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At Henderson and Henderson, we provide thorough legal assistance for child related proceedings, ensuring your rights are protected every step of the way. Our experienced attorneys work diligently to resolve custody, support, and companionship issues efficiently.
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Family law and custody matters in Athens County are commonly handled through the Athens County Court of Common Pleas, including the Domestic Relations Division and Juvenile Division, depending upon the nature of the case.
These courts may handle matters involving:
Understanding local court procedures, filing requirements, mediation practices, and scheduling expectations can be extremely important during a family law case.
The Domestic Relations Division commonly handles:
Many domestic relations cases involve temporary orders regarding custody, support, parenting schedules, and possession of the marital residence while litigation is pending.
The Juvenile Division frequently handles:
Juvenile court proceedings often involve highly emotional and time-sensitive issues affecting children and family stability.
Like many Ohio courts, Athens County family courts often encourage structured parenting schedules designed to promote stability and consistency for children.
Parenting cases may involve:
However, every case is different, and courts may tailor parenting arrangements based upon:
Family law proceedings are highly local. Procedures, judicial expectations, scheduling practices, and parenting plan preferences can vary substantially between counties and individual courts.
Our firm regularly represents clients in matters involving:
Understanding how family law matters are commonly handled in Athens courts can provide important strategic advantages during litigation and settlement negotiations.
If you are involved in a divorce, custody dispute, parenting conflict, juvenile court case, or visitation matter in Athens County, experienced legal representation can help protect your rights and your family’s future.
Contact our office today to schedule a consultation regarding your Athens County family law matter.
STANDARD VISITATION GUIDELINES (as cited from Local Rules)
24.06 VISITATION/PARENTING TIME GUIDELINES
(A) Every decree involving children shall be accompanied by a specific visitation/parenting time schedule. The following are suggested schedules.
Plan A – (For parents who live in close proximity to each other and where work schedules permit.)
1. Alternate weekends from 6:00 p.m. Friday until the child is returned to the other parent’s residence; the day care provider; or school on Monday morning. (The beginning and ending times, other than drop-off at school, may be varied to accommodate the parent’s work schedules.)
2. A mid-week overnight, on Wednesdays in the week when there is parenting time on the upcoming weekend and on Thursdays in the week when there is no parenting time on the upcoming weekend, from 6:00 p.m. until the child is returned to the other parent’s residence; the day care provider; or school on the following morning. (The beginning and ending times, other than drop-off at school, may be varied to accommodate the parents’ work schedules.)
3. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day shall be spent with the appropriate parent. Should this provision require the child to be with the residential parent during the other parent’s visitation/parenting time, the parent who is not a residential parent shall return the child by 9:00 a.m. on the Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. Should the reverse occur, the parent who is not a residential parent shall receive the child at 9:00 a.m. on that day and return the child at 6:00 p.m.
4. Alternate holidays as follows:
a) in even-numbered years, the residential parent shall have the child:
(1) President’s Day, Friday night to Monday night.
(2) Spring Vacation, 6:30 p.m. on the day school ends to 6:30 p.m. the Sunday prior to school reconvening.
(3) Memorial Day, Friday night to Monday night.
(4) Labor Day, Friday night to Monday night.
(5) Christmas, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
b) in even-numbered years, the parent who is not a residential parent shall have the child:
(1) Easter, Thursday night to Sunday night.
(2) Fourth of July, night before to morning after except when the 4th falls on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday – then visitation/parenting time shall continue the night before and continue to end of weekend or end of holiday, whichever is later.
(3) Thanksgiving Day, Wednesday night to Sunday night.
(4) Christmas Vacation and New Years Day, December 26th at 9:00 a.m. until the night of the end of the New Year’s Holiday.
c) In odd-numbered years the schedule stated in 3 a) and 3 b) shall be reversed between the parents.
d) Other days of special meaning, such as religious holidays or Martin Luther King Day should be decided by the parties together, written down, and alternated.
e) Unless otherwise indicated in an entry or these rules, holiday visitation/parenting time shall begin and end at the same times as weekend visitation/parenting time. Holiday visitations/parenting times have precedence over the regular visitation/parenting time schedule, but shall not otherwise modify it.
5. The parent who is not a residential parent shall have extended summer visitation/parenting time up to four (4) weeks duration. These extended times supersede the alternating weekend visitation/parenting times, i.e., a nonresidential parent may not begin an extended time on a Monday following an alternating weekend, or end an extended time on a Friday before an alternating weekend, as a means of lengthening the extended visitation/parenting time. Alternating weekends shall begin again two weeks after the end of the extended visitation/parenting time.
