion" phase of enforcement);
2) signs of impairment upon the initial "personal contact" with the driver;
3) signs of impairment noticeable during the "pre-arrest screening" phase, which encompasses standardized field sobriety testing and preliminary breath testing.

During the "vehicle in motion" phase, the officer looks for signs of impairment such as reckless driving, weaving, going left of center, driving too slowly, braking erratically, or stopping for no apparent reason, although almost any traffic violation may alert an officer to look for signs of impairment. In addition, an automobile accident that occurs during the late night or early morning hours will raise suspicion of impairment.

Once you are pulled over, the officer will look for signs of impairment based on his or her observation, including sight, hearing and smell. The officer may look for bloodshot eyes, soiled clothing, fumbling fingers, alcohol containers in your car, or any other unusual actions. Slurred speech, admission to drinking, inability to answer a question while performing a physical task, inconsistent responses and unusual statements also will alert an officer. The odor of alcoholic beverages, cover-up odors, or any other unusual odors may raise the officer’s suspicion.

No. The officer will be watching for a driver’s difficulty in opening the car door, using the door for balance, leaning against the vehicle and swaying or staggering.

Once you are out of the car, the officer may ask you to take field sobriety tests. If you opt to take the tests, your performance on the tests can be used in the officer’s determination to arrest you.

The officer may offer you a preliminary breath test (PBT). A PBT is a breath test performed with an instrument that approximates your blood alcohol content (BAC). While you are not required to submit to this test and a PBT result generally is not admissible at trial, your refusal to submit to a PBT may be used as evidence of your guilt.

If you are arrested, you will be asked to submit to one or more chemical tests (breath, blood and/or urine) to measure your BAC. You can choose whether or not to submit to a chemical test, but you should be aware that, under certain circumstances, refusing the test itself may be a crime. Also, if you refuse to submit to a chemical test, you face the possibility of a longer administrative license suspension (ALS). Further, if you have been convicted of another drunk driving offense within the last 20 years, the mandatory minimum jail sentence may be doubled.

On the other hand, if you submit to a chemical test and test results show you were over the legal limit, you are more likely to be convicted of an OVI than if you refuse to take the test. In most cases, the test results will be used as evidence of your guilt. Also, if you take the test and you have a BAC of more than .17, the mandatory minimum jail sentence will be doubled.

Yes; it is true that the codes of some Ohio municipalities are stricter than the State Code. When that is the case, the municipality’s code takes precedence over the state’s code. For example, the Columbus City Code has what is called a "lifetime lookback" period. This means that, in Columbus, any prior OVI, no matter how many years ago it was, will be considered when deciding penalties.

It is true that, under the old Ohio traffic law, you could be arrested for DUI ("Driving Under the Influence"). The current law (effective Jan. 1, 2004) refers to DUI as OVI ("Operating a Vehicle under the Influence"). Under current law, you cannot be arrested for OVI unless you cause or have caused your vehicle to move while you were intoxicated. If you came out of your house and hadn’t driven the vehicle, but were just listening to the radio, you would not be guilty of OVI. Rather, you would be guilty of "physical control," a charge that has different, much less severe, penalties than an OVI charge.

It depends on whether this is your first, second, or third offense (or more) within a six-year period. If it is your first offense, you will lose your license for a minimum of 180 days, and you will have to spend at least three days in jail or in a 72-hour Driver Intervention Program (DIP). Some first offenders are required to go to jail in addition to the intervention program. Also, you can be fined up to $1000. There may be other penalties as well. The penalties become much greater for second and third offenses. If you get a fourth OVI within six years, it becomes a felony and your case will be heard in a common pleas court rather than in a municipal court.

Yes. You actually can get more than occupational driving privileges. Under current law the term occupational driving privileges is replaced with limited driving privileges. Limited driving privileges under the new law may be given for employment, educational (to and from school), medical, alcohol treatment, and other court-ordered purposes.

