Columbus Divorce Law Blog

Ohio child custody battles usually involve parents who are no longer together. Less common, although still numerous, are situations where the state takes custody of a child for one reason or another. One couple is fighting for child custody after they say they were just trying to help their son.

The mother and stepfather of a teenager were recently arrested for giving the boy marijuana. They were charged with reckless conduct, a misdemeanor offense that will stay on their records permanently since they entered a guilty plea. Once they were arrested, the state's Division of Family and Children Services got involved and took the boy from his parents.

Some Ohio parents who have gone through a custody battle know how emotionally, financially and even physically draining it can be. However, all the frustration is worth the gift that can be received at the final ruling. One man is fighting a child custody battle for a child that, as it turns out, is not even his.

The man, a sergeant in the U.S. Army and currently stationed out of the country, and his wife were expecting a baby. Before the child was born, however, the mother confessed the man was not the father. After some thought, he made the decision to adopt the child, as he was adopted and wanted to give this baby the same opportunities he had. However, the day the mother was to give birth, she lied to her husband's sister and told her the baby died during birth.

No matter how long an Ohio couple has been married, ending that marriage is rarely emotionally easy. Even the most acrimonious splits will often hold an element of remorse. The younger sister of actress Leah Remini, Shannon Farrara, and her ex-husband, William Kilmartin, have released the news that their divorce was granted a year ago.

The couple married in August 2008, but nearly to the day eight years later, Kilmartin filed for divorce. He claimed there were irreconcilable differences and asked the court to terminate the rights of either party to request alimony. There were no children from the marriage. Any debts or assets they had amassed as a couple were split between them, and Kilmartin paid Farrara $18,000 for her share in the home they bought.

Child custody disputes in Ohio can get really ugly, depending on the circumstances surrounding the reason for the parents parting ways. When there is great animosity between the parents, it is often hard to put those feelings aside when trying to reach an agreement on terms of custody. Fans of The Cosby Show will remember Keshia Knight Pulliam as Rudy, now a mother herself, who has just recently finalized her divorce with her ex-husband.

After only a one-day engagement, Pulliam and retired NFL player Ed Hartwell were married on New Year's Day 2016. They had not even been married eight months when he filed for divorce. Just a few months later Pulliam gave birth to a baby girl. Because of Pulliam's claims that not only did Hartwell cheat on her but was malicious in his treatment of her, the divorce has finally been granted and Pulliam will have full custody of the girl with Hartwell getting visitation and paying monthly child support of $3,000.