Divorce
Divorce can be tough and emotionally draining. As a experienced, licensed Columbus Ohio divorce attorney, I try to relieve those anxiety's of divorce by listening, focusing on what the client wants to achieve in a divorce, counseling them on their available divorce options, and caring about the outcome of the divorce.
Divorce is a legal mechanism to sever a marriage partnership. Divorce, rather than dissolution, is necessary when there are contested divorce issues with marital assets, marital debts, child support, spousal support, or other matters to Divide the Marital Property. If the parties are in agreement with these marital assets, debts, and support obligations, then the parties may be able to file a dissolution or convert their divorce case into a dissolution case.
Grounds for Divorce
The most common grounds for divorce are the following:
- (A) Either party had a husband or wife living at the time of the marriage from which the divorce is sought;
- (B) Willful absence of the adverse party for one year;
- (C) Adultery;
- (D) Extreme cruelty;
- (E) Fraudulent contract;
- (F) Any gross neglect of duty;
- (G) Habitual drunkenness;
- (H) Imprisonment of the adverse party in a state or federal correctional institution at the time of filing the complaint;
- (I) Procurement of a divorce outside this state, by a husband or wife, by virtue of which the party who procured it is released from the obligations of the marriage, while those obligations remain binding upon the other party;
- (J) On the application of either party, when husband and wife have, without interruption for one year, lived separate and apart without cohabitation;
- (K) Incompatibility, unless denied by either party.
Divorce Process
When a divorce is contested, there are various documents to file with the court. A divorce is commenced with the filing of a complaint. It is important to have an attorney represent you in a divorce matter. The court will hold various divorce hearings to determine spousal support rights, child support obligations, and other equitable distribution of properties. Many divorce cases take months to years to resolve.
When a person considers filing a divorce, they should have realistic expectations with what they want to accomplish in a divorce. Ultimately, the divorce court (or the parties by agreement) decides what a reasonable (or equitable distribution) division of property, debts, child support, and spousal support should be in the divorce.
Some unreasonable expectations in a divorce are revenge, wanting to pay no child support (when the other spouse is caring for the child a majority of the time), getting even, or wanting the other spouse to pay for all the marital debt in the divorce. Sometimes the court awards attorney's fees in divorce.
Unreasonable expectations in a divorce often delay the finalization of a divorce and increases litigation costs for both spouses. In addition, unreasonable expectations in a divorce can tear family relationships apart and cause increasing emotional turmoil for all parties involved.
Taking the First Step
Taking the first step towards a new life is often the hardest step. I can guide you through the divorce process in Ohio. I offer immediate and personalized service to help you resolve your legal matters of a divorce in Ohio as quickly as possible.
In my free initial consultation, I assess what is going on with a client and determine if I can help them with a divorce. My divorce fees are based on the complexity of the case, but I try to competitively price my divorce fees in a reasonable, affordable, and efficient way. Please call me to set up a free initial consultation for divorce:
(614) 445-3000
I look forward to hearing from you.
