Family Law and Domestic Relations attorneys work in various practice areas such as divorce, dissolution, adoption, establishing and modifying child support, child visitation, parenting time, and custody.
Family law and Domestic Relations lawyers provide legal advice, assistance, and support on a wide range of family-related issues. Our family law attorneys are familiar with a wide range of situations. Daily, we see clients who face difficult and emotional circumstances and clients who are overjoyed to be welcoming a new family member into the home.
We guide our clients through the complicated court procedures from day one through the final hearing. With our team at your side, you are never left to figure things out on your own. While we can never eliminate the stress of a family legal issue but, we can provide representation that eases the burden on our clients.
Below are some typical Family Law practice areas that our lawyers can assist clients with:
(Please note that some list items may be linked to other pages to help further define a subject or answer frequently asked questions)
- Divorce
- Dissolution
- Adoption
- Child Custody
- Shared parenting
- Visitation
- Child Support
- Antenuptial Agreements (commonly known as a prenuptial or prenup)
- Juvenile Abuse
- Neglect
- Dependence Actions
- Grandparent Custody
- Child abuse
- Domestic violence
- Juvenile law
Do you have an issue that you can’t find on the list above? We would welcome the challenge of an unusual Ohio family law question! Feel free to ask us about your proposed plan’s legal or practical considerations using our convenient Contact Form.
Regionally recognized among the best, Dagger Law’s Family Law and Domestic Relations Lawyers are here to help.
When you need a Family Lawyer, you need someone you can trust to protect you and your family. You want legal counsel with experience in the courtroom and someone who can help you reach your goals. At Dagger Law, the practice of Domestic Relations and Family Law is a regular part of our daily legal business. Still, no case is ever routine. We bring the experience you need to any legal services for your changing family circumstances.
In 2021, our family law practice averaged 27 new Family Law cases per month, with over 320 clients served per year. We know that each case has its unique character. Our legal team can offer courtroom-tested solutions to even the most complex family law issue through our many years of experience.
Focusing on what matters makes a difference.
Our legal team believes that a Lawyer who practices in Family Law should focus predominantly on that area of the law. The focused practice would also include closely related family law practice areas such as Estate Planning and Litigation. You wouldn’t want to see a general practice physician for brain surgery. And you wouldn’t want a lawyer who concentrates on criminal defense when what you need is help with a shared parenting agreement. We encourage our attorneys to focus on a particular practice area and to become skilled lawyers within their area of focus.
Focused experience has resulted in one of our Family Lawyers attaining specialized credentials and recognition among their peers for their domestic relations efforts. Attorney Norman J. Ogilvie holds certifications above and beyond his license to practice law. He has a Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law and is a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
A variety of organizations recognize Dagger Law’s Family Law practice for excellence in the following:
- U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms – Tier 1 rated in Family Law
- 2015 Central Ohio Lawyers of the Year – Norman J. Ogilvie, recipient
- Columbus Business First, Ranked 13th Largest Family Law Practices in Central Ohio – 2019
- Columbus Business First Ranked Largest Family Law Practices in Central Ohio – 2021
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Norman J. Ogilvie
- Ohio State Bar Association Board Certified Specialist in Family Law – Norman J. Ogilvie
- Super Lawyers Awards – Norman J. Ogilvie (2004-2019), Alyssa L. Parrott (Rising Star, 2019)
- George D. Martin Professionalism Award, 2018 – Norman J. Ogilvie, recipient
Will a family law attorney travel to me, or do I need to come to your offices in either Lancaster or Canal Winchester?
A: While some meetings will need to occur in our offices, we try to minimize your travel time. We offer two convenient office locations in Lancaster and Canal Winchester, Ohio. Our goal is to reduce the disruption to your life caused by legal issues and conduct most communications or meetings through emails or phone calls. In certain circumstances, we realize that clients can’t reach us, and we may be required to visit your location.
Suppose you retain a Dagger Law attorney to represent you. In that case, they will travel to the necessary court hearings and legal procedures to represent you anywhere in Ohio! Please note that in some instances, the cost to represent your case may require an unusual amount of money due to travel expenses. In such cases, we may recommend using legal representation closer to the location of your case. We are happy to provide referrals in these instances if we are able.
We proudly serve the following communities throughout Central and Southeastern Ohio:
- Fairfield County
- Franklin County
- Hocking County
- Licking County
- Pickaway County
- Baltimore, Ohio
- Buckeye Lake
- Canal Winchester
- Circleville
- Greater Columbus Ohio Area
- Lancaster, Ohio
- Logan
- Newark, Ohio
- other locations nearby
Check out the nearest location to you by clicking on Our Locations Page.
