Provides mediation services to individuals having conflict with a family member, such as parent, sibling or spouse. Mediators do not make a decision for clients, but rather help parties communicate and come up with a resolution that is mutually agreeable. Can provide mediation assistance with marriage dissolution (divorce), child custody issues and parenting plans, elder care and guardianship, probate and estate issues, blended family issues, family business disputes.

Provide low-cost legal consultations and comprehensive services to low- and moderate-income immigrants and refugees and their family members. Consults are available for the following: - Consular processing; - Applying for U.S. citizenship or Naturalization certificate; - Applying for or renewing a green card; - Applying for Employment Authorization Document; - Applying for travel documents/reentry permits; - Immigration case follow-up with USCIS representation. - Family legal services such as divorce, dissolution, and custody. - Will preparation.

Provides case management and advocacy for fathers to ensure that their specific needs are being communicated and met. Develops and assists in implementing an individualized case plan with each father. Works closely with community service organizations throughout the area to connect fathers with the social services that can best assist them. Provides referrals for fathers with court issues related to child custody and record expungement.

Offers a four-week educational series on a variety of topics such as general parenting, how to navigate the child custody/child support system, healthy eating, financial literacy, etc. Can also provide one-on-one assistance with navigating the child support/custody system.

Provides information, and case file review for those dealing with and navigating the child support and custody system. Includes an assessment of the situation, recommendations, and help following up with Child Support Enforcement, Juvenile Court, and Domestic Relations Court (agency does not legally represent clients). Will explain and assist with filling out forms the client may have received from the courts.

Provides assistance for people who want to obtain custody of their children as a part of a divorce or separation action. Includes the following: - Individuals who want to appeal all or a portion of the terms of a previous child custody decision. - Those who want to establish or appeal the terms of a visitation award or a court-ordered visitation schedule.

Provides educational opportunities for fathers who want to understand their rights and obligations with respect to child custody, child support, visitation arrangements, and other laws which address the upbringing and care of children. Actively assists with the paper work necessary to get the process started. Help fathers with license reinstatement, indigency forms, child support issues, and putative registration that will allow a birth father to receive written notice of a proposed placement. Attends meetings with court administrators and officials to determine the best practices in place that serve dads.

Provides information, forms, and pro se packets for those seeking to file for legal custody or visitation Pro Se (by themselves without Legal Counsel). Will assist those interested in filing for custody or visitation of a child by determining, explaining and providing the appropriate paperwork. Will review the completed paperwork for completeness prior to filing at Juvenile Court. Will also review Poverty Affidavits for the Juvenile Court. Does not provide legal advice.

Provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of Northeast Ohio.

Offers child support coaching strategy sessions where the agency will of review supporting documents for those who choose to self-manage their child support, custody and visitation matters. Provides guidance on strategies to seek relief in those matters.

Provides case management, support groups and special events for fathers. Provides basic information on how to establish paternity, visitation, and help with navigating the child support system. Provides support groups for fathers as well as various father/child activities and events. Provides linkage to social services needed, and encourages strengthening the bond between fathers and their child(ren).

Maintains records of all cases from the Drake County Juvenile Court. All filings of juvenile complaints, support cases, paternity establishment cases, abuse, neglect, and dependency cases are sent here. Makes available certified and non-certified copies of court documents for adults and youth who have or have had a case at juvenile court. Juvenile records are not open to the public and are only available to youth, their parents, guardians and attorneys. Motions on juvenile cases may be filed here by the defendant, but best to seek assistance of an attorney. Child custody/visitation/support petitions are filed here.

Provides supervised exhanges and family visitation services to children and their parents and families who have been referred through the court system.

Orders investigations as part of divorce actions, custody evaluations, child visitation arrangements, marriage conciliations, and home studies upon request of the judge.

Provides legal assistance for LGBTQ+ individuals. Cases may include: *Gender marker changes *Name changes *Family law (custody, divorce, child support) **They are unable to accept cases involving adoptions**

Provides legal services for low-income victims of domestic violence. Services include divorce assistance and assistance with custody/visitation issues for recent victims of domestic violence. Will also assist in filing for those who are seeking a Civil Protection Order (CPO) and/or provide representation regarding necessary CPO court hearings.

Provides legal services for low-income victims of domestic violence. Services include divorce issues for recent victims of domestic violence. Will also assist in filing for those who are seeking a Civil Protection Order (CPO). Some cases are handled by staff attorneys and some are referred to volunteer lawyers who have agreed to provide free services.

Evaluates cases where one of the following is true: there are substantiated findings of abuse to minor child after investigation by county child-serving agency; a serious incident of abuse towards the applicant 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 over 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 abuser; abuser incarcerated for offense of violence toward the minor child and incarceration will end in less than 12 months. Grandparents 55 years of older 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 (e.g. school enrollment, access to healthcare, etc.)

Offers system navigation, guidance, and information to parents without custody who need help to become more involved in the life of their child. Does not provide legal advice.

Evaluates cases for possible assistance with a Civil Protection Order (CPO)where one of the following is true: an incident of abuse toward applicant or minor child has occurred in last 60 days; abuser is subject to charges or protection order for offense of violence in last 60 days or a Civil Protection Order (CPO) has been issued against abuser; abuser is incarcerated for offense of violence, has made new threats of abuse to applicant and incarceration will end in less than 12 months; juvenile court custody matter where unmarried biological mother is seeking custody or incident of abuse towards minor child was alleged but not substantiated, or applicant is concerned about complying with court-ordered custody or visitation due to Covid 19.

Domestic relations divisions have jurisdiction over all proceedings involving divorce or dissolution of marriages, annulment, legal separation, spousal support and allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children.

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).

Provides legal services for low-income victims of domestic violence. Services include divorce issues for recent victims of domestic violence. Will also assist in filing for those who are seeking a Civil Protection Order (CPO). Some cases are handled by staff attorneys and some are referred to volunteer lawyers who have agreed to provide free services.