If you can’t afford auto insurance, then you can’t drive. Ohio law says that, in order to drive a vehicle in Ohio, you must have liability insurance. If you receive a traffic ticket, you must show proof of insurance to either the police officer or the court. If you don’t show proof of insurance, your license will be suspended by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

All of these terms were used under the old law. Under current law, only the terms "suspended" and "cancelled" are used. Your license may be suspended, or taken away, for a short time or for the rest of your life, depending upon the nature of the offense and the "class" of the suspension. A license also may be cancelled if you fail to comply with the law (if, for example, you do not pay traffic tickets). Unlike a suspension, your license can be cancelled by the court without warning. The cancellation lasts only until you comply (pay your traffic tickets).

Under current law, there are two main types of suspensions: court suspensions and BMV suspensions. Numbers are used to identify court suspensions, and letters are used to identify BMV suspensions. Each number or letter represents a different length of suspension. For example, a BMV "Class F" suspension lasts only until you have met certain conditions (e.g., you can show proof of insurance), whereas a "Class A" suspension (e.g., for refusing, in three separate incidents, to take a chemical test to determine if you were driving while intoxicated) will last three years. A "Class 7" court suspension may last no more than one year, whereas if the court imposes a "Class 1" suspension (such as aggravated vehicular homicide committed while under the influence), you will lose driving privileges for the rest of your life. If you have an issue or question concerning a suspension, it may be wise to contact an attorney.

It depends. If you submitted to a test to determine your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) and your BAC was under the legal limit, the officer should not have taken your license, and it should be returned to you immediately. If the officer did not ask you to take a BAC test (if, for example, the test could not be administered), the law requires the officer to turn your license over to the court for disposition at your initial appearance. Your license may be returned to you at the initial appearance or, in some cases, the court may impose a suspension of your driving privileges under a "public safety" suspension.

If your BAC was at or above the legal limit, you have been placed under an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) for 90 days. The duration of the suspension will be lengthened if you are convicted of OVI (drunk driving). If you refused to submit to a BAC test, the ALS will be extended to one year, but if you are convicted of OVI, the length of this "refusal" suspension may be shortened. If you are convicted of OVI, the court must suspend your license for a minimum of six months and may suspend it for a maximum of three years.

If you did not refuse to submit to a BAC test, and your BAC was not at or above the legal limit, you most likely were not placed under an ALS and you should be able to drive immediately. If, however, you submitted to a test and your BAC was at or above the legal limit, you will not be eligible for even limited driving privileges for 15 days from the date of arrest.

If you refused to submit to a BAC test, you are not eligible for driving privileges for 30 days from the date of arrest. The time during which the court cannot grant driving privileges is commonly referred to as a "hard" suspension. In many courts, the judge will not grant privileges at any time before the case ends if you refused to submit to a BAC test.

If granted, the limited privileges are valid for the remainder of the suspension.

A judge cannot grant privileges before the end of the "hard" suspension, but an ALS can be "stayed" (put on hold) by the court until the final disposition of the case. This would allow you to drive while the suspension is on hold. If you are subsequently convicted of OVI, the judge must impose the full suspension including the "hard suspension," and must give you credit for all of the days you have already spent under suspension, including credit for the "hard" suspension.

Possibly. If you plead "guilty" or "no contest" to the OVI charge, then your refusal to submit to the chemical test is set aside ("vacated"). The judge, by law, must impose a court suspension for a period between six months and three years on a first OVI conviction. In most cases, the judge will impose the lesser six-month suspension and will grant credit for any time already served under the initial ALS suspension. This may shorten the suspension, but you will have an OVI conviction on your record. The length of the suspension should not be the sole factor in deciding whether or not to plead guilty. In most cases, having an OVI conviction on your record is much worse than having your license suspended.

A "drug court" is a program administered through a traditional court to manage cases involving certain types of drug-related crime. Those who are arrested for possession of drugs, and who otherwise meet the criteria, are screened for eligibility and enter the drug court program within a short time after arrest. If appropriate, they begin treatment within two weeks of arrest. While they live in the community, they must comply with intensive probation requirements. They meet frequently with case managers, must prove sobriety through urine testing, and must comply with all requirements set by the managers.

During the program, offenders must complete the case management plan and remain drug-free. They may obtain GEDs and/or employment, work with Children's Services to be reunited with any children, perform volunteer work, attend AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings, and do whatever is necessary to re-enter society as a sober, responsible person. While it would be legal to do so, program participants are not permitted to drink alcohol.

