Castalia Family Lawyers

I have been in private practice for 45 years on an uninterrupted basis. I focus primarily in Employment Law and Civil Rights and also handle Domestic Relations and Custody Cases as well as Commercial Litigation. I have extensive experience in litigation and in appellate cases. I have appeared before the United States Supreme Court and was able to obtain a successful reversal in the case of Breininger v. Sheet Metal Workers Union, 493 U.S. 67 (1989). I work very hard for my clients and devote long hours on each client's behalf in complex cases. I am a native of Toledo and...

Divorce and family law attorney Stephen E.S. Daray established his Cleveland area law office to help clients get past the emotional and legal issues related to a divorce. Residents in and around metropolitan Cleveland, and throughout the state of Ohio and beyond, have trusted Stephen's ability to resolve or litigate a contentious divorce or assist in arriving at an amicable dissolution. His experience is combined with a commitment to improved technology will provide you with confidence, convenience and efficiency. Mr. Daray is a member of various bar associations (having served on the board of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's Family Law...

For 16 years, I have represented clients with their divorce and custody cases. Simply put, your case will go in one of two directions:

1. Amicable Resolution

If possible, I will strive to resolve your case amicably. This will keep your legal fees low, speed the process and reduce your stress. Diligent and no-nonsense, I get things done without wasting your time or financial resources.

2. Contentious Litigation:

Amicable resolutions are not always possible, particularly if the other side is unreasonable. When things get ugly, you need an attorney who will represent your interests aggressively. Experienced and battletested, I will get you the...

Attorney Shannon G. Thatcher is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio and the Northern District Court of Ohio. Her practice focuses on family and domestic law and estate planning. She is a member the Ohio State Bar Association, the Richland Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. Attorney Thatcher is based out of Mansfield, Ohio.

As a Cleveland divorce attorney, Susan M. Weaver has over 30 years of experience in the Northeast Ohio county court systems. This experience, coupled with a prior career in social work has given Susan the insight and sensitivity to understand her client’s needs. Whether you are looking for a divorce attorney, a seasoned child custody advocate, or you simply need help with parenting, visitation and support issues, Susan has the expertise to help you. Divorce and custody battles are emotionally charged issues for everyone involved. Susan is a skilled advocate who can cut through the emotional fog and help you...

Described by his clients as a natural-born problem-solver, Attorney Matthew A. Mishak is the best choice for helping you through your legal issues in Lorain County.

After graduating summa cum laude, in the top ten percent of his class from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 2006, Attorney Mishak served as an assistant Lorain County Prosecutor (LCPO) (Dennis P. Will) for six years before becoming the Chief Prosecutor for the City of Elyria.

Former Prosecutor
As an Assistant County Prosecutor, Attorney Mishak represented various County entities, including the Lorain County Commissioners, Lorain County Job and Family Services (LCJFS), the Lorain County Health Department,...

With over a decade of legal experience, Attorney Christine Smith focuses her practice primarily on family law and divorce cases. She joined her father, Gary Smith’s, firm in 2008 to create Smith & Smith Law Office LLC, Lucas County’s premier family law firm.
Ms. Smith earned her B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Akron in 2003 and her J.D. from the University of Toledo in 2007. Before law school, she worked as a family law paralegal for her father for several years. Ms. Smith also has experience working as a prosecutor for the Villages of Swanton and Metamora....

Charles Lynch is a compassionate Ohio family law attorney with 40 years of experience helping people through these complex and frequently emotional times in their lives. His practice areas include adoption, mediation, divorce and separation agreements, estate planning, trusts, custodial arrangements, and more.

Brian M. Urban is a certified specialist in family relations law in Ohio. Brian's firm, Urban Collaborative Divorce Law Firm LLC, serves all of Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. He chooses to help clients who wish to avoid divorce litigation by choosing the collaborative process. Brian is a founding member of the Cleveland Academy of Collaborative Professionals, a non-profit organization of attorneys and allied professionals committed to maximizing the benefits of the collaborative divorce option. He previously served as the President of the Center for Principled Family Advocacy, a non-profit organization of attorneys and allied professionals who are...

Mr. Hunt has been a trial attorney in Ohio for over forty-four years. He has appeared before the Ohio Supreme Court, numerous Ohio courts of appeals, and trial courts at the county and municipal level throughout the state of Ohio as well as before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Mr. Hunt’s litigation experience extends to commercial, construction, personal injury, wrongful death, domestic relations (family law), collections, contracts, probate litigation and public utility matters. As the developing area of collaborative law has grown as an alternative to litigated divorce, Mr. Hunt has re-focused his divorce/family law practice...

