Family lawyers in Ohio Dennis J. to Erika Smitherman

401 South Street , Chardon , Ohio 44024

Practice Areas: Business & Commercial,Family ,Personal Injury,Real Estate

34900 Chardon Road   207 , Willoughby Hills , Ohio 44094

Practice Areas: Child Custody & Visitation,Divorce,Family ,Juvenile

Firm: Skidmore & Associates Co.

The Andrew House , Akron , Ohio 44303

Practice Areas: Family

The Akron law firm of Skidmore & Associates has had an AV Martindale-Hubbell peer rating [highest ethical standards/highest professional ability] for decades. I am the middle son of firm founder Akron attorney Archie W. Skidmore. My father has been practicing law since 1955. He is 92 years old and still comes to work every day. I have an older brother Brian and younger brother Thomas also Akron attorneys. My brothers and I were born and raised in Akron, Ohio. We all attended universities and colleges out-of-town, but all of us returned to Akron to practice law. An old high school friend Spiros Vasilatos,Jr. joined the law firm in the mid-1980s. I am a family law attorney practicing since 1989. As a law firm, we have a cohesive, cerebral, ethical approach to the practice of law-identify legal problems and solve them! I aspire to represent my clients zealously and attempt to bring civility and professionaiism to the divorce or dissolution process.. My philosophy: Ending a marital relationship will be the hardest experience a spouse will have in a lifetime, especially when children are involved. The ending of a relationship should be mourned, however, the process does not have to descend spiraling down ultimately ending in the destruction of all relationships and bonds between mother, father, and children. Mom and dad may not be wife and husband anymore, but they will always remain mother and father to their children. The family unit, albeit divided, does not have to be destroyed. It is absolutely necessary that parental family bonds survive. You can taper future bitterness at future children's events [graduations, weddings, grandchildren], by how you conduct yourself during the divorce process.. The 'why' and 'how'?: I view the divorce process as a "new beginning"! After a spouse is involved in a divorce it is natural to be emotionally wounded and bruised. It will take time to get past the emotional trauma -but you will get past this difficult time! Each spouse gives up individual charactersitics to form a matrimonial union, and it can be devastating when the relationship and dreams fail. If a relationship cannot be reconciled, divorce is an opportunity for a spouse to return to an identity they used to have before becoming married. A divorced spouse has the chance to regain the individuality and independence they once had, that they rightfully gave up for marriage. A divorced spouse can go back in time and become the individual they once were the day before they were married. You can become you again! So divorce can have a silver lining -for every end, there is a new beginning!. I try to guide and reinforce a client's new quest for individualism, independence, and self-improvement! Believe it or not, divorce is an opportunity to get better as a person. I tell my clients to have the strength and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and toxicity toward the other spouse. Hate distorts the personality of the hater. Venting hate toward the other spouse is damaging toward the other spouse, but, it is even more ruinous to the person who hates. The more you hate the other, the more you are thinking of them and not yourself. When one hates the other spouse ,it delays one's own "new beginning". If you continue to hate the other spouse, you begin to do irrational things distorting your own vision. For the spouse who hates, beautiful becomes ugly and ugly becomes beautiful. The true becomes false and the false becomes true. Hate causes a spouse to lose all objectivity. You cannot concentrate on the math of divorce, if you continue to hate the other spouse.  Hate destroys the very structure of the personalty of the hater. By cutting off the cycle of hate toward the other spouse, you begin rebuilding your own self-confidence, self-reliance, individuality and independence. You become emotionally redemptive and rejuvenated! You can start a new life. Future bitterness at life events of your children will taper. You become a better parent to your children! It is time to start a new beginning! When this is discovered you will be able to make an old world new again!

Firm: Sowald Sowald Anderson Hawley & Johnson

400 S Fifth St , Columbus , Ohio 43215

Practice Areas: Family, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, Uncontested Divorce, Appeals, Domestic Violence, Prenuptials

Eric W. Johnson received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Michigan State University in 1990 and obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron School of Law in 1995.  He has been practicing in the area of family law since 1998. Prior to joining the firm, he also worked in the areas of workers' compensation, personal injury, and insurance subrogation, among other general practice fields.. Mr. Johnson joined Sowald, Sowald, Anderson & Hawley in 2004, became a named partner in the firm in 2009, and in 2012 was designated by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law.. He is an active member of the Ohio State, Columbus, and Delaware County Bar Associations, serving on the family law committees of each, and is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Family Law Section. Mr. Johnson is additionally licensed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, became fellow of the Ohio State Bar Foundation in 2008, and is a member of Mensa.. Mr, Johnson welcomes all cases in the area of family law where clients expect exemplary effort and especially looks to encourage a greater number of clients to consider the benefits of non-litigation paths to resolving their concerns, including collaborative law and mediation.

