Alice Rickel & Associates
Attorneys at Law
Practicing Family Law |
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Contact Us:
216-831-1434
Email |
Alice Rickel & Associates is a law firm located in Northeast Ohio which focuses on the complex legal issues facing families today.
- Divorce
- Dissolution
- Child Custody and Visitation Issues
- Child Support
- Spousal Support
- Property Division
- Prenuptial/Antenuptial Agreements
- Post-Decree Issues, such as modification, enforcement and property division
- Domestic Violence
- Juvenile Court Issues
Alice Rickel & Associates is located in Beachwood, Ohio and our attorneys have practiced in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Summit, Lake, Portage, and Medina counties.
Alice Rickel & Associates can also provide information regarding mediation and alternative mechanisms for resolving these family law issues.
Divorce/Dissolution:
A dissolution occurs when both parties mutually agree to end their marriage. The parties then also agree on how to divide their assets and their responsibilities. If there are minor children involved, the parties must also agree as to the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities, including child support. Once the agreements have been signed, the parties jointly file a Petition with the court to adopt their agreement. A brief hearing is then required to formally terminate the marriage.
A divorce requires that one party file a lawsuit with the Court requesting a termination of the marriage. Typically this is done because, either one party does not want to end the marriage, or because the parties are unable to reach an agreement, as to some or all of the issues. Simply because a divorce is filed does not necessarily mean that the parties cannot reach an agreement at any time during the proceedings. If the parties are still unable to reach an agreement, the Court will conduct a trial to determine all outstanding issues and to terminate the marriage.
Child Custody and Visitation/Allocation of Parental Rights and Responsibilities:
In any domestic relations or juvenile court proceeding in which minor children are involved, the parties or the court must allocate parental rights and responsibilities for the minor children. This can include entering into a Shared Parenting Plan and/or crafting a parenting time schedule which meets each family’s individual needs. Our attorneys are sensitive to the fact that this is typically the most difficult aspect of your legal matter. We work hard to help our clients work through this process as easy as possible.
Child Support:
In any proceeding in which minor children are involved, the parties or the court must make a determination as to what is an appropriate amount of child support to be paid for the benefit of the children. Although child support is based on guidelines set forth in the Ohio Revised Code, there are numerous exceptions and potential deviations from those guidelines. We can help you understand these nuances and achieve the best possible result for the children.
Spousal Support:
Spousal support is commonly referred to as 'alimony'. The Ohio Revised Code sets forth numerous factors which the parties and/or the court can use to determine if an award of spousal support is appropriate or reasonable and, if so, what amount of spousal support is appropriate and reasonable. These factors include, but are not limited to, the respective incomes of the parties, the respective education levels of the parties, the standard of living of the parties during their marriage, and the tax consequences of an award of spousal support.
Property Division:
When a marriage is terminated, the parties assets and liabilities must be divided. As such, it is often necessary to value certain assets, including real estate, retirement accounts/pension plans, and business entities. This process can be complex depending on the nature and extent of those assets and may require retaining experts to value these various assets.
Post-Decree Issues:
Parties often find themselves back in court for various reasons. It may be to enforce a prior settlement or court order. It may also be to modify a prior settlement or court order. Our attorneys have the knowledge and experience necessary to assist you in reviewing your prior settlement or court order. We can also assist you in modifying a prior settlement or court order in the event that your circumstances change and a modification is appropriate.
Domestic Violence:
Domestic Violence is a crime. Domestic Violence includes verbal, emotional, sexual and physical abuse or the threat of abuse. Filing a Complaint for Domestic Violence can be done separately or in conjunction with a divorce filing. Our attorneys can assist you in navigating this difficult process.
Juvenile Court Issues:
Our attorneys can assist you in the various family law issues which arise in Juvenile Court, which include establishing paternity, obtaining an order for child support, and/or obtaining an allocation of parental rights and responsibilities.
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