Offenders must appear in Court on a regular basis. If they fail to comply with the program (for example, by missing a meeting or testing positive for drugs), a series of graduated sanctions is invoked. For example, for the first sanction, they may sit in court for one day. Two days of community service are required for the second sanction, three days of jail time are required for the third sanction, and so on. As long as the offender is willing to try, he or she will not be removed from the program. Only those who leave the program voluntarily are considered failures. Some have asked to be sentenced to the six-month jail term in lieu of the program because they feel it is too difficult.

Jail and prison are costly punishments. Taxpayers spend upwards of $120 per day to incarcerate offenders. Punishing non-violent offenders in other ways helps to reduce taxpayers' spending for prison beds, and ensures that there is space in existing prisons for violent offenders.

Because incarceration alone has been shown to have little effect on drug addicts, other forms of punishment may be more beneficial. Without drug treatment, more than 70 percent of drug addicts will commit new crimes. Addicts who complete a drug court program are much less likely to commit new crimes. In fact, in most drug courts, the recidivism rate for drug court graduates is less than 10 percent.

A drug court is less expensive than traditional approaches in both the short and long term. There are immediate savings to the taxpayer in reduced police overtime for court appearances, lawyers fees for defendants who are unable to pay for their own attorneys, and in jail beds (which can be reserved for other offenders). In addition, prosecutors are able to devote more time to other cases, which frees the court dockets.

More importantly, long-term savings are realized through the rehabilitation of the offenders. Seventy-five percent of those who enter a drug court program graduate with sober lifestyles and are able to take care of themselves and their families. They are employed, paying taxes and participating in the community, and are caring for their children rather than neglecting them or leaving them to the care of the state. An offender who successfully completes a drug court program is not likely to be a repeat offender. Furthermore, the offender's children also are much less likely to become offenders, thereby ending the cycle of crime for many people.

Contrary to the predictions of many legal scholars, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed its decision in Miranda v. Arizona in Dickerson v. United States. In this case, the Court recognized that "Miranda" warnings have become such a routine police practice that they have become part of our national culture.

Therefore, any statement given by a suspect during police questioning continues to depend on whether the police told the suspect that:

the suspect has the right to remain silent;
anything the suspect says can be used against him or her in a court of law;
the suspect has the right to the presence of an attorney; and
if the suspect cannot afford an attorney, he or she has the right to consult with a court-appointed attorney before answering any questions.

Police officers are required to give suspects Miranda warnings only when the suspects are being formally arrested and questioned at the same time. At a "formal" arrest and questioning, a suspect is not free to leave, but is held in police custody, and questioning is done in such a way that a reasonable person would have no choice but to submit to the officer's will.

Police do not have to give Miranda warnings to a suspect who is being questioned informally and is in police custody. For example, Miranda warnings are not triggered in the following situations:
roadside questioning of a motorist following a routine traffic stop;
a probationer's responses to questions from his or her probation officer;
information requested on tax or other government forms not obtained in the custodial setting.

According to the U.S. Supreme Court, "custodial interrogation" is "questioning initiated by law enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way." In another case, the U.S. Supreme Court said that deciding whether a suspect has been "interrogated" depends upon whether the police have coerced or forced the suspect to speak.

However, police are not held accountable for "offhand remarks" that produce unexpected results. As long as the suspect isn't interrogated or coerced into speaking by some other method, any statement the suspect makes will be considered voluntary, even if it's an admission of guilt. Such a freely given statement can be used in court against the suspect.

A suspect who waives the Miranda rights must understand those rights and must not be forced into giving them up. To decide whether a suspect's waiver of Miranda rights is valid, courts study the facts and circumstances of the case, including the suspect's background, experience and conduct. Confessions that are not provided voluntarily by suspects cannot be used in court.

A suspect must clearly declare that he or she no longer wishes to speak without an attorney present. Some courts have found that statements such as "maybe I should get a lawyer" are not usually enough to stop an interrogation. Nevertheless, most courts require that police officers must at least stop and clarify a suspect's intentions when the suspect responds in this fashion. It is always best to seek the advice of a qualified lawyer before being questioned by the police, regardless of your knowledge or involvement.

