Parenting

Parenting Tips for Single Parents

single parent with his son

With apologies to the Peace Corps, which coined the phrase, we would argue that parenting is really the “toughest job you’ll ever love.” And it can be even tougher for single parents. You don’t have backup, you don’t get sick days. It’s all on you, all the time. No matter how rewarding parenting is, most […]

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The Child Tax Credit: What to Expect

child tax credit concept

Most of us found 2020 to be a pretty difficult year. Many people saw their income decrease, and parents of young children were faced with the need to keep their kids safe, fed, happy, and educated through the pandemic. In the best of times, parenting is challenging. Under the circumstances many parents faced last year, […]

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Contempt of Court in Ohio Family Law Matters

Gavel and wedding rings

Your divorce decree, dissolution decree, or parenting order is the “private law” governing the interactions between you and your ex-partner or ex-spouse. These legal binding agreements dictate the terms of parenting allocation, property division, spousal support, and more. Unfortunately, you may find yourself in a situation where the opposing party fails to comply with these […]

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Establishing Paternity in Ohio

dad and son

In situations where an unmarried woman gives birth, paternity of the child needs to be legally established. The mother may want to establish the father’s identity so that she can get child support for the baby. Or the father may consider establishing paternity so that he has a legal right to a relationship with the […]

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College Expenses for Divorced Parents

Education expenses

As a parent, you want the best for your child, and that includes making sure he or she gets the best education possible. With college costs rising, paying for that education is a challenge for most parents. After a divorce, coordinating with your co-parent to apply for financial aid and deciding who will be responsible […]

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Managing Parenting Time During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Child with teddy bear

Co-parenting, even at the best of times, is a challenge. Keeping your family healthy—mentally, emotionally, and physically—during a pandemic is a new and unfamiliar challenge. Trying to do all of this at once piles additional stress onto an already stressful situation. The coronavirus pandemic compounds the difficulties of raising a child in two separate households. […]

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Eight Tips for Successful Stepparenting

Family photo of stock people

Marriage and parenting both have their challenges. Marriage to someone who has children from a previous relationship offers its own unique set of challenges as you have suddenly become a stepparent. Don’t get us wrong: becoming a stepparent carries its own unique blessings. Your family has grown; you have been given the opportunity to love […]

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Step-Parent Adoption in Ohio: What You Need to Know

paper cut out of family and gavel | Melissa Graham-Hurd & Associates

As you might imagine, in a family law practice, a lot of our work involves helping couples unwind their relationships. Even when this is a necessary step and best for them and their children, it can be a sad time. That is why we especially relish the times when our work gets to bring families […]

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Co-Parenting After High-Conflict Divorce

Child holding ears and parents fighting | paper cut out of family and gavel | Melissa Graham-Hurd & Associates

Parenting is challenging. Co-parenting after divorce is even more so, with different households with different rules and different schedules, not to mention frequent issues with finances and communication problems. But co-parenting after high-conflict divorce can be much more difficult. It can feel like being ordered to do a flawless ballroom dance routine with someone who […]

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Back to School (As Co-Parents)

Girl with backpack walking with man | Melissa Graham-Hurd & Associates

An office supply store runs an annual back-to-school commercial with parents singing about it being “the most wonderful time of the year.” But if you are sharing custody with your child’s other parent after divorce or separation, you may be dreading the back-to-school season as much as your kids are. Summer is the season of […]

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