Firm: Katz, Greenberger and Norton

East Fourth Street , Cincinnati , Ohio 45202

Practice Areas: Adoption,Divorce,Domestic Partnership,Family

Firm: Zuercher Law

490 City Park Ave , Columbus , Ohio 43215

Practice Areas: Family

Elizabeth J. Zuercher was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Indiana in 2005 and subsequently to the State of Ohio in 2008. She started her career as a criminal prosecutor and has been practicing in the Family Relations Law field since moving to Ohio in 2008. Before joining Friedman and Mirman, Ms. Zuercher was a Staff Attorney for the former Honorable Christopher J. Geer, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations and Juvenile Branch. Ms. Zuercher received a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and went on to receive her Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University. Ms. Zuercher is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association as well as the Columbus Bar Association and the Women Lawyers of Franklin County. She also currently serves on the Columbus Bar Association Board of Governors and is a Past President of the Junior League of Columbus Board of Directors

Firm: Elizabeth Warren

1677 Old Henderson Road , Columbus , Ohio 43220

Practice Areas: Family, Divorce, Uncontested Divorce, Child Custody

I know that it is standard practice in law to have scales or a gavel or some other symbol that says “attorney”.  But I wanted to choose a symbol that didn’t just stand for the practice of law, but that represented my purpose for practicing law.. The Owl represents Athena- who is the Greek goddess of wisdom, prudent warfare and guardian of people. For centuries, Athena has symbolized an astute companion and protector of those who are embarking on dangerous journeys or facing struggles.. I practice law with the goal in mind to help people when they need it the most-when they are facing legal issues.  They don’t call them “legal battles” because they are easy.. From the time we first meet until the case is resolved I will be your advocate, your companion in your journey, and will work diligently to protect your rights.  You are not alone.  I will be with you every step of the way.

6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 100 , Dublin , Ohio 43017

Practice Areas: Divorce, Child Custody, Uncontested Divorce, Family, Mediation, Child Support, Juvenile, Prenuptials, Alimony

Firm: Eastman & Smith, Ltd.

100 E Broad Street , Columbus , Ohio 43215

Practice Areas: Mediation, Environmental, Government, Litigation, Family

Firm: Buck & Fish Ltd.

3380 Tremont Road , Columbus , Ohio 43221

Practice Areas: Adoption, Family

Elaine S. Buck is a partner in the firm of Buck & Fish, Ltd. and is certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Family Relations Law Specialist. She is trained in Collaborative Practice, mediation, and co-resolution. Elaine also provides representation in adoption/surrogacy and probate.. Elaine served on the Ohio Supreme Court’s Sub-committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution: Collaborative Law that drafted the Ohio Collaborative Family Law Act; and she actively supported its passage by providing testimony and other assistance for its enactment.. Elaine meets the standards for Collaborative Practice trainers of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. She has served as a co-trainer since 2015 for COACDP’s Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training, a two-day training held annually. She has presented to the Ohio House Judiciary Committee, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, Capital University Law School, and the Ohio Council of School Board Attorneys.. Elaine is a graduate of Brown University and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She is a Fellow of the Ohio State Bar Association Foundation, and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. She has been awarded the designation of “Super Attorney” and is listed on the Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.. Currently, Elaine is the President of the Central Ohio Academy of Collaborative Divorce Professionals. She is a life member of First Community Church and has also served as: Chairman of the Board of Northwest Counseling Services; Chairman of the Brown Alumni School Committee; Chairman of the Upper Arlington Education Foundation Board of Trustees, and Trustee of the Upper Arlington Community Foundation.

