Kids FirstDivorceBrowse by state
← All states

State research · Ohio

Child-centered divorce and custody lawyers in Ohio.

Three lawyers whose public records show meaningful child-focused work, substantial family-law depth, professional stature, and a useful first-party online presence.

Research reviewedAugust 17, 2026
01Editorial score93/100

Toledo · Ohio

Patricia Hayden Kurt

Spengler Nathanson P.L.L.

Kurt ranks first in Ohio because her public biography documents three highly relevant child-centered functions—guardian ad litem, parenting coordinator, and family mediator—on top of nearly four decades in family law. Her reported specialist certification, firm-group leadership, bar presidency, juvenile-law committee work, and experience in divorce, custody, adoption, and juvenile cases provide both depth and professional credibility. This is a strong match for parents seeking counsel who understands child-focused neutral processes yet retains broad legal experience. The first-party site is substantial and easy to use, though it publishes less original parenting philosophy than some candidates. All credentials are subject to current confirmation, and KIDD1Divorce should verify Ohio registration, discipline, specialist status, neutral-role recency, conflicts, and current case availability before publication.

Why the children-first signal is real

Kurt's biography identifies service as a guardian ad litem, parenting coordinator, and family mediator, alongside custody, adoption, and juvenile work. These are concrete child and family-system roles.

Divorce and custody depth

Her profile reports approximately thirty-eight years in practice, leadership of the firm's family group, Ohio family-law specialist certification since 2005, and work across divorce, custody, adoption, and juvenile matters.

Professional stature

The biography reports Ohio State Bar Association specialist certification, Lucas County Bar presidency, juvenile-law committee leadership, and decades of family practice and neutral appointments.

Children 30/30Case depth 25/25Stature 18/20Online presence 0/15License confidence 0/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: A stable individual Ohio official status or discipline result was not captured. Verify current registration, public discipline, and specialist certification through official sources before publication.

Current specialist, GAL, parenting-coordinator, and mediator credentials should be confirmed.A stable individual official status and discipline result was not captured.

02Editorial score90/100

Westlake · Ohio

Cara L. Santosuosso

Law Offices of Cara L. Santosuosso, LLC

Santosuosso earns the second Ohio position because her practice explicitly combines high-conflict divorce and custody litigation with parenting coordination, mediation, and collaborative methods. The dedicated parenting-coordination page provides more concrete child-centered evidence than general custody marketing, while AAML Ohio materials describe a sustained concern with protecting children and legal rights. Her practice since 2005 and professional recognition support credibility, and the personal site is clear and contactable. She ranks below Kurt because Kurt's public record shows a longer career and a broader set of child-linked roles, including guardian-ad-litem and juvenile work. The child-protection language in a professional profile is still partly promotional, so KIDD1Divorce should confirm current licensing, discipline, AAML membership, parenting-coordinator qualifications, conflicts, and litigation availability before publishing.

Why the children-first signal is real

Santosuosso maintains a dedicated parenting-coordination practice. The AAML Ohio profile describes mediation, collaborative law, parenting coordination, and a career commitment to protecting children and legal rights through multiple stages of family conflict.

Divorce and custody depth

Her site describes high-conflict divorce and custody litigation since 2005, together with parenting coordination, mediation, and collaborative methods.

Professional stature

AAML Ohio membership, a dedicated solo practice, extensive contentious-custody work, and sustained peer recognition provide stature; the professional profiles corroborate her family-law concentration.

Children 28/30Case depth 24/25Stature 19/20Online presence 0/15License confidence 0/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: A stable individual Ohio official status or discipline result was not captured. Verify current registration and public discipline in the Supreme Court of Ohio directory before publication.

Confirm the current scope and credentialing of parenting-coordinator services.A stable official individual status and discipline result was not captured.

03Editorial score87/100

Columbus · Ohio

Elaine S. Buck

Buck & Fish Ltd.

Buck's more than forty years in family law, reported specialist certification, collaborative-law institution building, mediation, adoption, surrogacy, and willingness to litigate when necessary make her a strong third choice. Helping draft Ohio's Collaborative Family Law Act is meaningful evidence of sustained investment in proportionate family dispute resolution, not just a website slogan. Her breadth also matters for families whose custody issues intersect with complex family formation. She ranks below Kurt and Santosuosso because the reviewed sources do not document a direct GAL, parenting-coordinator, or child-development role. The site is substantial and useful, but all current credentials are self-reported. Before publication, KIDD1Divorce should confirm registration, discipline, specialist certification, active collaborative and mediation work, geographic coverage, and trial availability for cases that cannot settle.

Why the children-first signal is real

Buck's biography documents collaborative law, mediation, co-resolution, adoption, and surrogacy work, along with helping draft Ohio's Collaborative Family Law Act. These provide concrete lower-conflict and family-formation evidence, though not a direct child-representative role.

Divorce and custody depth

The site reports more than forty years of family-law experience across divorce, custody, mediation, collaborative law, adoption, surrogacy, negotiated resolution, and litigation when needed.

Professional stature

Her profile reports Ohio family-law specialist certification, drafting work on the state Collaborative Family Law Act, IACP training, and leadership in the Central Ohio Academy of Collaborative Divorce Professionals.

Children 24/30Case depth 24/25Stature 19/20Online presence 0/15License confidence 0/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: A stable individual Ohio official status or discipline result was not captured. Verify current registration, public discipline, and specialist certification through official sources before publication.

Child-centered evidence is primarily collaborative-process and family-formation work rather than direct child representation.Current license, discipline, and specialist status require official verification.

Before you hire anyone

A shortlist is the beginning of diligence, not the end.

Kids First Divorce is an independent editorial publication. We do not represent you, refer you to counsel, certify any lawyer, or predict any result. Selection is based on publicly available information reviewed as of the date shown.

Confirm the lawyer’s current license and disciplinary history with the official state authority. Interview the lawyer about conflicts, fees, availability, geographic coverage, relevant experience, strategy, and whether their approach fits your family’s actual facts.

Looking somewhere else?

Browse another state.