Divorce

How to Behave in Court

Male and female legal/business professionals walk down the stone staircase of a stately courthouse type building. They are looking at each other and smiling concept.

Going to court can be intimidating. Not only is it likely an unfamiliar environment, but if you have to go to court, chances are you have something important at stake. In a family law case that could be custody (now called allocation of parental rights) or visitation (now called parenting time) of your children, whether […]

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Who Gets the Pets in a Divorce?

Smiling mature woman giving her cog a big hug while sitting together outside on her patio in her back yard

You went on road trips and long walks together. You snuggled on the couch at the end of a long day. They were your source of comfort during the pandemic. While all of those might describe a spouse, for pet lovers, those sentences also describe their furry companions. If you have a pet, you might […]

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Preparing for a Divorce or Dissolution

Two separate wedding rings next to the word "divorce". The concept of divorce, parting, infidelity . Selective focus concept.

Divorce or dissolution is never easy, even if you want to end your marriage. It can be downright overwhelming if you don’t want a divorce, or if your spouse has blindsided you by asking for a divorce (or serving you with divorce papers). The divorce process creates a lot of upheaval. You are now facing […]

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Can a Child Choose Which Parent to Live With?

Sad little girl feel upset lonely hug fluffy toy hedgehog friend affected by parent fight or quarrel, upset small child loner stressed with mom and dad divorce or split, family problems concept

There’s no question about it, in a divorce, dissolution, or when parents decide to live separately, one of the most difficult issues is where the children will live. When your children have been living with you full time, it’s hard to adjust to the idea that they might soon be spending most of their time […]

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Do I Have to Leave the Home Because My Spouse Asked Me To?

Tired woman sitting on the floor while moving into new home concept.

It may happen in the heat of an argument, or after months of growing apart and talking about separation and divorce: your spouse asks you to leave the home you share (or tells you to). Whether the request comes as a shock, or is something you’d been dreading, you are probably wondering whether you have […]

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Divorce and the Stay-at-Home Parent

Single mother by the stove with toddler on hip, stirring mushrooms, her older son is standing by concept

Nearly half of married couples eventually terminate their marriages by divorce or dissolution, but most of us live our lives as if we are going to be in the other half. That leads to making decisions with the expectation that our marriages will last “until death do us part.” When that parting comes sooner, by […]

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Difference Between Divorce and Dissolution

close up of woman removing ring concept

What do you do when you want to legally end your marriage? If your instinctive answer was “file for divorce,” you’re right — mostly. You may have heard the term “dissolution of marriage” and assumed it was simply another way of saying “divorce.” But in Ohio, divorce and dissolution have two distinct meanings. If you’re […]

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Changing Beneficiaries After Divorce or Dissolution in Ohio

Divorce Petition

Congratulations: your divorce or dissolution is final. After months of negotiating back and forth over details large and small, you can finally put the legal documents aside and look toward the future. Well, you can as soon as you are done updating your estate plan and changing beneficiaries on trusts, retirement plans, insurance, investments and […]

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Keeping Your Kids Out of the Middle of Your Divorce

kids and divorce

A wise person once said: “Just because a decision is the right one doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt to make it.” For many people, divorce or separation from a partner is absolutely the right decision. But whether or not you want a divorce, it is a painful process to go through. Unfortunately, that is […]

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Divorce with a Special Needs Child

Divorce with a special needs child

Every family faces its own challenges going through a divorce; families that have children with special needs may face more challenges than most. Depending on the age of your child and the nature of their needs, divorce or dissolution with a special needs child requires extra planning to make sure that your child is both […]

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