JCurtis Law
Family Law Attorney in Butler County, Ohio
From our West Chester office, Jennifer Curtis is the family law attorney Butler County, Ohio families call for divorce, custody and support cases, explaining each step before it happens so the court process in Hamilton never catches you off guard.
Welcome to JCurtis Law
Your Butler County Family Lawyer, Right Here in West Chester
Butler County is home for our firm. Our office at 9078 Union Centre Boulevard, STE 350, in West Chester sits in the same county where your case will be filed, and Jennifer is a member of the Butler County Bar Association.
When you call, you reach
Jennifer or Katie, her paralegal with more than 20 years of legal experience. There are no layers of staff between you and your attorney, and the people answering your questions are the same people preparing your case.
Where Butler County Family Cases Are Heard
Most family cases in Butler County go to the county seat in Hamilton. If you have been searching for divorce attorneys in Hamilton, Ohio because that is where your hearing will be, we handle those cases from our West Chester office and prepare you for what happens once you arrive.
- The Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, in Hamilton hears divorces, dissolutions, and custody and support matters between parents who are or were married.
- The Butler County Juvenile Court handles custody, parenting time and support between parents who were never married.
Jennifer is a member of the Butler County Bar Association and the Warren County Bar Association, and she explains the court's procedures in plain language so you know where to go, what to bring and what the judge will ask.
Know What Happens Before It Happens
A Butler County divorce or dissolution follows a clear path. Here is what most clients can expect.
Step 1: Confirm You Can File in Ohio
At least one spouse must have lived in Ohio for six months before filing for divorce. We confirm residency and which court your case belongs in at the first meeting.
Step 2: File the Case
Jennifer prepares and files your complaint for divorce or your petition for dissolution with the Domestic Relations Division in Hamilton, along with the financial and parenting documents the court requires.
Step 3: Complete the Parent Education Class
If you have children, both parents must complete the court's parent education program, "Helping Families Succeed During Divorce," before the final hearing. It is a four-hour online course, and we tell you when to take it so it never holds up your case.
Step 4: Attend the Final Hearing
In a dissolution, the hearing is held 30 to 90 days after the petition is filed. In a contested divorce, the timeline depends on what remains in dispute, and Jennifer prepares you for every hearing along the way.
Divorce Lawyer in Butler County, Ohio, and Every Related Family Matter
We handle the full range of family law cases filed in Butler County. Each practice page goes into the details of Ohio law; here is how we help Butler County families with each one.
Divorce
When spouses cannot agree on property, support or the children, a divorce goes through the Domestic Relations Division in Hamilton. Jennifer is firm in the courtroom and avoids conflict that only drives up your costs, because divorce is hard enough without your attorney making it harder.
Dissolution of Marriage
When you and your spouse agree on every term, a dissolution is often the faster and less expensive route. We draft the separation agreement and prepare you for a single hearing in Hamilton.
Child Custody and Shared Parenting
Whether you are seeking a shared parenting plan or full custody, Jennifer builds the case around your child's best interest and what the Butler County court looks for. She has been a parent through hard seasons herself, including raising a child with special needs.
Child Support
Child support in Butler County is set under Ohio's guidelines, and the details of income, health insurance and child care costs matter. We make sure the numbers the court uses reflect your family's actual situation.
Spousal Support
Spousal support depends on the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning ability, and other factors the court weighs. We help you understand a realistic range before you agree to anything or argue it in court.
Post-Decree Modifications
Jobs change, children grow and parenting schedules stop working. We file motions to modify or enforce custody, parenting time and support orders in the Butler County court that issued them.
Testimonials
Court S.
"After searching for an attorney for about a week, having consults back to back, and listening to other attorneys tell me that there was little to no chance I would be able to get full custody of my daughter. I found Jennifer and she was the first attorney I felt did not judge my situation but instead gave me hope."
April G.
"She kept me informed throughout the process and was always available to answer my questions, most often with same-day responses."
What Butler County Clients Say About Working With Jennifer
Serving Families Across Butler County
We work with families throughout the county, from our neighbors in West Chester to clients who live closer to the courthouse in Hamilton. Communities we serve include:
- West Chester, where our office is located on Union Centre Boulevard
- Liberty Township, just up the road from our office
- Monroe
- Hamilton, the county seat and home of the Domestic Relations Division
- Fairfield
If you need a Liberty Township family law attorney or live anywhere else in Butler County, you can meet with Jennifer in person in West Chester or talk through your situation by phone.
Butler County Family Law Questions
Where do I file for divorce in Butler County, Ohio?
A Butler County divorce is filed with the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, in Hamilton. Dissolutions and custody and support matters between married or formerly married parents go to the same court. Custody and support cases between parents who were never married are handled by the Butler County Juvenile Court.
Do I have to take a parenting class for a divorce in Butler County?
Yes, if you have children, both parents must complete the court's parent education program, "Helping Families Succeed During Divorce," before the final hearing. The class is a four-hour online course. It applies to both divorces and dissolutions, so it is best to finish it early in the case.
How long does a dissolution take in Butler County?
Ohio law requires the dissolution hearing to be held between 30 and 90 days after the petition is filed. Most of the time beforehand goes into finalizing the separation agreement and completing the parenting class if children are involved. Once the judge approves the agreement at the hearing, the marriage is dissolved.
Is a custody or support modification filed in the same court that issued my decree?
Generally, yes. A motion to modify custody, parenting time or support is filed in the court that issued the original order, so a Butler County decree is modified in the Butler County Domestic Relations Division. If one parent has since moved out of the county or out of state, we review whether the case should stay where it is.
Can I meet with an attorney at the West Chester office?
Yes. Consultations are held at our office at 9078 Union Centre Boulevard, STE 350, in West Chester, and you meet directly with Jennifer. If coming in is difficult, we can start the conversation by phone at (513) 663-5752.
Talk to a Butler County Family Lawyer Today
You do not have to walk into the Hamilton courthouse unsure of what comes next. Call Jennifer to talk through your situation, or schedule a consultation at our West Chester office at 9078 Union Centre Boulevard, STE 350, West Chester, Ohio 45069.
After a divorce, many Butler County families also need to update their wills, beneficiaries and powers of attorney, and our estate planning services make that the next simple step.
