Central Ohio Family Legal Blog

Layoff can make divorce and dissolution more difficult

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

Ending a marriage is far from an easy process. Experiencing divorce and dissolution while going through a job layoff, though, is even more difficult both financially and emotionally. Fortunately, some tips might help laid-off individuals who are in the process of getting divorced to protect their financial best interests in Ohio.

Individuals who have been laid off from their companies may be wise to keep looking for comparable employment while going through divorce and seeking alimony. This puts these individuals in a position to assert that they should not be treated as having the same income levels they had prior to their layoffs, as the layoffs were not their fault, and they are sincerely trying to find new job positions. While they are searching for work, their future exes might have to give them more alimony until they have secured employment.

Careful preparation for divorce and dissolution can be beneficial

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Monday, June 10, 2019.

Ending a marriage is never an easy process in Ohio. The good news, though, is that when divorce and dissolution are inevitable, individuals who will be going through the process can take steps to prepare themselves mentally and emotionally for it. Let's take a glimpse at a couple of these steps.

For starters, once people view divorce and dissolution as the most ideal choice for their situations, it is paramount that they commit themselves completely to it. They can do this by temporarily suppressing the emotions they are feeling and thinking more clearly and calmly about their situations. The most important question for them to ask themselves is what outcome they want from the divorce process.

Mortgage debt: What happens during divorce?

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

Shortly after getting married, you and your new spouse went to a mortgage lender and got a loan. You bought your first house. It was in a beautiful little neighborhood where you always wanted to live, and it felt like everything was perfect.

Unfortunately, the marriage did not last. After a few years, you and your spouse decided it was time to get divorced.

Splitting 401(k) in divorce and dissolution is straightforward

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Friday, May 17, 2019.

During a marital breakup, an individual may understandably be concerned about how to handle property division. Specifically, he or she might be confused about how to split years' or even decades' worth of retirement assets. Here is a look at how a 401(k) can be split during divorce and dissolution in Ohio.

Many employees today use 401(k)s through their companies to prepare for their retirement years. Figuring out a plan's value is generally straightforward since it features cash value, and as a result, splitting 401(k)s usually is not complicated, and parties may account for any separate property or passive growth when allocating the assets to each spouse. However, the court will choose to split this type of plan in the manner it deems proper by using a document called a qualified domestic relations order, or QDRO.

Divorce and dissolution can impact work life

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

Keeping a marital breakup situation separate from one's professional life can be difficult to achieve. As an example, it may not be possible to avoid making an important divorce decision during the workday. However, those experiencing divorce and dissolution can take a couple of steps to keep these situations from destroying their careers in Ohio.

First, scheduling divorce discussions for times outside of work hours, when possible, is generally a wise move. The problem with tackling divorce issues at work is that concentration on these issues may hamper a person's ability to focus on work tasks, thus decreasing his or her productivity. In addition, a stressful workday might cause the person to rush through making divorce-related decisions, which may have unintended consequences.

Ohio child custody and visitation rulings vary

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in child custody and support on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

There is always room for improvement when it comes to family law litigation. This is especially true when it pertains to child custody.

A recent article appearing in an Ohio newspaper highlights these concerns. This article speaks about how families receive different treatment when it comes to child custody issues depending on their location.

Should I get legal custody of my grandchild?

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC on Saturday, March 23, 2019.

As a grandparent, it can be heartbreaking to watch your grandchild be raised in a high-risk environment. It is likely that you have some insight into the behaviors that the child's parents engage in, and this might concern you. If you believe that your grandchild's parents are suffering from addiction, or are neglecting or abusing your grandchild, you should make sure that you take action to protect them.

It is estimated that one in 10 children live with a grandparent in the United States. This arrangement may be in place for many reasons, but the common denominator is that living with a grandparent is in the child's best interests. You do not need to go through the often-lengthy process of adoption to successfully care for your grandchild. It can be possible to informally care for your grandchild, but gaining legal custody is often a wise decision.