State Representative Joshua E. Williams
Ohio House of Representatives
44th House District
Lucas County
Ottawa County
Wood County
Committees
Energy
Finance
Judiciary
Rules and Reference
Workforce and Higher
Education
Columbus Office
Vern Riffe Center
77 South High Street, 11th
Floor,
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-1418
Rep44@ohiohouse.gov
Chairman Thomas, Vice-Chair Swearingen, Ranking Member Synenberg, and fellow
members of the Judiciary Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on HB
256 today.
While the realities of who is parenting our state’s children has changed, the law, by
and large, has not. After losing my father to cancer when I was just five years old, I grew up
to a single mother and know all too well the challenges which an outdated legal framework
can put on families like mine. It is for this reason that Representative LaRe and I have
partnered on this legislation to modernize law regarding child custody for those children
born to unwed parents: because the last thing our state’s children who are not growing up
in a traditional household need are more legal barriers to a happy childhood.
First and foremost, this bill recognizes the importance of both parents in a child's
life from the very beginning. Under current law, an unwed mother is automatically the sole
residential parent, even if the father has acknowledged and is ready to take responsibility.
This bill ensures that fathers who meet Ohio’s standard of an “established parent and child
relationship” or whose names appear on their child’s birth certificate are granted equal
rights and responsibilities in parenting their child, bar legal action or proceedings. This
ensures that responsible parents can work together from the beginning to make decisions
State Representative Joshua E. Williams
Ohio House of Representatives
44th House District
Lucas County
Ottawa County
Wood County
Committees
Energy
Finance
Judiciary
Rules and Reference
Workforce and Higher
Education
Columbus Office
Vern Riffe Center
77 South High Street, 11th
Floor,
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-1418
Rep44@ohiohouse.gov
in the best interest of their child, without antiquated statutes harming their ability to raise
their child well.
This bill also places the responsibility of custody and parenting time on both the
mother and father, encouraging a relationship between a child’s parents without
unnecessary legal intervention. This bill does not change the fact that the mother is the
sole legal custodian of their child, though.
While this bill seeks to get rid of some of the legal red-tape for unmarried parents
just trying to raise a happy child in a positive environment, thing do not always go well in
these sorts of relationships after the birth of a child. For that reason, if parents are unable
to cooperate or exercise their rights and responsibilities as a parent, this bill protects the
right of those parents to initiate a judicial proceeding to determine the allocation of
parental rights and responsibilities. This ensures that while the state seeks to encourage
coparenting and trust between a child’s parents, that an uninterested mother or father
cannot lord their parental rights and responsibilities over another parent trying to make
their child’s life the best it can be.
This bill ensures that full faith and credit shall be given to lawfully-executed birth
certificates in other states, ensuring that pointless legal drama cannot arise just because
one or both parents moved to Ohio.
Ohio House of Representatives
44th House District
Lucas County
Ottawa County
Wood County
Committees
Energy
Finance
Judiciary
Rules and Reference
Workforce and Higher
Education
Columbus Office
Vern Riffe Center
77 South High Street, 11th
Floor,
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-1418
Rep44@ohiohouse.gov
in the best interest of their child, without antiquated statutes harming their ability to raise
their child well.
This bill also places the responsibility of custody and parenting time on both the
mother and father, encouraging a relationship between a child’s parents without
unnecessary legal intervention. This bill does not change the fact that the mother is the
sole legal custodian of their child, though.
While this bill seeks to get rid of some of the legal red-tape for unmarried parents
just trying to raise a happy child in a positive environment, thing do not always go well in
these sorts of relationships after the birth of a child. For that reason, if parents are unable
to cooperate or exercise their rights and responsibilities as a parent, this bill protects the
right of those parents to initiate a judicial proceeding to determine the allocation of
parental rights and responsibilities. This ensures that while the state seeks to encourage
coparenting and trust between a child’s parents, that an uninterested mother or father
cannot lord their parental rights and responsibilities over another parent trying to make
their child’s life the best it can be.
This bill ensures that full faith and credit shall be given to lawfully-executed birth
certificates in other states, ensuring that pointless legal drama cannot arise just because
one or both parents moved to Ohio.
State Representative Joshua E. Williams
Ohio House of Representatives
44th House District
Lucas County
Ottawa County
Wood County
Committees
Energy
Finance
Judiciary
Rules and Reference
Workforce and Higher
Education
Columbus Office
Vern Riffe Center
77 South High Street, 11th
Floor,
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-1418
Rep44@ohiohouse.gov
Every child deserves the opportunity to be raised by loving, involved parents, and
every fit parent deserves the opportunity to fulfill that role. When the law arbitrarily
sidelines a willing and responsible parent, it does not serve the best interests of the child.
House Bill 256 restores balance and fairness to Ohio’s custody laws by ensuring that both
parents which seek to involve themselves in their child’s life begin on equal footing. This bill
strengthens families, reduces unnecessary legal conflict, and affirms the principle that
parenting is a shared responsibility. Chairman Thomas, Vice-Chair Swearingen, Ranking
Member Synenberg, and members of the House Judiciary Committee, thank you for the
opportunity to provide sponsor testimony on House Bill 256. I welcome any questions you
may have.
Ohio House of Representatives
44th House District
Lucas County
Ottawa County
Wood County
Committees
Energy
Finance
Judiciary
Rules and Reference
Workforce and Higher
Education
Columbus Office
Vern Riffe Center
77 South High Street, 11th
Floor,
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-1418
Rep44@ohiohouse.gov
Every child deserves the opportunity to be raised by loving, involved parents, and
every fit parent deserves the opportunity to fulfill that role. When the law arbitrarily
sidelines a willing and responsible parent, it does not serve the best interests of the child.
House Bill 256 restores balance and fairness to Ohio’s custody laws by ensuring that both
parents which seek to involve themselves in their child’s life begin on equal footing. This bill
strengthens families, reduces unnecessary legal conflict, and affirms the principle that
parenting is a shared responsibility. Chairman Thomas, Vice-Chair Swearingen, Ranking
Member Synenberg, and members of the House Judiciary Committee, thank you for the
opportunity to provide sponsor testimony on House Bill 256. I welcome any questions you
may have.