Massillon Divorce Lawyer

Dissolving a marriage is a complicated process, as it requires couples to grapple with a host of difficult issues, including the division of marital property, alimony, and in some cases, child custody. For help resolving these issues in your own divorce, you should consider speaking with an experienced Massillon divorce lawyer who can assist you.

Legally Ending a Marriage in Ohio

There are two ways to end a marriage in Ohio — divorce and dissolution. The former requires one spouse to allege that the other was at fault for the end of the marriage. These types of proceedings are usually resolved via agreement between the spouses or a court order. The latter, on the other hand, are often resolved much more easily, but require the parties to:

• Mutually agree to dissolve their marriage;
• Jointly submit a petition to dissolve their marriage; and
• Negotiate and sign a separation agreement, in which the couple decides how to divide marital assets, determines whether one spouse will be required to pay alimony to the other, and if a couple has children, whether one party will need to pay child support and how parental rights and decision making responsibility will be divided between the two.

Even when a couple is able to reach one of these agreements, their marriage will only officially be dissolved if their agreement is approved by a court and a judge has ensured that both parties understand the terms of the arrangement. Unfortunately, it is not always proper or even possible for a couple to dissolve their marriage, in which case, they will be required to litigate property, alimony, and child custody and support-related legal issues in court.

Ohio’s Filing Requirements

Whether a couple decides to attempt a no-fault dissolution or to litigate their divorce, they will need to fulfill a number of important filing requirements. For instance, when attempting to file for divorce, at least one of the parties must have resided in the state for at least six months prior to filing. Similarly, if a couple decides to attempt to dissolve their union, both spouses will be required to sign a petition and then submit it with a copy of their separation agreement. If done properly, the parties will then be required to attend a hearing, usually held within 30 and 90 days. Finally, it is important to remember that even if a couple chooses to file for divorce, that action can be converted into a dissolution proceeding at any time.

Failing to comply with these filing rules can delay the finalization of a divorce for months or even years, making it especially important for those who have decided to end their marriage, to speak with an experienced attorney who can ensure that their petition is filed properly and on time.

Contact an Experienced Massillon Divorce Lawyer

Obtaining a divorce can be a complicated process, especially for those who do not have legal representation. If you have questions about the process of filing for divorce in Ohio, please contact dedicated divorce attorney Teresa Fout, Esq. at Fout Law. You can also reach a member of our legal team by completing one of our online contact forms.