Swanton Family Lawyers

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....

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...

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...

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.

I practice in all areas of Ohio, with my primary base in Northwest Ohio. I am licensed to practice in any court in Ohio, and am admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Ohio and the Eastern District of Michigan, and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee). I have clients from all across the country who have come to me in time of need. I concentrate my practice in the fields of criminal law, family law, juvenile law (delinquency), and appeals of all...

Greg is an Ottawa, Ohio native graduating from Ottawa High School in 1992. Greg then continued his education at Ohio Northern University graduating with his bachelors degree in Business Marketing and Management in 1996. In 1999 Greg graduated from Ohio Northern University's law school and has been practicing in Ottawa since.

As a partner in a law firm that has been in existence for more than 100 years, I represent and counsel clients on various legal issues ranging from simple estate planning to complex litigation matters. Having spent a significant amount of time as a trial lawyer, including my six years as the Williams County Prosecuting Attorney, I enjoy being in the courtroom and representing clients in litigation matters, including personal injury/wrongful death cases, domestic relations and commercial/civil litigation. In addition to my trial practice, I also represent several governmental entities in Northwest Ohio, acting as Village...

Attorney Linda J. Lawrence received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati in 1990 and is an Ohio State Bar Association Board Certified Family Law Specialist. Our dedication to our clients and thorough preparation of their cases have ended in positive results for many individuals throughout Ohio. She’s active in the community and serves on the boards of numerous organizations including Grady Hospital Foundation, Franklin County Abused Children Advocacy Board, Lutheran Social Services of Ohio and Delaware Chamber of Commerce. Business First magazine has also listed her as one of the “40 Under 40” outstanding community and business leaders...

Attorney Rodd S. Lawrence received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Vanderbilt and was admitted to the both the Ohio Bar and the U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio Bar in 1988. He’s a member of the Columbus Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He has more than 20 years of experience practicing real estate and small business law. Rodd practices along side his wife Linda at Lawrence Law Office and they are 4 children together.

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.

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,...

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...

Attorney Tim Steinhelfer is a graduate of Tulane University and the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is an award winning writer whose extensive pretrial litigation skills make The Steinhelfer Firm especially well equipped to handle high-asset divorces and other forms of complex civil litigation. His years of experience as a court appointed guardian ad litem for children give him the insight to handle any child custody dispute by putting the children first. Attorney Tim Steinhelfer also has a robust appellate practice. He has argued before the Supreme Court of Ohio and is licensed in federal court. ...

Ms. Roberts is an Ohio State Bar Association Board Certified Family Relations Law Specialist, State Of Ohio. Ms. Roberts was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from Piqua High School in 1988. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Wright State University in 1997 and the University of Dayton School of Law in 2000 where she earned her Juris Doctor. Ms. Roberts now lives with her four children in Troy. She is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association as well as the Miami County Bar Association, Shelby County Bar Association, and Dayton Bar Association. She is...

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.

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...

Upon graduation from Allen East High School, Claire earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Denison University and a Juris Doctor degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Claire focuses her practice in family law matters, including divorce/dissolution, child custody, child support and spousal support. Claire is a member of the Allen County Bar Association, Domestic Relations Committee of the Allen County Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, and a board member for Lima’s Samaritan House. Claire graduated from the 2015 class of the Allen/Lima Leadership program.

Raquel Ann Parish is an OHIO based attorney who practices solely in the area of family and marital law. She graduated from the University of Maryland University College, Cum Laude, with a degree in Psychology. She went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from the top tier rated University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in Baltimore, Maryland. Ms. Parish has cared about family law issues throughout her career and she has consistently helped her family law clients reach amicable resolutions for their cases. She has successfully negotiated numerous martial settlement agreements and shared parenting plans, including child...

Josh is a seasoned litigation attorney focusing his practice in the areas Family & Juvenile Law, Personal Injury and Criminal Defense matters. Josh joined attorney Robert J. Beck, Jr. to start the law firm Beck Peistrup, Ltd. in January 2020 to serve the citizens of Union County and the surrounding areas. Josh has represented hundreds of parents in custody, children’s services and child support proceedings, as well as juveniles and adults that have been accused of committing crimes. Josh’s twelve years of experience include representing clients in both civil and criminal jury trials, as well as custody trials and bench...