Parental Rights Attorney in Columbus

Support When You Are Afraid Of Losing Your Role

If you are worried about where your child will live or how often you will see them, you are not alone. Parents often come to Boller & Petty, LLC feeling blindsided by a breakup, divorce, or custody filing and unsure what their rights really are in Ohio. As a parental rights attorney in Columbus whom parents turn to for guidance, we work to bring clarity to a very emotional situation.

Our firm focuses entirely on family law, and we represent parents throughout Central Ohio in custody, parenting time, and related disputes. We listen carefully to what you want for your child, then explain the legal options that may help you protect that relationship. From the first conversation, our goal is to help you feel heard, informed, and supported.

We offer free initial consultations, and when our schedule allows, we provide same-day meetings so you do not have to wait for answers. If you are lying awake at night wondering what will happen next, we are here to help you take the next step with confidence.

Contact our trusted parental rights lawyer in Columbus at (614) 756-2827 to schedule a confidential consultation.

Protecting Your Rights As A Parent

When people talk about custody, they often mean a mix of several rights and responsibilities. In Ohio, parental rights usually involve where the child lives, how parenting time is shared, and who makes important decisions about education, health care, and activities. These questions are deeply personal, and they affect your everyday life with your child.

Parents sometimes fear that one argument, one move, or one court filing will permanently erase their role. Courts in Ohio generally focus on what is in the child’s best interests, and they often look for ways for children to have meaningful relationships with both parents when it is safe to do so. That does not mean outcomes are predictable, and it is understandable to feel anxious about how a judge will see your situation.

As a parental rights lawyer in Columbus, we take the time to explain how the law may apply to your specific facts. We discuss issues like shared parenting, sole or joint legal custody, and temporary orders in clear language. You can ask hard questions, and we will answer them honestly, even when the answer is “it depends” and we need to talk through the factors together.

Many parents also worry they have already damaged their case by moving out, agreeing to an informal schedule, or sending heated messages. We help you understand what the court is likely to focus on and what steps you can start taking now to present your role as a parent clearly and accurately.

How Our Columbus Firm Supports Parents

At Boller & Petty, LLC, we focus our entire practice on family law, so parental rights issues are a central part of what we do. We work with parents facing initial custody and parenting time decisions, parents returning to court to modify an old order, and parents who need help enforcing existing arrangements. Depending on where you live, your case may begin in Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court or in another Central Ohio court, and we guide you through each stage.

From the first free consultation, we ask about your child’s routine, your involvement, and your concerns about the other parent. We then talk through possible paths, such as negotiated agreements, mediation, or a contested hearing. Our attorneys help you understand what documents and information may be helpful, such as school records or communication logs, and we explain what to expect at each court appearance.

Parents we work with often tell us they value our responsiveness and patience. We know that questions do not always fit neatly into business hours, and that a sudden email from the other parent or the court can spike your anxiety. We work to answer questions promptly, explain what a new filing really means, and keep you informed so you are not left guessing.

Throughout the process, we remain focused on your family’s future, not just the next court date. We discuss how proposed schedules may feel for your child over time, how decision-making arrangements might work in real life, and how to reduce conflict where possible. Our role is to provide strong advocacy in the courtroom and steady guidance behind the scenes so you can make decisions with confidence.

What To Do If You Are Worried

When you are afraid of losing time with your child, it can be tempting to react quickly. Before you make major changes or send emotional messages, it often helps to step back and make a plan. A few careful steps now can help protect both your child and your position in any future court case.

If you are concerned about your parental rights, consider taking these steps:

• Keep a simple record of your time with your child and your involvement in school, medical visits, and activities.
• Save important messages with the other parent, and avoid sending texts or emails in anger.
• Follow any existing court orders as closely as you can, even when you disagree with them.
• Avoid informal side agreements that significantly change parenting time without legal advice.
• Reach out to a parental rights lawyer Columbus parents trust to review your situation before you sign new documents.

If you believe your child is in immediate danger, your safety and your child’s safety come first. In urgent situations, parents sometimes seek emergency relief, and the details of that process depend on the facts of the case and the court involved. We can talk with you about what options may be available where you live and how those requests typically work.

You do not have to sort this out alone or guess about what the court might do. During a free consultation, we can review what has already happened, talk about your goals, and outline potential next steps. Knowing where you stand can make it easier to decide how to move forward.

Ohio Parental Rights & Local Courts

Parental rights issues for families in Columbus are usually considered under Ohio law in Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court or in another appropriate court, depending on where the child lives and how the case was filed. Other nearby counties have their own domestic relations or juvenile courts, but they often rely on the same basic legal concepts. Understanding those concepts can help you make sense of what you are hearing from the other parent or from the court.

Ohio law uses terms like legal custody, physical custody, and shared parenting plans. Legal custody usually refers to who makes major decisions about a child, while physical custody and parenting time focus on where the child lives and how time is divided. Shared parenting plans can allow both parents to have significant roles, although the exact details vary from family to family.

Courts generally look at a range of best interest factors when deciding parental rights. These may include your child’s relationships with each parent, the child’s adjustment to home and school, the willingness of each parent to facilitate contact with the other, and any safety concerns. Judges in Franklin County and other Central Ohio courts have discretion in how they weigh these factors, and every case is different.

Our attorneys regularly appear in Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court and in courts throughout Central Ohio. We understand local procedures for filings, conferences, and hearings, and we explain those procedures so you know what to expect. That local knowledge can make the process feel more manageable at a time when so much already feels uncertain.