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At Gaddy Family Law, attorney Patricia Gaddy specializes in father’s right litigation in Toledo and understands that fathers face unique challenges in the family court system. As an experienced Ohio family law attorney, Patricia has helped countless fathers establish, protect, and enforce their parental rights, whether through paternity establishment litigation, child custody proceedings, or navigating the complexities of divorce.
With her extensive knowledge of the Ohio Revised Code and years of experience as a family law specialist, Patricia offers compassionate and strategic legal representation designed to uphold your rights as a father and preserve your relationship with your children.
Ohio law recognizes that children benefit from having both parents actively involved in their lives. However, the legal landscape can be challenging for fathers to navigate, especially those who were never married to their child’s mother.
In Ohio, an unwed mother is, by default, under Ohio law, the sole residential parent and legal custodian of her child until a court issues an order stating otherwise (Ohio Revised Code § 3109.042). This means that, without a court order, an unmarried father does not have legally enforceable rights to custody or parenting time—even if paternity has been established and he is paying child support.
Establishing paternity, including being named on the birth certificate or paying child support, does not automatically grant an unmarried father custody or visitation rights. Only a court order can establish these rights.
If you are an unmarried father seeking to secure your parental rights, you must take legal action, which may include:
For married fathers going through divorce or legal separation, protecting your relationship with your children requires strategic advocacy from the outset of your case. Attorney Patricia Gaddy works diligently to help fathers pursue:
Patricia Gaddy helps fathers navigate challenging legal situations while prioritizing their children’s best interests. She combines tenacious advocacy with a focus on reducing conflict, aligning with Ohio’s emphasis on fostering cooperative parenting relationships.
When you work with Gaddy Law Family, you’ll receive:
Our firm assists with all legal pathways to establish paternity:
We help clients:
Establishing paternity alone doesn’t grant custody or parenting rights in Ohio. Our firm helps fathers:
The judge in your case will determine custody based on what promotes the best interests of your child. Patricia Gaddy works to ensure fathers receive fair consideration throughout this process.
Ohio law recognizes two primary custody arrangements:
Note: The term “joint custody” is sometimes used informally, but Ohio law uses “shared parenting” as the correct legal term.
Ohio law prohibits gender-based discrimination in custody decisions. All custody and parenting time determinations must be made solely based on the best interests of the child, regardless of the parent’s gender. However, some fathers may still encounter challenges due to outdated stereotypes. Our law firm works to:
Whether you’re seeking to establish appropriate support or modify an existing order, our firm provides comprehensive representation in child support matters.
Patricia Gaddy helps fathers ensure child support orders are fair and accurately calculated. Ohio uses a statutory formula to determine child support, which considers:
The court may allow deviations from the standard formula only in specific circumstances when it is in the child’s best interests.
If your circumstances change significantly, we can help you seek appropriate modifications to child support orders. Modifications require a substantial change in circumstances and must be approved by the court. We also represent fathers facing enforcement actions or seeking to enforce orders against non-compliant co-parents.
Ohio courts take all allegations of domestic violence seriously and prioritize the safety and well-being of children. If you are facing allegations of violence, our firm provides strategic legal defense and works to preserve your parental rights while fully addressing the court’s safety concerns.
Courts may issue temporary orders or appoint a guardian ad litem to investigate, and the burden of proof lies with the party making the allegation.
If you are a father experiencing domestic violence, we can help you seek protection for yourself and your children through appropriate legal channels, such as civil protection orders.
When parents live in different states, complex jurisdictional questions can arise. These matters are governed by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), which determines which state’s court has authority to make custody decisions. Our firm has experience navigating the UCCJEA and protecting your parental rights across state lines.
Fathers have important rights in adoption proceedings, but these rights must often be actively asserted. In Ohio, unmarried fathers must register with the Putative Father Registry within 15 days of the child’s birth to preserve their right to notice and consent in adoption cases. We help fathers understand and protect their rights in situations such as:
As a father, you may also be concerned about your own parents’ rights to maintain relationships with your children. Ohio law provides limited rights for grandparent visitation, but only in specific circumstances, such as:
In all cases, the court must find that visitation is in the child’s best interest and that the grandparent has an established interest in the child’s welfare. Our firm can help your family navigate these complex legal issues.
Patricia Gaddy helps people during some of the most challenging times in their lives. As a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the Women’s Law Association, she brings exceptional professionalism and extensive experience to every case.
What sets Patricia apart:
If you’re facing guardianship issues in Ohio, don’t navigate this complex legal territory alone. Patricia Gaddy and her team offer the experience, compassion, and dedication needed to protect vulnerable individuals and advocate for your family’s best interests.
Contact us today at (419) 260-1795 to schedule a free 15-minute telephone consultation to discuss your guardianship concerns. Our office is located at 1709 Spielbusch Avenue, #108E, Toledo, OH 43604.
Gaddy Family Law & Mediation LLC
1709 Spielbusch Avenue, #108E
Toledo, OH 43604
(419) 260-1795
Our firm represents fathers throughout northwest Ohio. While we don’t handle matters related to personal injury, car accidents, or injuries unrelated to family law, we offer comprehensive family law services for fathers seeking to protect their relationships with their children.
No. Married fathers have equal parental rights during marriage, but if parents separate or divorce, custody and parenting time must be established through a court order. Unmarried fathers do not have automatic rights; they must first establish paternity and then obtain a court order for custody or parenting time.
Paternity can be established voluntarily by signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity affidavit, or involuntarily through a court proceeding with genetic testing. Once paternity is established, the father’s name can be added to the birth certificate. However, establishing paternity does not automatically grant custody or visitation rights—it allows the father to petition the court for those rights.
If there is a court-ordered parenting time schedule, denying visitation is a violation of the court order. Without a court order, an unmarried mother can legally deny access to the child. Only a court order makes parenting time enforceable, so fathers must obtain formal custody and parenting time orders.
Ohio law requires that custody decisions be gender-neutral and based solely on the best interests of the child. Courts are prohibited from making custody determinations based on the parent’s gender.
Ohio courts consider many factors, including:
Yes. Child custody orders can be modified if there has been a significant change in circumstances since the last order and the modification is in the child’s best interests. Our firm helps fathers seek appropriate modifications when circumstances warrant changes to existing orders.
This depends on the custody arrangement. With shared parenting, both parents typically have equal access to records and decision-making. With sole custody to the other parent, fathers may still have rights to access educational and medical records unless specifically restricted by court order.
Annulment is rarely applicable and only available under limited circumstances in Ohio. Most fathers seeking to end a marriage will need to pursue either divorce or dissolution of marriage.
Property division is separate from custody determinations. In divorce cases, marital property is divided equitably (not necessarily equally) under Ohio law. This process is handled independently from the determination of parental rights.
Legal parental rights in Ohio begin at the child’s birth. Fathers do not have legal rights regarding pregnancy decisions. However, being involved and supportive during pregnancy can help establish a positive foundation for co-parenting and may be viewed favorably by courts in future custody proceedings.