Firm: Link Nestheide Family Law

3409 Michigan Avenue , Cincinnati , Ohio 45208

Practice Areas: Family

Family law has been my passion for my entire career and I have limited my practice exclusively to this area of the law since becoming licensed in 2011. I assist clients in dissolution, divorce, child custody and child support cases in domestic relations and juvenile courts. My practice is centered in Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Warren counties in Ohio and Kenton, Boone and Campbell counties in Kentucky. I am trained in Collaborative Law and have experience with many complex family law issues, including high-conflict custody cases, business valuations, and separate property tracing issues.. My clients are extremely important to me. I want to make a personal connection with every client so I can understand their individual needs in the process, legally, emotionally and financially. When you are going through a family law issue, it can often feel as if your world has been turned upside down. There are so many uncertainties during this time and imagining your future can be scary. It is my job to take some of that uncertainty away by using my legal knowledge to provide a calm voice of guidance and support.. Family law issues involve some of the most important things in your life: your children and your livelihood. I understand that who you hire as your attorney is one of the most impactful decisions you will make in this process, and I take my job very seriously. Getting to know my clients allows me to best understand the approach that will be most effective for their case. While I personally believe that collaboration and amicable results are best for families and children, I acknowledge in some cases this is simply not possible. When settlement is not a viable option, I use my litigation and advocacy skills to achieve outcomes for my clients in the courtroom setting. No matter what path we take, it is critical that my clients understand the process and have as much information as possible to aid in making the many decisions that arise in a family law case.. Education:2011, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Juris Doctor, magna cum laude. 2008, Ohio State University, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Political Science. Licensures:

Firm: Edward F. Whipps & Associates

495 S. High St , Columbus , Ohio 43215

Practice Areas: Child Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Domestic Partnership, Family , Prenuptial Agreement, Family

Mr. Whipps has earned a reputation as a competent and effective matrimonial attorney and he has been an active bar and community leader.  He has served as President of the Ohio Board of Psychology, the Upper Arlington Board of Education, The Upper Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Creative Living, Inc. and Unverferth House   He has also served as a National Vice President of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.  He has chaired many committees of the Columbus Bar Association and the Franklin County Trial Lawyers Association and served as the Host of many TV programs including Upper Arlington Plain Talk, U.A.  Today, Bridging Disability, Lawyers on Call, and The Ohio Wesleyan Experience.   He is listed in Who’s Who in America and as a Preeminent Lawyer in the Family Law Section of the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.. Mr. Whipps has demonstrated the unique ability to both understand important psychological principles and to apply them to the practice of family law.  This ability is especially evident in his negotiation skills used to achieve successful outcomes in divorce and dissolution cases.  This same psychological background is especially important in handling custody matters and in developing effective parenting time schedules.

Firm: Coyne Stahl Jansen llc

7271 Engle Road , Cleveland , Ohio 44130

Practice Areas: Family

Edward R. Jansen is a graduate of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Ohio in November of 2000.. Attorney Jansen has in Northeast Ohio courts for over 15 years. He has focused exclusively in the areas of domestic relations and family law, including dissolution, divorce, property division, child and spousal support, child custody, domestic violence, and similar juvenile court matters.. Attorney Jansen is currently a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, and has been certified by the OSBA as a specialist in Family Law.

Firm: Clements, Mahin & Cohen, L.P.A. Co.

35 East 7th Street   710 , Cincinnati , Ohio 45202

Practice Areas: Child Custody & Visitation,Child Support,Divorce,Family ,Legal Malpractice,Wills

Firm: Slater, Zurz & Gilbert

One Cascade Plaza 135 , Akron , Ohio 44308

Practice Areas: Business Organizations,Estate Planning,Family ,Land Use & Zoning,Probate ,Real Estate

Firm: Anderson & Miller Co., LPA

1650 Home Ave , Akron , Ohio 44310

Practice Areas: Family

Dreama Anderson is an experienced Family Law Attorney with 27 years of experience.  She is certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Specialist in the field of Family Law.  She has served as past President of the Family Law Section of the Akron Bar Assocation, as well as on the Certified Grievance Committee of the Akron Bar Association.  She has been a long-standing Mentor for new family law attorneys for the Supreme Court of Ohio's Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring program which serves to elevate the competence, professionalism and success of new lawyers.  Dreama is a Fellow in the Akron Bar Association Foundation, participation in which is by invitation only.  In addition, Dreama is a Guardian ad Litem for the Summit County Domestic Relations Court, serving to represent the best interest of the children for whom she is appointed to represent.  She has also been hired prviately by attorneys to serve as a Guardian ad Litem for children.  Dreama Anderson has been selected as one of The National Advocates Top 100 Matrimonial and Family Lawyers in Ohio.

