Posted in: January, 2013

Divorce Vocabulary

Because the law is a profession, there are specialized terms for processes, procedures, events, and even people.  Ohio family lawyer Melissa Graham-Hurd seeks to enhance your ability to understand this process happening to you by providing definitions of common terms used in Family Law.  Action: the legal term for a lawsuit Affidavit: a written statement sworn to under oath […]

Read More

Expert Witnesses

What you should know about Expert Witnesses: Family lawyer Melissa Graham-Hurd has the experience to guide you when there is an issue that may need an expert to testify and explain complex issues. When Do I Need An Expert? To Value Assets: An expert is a person with special knowledge about a subject that qualifies […]

Read More

Widespread Fallacies About Family Law

Divorce and family law in Ohio are complicated subject areas and misconceptions about divorce, child support and child custody abound. Ohio family lawyer Melissa Graham-Hurd seeks to help erase some of those inaccuracies and fallacies by providing clear information, blending straight talk with compassion. Ohio’s laws are different from those of surrounding states – sometimes […]

Read More

Required Child Support Documents and Information

Ohio child support lawyer Melissa Graham-Hurd has considerable experience in child support matters.  When going to Court or CSEA (child support agency) regarding a determination of child support or modification of child support, Ms. Graham-Hurd’s knowledge can help you avoid pitfalls.  In any case where you are asking for child support, or asked to pay […]

Read More

Now That You’ve Decided to Divorce

You may want to consider stopping any voluntary contributions from your pay (such as 401(k) plans, deferred compensation, credit union accounts, etc.), additional deposits to private savings, purchase of additional assets (including furnishings, purchase of credit for retirement, etc.) as most assets are valued at time of trial, and your attempts to save money now […]

Read More

Settlement Strategies

As opposed to what you may have seen on television, being an effective lawyer does not mean putting on a “dog and pony show” for the client’s benefit.  TV lawyers threaten, intimidate, use rude language, jump up on tables, and get red in the face about almost everything.  This makes for good entertainment, but real […]

Read More

Tips on Better Parenting During the Divorce Process

Whether you are divorcing, separating, or have never lived with your other parent, here are some tips that might help your children deal with parents apart: DO: Put your children’s welfare ahead of your own conflict with the other parent Attempt Mediation See the other parent as your “business partner” engaged in the most important […]

Read More

Tips on Filling out those Darn Affidavits

When people start matters at domestic court, whether a new divorce or dissolution, or a post-decree matter concerning child support or spousal support, they will be required to fill out certain affidavits concerning their income and expenses, their debts and property, their children, health insurance and other matters. An affidavit is a sworn statement, notarized, […]

Read More

How To Deal With Your Difficult Spouse

Although Ohio family lawyer Melissa Graham-Hurd always seeks to resolve family disputes in a negotiated settlement, sometimes divorce and separation tend to bring out the worst in some people, and they must be dealt with accordingly. If you have one of these people in your life, accept that: Self-interest apparently justifies deception and outright lies […]

Read More

How To Dress For Court

First Impressions Count.  While it is true that it really isn’t fair and it does not change the facts of your case, impressions do count, and we want the Judge or Magistrate to see you as fitting their perceptions of someone who is mature, responsible and believable.  The people in the black robes are people, […]

Read More