If your divorce is uncontested, meaning you and your spouse agree to end the marriage and all aspects of the dissolution, you will likely avoid much of the need for an attorney. However, it is always a good idea to seek advice from an Ohio dissolution of marriage lawyer.
(A) In an action for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment of marriage or an appeal of that action, a court may award all or part of reasonable attorney's fees and litigation expenses to either party if the court finds the award equitable.
R. 1.16 Declining or Terminating Representation, which distinguishes scenarios where a lawyer must withdraw or decline representation from when the lawyer may withdraw from representation. The rule also specifies that a local court (or tribunal) may set its own rules for withdrawal if there is a pending proceeding.
A divorce trial proceeds like any other trial: a jury is picked if it is a jury trial, lawyers make opening statements, witnesses testify, evidence is presented to the court, closing statements are made and a final ruling is announced by the court.
Ohio isn't a community property state. Instead, Ohio follows what's known as the "equitable distribution" model for dividing assets and debts during a divorce. However, unlike many other states that use this model, Ohio requires judges to divide a couple's marital property equally, unless that would be unfair.
Both you and your spouse will need to go to the notary and sign the forms in front of them. Make copies of the notarized forms and take them to the clerk of court. Ask the clerk to file the forms. The clerk may help you make sure your paperwork is complete, if you ask politely and they have time.
Yes. However, individuals filing their own actions must follow the same procedures as attorneys. Pleadings must be typed on 8.5-by-11-inch paper and captioned "in the Court of Common Pleas of Fulton County, Ohio." All pleadings must have your name, address, and phone number on the cover page.