Reform agenda
Numbered priorities for Ohio family court reform. Every proposal on this site must state how genuine abuse, neglect, and domestic violence will still be caught and handled. Fast, low-barrier protective orders for real danger are preserved in every reform we support.
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1
Presumption of standing
A legally established parent should have presumptive standing to a real relationship with their child.
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2
Rebuttable presumption of shared parenting
Equal or substantially equal parenting time, rebuttable on evidence of danger or unfitness, with written findings.
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3
Tie obligations to standing
Enforce parenting time as quickly and cheaply as child support is enforced.
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4
Outcome measurement mandate
Publish anonymized, longitudinal outcome data on contested custody orders.
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5
GAL and evaluator reform
Rate transparency, rotation, evidence-based reports, conflict disclosure, and a complaint process with teeth.
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6
Weaken the conflict gradient
Early mediation, default schedules, and limits on repetitive motions.
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7
Imputed income limits
Evidence thresholds, time limits, and mandatory review before imputing income.
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8
Arrears and enforcement proportionality
Modification windows, forgiveness pathways, and limits on punitive suspensions after involuntary income loss.
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9
Evidence standards for allegations
Findings before restricting contact on unadjudicated allegations, expedited hearings, and consequences for knowingly false claims.
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10
Dissent is information
A protected process for procedural objections, and a rule that objecting is not evidence of 'high conflict.'
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11
Extended family standing
Recognize siblings and grandparents as stakeholders.
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12
Data and public-records transparency
Make court-operations data public and comparable across all 88 counties.
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13
Supervision with an exit
Supervised parenting time with a review date, written step-down criteria, and costs that don't end contact when the money runs out.
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14
Treatment is not testimony
Seeking mental-health or substance treatment, or not seeking it, is not evidence of unfitness without independent findings.