Skip to Content

Jay Perez is a Top Columbus Family Law Attorney

At Jay Perez Law, we understand that going through family and domestic issues can be one of the most trying and stressful times in one’s life. It can also be a very confusing time as well. If you are contemplating a change in your family framework or already going through it, you need to understand your rights thoroughly.

You can count on Columbus family law attorney at Jay Perez Law to get you through these trying times. Contact us today to schedule your one-on-one consultation.

You can count on  family law attorney at Jay Perez Law to help you handle all of your domestic law needs. Columbus domestic lawyer Jay Perez has been practicing family law for years and has been involved in the criminal justice system for even longer. You can count on attorney Jay Perez for assistance with dealing with any of the following domestic legal matters.

  • Divorce and Dissolution
  • Child Custody
  • Establishment of Parental Responsibilities
  • Child Support
  • Asset Allocation
  • Post Decree Matters

Columbus Divorce Lawyer

A divorce is an adversarial proceeding in which one spouse files a complaint in court and asks the court to decide all matters pertaining to the marriage. There are several possible causes for divorce in the state of Ohio, and Columbus divorce lawyer Jay Perez can help determine which one is in your best interest.

  • Either party had a husband or wife living at the time of the marriage from which the divorce is sought.
  • Willful absence of the adverse party for one year;
  • Adultery
  • Extreme cruelty  
  • Fraudulent contract
  • Gross neglect of duty  
  • Habitual drunkenness
  • Imprisonment of the adverse party in a state or federal correctional institution
  • The parties have lived separately and apart without cohabitation for at least one year.  
  • Incompatibility

Columbus Dissolution Lawyer

In a dissolution, both parties jointly request the court to end their marriage. Both parties have agreed on the terms of ending their marriage. For example, the parties have agreed on allocating assets, separation of debts, parenting time, child support, spousal support, etc.

Columbus Custody Lawyer

In any divorce proceeding, the court will allocate the parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the minor child of the marriage based on what it determines to be in the child’s best interest. The court makes this determination based on testimony and evidence presented. 

The court will then designate a parent (or sometimes both) to be the child’s residential parent and legal custodian and further divide and allocate other rights and responsibilities for the child’s care, including, but not limited to, child support and parenting time.

As a leading Columbus custody lawyer, you can count on Jay Perez to provide the representation you need to get through these trying times. Jay will fight for you and do everything he can to ensure the custody of your child is placed in the best possible hands.

Columbus Child Support Lawyer

In Ohio, the amount one pays in child support is derived from a formula. Several factors affect what is considered income. There are guidelines that the State has set based on the income of each parent and the number of children involved. Additionally, if a parent is not employed, the court can consider many factors to establish a “potential income” to be used in the formula. A few examples of what the court would consider:

  • The parent’s prior employment experience
  • The parent’s education
  • The prevailing wage and salary levels in the geographic area in which the parent resides 
  • Any special skills or training of the parent  

Further, the child support number calculated from the parent’s income may deviate according to several factors. A deviation can go upward or downward from the child support guidelines. Leading Columbus custody lawyer Jay Perez can help you determine which circumstances can help you minimize or maximize child support depending on your intentions.

  • Special and unusual needs of the child or children, including needs arising from the physical or psychological condition of the child or children  
  • Other court-ordered payments
  • Extraordinary costs associated with parenting time
  • The financial resources of the child
  • The relative financial resources, including the disparity in income
  • Benefits that either parent receives from remarriage or sharing living expenses with another person
  • The amount of federal, state, and local taxes paid or estimated to be paid by a parent
  • Significant in-kind contributions from a parent, including, but not limited to, direct payment for lessons, sports equipment, schooling, or clothing. 
  • Extraordinary work-related expenses incurred by either parent
  • The educational opportunities that would have been available to the child had the circumstances requiring a child support order not  arisen
  • The responsibility of a parent to support others, including support of a child with disabilities.
  • Post-secondary educational expenses paid for by a parent for the child or children, regardless of whether they are emancipated

Unwed Fathers

In Ohio, when an unwed woman gives birth, she automatically has full custody of the child and, therefore, does not need to file any documents in court to establish that she has full custody. On the other hand, an individual who fathers a child out of wedlock must petition the court to establish parental rights and responsibilities. 

Acknowledgment of paternity affidavits can be used to establish a relationship for child support purposes, but they do not develop parenting rights. Even if a father has signed an Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit at the hospital, it does not give the father any parenting rights. Therefore, a father could potentially be paying child support and not ever see his child. If an unwed father wishes to have parenting rights, such as designated parenting time, they must file to establish parental rights and responsibilities with the court. 

Columbus family law attorney Jay Perez can help you establish parenting rights even if you are an unwed father.

Asset Allocation

Ohio is an equitable distribution state. This means that the division of marital property will be as fair as possible under the circumstances; however, this does not necessarily mean equal. In a divorce proceeding, the court may determine what constitutes marital property and separate property. If an equal division of marital property would be inequitable, the court will divide it between the spouses based on a wide range of considerations.

  • the duration of the marriage
  • the assets and liabilities of the spouses
  • the desirability of awarding the family home, or the right to reside in the family home for reasonable periods, to the spouse with custody of the children of the marriage
  • the liquidity of the property to be distributed
  • the economic desirability of retaining intact an asset or an interest in an asset 
  • the tax consequences of the property division upon the respective awards to be made to each spouse
  • the costs of sale, if an asset must be sold to effectuate an equitable distribution of property
  • any division or disbursement of property made in a separation agreement that was voluntarily entered into by the spouses
  • any retirement benefits of the spouses, excluding the social security benefits of a spouse except as may be relevant for purposes of dividing a public pension

This list is not exhaustive, and there can be many factors the court may consider when allocating assets. Jay Perez has years of experience as a Columbus divorce lawyer who gets successful results for his clients. You can count on him to fight to ensure you get your fair share of the asset allocation.

Post Decree Matters

One must show a substantial change of circumstances to have a court order changed after being issued. Additionally, it must be shown that the change being requested is in the minor child’s best interest and that the benefit of the change outweighs the harm caused by the change itself. Many factors may constitute a substantial change of circumstance. Modifications to orders may be made to child custody matters and child support matters.

Contact the Leading Columbus Family & Divorce Lawyer

Jay Perez has been practicing family law in Ohio for over two decades. He and his team have the expertise needed to provide you with the best legal counsel and get the best results possible. At Jay Perez Law, our experienced, compassionate, and understanding attorneys can help you with any of your marital legal issues. We are 24/7 accessible and affordable, with state-of-the-art technology and years of experience.

Family law is a complex process; learn more about Jay Perez Law and what makes them qualified to take your case. We will treat you and your legal matters with the kind of personal attention you deserve so you can focus on putting your life together. 

Contact us today for more information and to schedule your consultation with the best Columbus domestic lawyer.