Family Law
Divorce
A divorce is a way to terminate your marriage when the parties do not agree on various issues, such as: division of their assets and debts; allocation of parental rights and responsibilities; and spousal support. To commence a divorce case, one spouse will file a “Complaint for Divorce” in the local court, and the other party will be served with a copy of that Complaint. During the pendency of the divorce, the parties and their attorneys will negotiate and attempt to resolve any outstanding contested issues. However, if they are unable to do so, a judge or magistrate will decide those issues following a trial and the presentation of evidence.
Dissolution
A dissolution is an amicable way to terminate your marriage. To file a Dissolution in Ohio, all issues of the marriage must be resolved. Spouses must agree how their property and debts with be allocated; whether either will pay spousal support to the other; and, if applicable, who will have custody of any minor children and how much parenting time each parent will have with the children. If an agreement on every single issue cannot be reached, the case cannot be filed as a dissolution. Both parties must execute all necessary paperwork, which is prepared by the attorney. Lastly, both parties are required to attend the dissolution hearing.
Custody
We most often think of custody as the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities between two parents (whether married, divorced, or never married). In our complicated world, though, the courts are often required to determine custody between a parent and a non-parent, such as a grandparent or an aunt or uncle. In all of these situations, the court must take into consideration what is in the best interest of the minor children.
Domestic Violence
A domestic violence civil protection order is a court order requested by a person who claims to be the victim of domestic violence. If you are the victim of domestic violence, or if a Petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order has been filed against you, having an experienced and knowledgeable attorney representing you can be the difference between a protection order being issued or dismissed. Accusations of domestic violence are taken very seriously by courts in Ohio, and a protection order is designed to protect people from further abuse.
Divorce
A divorce is a way to terminate your marriage when the parties do not agree on various issues, such as: division of their assets and debts; allocation of parental rights and responsibilities; and spousal support. To commence a divorce case, one spouse will file a “Complaint for Divorce” in the local court, and the other party will be served with a copy of that Complaint. During the pendency of the divorce, the parties and their attorneys will negotiate and attempt to resolve any outstanding contested issues. However, if they are unable to do so, a judge or magistrate will decide those issues following a trial and the presentation of evidence.
Dissolution
A dissolution is an amicable way to terminate your marriage. To file a Dissolution in Ohio, all issues of the marriage must be resolved. Spouses must agree how their property and debts with be allocated; whether either will pay spousal support to the other; and, if applicable, who will have custody of any minor children and how much parenting time each parent will have with the children. If an agreement on every single issue cannot be reached, the case cannot be filed as a dissolution. Both parties must execute all necessary paperwork, which is prepared by the attorney. Lastly, both parties are required to attend the dissolution hearing.
Custody
We most often think of custody as the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities between two parents (whether married, divorced, or never married). In our complicated world, though, the courts are often required to determine custody between a parent and a non-parent, such as a grandparent or an aunt or uncle. In all of these situations, the court must take into consideration what is in the best interest of the minor children.
Domestic Violence
A domestic violence civil protection order is a court order requested by a person who claims to be the victim of domestic violence. If you are the victim of domestic violence, or if a Petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order has been filed against you, having an experienced and knowledgeable attorney representing you can be the difference between a protection order being issued or dismissed. Accusations of domestic violence are taken very seriously by courts in Ohio, and a protection order is designed to protect people from further abuse.
Bankruptcy
Chapter 7
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is the quickest and most common type of bankruptcy. It allows for a fresh start: a second chance to regain control of your finances by having most of your unsecured debt, including credit card debt, medical bills and personal loans, legally discharged by a bankruptcy court. Unfortunately, however, it does not discharge student loans, tax debt, spousal support or child support obligations. Please contact my office to meet with an experienced bankruptcy attorney who can ensure the success of your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.
Chapter 13
A chapter 13 bankruptcy is also called a wage earner's plan. It enables individuals with regular income to develop a plan to repay all or part of their debts. Under this chapter, debtors propose a repayment plan to make installments to creditors over three to five years.
Chapter 13 offers individuals a number of advantages over a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Perhaps most significantly, chapter 13 offers individuals an opportunity to save their homes from foreclosure. By filing under this chapter, individuals can stop foreclosure proceedings and may cure delinquent mortgage payments over time.
Finally, chapter 13 acts like a consolidation loan under which the individual makes the plan payments to a chapter 13 trustee who then distributes payments to creditors. Individuals will have no direct contact with creditors while under chapter 13 protection.
Chapter 7
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is the quickest and most common type of bankruptcy. It allows for a fresh start: a second chance to regain control of your finances by having most of your unsecured debt, including credit card debt, medical bills and personal loans, legally discharged by a bankruptcy court. Unfortunately, however, it does not discharge student loans, tax debt, spousal support or child support obligations. Please contact my office to meet with an experienced bankruptcy attorney who can ensure the success of your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.
Chapter 13
A chapter 13 bankruptcy is also called a wage earner's plan. It enables individuals with regular income to develop a plan to repay all or part of their debts. Under this chapter, debtors propose a repayment plan to make installments to creditors over three to five years.
Chapter 13 offers individuals a number of advantages over a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Perhaps most significantly, chapter 13 offers individuals an opportunity to save their homes from foreclosure. By filing under this chapter, individuals can stop foreclosure proceedings and may cure delinquent mortgage payments over time.
Finally, chapter 13 acts like a consolidation loan under which the individual makes the plan payments to a chapter 13 trustee who then distributes payments to creditors. Individuals will have no direct contact with creditors while under chapter 13 protection.
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About Kathleen
Kathleen Bartlett was admitted to the practice of law in 1994. Since 1994, she has served in various capacities within the legal community. Currently, she maintains her private law practice in Salem, Ohio, which is located within Columbiana County.
Kathleen served as a Judge of the 7th District Court of Appeals. The 7th District Court of Appeals hears appeals from eight (8) counties: Mahoning, Columbiana, Carroll, Jefferson, Belmont, Monroe, Noble, and Harrison.
Kathleen served for over 12 years as Magistrate for Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, from 2006 - 2018. In that position, she was assigned primarily to domestic relations matters, but also non-criminal civil proceedings pending before the Court.
Kathleen served as a part-time Magistrate of the Leetonia Mayor's Court from 1996 - 2018. She also served as the Assistant Law Director for the City of Salem. Prior to her appointment as full-time Magistrate for the Common Pleas Court, she was a partner in the law firm of Yeagley, Kirkland and Bartlett.
Kathleen has been a lifelong resident of Mahoning County and she currently resides in North Jackson with her husband of 23 years, Alan Bartlett. Kathleen graduated from South Range High School and obtained her undergraduate degree from Miami (Ohio) University. She completed her legal studies at the Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 1993 and was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio in 1994.