Cincinnati Legal Blog

Acting as your child's primary caregiver is difficult enough after a divorce, but doing so without sufficient support can be even harder. However, things are set to change soon. Starting in April 2019, a new law will make it easier for custodial parents to not only receive an adequate amount of child support, but to also receive it in a timely, consistent manner.

Financial stability after a divorce is often the key to success for divorcees and their children alike. However, you already understand that ending a marriage can negatively affect virtually anyone's money situation. This is why post-divorce payments -- such as child support and alimony -- are so important. However, since only 30 percent of Ohio families who are supposed to receive $75 or less in child support every month ever get anything, a change was certainly in order.

When a couple in Ohio gets a divorce, state law will likely play a role in determining who gets custody of the children. If there are reasons to believe that a child is in danger while spending time with a parent, the other may be given emergency custody. Parents who are seeking any type of custody of their children are encouraged to take notes and have other forms of documentation ready.

For instance, a statement from a child's teacher or a neighbor may be useful in a custody proceeding. It could show that a parent has a drinking problem or is physically abusive toward a person's son or daughter. Such information could be especially useful if a parent doesn't have a criminal record. Absent a conviction, authorities may be limited in what they can do unless there is other evidence of abuse or neglect.

Some parents in Ohio who are getting a divorce may have heard about an arrangement known as "nesting" or "birdnesting." This is when children continue living in the family home while their parents take turns staying there.

Most experts advise that nesting is generally beneficial only if the parents are amicable, and the arrangement lasts for just a short period of time, such as three to six months. Birdnesting can offer children a stable adjustment period in which they do not have to make too many changes at once. However, experts caution that relying on this schedule for a longer period of time can lead children to believe that their parents are working on reconciliation. It can also create a strain for parents who are still forced to share living spaces, even if it is not at the same time, leading to additional conflict.

Fans of many iconic fictional superheroes in Ohio and around the world are mourning the recent passing of writer, editor and publisher Stan Lee at the age of 95. When it comes to Lee's estate, there appears to be a tangled web of complexities that would even present some challenges for Spider-Man. While often a spouse would handle estate matters, Lee's wife passed in 2017. Also, the former Marvel chairman was accused of sexual harassment by nurses and home aides, and he made claims about money being missing from his bank accounts.

It's not known what the extent of Lee's estate planning efforts were or if he had a will or any trusts set up. The complex part of what's going on with the prolific writer's assets centers around the fact that he worked with and severed ties with several business managers and lawyers over the years. Lee himself had commented about mistakenly letting some people manage his money who weren't trustworthy.