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Building a Strong Foundation for Co-Parenting

When family dynamics change, nothing is more important than children’s wellbeing. At Northeast Ohio Family Law and Mediation LLC, we help our clients create detailed shared parenting plans that designate both parents as having custody and decision-making authority. We provide our clients with options that are unique to their circumstances, including customized parenting time schedules, how education and medical decisions can be made, and how child-related expenses can be shared. We help our clients minimize conflict to prevent parenting disputes in the future.

Understanding Custody Under Ohio Law

In Ohio, “custody” refers to the legal rights and responsibilities parents have regarding their children. Custody is classified into two categories:

(1) Sole Custody: One parent has legal authority to make all major decisions for the child, including those related to education and healthcare. The other parent may have visitation rights but does not have decision-making authority.

(2) Shared Parenting: Both parents share decision-making responsibilities and parenting time according to the terms of their parenting plan. Although shared parenting does not necessarily mean a 50/50 schedule, it ensures that both parents have an active role in raising their children.

In most cases, shared parenting is the preferred arrangement as it fosters a healthier relationship between the child and both parents. Sole custody is typically reserved for unique situations involving domestic violence, substance abuse, and absent parents.

The Shared Parenting Plan: Key Components

A well-crafted shared parenting plan provides structure and stability, ensuring both parents understand their responsibilities and expectations. This plan serves as the default in case of future disputes.

Parenting Time Schedules

We work with parents to create tailored schedules that best meet the needs of the children and the parents. These schedules can include:

Week-on, week-off arrangements
2-2-3 or 2-2-5-5 rotating schedules
Alternating weekends with midweek visits
Any other customized arrangement that best supports the child’s routine, employment schedules, and any other commitments.

Holiday and Vacation Scheduling

We assist in developing clear plans for holidays, birthdays, school breaks, and vacations/travel to prevent disputes. Customizing these schedules in advance ensures that both parents have holiday time according to their historic traditions and new practices.

Education Decision-Making

Key education-related decisions include school selection (public, private, or homeschool), special education needs, tutoring, and conferences. A shared parenting plan should define how these decisions will be made to prevent future conflicts.

Medical Decision-Making

We help parents address medical decision-making, including:

Routine and emergency healthcare decisions
Vaccination policies
Mental health treatments
Specialist referrals and therapies

Communication Guidelines

To minimize conflicts, a shared parenting plan should outline how parents and children will communicate. This includes rules for phone calls, video chats, and texting, as well as communications between co-parents.

Extracurricular Activities

From sports to music lessons, extracurricular activities play an important role in a child’s development. Parents need to decide how to share decision-making responsibilities, costs, and transportation logistics.

Child Support and Expense Sharing

Understanding Ohio Child Support Calculations

Child support is calculated based on Ohio guidelines, which considers:

Each parent’s income
Healthcare and insurance costs
Childcare expenses
Parenting time allocations

We assist clients in gathering the necessary financial information to run Ohio Child Support Guidelines Worksheet calculations, ensuring that support payments are fair and appropriate.

Division of Additional Child-Related Expenses

Beyond child support, parents must also address how to divide out-of-pocket expenses, including:

Extracurricular Activities: Costs for sports, arts, and other hobbies
Medical Expenses: Co-pays, deductibles, and uninsured healthcare costs
Health Insurance: Determine which parent will provide coverage
School Fees: Tuition, supplies, and uniforms
Work-Related Childcare: Division of daycare, nannies, and babysitting expenses

Supporting Families with Special Needs Children

At NEO Family Law, we have extensive experience assisting families with special needs children, including those with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, and other developmental challenges. We understand the importance of maintaining consistency in both homes to support the child’s well-being and development. Our mediator works closely with parents to craft parenting plans that include:

Coordination of therapies and specialized medical care
Strategies to ensure consistency in daily routines and behavioral support
Clear guidelines for special education planning and IEP implementation

Additionally, we assist parents in navigating diagnostic evaluations to help ensure children receive the necessary treatments and interventions.

We also have experience in handling child support beyond emancipation when a child qualifies as a Castle child, ensuring continued financial and caregiving support. We collaborate with attorneys specializing in special needs trusts as well as guardianships.

Why NEO Family Law Is the Best Choice

At NEO Family Law, we stand out from alternatives by providing unmatched attention to detail and personalized service. We take the time to understand the unique needs of each family and carefully craft parenting plans that prevent future disputes. Unlike traditional legal battles, our mediation process is designed to foster cooperation and long-term stability rather than unnecessary conflict and costly litigation.

A detailed and well-thought-out plan created with our professional guidance can help avoid future court battles, which often arise from vague or incomplete agreements. By proactively investing the time to develop a comprehensive shared parenting plan, parents can save significant stress, time, and legal expenses down the road.

Ongoing Support for Modifications and Conflict Resolution

As children grow, their needs and circumstances change. Parents who work with us can reengage our services at any time to adjust parenting plans, modify child support agreements, or resolve conflicts—without resorting to costly court proceedings. Mandatory mediation provisions can be included in the parenting plan, establishing it as the first line of defense against disagreements and premature legal action. This approach not only keeps families out of court but also preserves positive co-parenting relationships without them breaking down.

Our post-decree services ensure that parents have a trusted, experienced team ready to help them navigate changes as their children grow and their needs evolve.

Examples of Successful Custody and Shared Parenting Mediations

Unmarried Parents with Young Child.
The parents hired attorneys but entered mediation to avoid the cost of litigation. The parents agreed on a parenting plan that addressed the school-year and summer parenting time schedules, how the school district would be selected once the child reached school age, and how other decisions would be made.

Transition and Activity Disputes.
The parents engaged in mediation for their dissolution. They discussed a step-up parenting time schedule that provided a transition for the children from one home to two homes, a custom holiday schedule that included days off school, and a default method for selecting extracurricular activities.

Unique Employment Schedules and Expenses.
In mediation, the parents constructed a parenting time schedule that catered to their unconventional work schedules. They also resolved the financial issues, which included dividing the children’s expenses by their income percentages to avoid the formal exchange of child support.