Divorce

We will be there throughout the process to ease your stress and concerns. Your children, finances, business, future, and peace of mind are our priorities in representing you. We provide you with individualized, sophisticated, and vigorous representation to protect you and your family.

Divorce is the process in which married couples follow a series of legal proceedings to terminate their marriage without there being agreed upon terms in the beginning of the case.

To open a divorce case, one party files a complaint with the court. The other spouse files his or her response to the complaint, and both spouses present their views of how and on what terms the marriage is to be terminated. Because they cannot agree, the couple requests the court to make the decisions for them with the assistance of competent counsel.

TAKING THE FIRST STEP
When terminating the marriage enters into the thoughts and discussions of a relationship, it is important to seek legal representation early to ensure that you know your rights, risks, and options. Developing a legal strategy, both defensive and offensive, is key to protecting your interests and limiting potential consequences should your spouse seek to take vindictive or selfish actions. Selecting a divorce attorney with experience, knowledge, and compassion can make all the difference in experiencing a divorce proceeding that is smooth and satisfactory to both parties.

CONTESTED VERSUS UNCONTESTED DIVORCE
A divorce can be contested or uncontested. When the spouses reach an agreement as to all aspects of their divorce (grounds, finances, spousal support, property, and child related issues), then the divorce is considered uncontested. Some divorces become uncontested very early in the litigation and others become uncontested right before or during trial. Most divorces become uncontested at some point prior to trial. The agreement is written and presented to the judge for approval at an uncontested final divorce hearing eliminating the need for a trial. We provide sophisticated and professional representation to get our clients the best possible results through effective negotiation.

If, however, the spouses are unable to reach an agreement on all issues, then the divorce will result in a contested trial before a judge or magistrate on all issues that remain unresolved. Evidence regarding your child-related or financial matters is presented to a judge or magistrate for their consideration. The judge or magistrate then issues their decision establishing the terms upon which your marriage is terminated. We have extensive experience in trying contested divorces. We will ensure that you are prepared, and we will aggressively litigate your interests should your case not be resolved prior to trial.

HOW LONG A DIVORCE TAKES
A divorce, in Ohio, can be a lengthy process. If the parties come to an agreement, then the case can be resolved in a few months. However, if the parties cannot agree, then the matter continues in court and results in a trial. The Ohio Supreme Court has established timelines for divorces in Ohio. It is anticipated that divorces without children should resolve in 9-12 months. However, divorces that involve children should resolve within 18 months. Many divorces are resolved by a negotiated agreement prior to trial. It is important that you hire an attorney with the experience and compassion to navigate the issues in your case to obtain the optimal outcome for you. We will strategically represent you to protect your rights and ease your mind. You can be confident that you will come out of your divorce ready for the future.

HANDLING “HIGH ASSET” DIVORCES
Every divorce should be treated as a “high asset” divorce because all of our clients’ assets are important to them, and we take our role in protecting those assets seriously. When the term “high asset” divorce is utilized, it should not simply refer to a divorce in which the parties are wealthy, and it does not mean that the attorney fees should be higher. Whether you are dividing $100 or $10,000,000, the math is the same. A true “high asset” divorce is one in which the parties’ financial situation is complicated. Examples of a “high asset” divorce include, but are not limited to the following: parties’ assets include closely held business interests, partial ownership of a business with multiple business partners, stock options, deferred compensation, joint ventures, real estate holdings/partnerships, trust assets, and complex tax benefits or consequences. These examples can be some of the most complicated and complex divorce situations. We work closely with clients, accountants, business counsel, business valuators, and other experts to ensure that the true “high asset” divorce is handled with the attention and sophistication that it requires.