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Law Offices of Virginia C. Cornwell

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Ohio LGBT Shared Custody Agreements: Get it in Writing!

June 27, 2015

GAY CUSTODY LAWYER, SHARED CUSTODY AGREEMENT, CO-CUSTODY AGREEMENT, LAWYER, ATTORNEY, LGBT LAWYER, COLUMBUS OHIO LGBT LAWYER, COLUMBUS OHIO LGBT ATTORNEY, LGBT CUSTODY LAWYER, LGBT ADOPTION LAWYER, GAY ADOPTION LAWYERVirginia Cornwell is an Ohio State Bar Association Certified Family Relations Specialist Attorney who works with the LGBT community. 

Many Ohio LGBT partners co-parent but do not take the extra step of putting their shared custody (similar to joint custody or shared parenting) arrangement in writing.  Others put their shared custody arrangement in writing, (known as Bonfield agreements) but do not put it in writing in a way that indicates a clear relinquishment of sole custody in favor of shared custody (for example a power of attorney or a will rather than a shared custody agreement).

Mistakes like this can be tragic for the non-biological parent (or non-legal parent) if the couple breaks up.  Wills and powers of attorneys are revocable.  Shared custody agreements (the ones that have any legal authority) must be approved by the juvenile court.  An example of how things can go devastatingly wrong without a shared custody agreement is the Mullen case.

In the Ohio Supreme Court Case In Re Mullen, 129 Ohio St.3d 417, 2011-Ohio-3361, while together, the parties had taken numerous steps to show their commitment to co-parenting.  They had planned the pregnancy together, were together at the birth, made a ceremonial birth certificate with both parties’ names, and shared parenting responsibilities. The biological mother also prepared a will naming the other mother as custodian if she should pass away, and the biological mother gave her partner a power of attorney.  However, when the parties separated, according to Mullen, the will and the power of attorney were revoked and the parties found themselves in litigation over whether they would continue to co-parent the child.

In this case, the Ohio Supreme Court upheld the findings of the lower courts which did not require the biological mother to continue to co-parent with her former partner.  The Court noted that while the biological mother had the opportunity to permanently surrender her sole custody in favor of shared custody, she did not do it. The court did not go so far as to say that they would always require a “Bonfield” agreement, but if the court did not grant any custodial rights under these circumstances, it is wise to interpret this case as a cautionary tale and put these important issues in writing, and have them approved by the juvenile court.

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GAY DIVORCE LAWYER, SAME SEX DIVORCE LAWYERS IN COLUMBUS OHIO, GAY FAMILY LAWYER,  LGBT FAMILY ATTORNEYS IN, A FAMILY LAWYER, FAMILY LAW LAWYERS, FAMILY LAWYERS, OHIO DIVORCE LAWYER, FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS, attorney ohio family law, columbus attorneys, columbus lawyers, columbus lawyer, columbus attorney, ohio divorce attorney, lawyer in columbus ohio, lawyer columbus ohio, columbus ohio lawyer, columbus ohio attorneys, attorney at law ohio, divorce lawyer columbus, divorce attorney columbus, ohio divorce lawyers, ohio divorce lawyer, ohio divorce attorney, ohio LGBT divorce attorneys, columbus LGBT divorce attorneyDo you want to talk to an attorney about a shared custody agreement?  Our attorneys are here to help you!  It all starts with a phone call.

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1. This site applies to the state of Ohio and matters of federal law only.
2. The info on our site is not legal advice because we don't know the facts of your case. If you want legal advice, you must meet with a lawyer.
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Ohio Child Support Guidelines Calculator

Ohio Child Support Guidelines Calculator

Blogroll

  • Columbus Ohio Divorce Lawyer

Read this before you read our website

1. This site applies to the state of Ohio and matters of federal law only.

2. The info on our site is not legal advice because we don't know the facts of your case. If you want legal advice, you must meet with a lawyer.

3. Reading this website or sending documents to us does not create an attorney-client relationship and information or documents you give us will not be kept confidential unless you call us, tell us who is involved in your case, and let us do a conflict of interest check.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Annulment of Marriage
  • Appeals
  • CERTIFIED SPECIALIST – OSBA Certified Family Relations Specialist
  • Child Support
  • Columbus Ohio Collaborative Family Law
  • Contempt of Court
  • Custody
  • Dissolution of Marriage
  • Divorce
  • Divorce & Alimony
  • Divorce & Assets
  • Divorce & Business Owners
  • Divorce & Child Support
  • Divorce & Custody
  • Divorce & Professional or Medical Practice Owners
  • Family Law
  • Father's Rights
  • Franklin County & 88 Ohio Counties
  • Grandparents Rights
  • Legal Separation
  • LGBT Family Law, Divorce, Custody
  • Military Divorce
  • Mother's Rights
  • Moving & Relocation
  • Ohio Collaborative Divorce
  • Parental Alienation
  • Paternity
  • Post-Decree Modifications
  • Prenuptial & Antenuptial Agreements (Prenup)
  • Shared Parenting
  • Temporary Orders in Ohio
  • Uncontested Divorce
  • Unmarried & Never Married Parents
  • Visitation
(614) 225-9316

