Over-the-Rhine Law Blog | The Law Firm of Droder & Miller

Where a parent lives after divorce could influence child custody

On behalf of The Law Firm of Droder & Miller posted in divorce & family law on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

A person's living arrangements can have a considerable impact on his or her life. If individuals live in areas with high crime rates or other negative aspects, it could affect their well-being. Even the size of a person's home could have such effects, which is why courts consider where a parent lives when deciding child custody matters during divorce.

If an Ohio parent lives in an area that does have a high crime rate, has sex offenders in the area or has had a number of homicides, it may not look good to a judge. As a result, it is possible that the court will limit overnight visits for children whose parent lives in such an area. After all, the court has the obligation of keeping the children's best interests in mind, and if an area is unsafe, the judge will likely not consider it good for the kids.

Trusts can be helpful planning tools when used correctly

On behalf of The Law Firm of Droder & Miller posted in estate planning & elder law on Monday, January 6, 2020.

Getting started on an estate plan is not always an easy step to take. After all, a lot of information is often needed, and some Ohio residents may worry that they will make mistakes that leave them regretting their decisions. Fortunately, with the right help, individuals can create comprehensive plans using trusts and other tools.

It is possible for mistakes to be made when creating an estate plan, which is why it is typically best not to go at it alone. For example, some people may think that creating a trust to gift assets to is the right move to take advantage of their gift tax exemption. However, many people may not create the right type of trust, which can leave them without access to the assets used to fund the trust. This mistake could be avoided by going over the various types of trust and finding the best way to move assets.

How do the courts decide who gets what in an Ohio divorce?

On behalf of The Law Firm of Droder & Miller on Monday, December 30, 2019.

One of the biggest uncertainties that come with a divorce is not knowing how the courts will handle your personal assets. Not knowing if you could walk away from your marriage with very little can leave you feeling like you don't have many options. Also, inaccurate expectations about asset division can lead people to waste a lot of their energy on something unlikely to happen.

There is a lot of misinformation floating around out there about what happens in Ohio divorce proceedings. Some people make exaggerated claims about the outcome of their divorce that distort reality, while other people repeat horror stories that may never have had a basis in reality to begin with. Everyone's heard a story of someone who lost everything in a divorce, but always remember that those stories usually come with a heavy helping of bias or fantasy.

Ready to turn business dreams into a reality?

On behalf of The Law Firm of Droder & Miller posted in business law on Monday, December 23, 2019.

Becoming an entrepreneur is not an easy path to take. As a result, many people may put off dreams of starting their own business or may even forgo the dream altogether. However, some Ohio residents may feel that the time has come to prepare and do their best to make their business dreams a reality.

When it comes to starting a business, having a good idea is vital. Even if parties think they have a good idea, they need to evaluate it from all angles. This evaluation may result in their finding that certain parts of their idea will not work or that they need to flesh out particular aspects better. If parties find that their idea will not be as successful as they once thought, it does not have to be the end of the road. The process may allow them to see where they can improve and take a different direction.

Car accident caused by illegal passing causes fatality, injuries

On behalf of The Law Firm of Droder & Miller posted in civil litigation on Monday, December 9, 2019.

Head-on collisions can easily cause serious injuries to those involved. In many cases, such crashes can prove fatal. It is not unusual for this type of car accident to occur when a driver attempts to pass another vehicle in an unsafe or illegal passing area.

It was recently reported that a dangerous passing maneuver led to an accident in Ohio. A 30-year-old man driving a car attempted to pass a minivan while heading west. In order to pass, the man crossed over a double yellow line at the top of a hill, which resulted in the man's car colliding head-on with a vehicle traveling east. The man's vehicle then hit the minivan, which left the roadway and came to a stop in a ditch. After the initial accident, another vehicle heading west struck the man's car.

Giving trusts their due consideration as a planning tool is wise

On behalf of The Law Firm of Droder & Miller posted in estate planning & elder law on Monday, November 25, 2019.

Getting starting on an estate plan can seem difficult enough for some people. When it comes to deciding exactly what tools to use in their plans, they may easily feel overwhelmed. As a result, numerous Ohio residents may think that they can create a will and be covered, and they may not even consider creating trusts.

Not even thinking about trusts can be detrimental to many people who want to have thorough estate plans. This planning option can help individuals protect assets from creditor claims, make their wishes known for how the assets should be managed later, help parties avoid probate and have a number of other benefits. If individuals do not even consider trusts, they may miss out on these and other useful aspects of this tool.

Divorce may cause anxiety, behavior changes in kids

On behalf of The Law Firm of Droder & Miller posted in divorce & family law on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

It is not unusual for people to hope that they will have a happily ever after. For some Ohio residents, it may seem as if their marriage will not lead to that happy ending they had envisioned. Of course, being married is not the only source of happiness in life, and individuals may find that divorce could help them regain some happiness that they had lost. However, they may worry about whether their children will be able to do the same.

It is understandable to worry about how children will handle their parents' split. Ending a marriage can create a great deal of change for everyone involved, and children may feel anxious about what the future will hold. Parents can help combat this anxiety by explaining to the children what their living arrangements will be like, what the new routine will be and when they will spend time with each parent.

Do you have a succession plan for your Over-the-Rhine business?

On behalf of The Law Firm of Droder & Miller on Monday, November 4, 2019.

Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in living or running a business in Over-the-Rhine. Whether you have been here for years or have recently moved to the area, if you own or manage a business here, you likely want to protect that business, even in the event that something happens to you.

Many people understand the importance of creating an estate plan to protect their wishes if they die, and quite a few people even make living wills to protect their medical and financial wishes if they can't speak on their own behalf.

How can you protect against financial fraud?

On behalf of The Law Firm of Droder & Miller posted in estate planning & elder law on Monday, October 28, 2019.

You have been working with your family in Ohio to research the best options for your elderly loved one who is in need of assistance with various tasks. While you have reliable and honest people helping with some of your family member's needs, you are concerned about how to effectively protect his or her finances and assets from fraud. Your vigilance and attention to detail can go to great lengths in helping you recognize if something is amiss and indicates that you need to take action right away.

If your elderly family member is still solely in charge of his or her finances, do not be afraid to sit down and discuss the warning signs of fraudulent activity. You can educate your loved one about suspicious activities that could indicate they are being taken advantage of. You can also suggest questions that he or she should ask in response to requests from people who claim to need sensitive financial information. If you are overseeing the finances of your loved one, monitoring recent activity may be a bit easier especially if you are aware of what constitutes fraudulent activity.

Cincinnati poised to be a startup hub

On behalf of The Law Firm of Droder & Miller posted in business law on Monday, October 21, 2019.

Our neighbors to the north at the University of Cincinnati are doing some interesting things. According to Entrepreneur — via the UC News — their new innovation lab has set the city up to be the next big start-up center. At the Law Firm of Droder & Miller, that automatically makes us think of the legal issues surrounding setting up new businesses.

As you know, technology and innovation often come with a fair amount of risk. If you are an entrepreneur, you do everything you can to mitigate those risks by taking precautions. You might set up a solid business plan. You might raise enough capital to keep your momentum going. And, of course, you might give some thought to the legal structure of your business.

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