At Kircher, Arnold & Dame we pride ourselves on four basic principles; accessibility, responsiveness, cost effectiveness and quality of work. In every practice we handle, we refuse to sacrifice any of our principles. That is our promise to you and the kind of relationship you should expect from a quality firm. Each client changes; each is different and unique. What will not change however are our four basic principles - accessibility, responsiveness, cost effectiveness and quality of work.

Criminal Law includes the body of statutes and other laws that defines conduct which is prohibited by the government because it is held to threaten, harm or otherwise endanger the safety and welfare of the public, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on those who breach these laws.

Ohio drunk driving cases are referred to as OVI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated), DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol), or OMVI (operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, impaired, or intoxicated). All of these acronyms relate to the same offense, found in the Ohio Revised Code.

If you are arrested for OVI in Ohio, you will face two cases: a court case and an administrative case in the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. At the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles case you will be at risk for losing your license and the ability to drive. Depending on the charge and the court, this suspension may be contested, protecting your right to drive while you are in court defending your case.

Ohio law prohibits a person from expunging a OVI conviction from his or her criminal record. In fact, an OVI conviction also prevents any other convictions from ever being expunged from a person's criminal record.

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In a dissolution, the parties set out their agreement in writing before anything is filed with the court. Everything must be agreed upon or the matter must be a divorce. Once all the issues have been resolved and put down in an agreement, the paperwork is filed with the court. Both parties must attend one and only hearing where the Court makes sure both parties have made a full disclosure and agreement willingly and both parties want to dissolve the marriage.

One party files a Complaint with the Court alleging certain grounds on which they should be granted a divorce from the other party. A trial is anticipated on all issues including the division of property, debt, issues regarding the children, child support and spousal support. Temporary orders regarding the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities and support may be issued pending a resolution to the case. The parties are encouraged to negotiate a settlement prior to bringing such matters to trial.

Cases in Juvenile Court cover everything from Juvenile Delinquency (crimes committed by those under 18 years of age) to Abuse, Neglect and Dependency to child support and custody for parents that were never married.

A basic estate plan consists of four documents that can provide assurances that your financial, health and personal matters are taken care of if you are unable to do so or upon your death.

Without a Will, property is distributed according to Ohio statute, an administrator is appointed by the court to distribute the estate and the court appoints a guardian for any minor children if there is no surviving parent. Having a Will allows you to appoint a guardian for your children, and trustee for the children’s estate should they be too young to inherit (under 18 years of age). The Will can appoint an administrator and even allow you to direct a portion of your estate to non-relatives or your favorite charity.

A financial POA allows you to appoint someone to handle your financial decisions if you become incapacitated or disabled and are unable to make such decisions. Having the document ready allows you to pick the person to make financial decisions for you and avoids someone having to get a guardianship over your finances. This document does NOT allow your agent to make any health care decisions for you. Such a document is only valid during your incapacity/disability and can be revoked at anytime.

Like a financial POA, this document allows you to choose a person to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so.

If you have decided that you would not like to receive life-sustaining treatment, including nutrition and hydration, if two doctors have found you to be in a persistently unconscious state or terminal condition and you are unable to make an informed medical decision, such treatment would be removed. Your Living Will takes precedence over your Health Care Power of Attorney. A Living Will lists people you would like contacted prior to the removal, but these people do not have any power to reverse your decision. * If you have an Estate Plan, but it has not been revised since 1991, the laws have changed. You most likely do not have a valid Health Care Power of Attorney or Living Will.

Legal adoption another person takes place in probate court. You may adopt a child or adult under certain conditions. Adoptions range from step-parent adoptions to formalizing international adoptions to grandparent adoptions.