Having represented individuals, families and businesses over 21 years, and having had attorneys represent me in the past, I have learned that clients deserve compassion, vigorous representation, and honesty. My practice areas demand that I provide my clients with these qualities.

I have represented clients who have lost the dignity of work because of errors in their background report or background checks or lost the ability to get a loan because of a credit report error across the nation. Too many times people in these circumstances feel hopeless. I work hard to provide that needed hope...

Neil H. Spike is the owner and principal of The Spike Legal Group, LLC. in Avon, OH. Mr. Spike has been an attorney since 1997, and focuses his practice on estate planning and administration, probate, elder law, asset protection and general business law. He also represents clients in domestic relations matters (with an emphasis on prenuptial agreements and post decree/modifications of custody and support), defense of OVI/DUI and other misdemeanor/traffic related offenses, foreclosure defense and other civil litigation.

Robert has been a practicing Attorney at Law since 1983 in Lorain, Ohio. Robert has zealously and vigorously represented his clients in his many years of practice.

Robert attended Lorain Catholic High School, graduating in 1977. He attended the University of Toledo for his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a Major in Human Resources Management, graduating in 1980. He attained his Juris Doctor degree from Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law in 1982.

From 2000-2005 Robert was Legal Council for the Lorain Port Authority providing legal assistance and services to the Executive Director, Board and...

Cara Santosuosso is an accomplished lawyer with a strong courtroom presence and excellent litigation skills in the areas of family law, especially custody disputes, employment issues and other civil and criminal matters. Previously, Ms. Santosuosso was associated with another prominent area litigation firm, after serving as a judicial attorney in the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals where she worked on cases dealing with administrative law, torts, labor and employment, product liability, medical malpractice, criminal law and a host of other legal matters. Ms. Santosuosso also served four years as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Office of the...

Frances Fitzgerald Allington, Esq. is an Ohio attorney who, having been a licensed real estate broker for twenty-two years prior to forming her law practice, deals largely with real estate law and litigation. This is not to the exclusion, however, of family law, business law and and general civil litigation. While best known for complex real estate litigation, Frances Allington presents her clients with a wide array of services and options for representation, and is always welcoming new clients. Ms. Allington has been a member of the Ohio Bar and in private practice since 1997, and earned her...

Attorney Jeffery S. Brown served his country in the United States Marine Corp after graduating high school. In 1997 he graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. In 2001, he graduated from the Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan with his Juris Doctor. He is a member of the Lorain County Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association.

Attorney Andrea C. Kryszak has been practicing law for more than ten years at Kryszak & Associates, which is formerly known as Lessing & Kryszak; the Law Offices of Robert E. Lessing, Jr.; and Lessing & White & Roig. She focuses her practice in the areas of Estate Planning, Estate and Trust Administration, Elder Law, Real Estate and Small Business law. Ms. Kryszak's commitment to the community is manifested by her involvement with the Lorain County Bar Association as a member of the Executive Committee (Vice President), the New Lawyer Committee (Chairperson), the Fee Arbitration Panel and the Judicial...

John J. Ready is a Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law, a charter member of The Center for Principled Family Advocacy, a member of the Cuyahoga County Guardian Ad Litem Program, and a frequent lecturer on continuing legal education topics. John J. Ready & Associates is a result-oriented firm that understands the nature of the financial, emotional, and relationship issues that arise during, and after, the termination of the marriage and offers a variety of services, including mediation, collaborative divorce, parent coordination, arbitration, and litigation to achieve realistic and optimal goals for their clients. Mr. Ready is admitted...

Rose M. Mock is a licensed social worker, attorney and a former prosecutor. Rose brings a unique mix of compassion, understanding and experience that is unmatched. Licensed in Ohio and Michigan.

John Andrew Motter, (Andy) is a native of Worthington, Ohio. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Denison University he went to receive his Juris Doctor from Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit School of Law. After Law School he entered the United States Marine Corps and served as a Judge Advocate General Officer, (JAG). After active duty he remained in the USMC Reserves until the early 1990’s. Mr. Motter settled in Bucyrus in private practice for over thirty years, serving all of Crawford County. The Practice is considered General, but is mainly Criminal, Domestic, Probate and Personal...

FORMER LORAIN COUNTY JUVENILE/DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT MAGISTRATE 20 YEARS FAMILY LAW EXPERIENCE