Family law cases in Columbus typically resolve within 6 to 18 months, depending on complexity, court schedules, and cooperation between parties.
Columbus Court Backlog
The Franklin County courts generally have a backlog of 200 to 700 family law cases at any given time, which can affect scheduling and resolution times.
Family Columbus Filing Volume
Monthly filings for family law matters in Columbus are estimated between 80 and 150 cases, including divorce, custody, and support issues.
Family Case Outcomes
Approximately 30% of cases settle before formal filing, 55% resolve after filing but before trial, and around 15% proceed to trial for final judgment.
Practice Areas: Civil , Criminal Defense , Family , Juvenile , Personal Injury, Wrongful Death
BIOGRAPHY OF M. SHAWN DINGUS. Family History. Shawn was born and raised in Flatwoods, Kentucky, a small town located in the eastern region of the state. His father worked as a railroad employee for C&O Railroad, Chessie System and CSX Transportation, and his mother cleaned homes and businesses on a part-time basis. After graduating from Russell High School with honors in 1990, he was the first in his family to attend college, choosing to attend Morehead State University on a scholarship.. Undergraduate Studies. As a student at Morehead, Shawn was very involved in student government, including serving as president of his fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, serving as executive vice-president of the IntraFraternal Council, and running for office in the Student Government Association. In 1994, he was named the University's Greek Man of the Year, for his dedication and commitment to the fraternal system at the university. He graduated from Morehead in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and a minor in Philosophy.. Law School. In 1995, Shawn elected to attend the University of Akron School of Law, where he continued to serve in student government, first as Treasurer of the Student Bar Association, and next as President of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. Shawn was also appointed to serve as the law school's representative to the American Bar Association in 1997, and served as its representative at the ABA National Convention in San Francisco, California in 1998. In that same year, he received his Juris Doctorate from Akron, graduating in the top 10% of his class, with a cum laude distinction.. Career. Upon graduation and passage of the state bar exam in 1998, Shawn accepted a position as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Morrow County, Ohio. He initially served the county as the prosecutor assigned to prosecute juvenile delinquency cases and represent the Morrow County Children Services Agency in cases involving abused and neglected children. He was later assigned to the adult criminal division, where he prosecuted adults charged with misdemeanors and felonies, which ranged from simple speeding violations to Aggravated Murder.. In 2000, Shawn left the prosecutor's office and accepted an associate position with The Plymale Partnership in downtown Columbus, where he represented individuals in civil matters, which included representation in bad faith actions against insurance companies and wrongful death actions. During his tenure at The Plymale Partnership, he served on the board of the Franklin County Trial Lawyers Association and was presented with the Association's Slugger Award in 2002 for his dedication and commitment to injured victims and their families.. In 2003, Shawn decided to set-out on his own and opened his own law firm, The Law Office of M. Shawn Dingus. In 2009, Shawn joined Columbus attorney Ronald Plymale to form the firm of Plymale & Dingus, where he represent individuals and small businesses in civil and criminal matters. He has had the honor of representing hundreds of individuals and businesses in cases ranging from wrongful death actions to divorce and child custody matters.. Shawn is involved in his community by serving on numerous professional and political boards and committees, as well as volunteering for various causes. He is a Board of Trustees member for the Central Community House and also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Constitution Society. He is also a member of the First Congregational Church in downtown Columbus.. Areas of Practice. Education. Office:
Practice Areas: Child Custody & Visitation, Child Support, Divorce, Family , Spousal Support, Divorce & Separation
William L. Geary has been a practicing attorney since 1979. He is a graduate of Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law, and was the recipient of numerous awards during his time there. Not long after graduation, he founded Law Offices of William L. Geary in Columbus Ohio, and began serving his community as a dedicated divorce and family law attorney.Mr. Geary has helped countless people through sensitive and emotionally-charged legal matters. He works closely with his clients and works tirelessly to achieve the outcome that will serve their best interests. Due to his dedication, open communication, and record of outstanding case results, he has been awarded the Client Distinction Award from Martindale-Hubbell. This award is provided to attorney’s when clients have taken the time to praise their communication ability, responsiveness, quality of service, and cost value. Contact his firm today if you would like to schedule a consultation with attorney William Geary.