How can I check the status of my Family Law and Domestic Relations matters?
First and foremost, we encourage you to communicate with your attorney, and their staff, for updates regarding your particular matter. Frequent conversations will provide you with the most recent and up-to-date information. Speaking with your attorney will allow you to ask questions to understand your case’s progress. Regular contact will also provide opportunities to give your legal team any new information that your attorney might need to know.
Assuming your question is about the status of filing or other necessary information, you can follow our step-by-step guide. This guide currently addresses the following courthouses: Fairfield County Domestic Relations Court (located at the Court of Common Pleas); Perry County Court of Common Pleas, and Hocking County Court of Common Pleas. You can find the guide by following this link: Domestic Relations Court Information Guide
Contact one of these Family and Domestic Relations Lawyers for assistance.
Click on the photo to access an attorney’s contact information.
FAQ for Ohio Family Law Questions:
Q: What qualifies a lawyer to be a specialist?
A: While the term “specialist” seems like an excellent way to describe an intense focus on an area of law, this has a very particular meaning within the legal field. Specialists meet detailed training, evaluation, years of experience, and time engaged in a specific area of practice to obtain the Ohio State Bar Association’s specialist credentials. These credentials exist in one of eleven practice areas, including:
- Administrative Agency Law
- Appellate Law
- Elder Law
- Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
- Family Relations Law
- Federal Tax Law
- Insurance Coverage Law
- Labor and Employment Law
- Real Property – Business, Commercial, and Industrial Law
- Real Property – Residential Law
- Workers’ Compensation Law
A Lawyer can have a wealth of experience and a focus on one area of the law without taking the extra steps to be certified as a specialist. Likewise, a specialist in one area of the law may spend time practicing in other areas as well. We are proud of those attorneys at law who have obtained their certified specialist title. However, it is essential to know that this may not be the most crucial factor when hiring a divorce lawyer in Ohio. Make sure to do your research before assuming a specialist is needed or is the best solution for your situation.
Q: I wanted to retain your services, but your firm declined due to a conflict of interest. What does that mean?
A: In Ohio law, an attorney has a duty to provide effective counsel to a client. To be clear, “effective” doesn’t mean that the client gets a specific desired outcome. Rather it indicates that the legal representation was competent. If an attorney has represented an opposing party, there can be considered a conflict of interest. Conflict of interest exists for any past representation. Conflicts also exist if the attorney intends to represent an opposing party in the future.
Conflicts of interest create a serious risk that a lawyer’s action on behalf of one party may impact representation for another party. Potential conflicts are why an attorney cannot represent both spouses in a divorce. While there are some grey areas, most attorneys will wisely steer away from even a hint of engaging in a conflict of interest. After all, it is easier to avoid it than to argue that there was no conflict.
Q: Does hiring the best attorney require that I pay more?
A: Terms like “best attorney” are subjective. How would anyone judge that? Is there a contest for lawyers? To us, getting the best attorney is the one who can do the job effectively, efficiently, and advocate for you. Efficiency saves you both time and money and ultimately makes experienced attorneys an affordable option. Nobody wants to be stuck living through a legal matter for over six months, let alone years.
While the client controls many legal process delays, your lawyer plays a role as well. Experience can allow an attorney to quickly move past the research and planning phase into taking action on your legal issue. Examples like this explain why a higher hourly rate may still be affordable. At Dagger Law, we are proud to have two Ohio State Bar Association Certified Specialists. Whether your family law case is complicated or straightforward, we can still offer the same efficient and effective representation. All the while saving you money and moving you quickly through the process.
Q: Why do you ask for a retainer?
A: Retainer fees are collected so that our family law attorneys have an operating fund with which to represent you. Some legal proceedings can take a long time. We don’t want to drag out that process by waiting for money to pay for some necessary expenses associated with almost any legal case. This money covers the cost associated with filing fees, paying for an attorney to write motions on your behalf, and even complex legal research costs.
Our law firm will present you with an itemized account if we spend retainer funds. We believe in being good stewards of your resources. Keeping detailed records of how we spend our time on your family law issue is standard practice. While it doesn’t often happen, if we can complete your case without using all of your retainer fees, we will refund the unused portion. It is more usual that divorce cases cost more than the original retainer. If this is the case, additional retainer fees are collected, or we will provide you with a billing statement on a month-to-month basis.
Q: How can I pay for my Family or domestic law matter?
A: We are sympathetic to the fact that some family law matters can be expensive. Because we understand this, we try to be flexible in how we accept payment. We do take cash, check, money orders, all major credit cards, and in some unique situations, we may arrange payment plans. Many lenders offer loans to cover legal fees, or you may want to consider borrowing money from a family member or friend.