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Ending a marriage is a major life transition that can be filled with challenges and uncertainties. It is crucial that you obtain support during this process, protecting your family’s future while also maintaining your priorities. The right Cincinnati divorce lawyer can help you navigate the divorce process, with an emphasis on protecting your financial and personal interests by using an effective strategy.
Experienced Guidance Through the Divorce Process
Our attorneys help each client prioritize their goals while providing continued support and constructive advice throughout the legal process. We help you handle these often-difficult matters and make crucial life decisions, using our decades of experience in your favor.
The Family Law team at The Family Law and Fertility Law Group is well-equipped to handle the most complex divorces and dissolutions as strong legal advocates while also providing the compassion and empathy needed during this time in your life.
The Grounds for Filing a Divorce in Cincinnati
The divorce rate in Ohio was 2.4 per 1,000 population in 2023, which was equal to the national rate. The Court of Common Pleas grants divorces in Ohio. In Cincinnati, these cases are handled by the Hamilton County Court of Domestic Relations. The more typical grounds for divorce are:
- The spouses have lived separately and apart without interruption for one year
- Incompatibility, but only if it isn’t denied by the other party
Additional grounds for divorce under Ohio Law include:
- Adultery
- Gross neglect of duty
- Habitual drunkenness
- Fraudulent contract
- Extreme cruelty
- Either party was already married at the time of the marriage
- Willful absence of the adverse party for a year or longer
- Imprisonment by the adverse party in a correctional institution when the complaint was filed
- Securing a divorce outside of the state, when it releases one party from obligations, but not the other party
Key Aspects of Divorce
Whether your divorce is handled through court or you and your spouse reach an agreement prior to trial, there are several important decisions that have to be addressed. These aspects include:
Property Division
Property division in a Cincinnati divorce is crucial to your financial future. The median income of married-couple families in Cincinnati was $126,169 per household in 2024, and 16.4% of homes were valued at $500,000 or higher. These are some of the key assets that courts may divide between parties.
There are two types of property that are relevant in a divorce:
- Marital property, which includes all real and personal property owned by one or both spouses that was secured during the marriage. This may include the interest on that property, appreciation on separate property when the increase happens because of actions during the marriage, and certain other types of property.
- Separate property, which may include real and personal property that either spouse acquired prior to marriage. It also typically includes property that was secured as inheritance or a gift to one spouse during the marriage, passive appreciation, and property which was secured after the date separation.
In a divorce, the court divides marital property in a manner it determines is “fair and equitable.”
Spousal Support
Spousal support is a payment made from one spouse to another to provide for that spouse’s needs. It is determined separately from the division of property. The court considers numerous factors to determine if spousal support is reasonable to award, as well as to determine the duration and amount of the support. These factors include each spouse’s income, earning ability, age, physical health, and many other factors.
Decisions for Children
Divorces that involve minor children have additional considerations including the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities, parenting time, and child support. The standard that the court considers is what is in the child(ren)’s best interest.
FAQs
Q: How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer in Ohio Cost?
A: The cost of a divorce lawyer in Ohio varies based on the attorney and your case. Most divorce lawyers charge an hourly rate, so a longer divorce process will be more costly. An attorney with substantial experience and skill in Ohio divorce cases may have higher fees. Case complexity can also affect costs, such as whether or not your divorce proceeds to trial.
Q: What Is a Spouse Entitled to in a Divorce in Ohio?
A: In a divorce in Ohio, a spouse is entitled to an equitable portion of marital property, their own separate property, and the ability to request spousal support. When divorcing parties have minor children, a spouse is also entitled to request either a sole or shared allocation of parental rights and responsibilities and parenting time, as well as child support.
Hire a Divorce Lawyer in Cincinnati
When you hire a divorce lawyer in Cincinnati, you want a team that is empathetic but willing to fiercely advocate for your future. At The Family Law and Fertility Law Group, we can help you protect your interests and support your goals. Schedule a consultation by contacting us if you or your spouse is considering ending your marriage.