No. Even if some unlawfully uncovered evidence is excluded, the defendant may still be convicted based on other evidence. And there are exceptions to the rule. For example, when unlawfully seized evidence would have been obtained anyway, that evidence may be used. Nevertheless, in some cases, a guilty defendant will go free. For example, a drug user will go free when the drugs found on his person (the only evidence against him) were found as the result of an unlawful search.

To see the rationale for this rule, we can look at the situation before 1961. Earlier, the Supreme Court recognized that the Fourth Amendment did apply to states, but allowed each state to impose its own consequences for violations, through "private action" or through internal police discipline as monitored by public opinion.

Consider the shortcomings of "private action" (lawsuits) against the police. On one hand, if the unlawfully searched individual were innocent, how often would he or she want to sue the police and thereby publicize that he was the subject of suspicion? On the other hand, if the unlawful search turned up incriminating evidence against a disreputable individual, how likely is it that a jury would award him or her substantial damages for the unlawful search? How many attorneys are likely to want to take such a case? In a nutshell: innocent individuals are unlikely to sue, and disreputable ones may sue but are unlikely to win. Consequently, the prospect of such lawsuits will not do much to deter unlawful searches.

Then consider another possible remedy, the internal discipline of the police. Fellow police officers are only too aware that it is both very important and very difficult to obtain evidence, and they are often frustrated by the fact that they "know" someone is guilty, but cannot get the evidence necessary for a conviction. How effective is the police department likely to be in disciplining officers who break the rules to get evidence that might be used to take a "known" criminal out of circulation?

In contrast, with the exclusionary rule, police officers know that unlawfully obtained evidence will be useless, and that, if they break the rules, they may contribute to letting a criminal go free. As a result, they have a strong incentive to search for evidence within the limits of the law.

Yes. One is Ohio’s statutory speedy trial rule. Under it, the state has a certain amount of time, depending upon the seriousness of the charge, to bring a criminal defendant to trial. If the rule is violated, the defendant is entitled to be discharged. It doesn’t matter if the proof of the defendant’s guilt is clear; if the defendant isn’t brought to trial within time, he or she walks.

This rule is rarely applied, however, because criminal defendants are almost always brought to trial within time, unless they themselves waive their speedy trial rights.

The exclusionary rule and Ohio’s speedy trial rule can be called "prophylactic" rules: because they impose harsh and certain consequences on violations, the police and other government agencies work hard to stay within the rules.

First-time offenders convicted of certain types of crimes can have their records "expunged" or sealed after their cases have been resolved. This means that these prior convictions are no longer in the public record. Records are expunged so that those who have not previously been in trouble with the law and have paid their debt for particular crimes can go on with their lives as though the convictions had never occurred.

Yes. The records are not destroyed and can be used by a limited number of persons and for a limited number of reasons. For example, if an employer asks if you have been convicted of a certain crime (say, theft) that might have a bearing on the position you are seeking (say, as a real estate office manager with access to clients’ house keys), then you would have to acknowledge the expunged conviction. Sentencing courts and law enforcement officials investigating later crimes also may use expunged records.

Felonies and misdemeanors other than motor vehicle violations or minor misdemeanors that do not fall into certain categories can generally be expunged, unless a criminal statute specifically states that a particular crime is not expungeable. Expungeable offenses include most types of theft and shoplifting, vandalism, trespass, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and similar non-violent crimes.

Any offense requiring a mandatory prison sentence cannot be expunged. Such crimes include rape, sexual battery, corruption of a minor, sexual imposition, or obscenity or pornography involving a minor. Violent felonies and first-degree misdemeanors or those in which the victim is a child (under 18) likewise are not eligible for expungement. In addition, no driver’s license and motor vehicle violations, nor bail forfeitures in traffic cases can be expunged. Since minor misdemeanors, such as possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana or certain disorderly conduct are not considered crimes, they also cannot be expunged.

First-time offenders who have committed crimes not falling in the "non-expungeable" category qualify. A first-time offender has had only one conviction. Most traffic and driver’s license convictions are not considered previous convictions. Therefore, if you have had seven speeding tickets and one theft conviction, only the theft conviction counts and you would be eligible for expungement of the theft conviction.

