JCurtis Law
Warren County Divorce Lawyer for Mason, Lebanon and Families Across the County
Jennifer Curtis is a Warren County divorce lawyer who works with you directly, alongside one experienced paralegal, so you get clear answers about the Lebanon court process instead of waiting on a callback from someone who does not know your case.
Welcome to JCurtis Law
Your Warren County Case, Explained From Day One
Most people who call us from Mason, Lebanon and the rest of Warren County have never been through a family court case. You may not know which courthouse handles it, what to file first or how long it will take. Those are the first questions Jennifer answers.
Our West Chester office sits just across the county line from Mason, and Jennifer is a member of the Warren County Bar Association. We handle divorces, dissolutions, custody and support cases for Warren County families, and we tell you honestly what to expect at each stage.
How the Warren County Domestic Relations Court Handles Family Cases
Family cases between spouses in Warren County are heard by the Warren County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, at 500 Justice Drive in Lebanon. That court hears:
- Divorce, whether contested or resolved by agreement along the way
- Dissolution of marriage, when both spouses agree on every term before filing
- Legal separation
- Spousal support
- Custody, parenting time and child support between parents who are married or divorcing
Custody and support between parents who were never married follow a different path and go through the Warren County Juvenile Court instead. If you are not sure which court your situation belongs in, that is one of the first things we sort out together.
Filing for Divorce or Dissolution in Warren County
Ohio sets a few requirements before a Warren County case can begin, and getting them right up front keeps your case from stalling later.
Step 1: Meet the Residency Requirements
The filing spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least six months before filing. The case is normally filed in the county where that spouse has lived for the past 90 days, which is why a family that recently moved to Mason from another county may need to confirm where to file.
Step 2: Choose the Right Path
When you and your spouse disagree on property, support or the children, the case is filed as a divorce and the court resolves what you cannot settle. When you agree on everything, a dissolution lets you file a joint petition together with a signed separation agreement.
Step 3: Complete the Co-Parenting Class if It Applies to You
The Warren County court offers a three-hour co-parenting class called "Hope for Co-Parenting Families." Jennifer tells you whether your case calls for it and how it fits into your timeline.
Step 4: Reach the Final Hearing
In a dissolution, the final hearing takes place between 30 and 90 days after the petition is filed. In a contested divorce, the timeline depends on what remains in dispute and the court's schedule, and Jennifer prepares you before every hearing in Lebanon.
Family Law Help Warren County Families Come to Us For
Each of these matters has its own page with more detail on Ohio law. Here is how we help Warren County clients with each one, as part of our full family law practice.
Contested Divorce
When spouses cannot agree, a contested divorce lets the court decide what you cannot settle. Jennifer negotiates where she can, stands firm in court where she has to, and avoids fights that only add cost, because divorce is hard enough without your attorney making it harder.
Dissolution of Marriage
If you already agree on the terms, we draft or review the separation agreement so every detail is complete and enforceable before you stand in front of the judge in Lebanon.
Child Custody and Shared Parenting
Warren County judges decide custody and parenting time based on the child's best interest. Jennifer builds a shared parenting plan or custody request around your child's routines, school and relationships, drawing on her own experience raising a child with special needs.
Child Support
Ohio's guidelines set child support, but the income, health insurance and child care figures behind the calculation decide the result. We make sure those numbers reflect your family's real 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 outcome before you agree to terms or argue them in court.
Post-Decree Modifications
When a job changes, a parent relocates or a schedule stops working, we file to modify or enforce your custody, parenting time or support order in the Warren County court that issued it.
A Mason Divorce Lawyer Who Picks Up the Phone
Whether you need a Mason divorce lawyer close to home or a Lebanon, Ohio divorce attorney who knows the courthouse on Justice Drive, the experience of working with us is the same: two people who know your case by name.
- You work directly with Jennifer, the attorney handling your case, from the first call to the final hearing.
- Katie, Jennifer's paralegal, brings more than 20 years of legal experience to your paperwork and scheduling.
- Clients regularly describe same-day responses to their calls and emails.
- Legal terms and court procedures are explained in plain language before you have to make a decision.
- Jennifer is prepared and firm in the courtroom, and she does not create conflict that serves no purpose.
Jennifer earned her Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law and is a member of the Warren County Bar Association, the Butler County Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association.
Testimonials
April G.
"Jennifer guided me through a difficult divorce with compassion and tenacity. She kept me informed throughout the process and was always available to answer my questions, most often with same-day responses."
Jake H.
"She looks out for her client's best interest and she's quick to respond. In my personal case she strived to keep 50/50 custody, settle parenting time and win the contempt motion."
What Clients Say About Working With Jennifer
Warren County Divorce and Family Law Questions
Where do I file for divorce in Warren County, Ohio?
A Warren County divorce is filed with the Warren County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, at 500 Justice Drive in Lebanon. The same court hears dissolutions, legal separations, spousal support, and custody and support between married or divorcing parents. Custody and support cases between parents who were never married go through the Warren County Juvenile Court.
How long do I have to live in Warren County to file for divorce?
The filing spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least six months, and a case is normally filed in the county where that spouse has lived for the past 90 days. If you moved to Warren County recently, you may need to file in your previous county or wait until you meet the 90-day mark. A short consultation can confirm the right court before anything is filed.
Do I have to take a parenting class for a divorce in Warren County, Ohio?
The Warren County Domestic Relations Court offers a three-hour co-parenting class called "Hope for Co-Parenting Families." Whether you need to complete it, and when, depends on your case and the court's orders. Jennifer will tell you what applies to you so the class never holds up your final hearing.
s there a divorce lawyer near Mason, Ohio?
Yes. Our office at 9078 Union Centre Boulevard in West Chester is a short drive from Mason, just across the Butler County line. You meet with Jennifer directly, in person or by phone, and she handles Warren County cases in the Lebanon courthouse.
How long does a dissolution take in Warren County, Ohio?
Ohio law sets the dissolution hearing between 30 and 90 days after the joint petition is filed. Before filing, most of the work goes into finalizing the separation agreement and, with children, the parenting plan. Once the judge approves the agreement at the hearing, the marriage is dissolved.
Talk to a Warren County Divorce Lawyer Today
You do not have to figure out the Lebanon courthouse on your own. 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, a short drive from Mason and Lebanon.
We also represent families in Butler County and in Cincinnati and across Hamilton County.