OHIO STATE BAR ASSOCIATION CERTIFIED FAMILY RELATIONS SPECIALIST

Ohio Bar Association Certified Family Law Specialist

INFORMATION

  • Adoption (4)
  • Alimony or Spousal Support (3)
  • Annulment (5)
  • Appeals (3)
  • Child Custody (39)
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  • Civil Protection Orders & Domestic Violence (3)
  • Collaborative Divorce (1)
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  • Dissolution , Amicable Divorce, No Fault Divorce (15)
  • Divorce (45)
  • Emergency Custody and Supervised Visitation (3)
  • Father's Rights and Paternity (12)
  • Grandparents Rights in Ohio (14)
  • Guardian ad Litem (3)
  • High Asset Divorce (2)
  • Interstate Family Law (2)
  • Jurisdiction and Venue (6)
  • Legal Separation (5)
  • LGBT Family Law (6)
  • Mediation (1)
  • Military Family Law (3)
  • Mothers' Rights (2)
  • Moving and Relocation (10)
  • Ohio County Visitation Schedules (86)
  • Parental Alienation (2)
  • Post Decree Cases (6)
  • Prenuptial Agreements or Antenuptial Agreements (3)
  • Psychological Evaluations (2)
  • Shared Parenting (2)
  • Step-Parent Adoption (1)
  • Tax Issues (1)
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  • Uncategorized (14)
  • Uncontested Divorce (2)
  • Unmarried Parents (6)
  • Visitation (6)

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Recent Posts:

  • Appealing Your Ohio Family Law Judgment Entry
  • The Ohio LGBT community’s new right to marry also means the right to step-parent adoption
  • Ohio LGBT Shared Custody Agreements: Get it in Writing!
  • Columbus Ohio Same Sex Divorce Lawyer & Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer
  • Same Sex Divorce in Ohio: U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Bans on Same Sex Marriage

Archives:

From our downtown Columbus offices we serve clients throughout Ohio. We also service areas such as Gahanna, Bexley, Blacklick, Columbus, Dublin, Hilliard, Lancaster, Westerville, New Albany, Pickerington, Powell, Upper Arlington, Worthington, Lancaster, Franklin County, Fairfield County and more. In addition, we serve clients in several Ohio Counties, including, but not limited to: Franklin County, Delaware County, Licking County, and Fairfield County.

Ohio State Bar Association Certified Family Relations Specialist

Ohio Bar Association Certified Family Law Specialist

Free Information

  • Adoption (4)
  • Alimony or Spousal Support (3)
  • Annulment (5)
  • Appeals (3)
  • Child Custody (39)
  • Child Support (15)
  • Civil Protection Orders & Domestic Violence (3)
  • Collaborative Divorce (1)
  • Contempt & Enforcement (12)
  • Dissolution , Amicable Divorce, No Fault Divorce (15)
  • Divorce (45)
  • Emergency Custody and Supervised Visitation (3)
  • Father's Rights and Paternity (12)
  • Grandparents Rights in Ohio (14)
  • Guardian ad Litem (3)
  • High Asset Divorce (2)
  • Interstate Family Law (2)
  • Jurisdiction and Venue (6)
  • Legal Separation (5)
  • LGBT Family Law (6)
  • Mediation (1)
  • Military Family Law (3)
  • Mothers' Rights (2)
  • Moving and Relocation (10)
  • Ohio County Visitation Schedules (86)
  • Parental Alienation (2)
  • Post Decree Cases (6)
  • Prenuptial Agreements or Antenuptial Agreements (3)
  • Psychological Evaluations (2)
  • Shared Parenting (2)
  • Step-Parent Adoption (1)
  • Tax Issues (1)
  • Temporary Orders (5)
  • Uncategorized (14)
  • Uncontested Divorce (2)
  • Unmarried Parents (6)
  • Visitation (6)

Recent Posts:

  • Appealing Your Ohio Family Law Judgment Entry
  • The Ohio LGBT community’s new right to marry also means the right to step-parent adoption
  • Ohio LGBT Shared Custody Agreements: Get it in Writing!
  • Columbus Ohio Same Sex Divorce Lawyer & Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer
  • Same Sex Divorce in Ohio: U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Bans on Same Sex Marriage

From our downtown Columbus offices we serve clients throughout Ohio. We also service areas such as Bexley, Blacklick, Columbus, Delaware, Dublin, Gahanna, Hilliard, Lancaster, Marysville, Westerville, New Albany, Newark, Pickerington, Plain City, Powell, Upper Arlington, Worthington, Lancaster, Zanesville and more. In addition, we serve clients in all Ohio Counties, including, but not limited to: Franklin County, Delaware, Licking, Logan, Fairfield, Union, Marion, Muskingum, Pickaway, Ross, Richland, Madison, Morrow, Knox, and more.

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Law Offices of Virginia C. Cornwell
408 Emory St
Columbus , OH , 43230
(614) 225-9316
Latitude: 40.00734
Longitude: -82.84535