There are a few phases of divorce proceedings in the state of Ohio, and each moves the process forward in a different way. You might be asking yourself: At what point does the divorce become final? The Ohio divorce attorneys at Dawes Legal, LLC, discuss in the blog below the steps you take during a divorce and what step makes the marriage termination final.
Coming to an Agreement
The biggest step in any divorce, by far, is coming to an agreement with your spouse. This step can take the longest amount of time, especially if there are several issues about which you two strongly disagree. If you have chosen to pursue dissolution of marriage (one way to terminate a marriage in Ohio that involves predominantly out-of-court processes), you will have to come to an agreement with your spouse before you do anything else. This will include deciding how to divide property and what type of custody agreement you want if you have children together.
If you are terminating your marriage through divorce, you will initiate divorce proceedings in Ohio court first. You will then move onto fashioning to an agreement with your spouse both in and out of court. Hopefully, you will be able to agree on many things, and the court will only step in and decide issues you cannot agree upon. In either process, after you have reached an agreement, you will go back to court (or to court for the first time).
Gaining Court Approval
Upon reaching an agreement with your spouse as to all issues, you will need to turn to the court for its approval. This is true regardless of whether you have chosen dissolution or divorce. You cannot formally terminate your marriage in Ohio without a court. The court will make every effort to honor agreements that spouses have made together, provided those agreements are equitable and not made under duress. If the court is satisfied with the agreement, it will turn the agreement into an order.
When the court enters its order and decree, your marriage has officially been terminated, and your divorce (or dissolution) is final. After entry of the order, you can change the terms of your agreement, based on changes in circumstance, but you will still be divorced. Reopening of certain issues, like custody or spousal support, does not affect the finality of your divorce proceedings.
Contact an Experienced Ohio Divorce Law Firm
If you are considering divorce or dissolution in Ohio, hiring an experienced attorney will make the entire process smoother. The attorneys at Dawes Legal, LLC, can review your case and help you understand your options, as well as the procedures for terminating a marriage in Ohio. Contact our office by calling (614) 733-9999, and schedule your consultation with one of our Ohio divorce attorneys today.