In Ohio, a dissolution is a non-adversarial proceeding to legally terminate a marriage. A Dissolution also means that the terms of the divorce are decided between the two parties before any documents are filed with the court.

Unlike a divorce, the negotiating couple is expected to voluntarily trade any information as part of their dissolution. The courts do not have subpoena power during dissolution and cannot put temporary orders in place or force either side to share information.

The court does allow professionals to be hired to evaluate a property or give financial advice.

When it comes to ending a relationship, the word “separation” can be a confusing term.

While there are many different types of informal separations, there is only one legal separation recognized in the state of Ohio. A legal separation does not terminate a marriage, and you are not free to remarry. Under Ohio law, there are only three ways to terminate a Marriage: Divorce, Dissolution or Annulment. 

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...