As you consider the best care for a child following a divorce, separation or another difficult family situation, it is important to have appropriate legal representation to guide you through the process. We’re here to help you get started.
Contact the court with any questions or concerns regarding your child custody case. There are many local officials who can help you understand and prepare for your proceedings.
Find helpful guidance if you are planning to represent yourself in family court without the help of an attorney.
The following recommendations can help set you up for success during your child custody case:
Download, complete and submit the following documentation to file your change of custody request.
Official request to change a shared parenting plan or the sole residential parent and legal custodian.
Asks for an individual to be served with court papers, initiating a child custody claim.
Declaration of whether you have been involved in a previous child custody, visitation or related case.
Record of income, expenses and money owed to determine child and spousal support amounts.
Release of relevant information that could impact an active child custody case.
Disclosure of health insurance coverage available for children which can be used to determine child support.
For domestic family matters, such as child custody claims, cases are often heard in a small room at Stark County Family Court with very few people present. Your case will be presented in front of a judge – not a jury – and he or she will make the final decision. Custody cases are typically less complicated than criminal court cases and are often decided much more quickly.
The final ruling will come after both parties have presented their side and will be made with the child’s best interests in mind. In the decision, a custodial parent will be named and a visitation schedule will be set for the non-custodial parent. Contact Stark County Family Court to learn more.
Often a result of difficult situations, such as divorce or incarceration, custody cases are stressful – especially for children. The outcome of the custody case determines the child’s primary caregiver, where they will live, the school they will attend and who they will spend holidays with. There is a lot to decide and the changes can take a major emotional toll and affect children’s mental health.
Fortunately, with emotional support from providers in Stark County, caregivers and children can learn to cope, heal and help each other throughout the entire process. Individual and family counseling can address the emotional strain created throughout the court proceedings and identify any other underlying mental health concerns.