Twenty-three standardized forms designed to increase access to justice in family-law related proceedings in domestic relations and juvenile courts took effect today and are available on the Ohio Supreme Court’s website.

To access the forms, go to the Supreme Court’s home page at www.sc.ohio.gov and click on the DR Forms button on the right-hand side of the page.

The forms concern divorces, dissolutions, motions for change in the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities (custody and visitation) and child support, and parenting plans.

According to Stephanie Nelson, policy and research counsel in the Children, Families, and the Courts Section, the standardized forms will promote efficiencies and foster uniformity in domestic relations and juvenile courts because some proceedings are similar in both courts. Additionally, attorneys practicing in multiple jurisdictions will benefit from consistent standards.

Key information, relevant instructions, and guidance have been embedded in the forms using plain English as much as possible. The forms can be completed online or printed out for completion by hand.

These 23 forms follow five other domestic relations forms adopted in 2010. They too must be accepted by clerk’s offices, but courts can still use their own forms.