Ohio bill for automatic 50-50 child custody introduced, with same opposition as before

A bill automatically giving parents 50-50 child custody has been reintroduced in the Ohio House and already has some of the same opposition as a similar proposal that was introduced during the last general assembly.

The bill would change state law to automatically allow joint custody to each parent in a custody dispute. Disputes of that custody would then have to be proven with “clear and convincing” evidence, a legal standard higher than is currently used in custody cases.

The bill’s sponsors, state Reps. Rodney Creech, R-West Alexandria, and Marilyn John, R-Richland County, argue presumptive equal custody would incentivize parents to work together before getting in lengthy legal battles, and would push parents to create a co-parenting plan before getting the courts involved.

“The first thing that courts will encourage, that the bill encourages, is parents to come to a shared parenting order where the parents work out what’s best for their work schedule, for their outside responsibilities,” John told the House Families & Aging Committee on Tuesday. “The courts are to presume that that is sufficient.”