TITLE II: Parenting Allocations
2.9 Mandatory Parenting Education Class – Amended 6-1-09
A. Mandatory Parenting Education Class; Order; Informational Brochure
Pursuant to O.R.C. 3109.053, in any action for divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or annulment, filed on or after March 1, 1999, in which there are any minor children of the marriage, the parties shall successfully complete a Court-approved, one-session parenting education class entitled "Helping Your Children Cope With Divorce." In each divorce, legal separation, or annulment action, the Court will issue and serve upon both parties an Order requiring both parties to register for, pay for and attend the class, and will include with the Order a registration form for the class, and a list of class locations. The class shall focus on the minor children whose parents are terminating their marriage and/or legally separating. Emphasis will be on recognizing and coping effectively with the negative effects that termination of marriage and legal separation have on children, while stressing to the parties the importance of communication and cooperation for the sake of their children.
B. Time Limits for Completion of the Class
For Plaintiffs in actions of divorce, legal separation and annulment, successful completion of the class shall occur within forty-two (42) days of the filing of the action; for defendants in actions for divorce, legal separation and annulment, successful completion of the class shall occur within forty-two (42) days of completion of service of process.
Both petitioners in actions for dissolution of marriage shall provide proof of attendance at the time of the filing of the petition for dissolution.C. Registration and Payment of Cost for the Class
Each party shall be responsible for his/her prompt registration and payment of the cost for the class.
D. Waiver of Class Attendance Requirement
Attendance and successful completion of the class may only be waived by the Court on a case-by-case basis for good cause shown. The age of the minor child(ren) will not be considered good cause for such waiver.
E. Proof of Attendance
Upon attending and successfully completing the class, each participant shall receive a certificate of attendance and completion.
F. Failure to Attend
With regard to any party who has not successfully completed the class within the time limits set forth in section B above, the Court may do, or may refuse to do, any of the following: 1) allocate or modify parental rights and responsibilities, pre or post decree; 2) grant shared parenting; 3) grant, modify and/or enforce parenting time; 4) in the case of a plaintiff or a counter claimant, dismiss the complaint or the counterclaim. In cases of willful failure to complete or delay in completing the class, the Court may also elect to take such other additional actions as it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, actions for contempt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action shall be delayed by the non-filing or non-moving party’s failure to complete or delay in completing the class.
G. Evaluation
Each participant in the class shall complete an evaluation form regarding the class prior to receiving the certificate mentioned in section E above.
H Additional Education
When it appears to be in the best interests of the minor child(ren), the Court may order appropriate additional parenting education for either party.