Divorce or Dissolution
A divorce or dissolution
is the legal termination of a marriage. In Ohio, marriages must be terminated through a petition or complaint filed with the courts. A complaint for divorce is required if both parties cannot agree to the terms ending the marriage and the divorce will become contested. An uncontested divorce (also called an agreed divorce) or dissolution can be filed if both parties are in agreement to end the marriage and an amicable division of property, child support, child custody and alimony or spousal support can be reached.
Dissolution of Marriage
A dissolution of a marriage requires both parties (the petitioners) to reach an agreement as to the terms ending the marriage. This agreement must occur prior to filing the dissolution paperwork with the courts and before a hearing. In order to qualify for dissolution of marriage, the parties must have lived separate and apart for at least thirty (30) days prior to the final hearing and one of the parties must be a resident of the State of Ohio for at least six (6) months.
The main document submitted to the court in dissolution of marriage is the separation agreement. The separation agreement is an enforceable contract which outlines how the marital property and marital debt shall be divided between the petitioners. This agreement will also address custody, child support, health insurance, and spousal support. The separation agreement must be reviewed by both parties and will require the notarized signatures of both petitioners. Dissolution paperwork also requires the filing of a petition for dissolution, a waiver of service, an acknowledgment of legal representation, a decree of dissolution, affidavits regarding assets and liabilities, and a filing fee of $175.00 for all cases filed in Franklin County.
If there are minor children of the marriage, several additional documents are required. Both parties must review and sign affidavits regarding
child custody and health insurance. A child support computation worksheet must be filed detailing the amount of child support to be paid each month. If shared parenting is desired, a shared parenting plan, wherein both parties are custodial parents, can be prepared which will describe the parenting arrangement of the parties. In addition, the petitioners must attend a parenting seminar before the hearing.
A dissolution of a marriage requires both parties’ appearance in a court hearing. This hearing is set by the court’s schedule and is typically 30-45 days from the date the petition for dissolution is filed with the court. The parties can elect to use a private judge, who will come to our office. This is more convenient and more private than a public courtroom.
Uncontested or Agreed Divorce
An uncontested divorce is very similar to the dissolution of marriage. In an uncontested divorce, one party sues another for a divorce. In this instance, however, the other party has reviewed and signed an agreed judgment entry agreeing to the terms of the divorce, including the division of property, allocation of parental rights, child support, and spousal support. This method for the termination of a marriage is often used when one party does not want to or is unable to appear in court. An uncontested divorce only requires the moving party’s appearance in court. The moving party must also have a witness present at hearing that can corroborate the testimony of the party seeking the divorce. A private judge can be used for the final hearing of an uncontested divorce.
If you are seeking a divorce lawyer in Columbus or the surrounding areas, call Bergman & Yiangou
for a free consultation – 614-279-8276
