Page 43 - 2019-2020 CMBA Legal Directory

Domestic Relations Division CMBA 2019 LEGAL DIRECTORY

Administration Room (First floor, Room 149) Law Department (Ground floor, Room 1)
Court Administration oversees all court operations under the direction of The Law Department provides research and courtroom support for judges and
the Administrative Judge. These include judicial and court services, program court staff. Staff attorneys draft journal entries and legal memoranda, and review
development, budget management, contracts, payroll, human resources, requests for restraining orders and selected journal entries prior to submission
community outreach, purchasing, inventory control, and information technology. to the assigned judge.
COURT ADMINISTRATOR: MANAGER: Harold R. Rauzi ...............................................................................(216) 443- 8829
James S. Zak .............................................................................................................................(216) 443- 8820
The following programs and services are available to help the Court in
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JUDICIAL OPERATIONS resolving matters concerning child and to aid families during and after
Serpil Ergun ...............................................................................................................................(216) 443-8820 marriage termination. Costs and fee rates are found on the court’s website.
DEPUTY COURT ADMINISTRATOR
Justin P. Seeton .......................................................................................................................(216) 443- 8820 Parenting Education
Parents of minor children who are ending their marriages or legally separating
COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR must complete a court approved divorce seminar before parental rights and
Ashley E. Monoco .................................................................................................................(216) 443-8820 responsibilities will be allocated. The seminar covers the effects of ending a
marriage on a family, the impact on children, and behaviors parents should avoid.
Assignment and Scheduling (First floor, Room 141) The Education Network for Divorcing Families is the approved provider of the
Assignment and Scheduling processes all court filings. Staff schedule hearings, parenting education course. Information on location and times may be found
prepare dockets, monitor disposition of pleadings and motions, process entries, at http://www.beechbrook.org/divorce-education-seminar. For Spanish speaking
and maintain court files until they are returned to the custody of the Clerk of parents and parents living outside of Ohio, Children in Between is an additional
Courts. Staff also respond to telephone calls and walk-in inquiries related to the approved provider. Children in Between offers an on-line course in English and
scheduling of hearings. Spanish. This course is available at http://online.divorce-education.com.
ASSIGNMENT COMMISSIONER: Kenneth C. Robinson .........(216) 443-8860
Mediation
Help Center (First floor, Room 114A) The court may refer parties with minor children to mediation. Mediation is a
The Help Center provides information about the court process and procedures; confidential process that encourages parties to find their own solutions without
supplies and explains forms to self-represented parties; and helps parties litigation with the help of a facilitator. Certified mediators located on-site help
complete forms. Staff review and approve journal entries for divorce and parties resolve parenting issues. Issues mediated concern allocation of parental
dissolution for self-represented parties before final hearing to ensure sufficiency rights and responsibilities and children’s living arrangements and schedules.
in form and necessary documents are attached. Legal advice in not provided. Financial matters will not be addressed.
Workspace is available for attorneys to complete forms and calculate child
support on computers provided by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. Guardian ad Litem
A wireless printer is available to print documents. A guardian ad litem may be appointed by the court to represent the best
DIRECTOR: Anjanette A. Whitman ..................................................................(216) 443-8880 interest of a child when parents cannot agree on an allocation of parental rights
and responsibilities. The guardian ad litem’s investigation includes a home visit, and
Domestic Violence Department (Ground floor. Room 53) interviews with the parents, the child, the child’s siblings, and any other individuals
The Domestic Violence department consist of court personnel and advocates involved in the child’s life. The court maintains a list of approved individuals who
from the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center (DVCAC). Staff have met qualification and training requirements.
assist parties trying to obtain a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order with
procedure. Advocates can provide emotional support and community and Case Management
safety resources to petitioners. The court may refer parties with child-related issues to case managers to assist
parents with communication and to monitor compliance with mental health and/
DIRECTOR: Maria R. Ranieri..................................................................................(216) 443-8529 or substance abuse treatment and supervised parenting time. Case managers
provide outcome reports to the court for review hearings and when there
Family Evaluation Services (Ground floor, Room, 7) is noncompliance. Case managers cannot make changes to legal or physical
Family Evaluation Services assists the court in making parenting orders in the custody of children, and do not deal with financial, division of property, and
best interest of the children. Licensed mental health professional conduct family relocation issues.
evaluations ordered by the court. An evaluation may include psychological testing
and alcohol drug assessment. Home Investigation
DIRECTOR: Melissa A. Seagro ..............................................................................(216) 443-8805 Home investigations ordered by the court are conducted by social workers
of the Probate Court. Investigators go to the parents’ home to assess living
Enforcement Services (First floor, Room114B) arrangements. The investigator may gather information on character, past
Enforcement Services assists in the enforcement of child support, spousal conduct, and standard of living.
support, and health insurance orders. The department coordinates genetic
testing, processes child support agency administrative actions, and functions as Parenting Coordination
the liaison to the agency. Staff monitor compliance with court orders to perform Parenting coordination is a child-focused alternative dispute resolution process
community service and initiate and track arrest warrants through sentencing in which a mental health or legal professional with mediation training and
and release. Staff also review and approve divorce and dissolution journal entries experience with families and children assists high conflict parents to implement
for attorneys before final hearing to ensure sufficiency in form and necessary their parenting plan. The parenting coordinator facilitates the resolution of
documents are attached. parenting disputes in a timely manner, educates parents about children’s’ needs,
DIRECTOR: Vincent B. Dudley ............................................................................(216) 443-3178 and makes decisions within the scope of the appointment order. Parenting
coordinators cannot make changes to civil protection orders, the primary
Court Reporting (Ground floor, Room 58) placement of a child, or the designation of residential parent and legal custodian.
The court maintains a list of trained individuals who meet the qualifications for
The Court reporting staff act as the Court’s official reporter of proceedings. appointment as a parenting coordinator.
Court reporters create a verbatim record of hearing and trials, prepare
transcriptions for objections and appeals, and retain exhibits used in Court. Families First
CHIEF COURT REPORTER: Terri J. Moroney ......................................(216) 443-8852 Families First is an intervention program designed to support parents who are
experiencing substance abuse and/or mental health issues that may impact their
ability to co-parent. The program links parents with appropriate treatment and
supportive services that can lead to a sustainable parenting time schedule.

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