Suzanne has maintained her family law practice since 1983. In that time, she has helped thousands of clients with issues surrounding divorce and child custody.. Suzanne obtained her undergraduate degree from Edinboro University and a Master’s Degree in guidance and counseling at Gannon College. After serving as a school teacher for several years, Suzanne decided to pursue her dream of becoming an attorney. She obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from Capital University in 1983, and has been helping families across Ohio ever since.. When she’s not practicing law, Suzanne enjoys spending time with her family and her cat Sunset. Suzanne is also an active member of the church where she enjoys her ministry opportunities.
I focus my areas of practice on domestic relations law. That includes things like divorce, dissolutions, and custody.. I am a trial lawyer at heart and love nothing more than a good fight.. To a lesser extent I also practice consumer law. This is typically Elizabeth’s area of focus but I can’t help but involve myself in cases where a consumer/client has been extremely wronged by a company or someone is being harassed on a daily basis by debt collectors.. I have been featured in or guest posted on , CNN Money, Bloomberg News, and .. When I’m not practicing law I’m raising money for the Ohio Democratic Party or Democratic candidates, enjoying the company of friends, or at the park with my dog Gino.. You can reach me directly at or at Make sure you check out our website if you need a lawyer in Ohio or read our blogs if you would like more information on any given topic: LGBT Lawyers, Consumer Lawyers, and Ohio Divorce Lawyers.
Practice Areas: Automobile Accidents, Business & Commercial, Business , Contracts, Divorce, Estate Planning, Family , Personal Injury, Probate , Tax Planning, Business
For the last 20 years I have assisted your family, friends and neighbors by pairing compassionate negotiation with tried and true litigation skills. I am an OSBA Certified Family Relations Specialist, a designation earned by only a handful of attorneys in the State of Ohio. I understand the stress, pain and frustration that families experience in times of need. I am here to help.
Practice Areas: Business & Commercial, Business Formation, Corporate , Divorce, Elder , Employee Benefits, Estate Planning, Family , Guardianship and Conservatorship, Non-Profit Corporations, Prenuptial Agreement, Probate , Professional Malpractice, Real Estate , Taxation - State & Federal, Trusts, Wills, Business
1335 Dublin Road, Suite 104D , Columbus , Ohio 43215
Practice Areas: Arbitration & Mediation, Contracts, Discrimination, Employment & Labor , Family , Immigration & Naturalization , Sexual Harassment, Social Security Benefits & Disability, Wrongful Termination, Immigration
My practice is primarily focused in the areas of immigration law and labor and employment law and involves advising individuals and small to medium sized businesses on all aspects of the law in these areas. As a licensed attorney practicing US immigration law, I am able to represent clients anywhere in the world.. I am experienced in representing businesses in court proceedings and in administrative hearings before the U.S. Department of Labor, Department of Homeland Security, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Ohio Civil Rights Commission.. I also work with businesses and individuals to assist them with the paperwork for obtaining the proper work authorization documents for employees. I am experienced with E1/E2, H-1B, J-1, K-1, K-3, L-1A/1B, O, P, and R visas. I am also experienced with Investor green cards (EB-5), labor certifications (PERM), and all aspects of family-based immigration and naturalization/citizenship. I have successfully represented more than 20 Investors with obtaining their green cards through direct investments and removing the conditional status.. I earned my J.D. degree from The Capital University Law School, with a concentration in labor and employment law. Prior to entering the private practice of law, I served as Human Resources Manager for an apartment-management company that managed 600+ apartment communities and as Director of Training for a hotel-management company that managed 200+ hotels in 14 states. I also have worked as a consultant and a free-lance writer and have authored curriculum for the learning disabled. I was admitted to practice of law in Ohio, November 1998; was admitted to Federal Court, Southern District of Ohio, June 2001; and was admitted to Federal Court, Northern District of Ohio, March, 2003. I am also admitted to practice before the US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. I am a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Disclaimer: This content is based on aggregated public information and estimated market trends. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.