Divorce in Ohio - Frequently Asked Questions

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Filing for divorce in Ohio begins by filing a Complaint for Divorce with the clerk of courts in the domestic relations court within your county of residence. If you are the party that is initiating the divorce, you are the plaintiff and the opposing party (your soon to be ex-spouse) is considered to be the defendant in a Complaint for Divorce in Ohio.

Generally speaking, the domestic relations court in the county in which you have resided for the most recent 90 days. It is important to note that although there may be exceptions, Ohio also requires that the party filing for divorce must have resided in Ohio for at least the most recent six months. 

As the well known lawyer answer goes, it depends. How long a divorce takes in Ohio depends upon the specific case and the parties themselves. If both parties in a divorce are able to reach an agreement as to child custody issues, the division of marital property (including marital debts), support issues (such as child or spousal support),  then a divorce in Ohio can take less time than if the parties disagree and instead, litigate these issues in a trial court setting where a judge or magistrate will make decisions.

Dissolution in Ohio is an alternative to divorce and requires that both spouses are in agreement as to all property, custody, and support issues. Where a divorce in Ohio involves a civil lawsuit with a plaintiff suing a defendant for divorce, a dissolution in Ohio can be faster where both spouses are considered petitioners asking the court to dissolve their marriage. Further, a benefit to dissolution is that this alternative excludes a third-party such as a judge or magistrate making decisions for your family.

Jennifer S. Holmes, Attorney at Law offers competitive pricing for legal services, and provides transparent billing to clients. Fees and payment arrangements are discussed and agreed upon before any work is done.

Call us at (513) 428-2925 and schedule an appointment for a free confidential case consultation.