There are very different ways of ending a marriage. If you no longer wish to stay in your marriage, then you need to be aware of your options moving forward. In Ohio, a marriage may be ended through divorce or dissolution. Divorce and dissolution are technical legal terms in the state.
Divorce in Ohio
The only means of obtaining a divorce in Ohio is to allege that your spouse has met one of the statutory grounds for the procedure and is therefore at fault for it. All divorces in Ohio are at-fault divorces. The fault grounds, or legal reasons, include:
Adultery
Wilful absence for more than a year
Extreme mental or physical cruelty
Habitual drunkenness
Fraudulent marriage
Bigamy
Gross neglect of care
Imprisonment in a state or federal prison.
If you allege that your spouse is guilty of one or more of these actions, you must submit witness testimony and other documentation that corroborates your charge.
Dissolution in Ohio
If you do not meet one of the above grounds for divorce, there is another option for ending a marriage in Ohio. Dissolution is equivalent to a no-fault divorce. It circumvents most of the expense and process of a divorce.
To get a dissolution, you and your spouse must agree to end the marriage, and you cannot file a petition with the court until you have reached an agreement on child custody, visitation rights, spousal and child support, division of payments and debts, and payment of attorney fees.
There is no subpoena power in dissolution cases, so you and your spouse must voluntarily trade information. It is possible to bring in experts to evaluate the property and ensure a fair settlement is reached.
Once an agreement is reached, a hearing will take place within three months. Both you and your spouse must appear and testify that you are satisfied with the agreement. The court must then approve it.
Contact The Law Offices of William L. Geary Today
Making the choice to get divorced is never easy. However, a Columbus divorce lawyer can help you end your marriage regardless of the reasons. The Law Offices of William L. Geary is dedicated to getting the best possible outcome for our clients while protecting their rights.
Call our Columbus divorce attorney today at (614) 289-1227 to explore your options.