If you qualify as a first-time offender for a misdemeanor offense such as shoplifing, you may apply for an expungement if one year has passed since the termination of your sentence. For example, if you were sentenced to two years of probation, you could file for an expungement one year after your last day of probation. If you were convicted of a felony like grand theft, you would have to wait three years after the termination of your sentence.

Generally, you may apply for expungement in the court in which you were sentenced, or, if you were convicted in another state or in a federal court, you may apply to a court of common pleas. Once you apply for an expungement, the court will set a hearing date. You usually will work with the probation department to prepare a report for the court to use in determining whether or not to grant the expungement. The prosecutor may challenge the expungement by filing an objection before the hearing date.

The court will perform a test to weigh your interest in clearing your name against the government’s need to allow public access to your records. The court will review the probation report to see how you have behaved since the conviction. If the report shows that your crime was an isolated incident and that you have since shown a desire to get on with your life in a positive way, then the court will probably grant the expungement.

A child, defined as a person under age 18, can be tried as an adult only if the child was age 14 or older at the time of the offense. Nearly all such cases begin in juvenile court with a felony charge. The court must conduct hearings and make certain determinations before the child can be transferred to another court for trial. The process is sometimes referred to as bindover, transfer, waiver, or relinquishment proceedings. In some cases, the child must be tried as an adult. In others, the child can be tried as an adult only if the court orders it.

Trial as an adult is mandatory in certain very serious cases: (1) when the charge is aggravated murder or murder, and the child is 16 or 17 and has been committed to an Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) facility; and (2) when the charge is a certain serious felony offense, and the child is age 16 or 17 and either has previously been committed to a DYS facility or used a firearm while committing the offense. If the court finds that these conditions exist and that there is probable cause to believe that the child committed the offense, the child must stand trial as an adult. There are also other limited circumstances in which the child must stand trial as an adult.

When the law does not require transfer, the court has a choice whether to try a child as an adult, but may do so only if the child was 14 years or older at the time of a felony offense. First, the court conducts a hearing to determine if there is probable cause that the child committed the offense. Next, the court orders an investigation, including a mental examination, and conducts another hearing, often called an "amenability" hearing, to decide whether or not the child is likely to be rehabilitated within the juvenile system, and whether or not the community’s safety requires that the child be subject to adult penalties. Some of the factors the court considers are age, physical and mental maturity, past attempts and future potential for rehabilitation, harm suffered by the victim, use of a firearm, and public safety.

After the transfer is ordered, the court will set the terms of bail and order custody of the child to be transferred to the custody of the appropriate authority. The juvenile court’s authority over that case is then terminated. Once tried and if convicted, any sentence of incarceration is to an adult facility. Likewise, any probation is supervised by probation officers who supervise adult offenders.

If a child’s case remains in juvenile court, there are other alternatives. When there are multiple charges, the court may impose consecutive sentences in a secure DYS facility. If a firearm was used in the offense and specified in the complaint, the child must be committed to DYS and must serve additional time, ranging from one to five years, for using the firearm. Lastly, in certain circumstances, the court may impose a "serious youthful offender" (SYO) sentence in which a child is given a traditional juvenile sentence as well as an "adult" sentence that is "stayed" or delayed. The child may not have to serve the adult portion of the sentence at all if he or she successfully completes the juvenile portion of the sentence. If the child is older than age 14 and commits certain conduct or offenses while serving the juvenile portion of the SYO sentence (indicating that rehabilitation in the juvenile system is not likely), the child can be sentenced to an adult correctional facility or to adult probation.

Under the old law, if you were going 86 miles per hour (MPH) on a freeway and had three prior offenses, you would be assessed 12 points. Current law says that if you are driving 30 MPH or more over the speed limit, you will be assessed four points, regardless of any prior offenses. That also would apply if, for example, you were going 50 MPH in a school zone.

There are other moving violations, such as failing to stop at a stop sign, going through a red light or making an illegal turn, that will result in two points being assessed against you. Offenses such as willful fleeing or eluding of a law enforcement officer, failing to stop and disclose identity at the scene of an accident, drag racing, driving under license suspension and driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs are among the violations that will result in six points being assessed against you. There are other offenses in which four points may be assessed, such as underage drinking and driving, and operating a motor vehicle with willful or wanton disregard of property or person.