Columbus Child Custody Attorneys

Custody matters we handle in Columbus

Whether you're divorcing, were never married, or already have an order that isn't working, our attorneys handle:

• Initial custody and shared parenting plans in divorce and dissolution
• Custody and parenting time between unmarried parents (Juvenile Branch)
• Motions to modify custody or parenting time
• Emergency and ex parte custody orders
• Relocation and out-of-state move disputes
• Contempt when the other parent won't follow the order
• Grandparent and non-parent custody
• Custody issues alongside a civil protection order

How custody works in Franklin County

Ohio doesn't use the word “custody” the way most people do. The court allocates “parental rights and responsibilities,” which comes down to two questions: who makes decisions for your child, and where your child lives on which days.

Most Columbus custody cases end in one of two places:

Shared parenting

Both parents are residential parents and legal custodians, and a written Shared Parenting Plan spells out decision-making, the parenting time schedule, holidays, exchanges and how disagreements get resolved. Shared parenting does not mean a 50/50 schedule; the plan can set any schedule that works for the child.

Sole residential parent

One parent is the residential parent and legal custodian; the other has parenting time, often following the Franklin County model parenting time schedule unless the parents agree or the court orders something different.

Every custody decision in Ohio is made under the “best interest of the child” factors in R.C. 3109.04: each parent's wishes, the child's adjustment to home, school and community, each parent's willingness to honor the other's parenting time, any history of domestic violence or neglect, and more. A guardian ad litem may be appointed to investigate and report, and Franklin County requires parents in divorce and dissolution cases with children to complete a parenting education seminar.

Which court you're in matters. If you're married, your custody case is part of your divorce or dissolution in the Domestic Relations Division. If you were never married, custody and parenting time are filed in the Juvenile Branch of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Both are at 373 South High Street downtown, and our attorneys appear in both regularly.

• Franklin County custody guide
• Shared parenting in Ohio
• Parenting Plan Builder
• Parenting Time Calculator

Changing an existing custody order

A custody order isn't permanent, but Ohio makes it deliberately hard to change. To modify custody you have to show a change in circumstances for the child or the residential parent since the last order, that the change is in the child's best interest, and that the benefit of the change outweighs the harm of disrupting the child's routine. Parenting time alone is easier to modify; it only requires a best-interest showing.

If the other parent is ignoring the order, the remedy is usually a contempt motion, not a new custody case. We'll tell you which one you actually need.

Two ways to hire us

Full representation

An attorney handles your case start to finish: filings, negotiation, mediation, hearings and trial, with a paralegal and case manager behind them and the firm's managing partners available throughout. Billed hourly against a retainer. This is the right fit when custody is contested, there are safety concerns, or the other parent has a lawyer.

Flat-fee limited scope

You and the other parent largely agree, or you need one specific thing done well: a shared parenting plan drafted, a motion prepared, or an attorney at a single hearing. You know the price before we start.

Not sure which? That's what the consultation is for. Financing is available through Affirm, Klarna and PayPal Pay Later.

Why Columbus parents choose Gavvl Law

• Local, not remote. Our firm is headquartered in Columbus and our attorneys appear in Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile court week in and week out.
• Experience you can check. Nearly all of our attorneys have 10+ years in family law, and Best Lawyers named Gavvl Law a Firm to Watch for 2026.
• No surprises. Flat fees are flat. Full representation is billed against a $3,500 retainer you see before you sign, and the retainer is a deposit against work, not the total cost.
• You'll hear from us. Your attorney, your paralegal and your case manager are reachable, and you can track your case online.
• Help at every price point. Most Ohio parents go through custody cases without a lawyer. We built flat-fee services so that doesn't have to be you.

Your Columbus Custody Attorneys

Ohio-licensed attorneys who appear in the Franklin County Domestic Relations Division and Juvenile Branch. Consultations are with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, or Niva Elgin.

• Kimberly Lawrence — Of Counsel Attorney · Licensed in Ohio (2013)
• Matthew Ameer — Of Counsel Attorney · Licensed in Ohio (2013)
• Lindsey Hutchinson — Of Counsel Attorney · Licensed in Ohio (2009)
• Sheldon Goodrum — Of Counsel Attorney · Licensed in Ohio

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a custody attorney cost in Columbus?

It depends on whether your case is contested. Flat-fee custody services start well under the cost of a traditional retainer, and full representation is billed hourly against a $3,500 retainer. We'll quote you specific numbers during your consultation.

Do I need a lawyer for a custody case in Franklin County?

You're not required to have one. But custody orders are hard to change later, and a mistake in your parenting plan or at a hearing can follow your child for years. At minimum, have an attorney review what you're about to sign.

How long does a custody case take in Franklin County?

We don't promise timelines, because the court controls the schedule. An agreed shared parenting plan moves on a very different track from a contested case with a guardian ad litem and a trial. What we can do is tell you at every step what the next date is and what it means.

Can I get emergency custody in Columbus?

Yes. If your child is in immediate danger, the court can issue an ex parte order before the other parent is heard. Call us as soon as you can.

What's the difference between custody and shared parenting?

Shared parenting is one form of custody in which both parents are legal custodians under a written plan. “Custody” in everyday use usually means sole residential parent status.

Does Gavvl Law serve suburbs outside Columbus?

Yes. We handle custody cases throughout Franklin County, including Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, Gahanna, Grove City, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington and Worthington, as well as Delaware, Union, Licking and Fairfield counties.

Your custody case starts with a conversation, not a retainer.

Thirty minutes with an attorney for $25. We'll tell you where you stand, what the court will look at, and what it will take to get there.

Gavvl Law, LLC · 1677 Old Henderson Road, Columbus, Ohio 43220

Attorney advertising. This page is general information about Ohio custody law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on Ohio custody and parenting time.

• Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
• Shared Parenting in Ohio: How Joint Custody Really Works — Shared parenting is Ohio's version of joint custody — both parents stay legal custodians and share major decisions. Here's what a plan must cover and how courts decide.
• My Ex Leaves Our Child With the Grandparents During Their Parenting Time. Can I Do Anything About It? — Ohio courts favor grandparent relationships, so a few nights a month at grandma's is not a problem. It becomes one when the grandparents replace the parent. This guide explains why the court cannot order the grandparents to do anything, how to tell whether you have shared parenting or sole custody, and the six realistic options — from a documented conversation to a right of first refusal, contempt, a parenting time modification, a custody change, or an emergency motion.
• My Ex Has Mental Health Problems and I'm Worried About the Kids. What Can I Do in Ohio? — A mental health diagnosis alone does not cost an Ohio parent custody — courts look at whether the condition is affecting the child, and they weigh the health of everyone involved, including you. This guide covers what changes when a condition is untreated: emergency motions versus modification, court-ordered evaluations, what a guardian ad litem actually does, supervised parenting time with step-up plans, and the real limits on subpoenaing records.
• I Think My Ex Is Drinking or Using Drugs. Is There Anything I Can Do? (Ohio) — You do not have to prove your co-parent is using before you ask an Ohio court for help — you have to give the court a credible reason to look. This guide covers what a judge actually cares about, emergency filings versus modification, how to ask for the right test panel (fentanyl and alcohol are not on standard screens), EtG, PEth, hair and nail testing windows, alcohol monitoring during parenting time, guardians ad litem, and supervised time with step-up plans.
• Emergency Custody in Ohio: When and How to Get an Ex Parte Order — When a child faces immediate danger, Ohio courts can grant emergency custody on short notice through an ex parte order. Here's what qualifies and what happens next.

Related Columbus & Ohio Custody Resources