BLOG

Establishing paternity is a crucial step in making sure that a child's rights and well-being are protected. At Hecker & Moreland Co. LPA located in Columbus, Ohio, our experienced family law attorneys recognize the importance of securing legal recognition for fathers in Ohio.

When it comes to safeguarding assets and establishing clear financial boundaries in a marriage, both prenuptial and postnuptial agreements play a significant role. At Hecker & Moreland Co. LPA located in Columbus, Ohio, our experienced family law attorneys understand the importance of protecting your financial future while handling personal relationships.

Divorce can have significant financial implications, and one of the primary concerns for many individuals is how to protect their assets. In Ohio, as in many other states, the court divides marital property based on the principles of equitable distribution, meaning the property is divided fairly but not necessarily equally.

Alimony, also referred to as spousal support, is financial assistance paid by one spouse to the other after a divorce. The courts in Ohio evaluate several factors to determine the amount and duration of alimony.

When issues related to the legal rights of a child’s biological parents arise, especially when the parents are unmarried, a paternity affidavit often comes into play. Establishing paternity is crucial for defining a father’s legal obligations and rights regarding the child.

Even for the wealthy, divorce can be emotionally and financially draining. When Amazon.com, Inc. founder Jeff Bezos and his ex-wife, MacKenzie Bezos, finalized their divorce, she received 25% of Bezos' stake in Amazon.

According to Statista, there were about 15.31 million children living with a single mother and about 3.27 million children living with a single father in the United States in 2020.

According to statistics from the Ohio Department of Health, there were 28,916 total divorces statewide in 2020. For all the parties involved, going through a divorce can be difficult and emotional. An important issue that will be addressed in divorce is asset or property division.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the marriage rate in Ohio is 16.1 per every 1,000 females versus 16.6 nationwide, and the divorce rate is 7.2 per 1,000 females versus 7.7 nationwide. In other words, Ohio marriage and divorce rates are about even with nationwide trends.

Child custody is a difficult subject to discuss because of the emotional toll it takes all those involved. I understand how stressful this custody process can be, especially in Ohio. According to a study conducted by CustodyXChange, divorced fathers in Ohio get to see their children only 23.7% of the time on average, which is among the lowest percentage of any state.