Child Custody Legal Assistance | Legal Aid Society Of Cleveland - Lorain County Office

Evaluates cases whether filing or having been served with papers, provided hearing date is more than 14 days away; and, one of the following is true:

• There are substantiated findings of abuse to minor child after investigation by Children and Family Services;
• A serious incident of abuse towards the applicant or minor child has occurred within the last 30 days, or abuser has threatened to kill or physically harm applicant or commit suicide within the last 30 days coupled with severe physical violence of the past year;

abuser is subject to charges or protection order for offense of violence within the past 30 days; for acts of violence toward the minor child OR a civil protection order (CPO) has been issued against the abuser;

• Abuser is subject to charges or protection order for offense of violence in the last six (6) months for acts of violence toward the minor child OR a Civil Protection Order (CPO) has been issued against the abuser;
• Abuser is incarcerated for offense of violence toward the minor child and incarceration will end in less than 12 months;
• Grandparents age 55 years or over who have been acting as the child's primary caregiver for the past 90 days seeking power of attorney and caretaker authorization affidavits for purpose of third-party transaction (such as school enrollment, access to healthcare, and so forth).

07/21/2025