Getting your divorce case to completion will be time-consuming, but there are things you can do to make sure that it is over as quickly as possible.

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Q: What is a Separation Agreement?

Any couple going through dissolution in Ohio is required to have a Separation Agreement. This is essentially a legally binding contract between two parties that mainly sets out all the assets and liabilities of the case.

Assets are things like vehicles, stocks, and bonds, real estate, retirement or profit-sharing plans, jewelry, household furnishings or pretty much anything else valued over $500. Liabilities are another part of the separation agreement and usually consist of credit card debt, mortgages, and student loans.

To file this agreement with the court, it's required that both parties agree on every issue outlined in the Separation Agreement. Assets must be divided and who is responsible for which debts need to be clarified. Any spousal support will also be included in this agreement.

Not all marriages fail for the same reason.

Factors are endless, and even studies published by major universities disagree on what causes divorce. Nevertheless, some things show up, again and again, that can lead to the legal termination of a marriage. What are these commonalities? Infidelity, finances, age, incompatibility, lack of communication, unhappiness, and abuse.

We’ll discuss these common causes for divorce below in no particular order.

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Adopting a child is rewarding. Unfortunately, it can also be time-consuming and confusing.

This guide will make it easier to understand the process. 

People have a lot of questions about how to adopt a child. The adoption process differs not only from state to state but also from county to county.

Although many people prefer a newborn baby, many older children are waiting for homes. We'll explore a variety of options. 

A divorce that we think of as “traditional” involves both parties separately hiring their attorneys to represent their best interests. This often happens when both of the parties are unable to agree on issues like property division, child custody, or child and/or spousal support.

Depending on the issues to be decided, a traditional divorce can take the longest time of any type of divorce to be finalized. In especially contentious cases, hiring an attorney is a good idea since each lawyer can present his or her client’s interests to the court.

Starting your own business is the dream of many people, but one thing that is often forgotten is that a failed marriage can negatively affect the business you worked so hard to build.

Certain divorce issues are unique to business owners, but there are ways that you can protect yourself and your business during a divorce or dissolution.

When you know it's only a matter of time before your marriage ends, the first thing that comes to mind is how much a divorce costs. We always hear about multi-million dollar divorce trials and settlements, but for most of us living in the real world that isn’t a possibility.

Like other legal issues, the cost of divorce varies tremendously from state to state and couple to couple. The cost of a divorce varies from case to case, and there are countless variables to consider, but often it can be expensive.

As a family law attorney, I’ve observed first hand the rebuilding a relationship after an affair is possible but can take a long time and may even end up not being attainable.

We may like to believe that only those who are in unhappy marriages engage in affairs, but in reality, the temptation to become involved with another person outside of marriage can happen to anyone.

We Love Our Pets . . . 

According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), pet ownership in the U.S. has more than tripled from the 1970s. In 2012, 62 percent of American households had at least one pet. That same year, according to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent more than $50 billion on their cherished cats, dogs, and other assorted animal companions.

During the last several years, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers surveyed divorce lawyers from many different states and found there are more and more pet custody issues cropping up in divorce court.

A CNN Money article reported that as of 2009, over $100 billion was owed in unpaid child support payments. For lower-income mothers receiving child support, the child support payments accounted for almost one-half of their total income.

When payments are not made by the other parent, mothers have no choice but to seek public assistance for themselves and their children. The problem has continued to grow as more parents never marry, separate or divorce and the need for child support increases.

Ending a marriage is a painful process. Emotions run high as both spouses try to deal with the realities of divorce.

There are many issues to deal with such as dividing marital assets and debts, issues related to custody and child support, and issues related to spousal support. Too often, parties underestimate the financial aspects of divorce.

They are focused solely on their emotions before and during the divorce. It is only after the divorce is final that parties realize they are experiencing financial difficulties due to the divorce.

One of the top reasons for filing bankruptcy is divorce. After a divorce, many people find that there is just no money left over each month after paying living expenses to pay their bills.

They have no choice but to consider bankruptcy as an option to resolve their financial problems. How can a divorce create so many financial problems?

"Prenup" is typically a word that many couples avoid because of the negative stereotypes associated with prenuptial agreements.

While brides are focused on choosing a wedding gown, picking flowers, finding the perfect music and planning a perfect reception, grooms are busy planning a fantastic honeymoon that they will never forget.

Unfortunately, most people base their knowledge of divorce on what they have seen in the movies or on television, what they have heard from friends or what they have read online.

The divorce scenarios in the movies and on television are fictional and dramatized for entertainment purposes. These stories are not based on the laws of any particular state, if based on any law at all.

Shared Parenting in Ohio

Child custody and visitation are two of the most difficult issues in a divorce proceeding. While the parents appear to be the focus of a custody battle because they are the parties that are being heard, the real focus in any custody battle is the child.

As with most states, Ohio courts focus on what is in the best interest of the child when deciding custody disputes. A child who is caught in the middle of a nasty custody battle is heartbreaking for all parties but especially for the child.

Therefore, Ohio laws are written to protect the child's best interest first and foremost. In most situations, it is in the best interest of the child to have both parents play an active role in the child's upbringing. When both parties enjoy the rewards and responsibilities of being a parent, it benefits the child.

To that end, Ohio custody laws encourage parents to work together to formulate a custody arrangement that benefits everyone in the family.

The Changing Role of Grandparents in America

The proportion of children living in “grandfamilies” has doubled in the U.S. since 1970. The role of grandparents has changed in the past few decades as more and more grandparents are raising their grandchildren.

Even for grandparents who are not raising their children, the role of grandparents has expanded as grandparents are living longer and are a larger part of their grandchildren’s lives. Arthur Kornhaber, M.D, president and founder of the Foundation for Grandparenting, has identified 11 roles grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren.

How Long Does a Divorce Take?

One of the first questions that a client who is contemplating a divorce asks an attorney is, “How long does a divorce take?”

Unfortunately, it typically takes much longer to get out of a marriage than it does to get married unless you live in a state that has a simplified divorce proceeding and your divorce is uncontested.

The length of time that a divorce takes depends on several factors including...

It's the most important document in your divorce case: the Balance Sheet. What is the Balance Sheet and how will it help you? This article is designed to make sure you understand how critical the Balance Sheet is when it comes to winning your divorce case.

The balance sheet focuses on valuing, distributing, and dividing all marital assets and liabilities.

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