Divorce Attorneys in Columbus Ohio
Divorce- the mere mention of the word makes most people cringe. Yet about half of all marriages in America end this way. You would think the often tortuous experience of going through a divorce would make people hesitate to want one, but statistics show this isn’t the case. Divorce is not a fun process, but if you are currently going through a divorce (or plan to in the future), you probably have a lot of unanswered questions.
How common is divorce?
Of course, if you are going through a divorce probably nothing about it seems “typical.” The truth of the matter is that almost 50% of all marriages in the United States end in divorce.
If you are going through this painful and emotionally difficult experience it is important for you to know that you are not alone. Every year millions of people are divorced in the United States. Little nuances in state laws and differences between couples’ reasons for divorce make every situation unique.
What we do.
We offer free information about this process. Of course, no divorce feels “typical,” but we are here to reassure you that no matter what you go through, somebody else has been there and done that.
No one gets married with the idea of getting a divorce. However, the sad fact is that over half of all marriages result in divorce, at least in the United States. In the state of Ohio, specifically within the state capitol of Columbus, if you are considering a divorce, here is some useful information to consider.
Columbus OH Divorce Lawyers
Divorce lawyers provide legal advice to clients who are ending their marriages. Turning the matter over to an outside party may actually be a relief to a client since once they do so, they have someone who can attempt to negotiate a settlement on their behalf.
In describing how a divorce lawyer can help, the expression, “Why buy a guard dog and then bark yourself?” may come to mind.
Finding the Best Divorce Lawyer
How do you find the best divorce lawyer for you? You can start by asking people you know who have been through a divorce about the person who represented them. Referrals from friends, coworkers, or family members can help you find a divorce lawyer you can work with. Some cities like Cleveland and Austin have community sites reviewing the best divorce lawyers in that area.
Other Methods
If you can’t find a divorce lawyer by asking people you know, consider looking for lawyers in your area by conducting an online search. The Yellow Pages is another source of local divorce lawyers. The State Bar Association should also be able to provide a referral to a licensed attorney.
Retaining a Divorce Lawyer
Before you decide to hire (retain) a divorce lawyer in Ohio, arrange an appointment with him or her. You will be working very closely with this person and sharing some very sensitive information during the divorce process, so you will want to be sure the person you choose is someone you feel comfortable dealing with.
Be sure to ask questions about the lawyer’s level of experience and whether he or she will be working on your case personally or if a more junior lawyer will be looking after it under the supervision of more experienced legal counsel.
Cost for Services
Most lawyers charge by the hour for their services. Traditionally, the longer the process takes, the more the client will have to pay to end his or her marriage. Some lawyers will offer a flat fee arrangement for their services, but this option is usually limited to straightforward cases where the divorce is an uncontested one.
A straightforward divorce is one where the couple has been able to negotiate a settlement themselves for dividing their marital property, as well as custody, child and spousal support.
Experienced Lawyer and Divorce Cost
Since more experienced lawyers can get higher rates for their services, a client who wants to keep costs down may opt to work with a less experienced attorney. A firm that has more than one divorce lawyer may be a good choice, since a newer (and less expensive) lawyer can work on the file. If the junior lawyer has questions, he or she can get guidance from a more experienced member of the firm.
Which Lawyer is Best?
The best divorce lawyer is someone who makes his or her client feel comfortable. The client can help his or her lawyer by providing all relevant documents in a timely manner, and being clear about what they want to achieve when negotiating a settlement. Doing so can help to keep the process moving and keep legal fees down, too.
Ohio Divorce Laws
There are requirements for the filing, and granting of a divorce in Columbus, just as there are in other states in the US. If you are an individual residing in Columbus and looking for a divorce attorney, you must meet the following conditions to have a divorce granted:
- Be a resident of the state of Ohio for at least 6 months.
- File in the county of Franklin, which is the country that Columbus falls in.
- Know that the Court of Common Pleas will hear the action, regardless of whether you were married or separated in the state or elsewhere.
- Read more on Ohio Divorce Laws
Fault vs. No-Fault Divorce
A divorce attorney can fill you in on the two different classifications of divorce. There are basically two types of divorce that will be granted in the state of Ohio, and that is fault or no-fault. Fault divorce is granted on grounds such as
- Abandonment of at least one year by the other spouse
- Drunkenness
- Bigamy
- Adultery
- Neglect
- Extreme Cruelty
- Falsification of any kind that trapped the other spouse into a marriage of fraud.
- The other spouse is imprisoned.
No fault refers to a situation where two individuals are granted a divorce from one another on the grounds of meeting one requirement; living apart from each other for at least one year.
The attorney will need to have the experience to meet all of your needs. There are some things to consider when looking for a divorce attorney Columbus Ohio:
- A willingness to take your case
- A cooperative spirit
- Someone who listens to you
- Takes into consideration what is best for you.
- Returns phone calls in a reasonable length of time.
If your divorce involves property, children, and monetary assets, consider asking others who may be divorced for their opinion on who will work well for you. These types of divorces are more complicated and will need the guidance of someone who is not only in your court, so to speak, but will also have the experience to go after what you want and need.
Deal with Divorce Dissolution, Child Support and Child Custody Issues
With more than 30 years of experience, our attorneys offer an in-depth knowledge of the law, as well as a keen understanding of psychology and the role it plays in family law. All of this they put at the service of families in Columbus and Central Ohio by providing thoughtful, sound, and comforting counsel and advice as families navigate various aspects of family law. Part of that service, to the clients and the public alike, includes these informative, well-researched blog posts that are focused on giving you insight into different facets of divorce, issues of support and custody, and family law.
We have built a library of posts that offer a broad range of topics, from finding the right divorce attorney, to child support and visitation, to divorce and dissolution, to psychology and divorce and much more. This blog provides information on protecting retirement assets in a divorce, how to determine business valuations and what you need to know about Spousal Support (formerly called alimony) when you’re involved in a divorce, or even just thinking about divorce. Our aim with this blog is to provide you with important information and insights into a variety of family law situations you may encounter. We hope that you find these postings useful and we welcome you to check back regularly to read our latest blogs.
Ohio Divorce Lawyer – Free Consultation
Our attorneys have a proven track record of gaining financial support for clients and their children and of working for the fair and equitable division of the family’s property. And because at Divorce Attorneys Ohio, children matter most, we use approaches that significantly reduce or completely eliminate long-range negative emotional impacts on children, the unnecessary alienation of loved ones, and the unnecessary draining of their bank accounts.
Expert Family Law Attorneys for the Best Interests of You and Your Children
The attorneys and staff of Divorce Attorneys Ohio have developed strong, productive working relationships with a wide variety of family law experts to help their clients at what can be a very difficult and trying chapter in their lives. Our attorneys have at their disposal an expert team of physicians, psychologists, social workers, vocational experts, counselors, forensic accountants, business and real estate appraisers, and many others who provide supporting expertise.
The entire team at Divorce Attorneys Ohio works to ensure that complex financial issues, complicated child custody questions, and the post-decree modification of prior orders will receive the attention needed to obtain the desired result. Contact us today to arrange an initial consultation.