House Bill Seeks to Reform Ohio’s Child Custody Laws to Support Equal Parenting
Two Republican Ohio State Representatives have re-introduced legislation to revise child custody laws to support equal shared parenting in Ohio.
House Bill (HB) 14, known as the “Children Need Both Parents” bill sponsored by State Representatives Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria) and Marilyn John (R-Richland County), looks to strengthen Ohio families and ensure the best outcome for the children involved with parents who are separated.
The legislation strives to create a fair and just system for families going through parental separation in Ohio. The justice system in the United States operates under the legal presumption that all citizens are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law; however, such a presumption is absent in family court.
The bill specifically establishes a presumption that equal shared parenting is in the best interest of a child with separated parents. The presumption would apply in instances of legal separation, divorce, dissolution, or annulment of parents’ marriages. The legislation would allow and encourage separating families to tailor parenting plans that fit their individual needs.