1. My spouse and I are getting a divorce. We were told to attend the "Remember the Children Program." What is that?
2. We cannot seem to work out a mutually agreed on visitation schedule for our child. What is a typical visitation schedule the courts recommend?
3. What is the court cost in Summit County to file for an annulment? We have no children.
The answers to the above questions are all found on the Summit County Domestic Relations Court web site. Here is yet another example of how to use a court web site to conduct legal research. If you are from a different county, here are the links to some nearby Domestic Relations Court sites:
Medina County Domestic Relations Court
Portage County Domestic Relations Division
All other county court web sites
1. Jurisdiction of the Court – The first thing you need to find out is what types of cases are heard by the court. On the court's web site, look for information about the jurisdiction of the court or the types of cases heard by the court. The Summit County Domestic Relations Court has a link in the left menu to the Court's Jurisdiction.
We see that the Court handles divorce, dissolution and annulment. Court control continues until the children born to the parties reach the age of 18. The Domestic Relations Court shares jurisdiction with other courts on matters of domestic violence. For a more detailed explanation go here.
2. Rules of Court – Court rules govern court procedures. Local rules deal with specifics of the local court such as fees, time requirements, filing procedures, and the format of documents filed with the court. The Domestic Relations Court web site links to their Local Rules on the main page. Please plan on reading relevant parts of the Local Rules of Court if you are dealing with an issue in the Domestic Relations Courts. Court forms mentioned in the rules are found on the court's web site.
In addition to the local rules of court, there are state court rules that also apply. The Domestic Relations Court Rules state that all pleadings, motions and filings shall comply with the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure. Other Ohio Rules of Court may apply so consult your attorney to be sure. Here is Ohio Rules of Court web page with links to all the state court rules, including the Rules of Civil Procedure.
3. Court Forms -The Court has a very large selection of forms in PDF format. Many of the forms can be filled out online and then printed for filing with the court. There are forms for dissolution, visitation, civil protection order, restraining order, motions, notices and affidavits for this court. The forms need to be properly filed with the court and cannot be submitted over the web. Make sure to read all instructions provided with the forms. Some of the procedures are very complex and require the assistance of an attorney. Check here for the filing fees associated with these forms The forms page includes brochures and other informative instructions. For instance, there is a standard visitation schedule for parents who cannot agree on a visitation schedule on their own. There is also Child Support Enforcement Agency Forms under a separate link on the Court's home page.
4. Case and records search – If you are following a case already in Court, then you will want to search the online case index by clicking Summit County Clerk of Courts -Domestic Case Docket Access . At the Clerk of Courts web page, click the Records Search button in the upper right corner, and then click the Domestic link.
Other useful information on the web site you should look at:
Need more information about domestic relations issues?
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These are really helpful posts. I wish that we could have classes for the community at the public library on these topics; I think people really need this information. Good job Law Library!
Is there anyway the domestic realations court oversteps its borders by making some one pay their spouces income tax? If the parties did not live together for the past year or the tax year in question then the irs doesn't even hold you responsible, is the cour overstepping by making someone pay their spouses taxes? The irs is clear on this if the parties didn't live together for at least six months of the year you do not have to file a tax return jointly. WITH THIS being said is the court within their juresdiction making someone pay thier spouses income tax?