The parent who is not a residential parent shall attempt to coincide his or her vacation
time with summer visitation/parenting time. The parent who is not a residential parent shall notify the residential parent no later than May 15th each year of the weeks summer visitation/parenting time will be exercised. Summer school necessary for the child to pass into the next grade must be attended.
6. The child’s birthday shall be celebrated in the residential parent’s home, unless it falls on a visitation/parenting time day. The parent who is not a residential parent may celebrate the birthday at another time if desired.
7. Such other times and places as the parties may agree.
Plan B – (For parents who do not live in close proximity to each other or whose work schedules do not permit the use of Plan A.)
1. Alternate weekends from 6:30 p.m. Friday until 6:30 p.m. Sunday. (The beginning and ending times may be varied to accommodate the parents’ work schedules.)
2. Same as Plan A, 3-7.
Plan C – (For parents residing in different locations that make the above schedules impractical)
1. Christmas vacation (including Christmas Day) in alternate years;
2. Spring vacation every year;
3. Up to six (6) weeks summer/parenting time every year;
4. Such other times and places as the parties may agree.
(B) Both parents shall be diligent in having the children ready and available at the appointed times. The child and/or residential parent have no duty to await the nonresidential parent for more than thirty (30) minutes. A parent who is late, unless he or she suffers an unavoidable vehicle breakdown or delay enroute and promptly notifies the residential parent of the delay, shall forfeit visitation/parenting time for that time period.
(C) The parent who is not a residential parent should give twenty-four (24) hour notice to cancel visitation/parenting time. If a child is ill, the residential parent should also give twenty-four (24) hours notice if possible.
(D) The residential parent shall send with the child sufficient clothing and other wear appropriate to the season to last the visitation/parenting time period.
(E) Visitation/parenting time does not include leaving the child with a non-family member while the nonresidential parent pursues his or her own pleasures or activities.
ATHENS COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
JUVENILE DIVISION
ATHENS, OHIO
GUIDELINES
LOCAL RULE 24.06 “VISITATION AND PARENTING TIME”
PLAN A – HOLIDAYS
RESIDENTIAL PARENT
NON-RESIDENTIAL PARENT
EVEN YEARS
President’s Day (Fri. at 6:00 p.m. – Mon. at 6:00 p.m.)
Easter (Thurs. at 6:00 p.m. – Sun. at 6:00 p.m.)
Spring Vacation (Last day of school at 6:30 p.m. – Sun. before school resumes at 6:30 p.m.)
4th of July (7/3 at 6:00 p.m. – 7/5 at 9:00 a.m. unless the 4th is on a Fri. or Sat., then until Sunday at 6:00 p.m.)
Memorial Day (Fri. at 6:00 p.m. – Mon. at 6:00 p.m.)
Thanksgiving Day (Wed. at 6:00 p.m. – Sun. at 6:00 p.m.)
Labor Day (Fri. at 6:00 p.m. – Mon. at 6:00 p.m.)
Christmas Vacation (12/26 at 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. the day before school resumes)
Christmas Eve/Christmas Day (12/24 at 6:00 p.m. – 12/26 at 9:00 a.m.)
Summer Vacation – four (4) weeks
ODD YEARS
Easter (Thurs. at 6:00 p.m. – Sun. at 6:00 p.m.)
President’s Day (Fri. at 6:00 p.m. – Mon. at 6:00 p.m.)
4th of July (7/3 at 6:00 p.m. – 7/5 at 9:00 a.m. unless the 4th is on a Fri. or Sat., then until Sunday at 6:00 p.m.)
Spring Vacation (Last day of school at 6:30 p.m. – Sun. before school resumes at 6:30 p.m.)
Thanksgiving Day (Wed. at 6:00 p.m. – Sun. at 6:00 p.m.)
Memorial Day (Fri. at 6:00 p.m. – Mon. at 6:00 p.m.)
Christmas Vacation (12/26 at 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. the day before school resumes)
Labor Day (Fri. at 6:00 p.m. – Mon. at 6:00 p.m.)
Christmas Eve/Christmas Day (12/24 at 6:00 p.m. – 12/26 at 9:00 a.m.)
Summer Vacation – four (4) weeks
* Mother’s Day will be celebrated with Mother on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
* Father’s Day will be celebrated with Father on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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