Empowering Clients To Make Informed, Intelligent Decisions

Personalized Attention, Experienced Counsel

Father takes child custody case to appellate court

On Behalf of | Jul 17, 2019 | Child Custody

Determining with which Ohio parent a child should live after a divorce is one of the most important decisions a court will make. The judge’s decision in a child custody case must be based upon all evidence submitted and not just a few singled-out facts that may prove bias on behalf of one party. A father recently had an appellate court review an original judgment in his fight for child custody.

Three years ago the father, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and his wife had been stationed at an Air Force base on the West Coast when she left him to go back to her home state because she believed he had cheated on her. She was pregnant when she left and had the child just weeks later. She claims her husband came to see them with the intent of kidnapping the child but she managed to prevent it. She has since allowed the father opportunities for visitation between him and the child.

Three years later, the parents have divorced and he has a new child with a new girlfriend. He was originally denied custody rights to his first child, not only because of the kidnapping attempt but because of concerns his Air Force career would keep him from spending quality parenting time with the child. He has appealed the lower court’s decision to base any part of its ruling on his career path. The appellate court agreed with him, though the custody ruling of the lower court was not overturned and the child will remain with the mother.

Child custody cases can get very complicated. When the parents have bitter feelings toward each other, each may be dragged through the mud in an effort to win. An experienced Ohio attorney can take all the client’s pertinent information and organize it into a legally sound argument to be presented in court in pursuit of a ruling that will benefit the client while protecting the best interests of the child. 

Photo of Craig P. Treneff and Andrea L. Cozza
FindLaw Network