Tools for Cleveland Guardians ad Litem, Therapists and Mediators

A co-parenting app and case tools you can recommend to the Cleveland families you work with, whether you serve as a guardian ad litem, a therapist, or a mediator. Messaging between co-parents is free for both parents, and every message is time-stamped and tamper-evident.

Families in Cleveland who end up in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division rarely arrive at a mediation, a therapy session, or a home visit with their records in order. FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform built for those parents. Below is what it does for them, what it means for you as a guardian ad litem, therapist, or mediator, and what to know about family court in Cleveland.

Area covered: Cuyahoga County.

Court for custody cases: Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division.

Appointed for the child: Guardian ad litem.

Custody mediation: Depends on the county or judge.

Parenting coordinators: Set by state law or court rule (Sup.R. 90 through 90.12).

Parenting class: Depends on the county or judge.

State family law: Ohio Revised Code Title 31 - Domestic Relations.

Co-parent messaging (Free): One time-stamped, tamper-evident thread, free for both parents, with a Tone Meter that offers calmer rewrites.

Invite a professional into the conversation (Free): A parent can add a guardian ad litem or mediator to the co-parent conversation with a single-use link.

Parenting plan, built and shared (Free to build): Parents draft a parenting plan and can share it with you to read and comment on.

Verify a chat export (Free): Check that an exported message record (the JSON file) has not been changed. No account needed.

Court-Grade Journal (Paid plan): A dated, no-delete journal; a parent can send you a packet of chosen entries.

Expense Tracker (Paid plan): Shared child costs with receipts; a parent can give you a view-only look.

Parents can create an account and message their co-parent for free, with no credit card. Building a parenting plan is free; sharing, downloading, and printing it, and the tools marked as a paid plan, are part of a monthly plan a parent can start and stop.

For guardians ad litem in Cleveland

In Ohio, the court can appoint a guardian ad litem in a custody case. What the role involves is in the FAQ below.

On FamilyCourtHelp.com you see what a parent chooses to share. A parent can invite you into the co-parent conversation with a single-use link, which you accept with your own free account; from there you can read the thread, post in it, and review the shared calendar's requests and approvals. A parent can also share the parenting plan with you to read and comment on.

For therapists and counselors in Cleveland

Court-involved and reunification therapists, co-parenting counselors, and custody evaluators in Cleveland do not get an account view here, and that is deliberate: each parent keeps their own record and chooses what to bring you. The free messenger keeps the week's facts in one time-stamped thread, and its Tone Meter flags a heated message and suggests a calmer one before it is sent.

For mediators and parenting coordinators in Cleveland

In Ohio, custody mediation is set county by county. Parenting coordinators are set by state law or court rule (Sup.R. 90 through 90.12). The details are in the FAQ below.

Sessions in Cleveland start further along when the draft is already on the table. Parents can share their parenting plan with you to read and comment on, and invite you into their conversation with a single-use link. Agreements then live in one time-stamped thread, and every schedule change is a request on the shared calendar that the other parent approves or declines.

Parenting coordinators can be added to a shared plan as a viewer who reads and comments.

Family court programs in Cleveland

Custody cases in Cleveland are heard in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division. The court-connected programs below were checked against official sources.

Divorce and custody cases e-file through the Domestic Relations Court portal.

Court mediation: Certified mediators at the court help parents settle parenting issues, such as parenting time schedules and decision-making. Money issues are not mediated there.

Guardian ad litem roster: The court keeps a public roster of guardians ad litem who can be appointed when parents cannot agree on parenting.

Parenting coordination (Local Rule 38): The court has a local rule and a program for parenting coordination, and keeps a list of trained parenting coordinators.

If you searched for a guardian ad litem, a family therapist, or a custody mediator in Cleveland, the court that has your case, the order in it, or your lawyer is the place to find who is appointed or approved. This site does not appoint professionals or refer you to one. What you can do here is come prepared: keep every message with your co-parent in one time-stamped thread, write down what happened with dates while it is fresh, and work on a parenting plan before the meeting.

Free help for parents in Cleveland: the court help desks and legal aid offices below were checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

Cuyahoga: Representing Yourself Help Center, (216) 443-8880. Walk-in help desk at the family court that explains forms, filing steps, and case costs for people without a lawyer.

Cuyahoga legal aid: The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, (888) 817-3777.

FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform, not a law firm and not a court, and nothing on this page is legal, clinical, or mediation advice. Court rules and local programs change, so confirm anything that matters for a case with the court, the order that appointed you, or the program itself.

Frequently asked questions

Where are custody cases heard in Cleveland?

The Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court hears divorce, legal separation, and parenting cases for Cleveland and the rest of the county.

Is there a court mediation program in Cleveland?

Yes. Families with a case in the local court can use court mediation. What it offers, and the official link, are in the family court programs section above.

Where can parents in Cleveland get free help with a family court case?

Free court help for parents without a lawyer: Representing Yourself Help Center. Free legal aid: The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. Phone numbers and links are in the parents section above, checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

How can parents prepare for custody mediation in Cleveland?

Bring the family calendar, a draft parenting plan, a list of the issues still open, and a list of shared costs with receipts. Parents can put all of that together on FamilyCourtHelp.com before the first session. Families with a case in the local court can ask about court mediation.

What does a guardian ad litem do in a Cleveland custody case?

Ohio courts appoint a guardian ad litem to help the court decide what is in a child's best interest. Statewide court rules set GAL training and report duties in domestic relations and juvenile cases. You may also see "GAL". The rule is in Sup.R. 48 through 48.07. This is general information, not legal advice; the order in the case controls.

Is custody mediation required in Ohio?

When parents do not agree on parenting, an Ohio court may order them to mediate under that court's local rules. The court must first consider any history of domestic violence or child abuse. Many county domestic relations courts run their own mediation office.

Does Ohio use parenting coordinators?

Ohio has statewide court rules for parenting coordination. A court can order it to help parents carry out an existing parenting order. It is not the same as mediation.

Do parents in Ohio have to take a parenting class?

State law lets a court require parents to attend parenting classes or counseling before it decides parenting issues. Many county courts, including Franklin and Cuyahoga, require a seminar for separating parents by local rule.