Last Updated: January 2026 Stepparent adoption represents one of the most meaningful ways to legally formalize the bond between a stepparent and stepchild in Ohio. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the stepparent adoption process in 2026, including legal requirements, costs, timelines, and recent changes to Ohio adoption law. What is […]
Understanding Documentation Requirements Whether you’re requesting child support or responding to a child support action, both Ohio courts and the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) require specific financial documentation to make fair determinations. Under Ohio Revised Code § 3119.01-3119.56, child support calculations must follow state guidelines based on verified income and expenses. Providing complete and […]
Nearly half of married couples eventually terminate their marriages by divorce or dissolution, but most of us live our lives as if we are going to be in the other half. That leads to making decisions with the expectation that our marriages will last “until death do us part.” When that parting comes sooner, by […]
A wise person once said: “Just because a decision is the right one doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt to make it.” For many people, divorce or separation from a partner is absolutely the right decision. But whether or not you want a divorce, it is a painful process to go through. Unfortunately, that is […]
Every family faces its own challenges going through a divorce; families that have children with special needs may face more challenges than most. Depending on the age of your child and the nature of their needs, divorce or dissolution with a special needs child requires extra planning to make sure that your child is both […]
What kind of couple gets a prenuptial agreement? Many people think of prenups as something for the wealthy or famous or for couples who are not confident in their marriage working out and want to make an eventual divorce or dissolution easier. While it is true that people who fall into those categories often benefit […]
You can do lots of things without professional help: cook a gourmet meal, tile a bathroom floor, cut your own hair. But just because you can do something on your own doesn’t mean that you should. Some DIY projects have higher stakes than others. If you burn the gourmet meal, delivery from a local restaurant […]
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, […]
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 […]
If you are planning divorce or dissolution, and you and your spouse are generally in agreement about the terms of your divorce, some variation of this saying may be playing in your head – Why hire two lawyers when one lawyer could (in theory) draw up their agreement and “make things legal.” Can one lawyer […]
Melissa Graham-Hurd & Associates, LLC
4030 Massillon Road
Green, Ohio 44685
(330) 996-4099
(330) 643-0732
