As a parent, nothing is more important to you than your relationship with your children and making sure they are protected. This is what makes child custody proceedings so sensitive and potentially contentious. In dealing with these matters, it is important to understand the approach the court takes. Instead of simply awarding one parent custody and the other visitation, a parenting plan is used to allocate parental responsibilities in Ohio, as well as parental obligations, between the parties involved. 

How are Parental Responsibilities Allocated In Ohio?

In the past, child custody proceedings in Ohio typically favored one parent over the other, awarding them full custody while the other got more limited visitation. However, family courts have come to recognize the fact that children generally do better when they have frequent and ongoing contact with both parents and the state has changed laws and procedures accordingly. 

Today, legal proceedings reflect this attitude and aim to protect both parents’ rights, as well as their child’s best interests, through joint parenting arrangements. These are created through the allocation of parental responsibilities in Ohio. This involves having both parties work together in creating a parenting plan. A parenting plan details each of their rights in the situation and addressed important practical matters, including: 

  • Where the child will live during the week and the amount of time divided between each parent’s home;
  • Rights regarding weeknights visits and overnight stays on weekends;
  • Extended stays during school breaks;
  • Plans for holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions. 

Rights Regarding Children and Parental Responsibilities

The Ohio Revised Code provides specific guidelines for allocating parental responsibilities. In addition to determining each parent’s rights regarding spending time with their children, their legal obligations to the child and to the other parent involved are also detailed in these arrangements. This typically includes: 

  • Transportation plans and meeting places for picking up and dropping off the child;
  • Provisions for unexpected changes in plans and how these should be handled;
  • Plans regarding involvement at school and with the child’s academic or extracurricular activities;
  • Legal custody, which is the authority to make important decisions on the child’s behalf, pertaining to matters such as their education, religious upbringing, and medical care;
  • Provisions for resolving any disputes that arise. 

One of the major responsibilities of a parent is to provide financially for their child. Child support will also be addressed, based on each parent’s income, the child’s needs, and the terms of the parenting plan. 

Contact Our Ohio Parenting Plan Attorney Today to Request a Consultation

It is important to understand how parental responsibilities are allocated in Ohio. Once a parenting plan is put in place, there are serious consequences for not following it. 

At Comunale Law Offices, we explain the process for allocating parental responsibilities and important issues that may arise in your case. Give us a call or contact our Ohio parenting plan attorney online today to request a consultation.