What Are Grounds for Divorce in Ohio?
Although Ohio law requires that there be grounds for divorce, in most cases these grounds don’t influence the other decisions the court must make in connection with ending the marriage. It’s important to understand that ending a marriage is usually not a simple matter. If you’re thinking about filing, Cincinnati divorce lawyer John Heilbrun can help guide you through the often complex rules and statutes and help protect your needs as you prepare for life after marriage.
The law requires that grounds be met in order for a court to grant a divorce. Such grounds could include incompatibility if not denied by either spouse (sometimes called irreconcilable differences), as well as not having lived together for at least one year before filing.
Other grounds that exist for granting a divorce include:
- Adultery
- Habitual drunkenness
- Imprisonment
- Extreme cruelty
- Gross neglect of marital duty
In addition to grounds, a divorce action is also subject to a residency requirement. The filing spouse has to have resided in the state of Ohio for six months or more for a consecutive period of time before petitioning the court to end the marriage.
Although, as stated above, the grounds for divorce usually don’t influence decisions the court must make on issues that need to be resolved in connection with the end of the marriage, the conduct that gave rise to those grounds could have an effect on relevant issues such as spousal support, division of property, and child custody. Mr. Heilbrun can advise you throughout the course of your case on how to protect your assets and parental rights and responsibilities.
Please contact the Law Office of John Heilbrun or call 513-321-3940 today to schedule your initial consultation. Our divorce lawyer represents clients in multiple Cincinnati communities.
