Addressing The Legal Needs Of Families
The term family law encompasses multiple legal topics related to the relationships between spouses, as well as between parents and their children. Many family law proceedings involve the end of a marriage and the issues relevant to that transition. Though the end of a marriage can be stressful, Cincinnati family law attorney John Heilbrun is available to assist you through every step of the process.

John Heilbrun has more than 35 years of experience as a dedicated family lawyer. To find out more about how he can assist you with the process of ending your marriage, please call The Law Office of John Heilbrun today at 513-548-5606 to schedule your confidential consultation. Mr. Heilbrun serves clients in or around the Cincinnati area.
Legal Assistance Through The Different Options To End A Marriage
Unfortunately, a relatively large percentage of marriages end in divorce. Though spouses can decide to end their marriage for a variety of reasons, it’s important to know and understand that an adversarial divorce process is usually not the best way to terminate your union.
Marriages can be legally terminated in Ohio by a few different “legal processes” including,
- Divorce
- Dissolution (which also encompasses collaborative divorce)
- Annulment (available in only a few, very limited circumstances)
- Legal separation (a process that doesn’t legally end the marriage but does provide for the division of the spouses’ assets and liabilities, allocates parental rights and responsibilities, and addresses support issues)
The option for ending your marriage that is best for you will depend on the circumstances of your case. Mr. Heilbrun will review the circumstances and provide guidance on how to minimize the impact this change could have on you and your family.
Contact John Heilbrun at 513-548-5606 to find out how he can assist you with your family law case.
Skilled Legal Guidance Through Every Stage Of The Process
Any process that formally ends a marriage also must resolve all details incident to the end of the marriage.
These issues can be among the most hotly contested in any family law proceeding:
- Alimony (known under Ohio law as spousal support)
- Division of property and debts
- Child support
- Child custody
- Child visitation (called parenting time in Ohio courts)
With the help of their respective lawyers, the parties might be able to resolve these issues jointly. In this case, the parties will ultimately file with the court a petition for dissolution of marriage, a separation agreement, and, in cases involving children, a shared parenting plan.
If the parties aren’t able to come to an agreement, a divorce action will have to be filed. The presiding judge will decide issues the parties can’t resolve based upon testimony and evidence presented at a trial.
All matters related to the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities are subject to future modification by the court. The court is also available to enforce the terms of a separation agreement and, in limited circumstances, modify alimony provisions included in a separation agreement or court order. These are referred to as post-decree problems, and Mr. Heilbrun can help you petition the court for modification of these provisions.
If you’re thinking about ending your marriage or you’ve already begun the process and require a skilled Cincinnati family law lawyer, please contact The Law Office of John Heilbrun or call 513-548-5606 today to schedule your initial consultation.