Firm: Douglas R. Fouts

30575 Bainbridge Road   160 , Solon , Ohio 44139

Practice Areas: Administrative ,Civil ,Contracts,Corporate ,Divorce,Domestic Partnership,Elder ,Employee Benefits,Estate Planning,Family ,Guardianship and Conservatorship,Medicare and Medicaid,Personal Injury,Probate ,Real Estate ,Trusts,Wills

Firm: The Kutsko Law Firm, LLC

200 E. Campus View Blvd. , Columbus , Ohio 43235

Practice Areas: Family

1040 Symmes Road , Fairfield , Ohio 45014

Practice Areas: Family

Firm: Smitherman Law Group, LLC

471 East Broad Street, Suite 1800 , Columbus , Ohio 43215

Practice Areas: Family

Erika M. Smitherman was born in Norwalk, Ohio and graduated from Norwalk High School in 1993, where both of her parents were teachers. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from The Ohio State University, with minors in both English and Philosophy. Her spring 1997 graduation in the Horseshoe was rained out; however, her graduation was made official when she picked up her diploma from a box on the floor of the French Field House! While at Ohio State, Ms. Smitherman’s activities included serving as a University Ambassador, chairing several programs in the Student Alumni Council, working as a Resident Advisor, serving on the Homecoming Steering Committee, and membership in the Sullivant Society Honorary. Ms. Smitherman remains active in the Ohio State Alumni Association. After graduating from Ohio State, Ms. Smitherman furthered her studies at Capital University Law School. There, she served as a mentor to first year students, worked in the Admissions Office, and was a member of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity. While at Capital, Ms. Smitherman interned at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and practiced her research and writing skills. After graduating from Capital in May 2000, she was sworn into the Ohio Bar in November 2000. Ms. Smitherman began employment at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in the Consumer Protection Section and later, she simultaneously worked in the Chief Counsel’s Staff. As an Assistant Attorney General, she investigated consumer complaints, effectively mediated settlements, litigated against companies accused of statutory violations and prepared confidential court papers, legal memoranda, and briefs for trial and appellate proceedings. Ms. Smitherman became an Assistant Chief Legal Counsel in the Auditor of State’s Office, focusing on the Cleveland and Youngstown regions. While there, she provided legal advice to state auditors, trained government officials to effectively apply state laws to their specific municipalities, and collaborated with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office regarding unique litigation on behalf of the Auditor. After a few years in a small solo practice, Ms. Smitherman became a child advocacy attorney for the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in Franklin County. At CASA, she represented the best interests of children who were found by the court to be abused, neglected and/or dependent. Many of these children were placed in the custody of Franklin County Children’s Services for their own protection and Ms. Smitherman helped to ensure that the children received appropriate services and treatment by working closely with the child’s Guardian ad Litem and the Juvenile Court. She also provided training to volunteers who were appointed by the court to serve as Guardians ad Litem. It was through Ms. Smitherman’s involvement with CASA that she met Judge Elizabeth Gill of the Franklin County Domestic and Juvenile Court and subsequently accepted the invitation to become her staff attorney. While working with Judge Gill, she prepared published legal opinions, performed legal research and analysis on complex matters of family law, assisted the Judge in preparing for hearings and trials, reviewed and commented on dissolution paperwork submitted to the court for review, and facilitated the pro se dissolutions and civil protection orders on the date of hearing. During her time with Judge Gill, Ms. Smitherman developed an interest in the private practice of family law and appreciates the opportunity she had to learn from such a fine mentor. Ms. Smitherman is a member of the Columbus Bar Association and Women Lawyers of Franklin County. She is admitted to practice in all state and local courts in Ohio and in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Ms. Smitherman serves her community on the Board of Directors of Faith Educare, volunteers as her daughter’s Girl Scout Leader and is an active member of her church. Ms. Smitherman resides in Canal Winchester with her family including Troy, who is a firefighter/paramedic for Madison Township, and their three children: two sons, who are avid soccer players, and one daughter, who is working toward her black belt in karate. They share their home with their dog and cat. Ms. Smitherman and her family enjoy spending time together during family movie nights, swimming, traveling, camping, jumping on their trampoline, biking to the covered bridge, volunteering at community and charity events, and spending time with family and friends.