Online divorce is a quick and inexpensive way to prepare the necessary paperwork for an uncontested divorce. Even with a low income, spouses can easily complete court-required forms.
How does it work?
Within two business days, spouses will receive completed forms in PDF format. After that, they can download them from their account and file them under the instructions received.
Divorcing partners can use online divorce anytime, anywhere. They can do a DIY divorce and ensure that their divorce papers meet the state’s standards.
Divorcing couples in Ohio choose online divorce because it:
Contested Divorce
Online Divorce $299
DIY Divorce
When filing for divorce, spouses may need the following forms.
Divorce with minor children:
Divorce without minor children:
Preparing divorce papers can be a real challenge for couples without legal training. Therefore, before selecting and filling out divorce forms, spouses should study Ohio Family Laws and requirements. Also, they need to decipher the legal terminology used in the documents.
When filling out the divorce paperwork, divorcing partners should follow the following rules:
If the county clerk finds non-compliance with the court’s requirements or mistakes in the completed documents, they will not accept the form. As a result, partners will need to repeat the entire process.
An alternative way to prepare divorce filings is CompleteCase.com. This tool will help spouses generate court-required forms without delving into legal terminology and requirements. Instead, they just need to complete a questionnaire regarding their marriage and breakup at any convenient time and place.
Within two business days, the spouses can download ready-made papers from their account and submit them to the court.
Filing for an uncontested divorce in Ohio requires several steps. Find details below.
Grounds for Divorce
Initial Filing
Court Fees
Serving a Spouse
Finalizing a Divorce
Grounds for Divorce
Ohio recognized both fault and no-fault grounds for divorce.
No-fault-based divorce means that neither of the spouses has committed misconduct that entails the dissolution.
Fault divorce means that one of the spouses committed a legally recognized misconduct, which caused the relationship breakup.
Grounds for a no-fault divorce include:
Grounds for fault-based divorce include:
Initial Filing
When filing for divorce in Ohio, spouses must file paperwork with the District Court of Common Pleas where one spouse has resided for at least 90 days.
In an uncontested divorce, spouses can file divorce papers with the court clerk together. However, it will be helpful if the spouses contact the local clerk in advance and check whether they have prepared all needed documents.
They will need to submit:
Court Fees
The petitioner needs to pay filing fees. Prices may vary by Ohio county. However, in most counties, the cost is between $300 and $400.
If the petitioner has a low income, they can apply for a waiver. They need to fill out Form 20: Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit and Order.
Serving a Spouse
The petitioner should notify the respondent about the intention to divorce and deliver the divorce forms. In Ohio, the petitioner can do it:
Most people choose certified mail because it’s cheaper. However, if the petitioner doesn’t know the other spouse’s whereabouts, they may use the publication to notify about the divorce.
When the petitioner has served the respondent, they need to provide the clerk with an acknowledgment of service.
Finalizing a Divorce
The spouses may need to submit other court-required paperwork to complete the process. Then, after the end of the mandatory waiting period, the court sets a hearing.
In an uncontested case, the judge may need one hearing to give a divorce. In a contested case, the number of hearings depends on the number of disagreements.
After the judge approves all the documents, they can provide a final decree.
A family law lawyer is a legal professional who advises and represents spouses and their interests. In a dissolution, it is usually the attorneys’ fees that make up the bulk of the cost of the divorce.
In an uncontested divorce, spouses can refuse the services of a lawyer and save thousands of dollars. To obtain an amicable divorce, partners need to resolve the marriage and breakup-related issues before the court. Mandatory questions include:
In addition, spouses can do a DIY divorce in an uncontested divorce without a lawyer. DIY divorce allows spouses to control the divorce process, from preparing paperwork to representing their interests in court.
Moreover, if the spouses reject the services of a lawyer, they can prepare divorce papers with the help of the CompleteCase.com service. With CompleteCase.com, they will be sure that their paperwork is ready following the latest requirements of the Ohio court.
When filing for divorce with minor children, a spouse should complete the appropriate forms, such as Complaint for Divorce With Children and Parenting Proceeding Affidavit.
If the partners seek an uncontested divorce, they also need to resolve child custody and payments issues independently. They should also create a parenting plan and attend parenting classes if required.
Child Custody
Ohio has sole and joint custody.
Sole custody usually entitles the custodial parent to take care of all vital matters for the child, and the child lives with the custodian parent. In joint custody, both parents are fully involved in the child’s life and are responsible for the child’s well-being.
The court decides based on the child’s best interests when determining whether to award custody. The judge also considers the following factors:
Child Support
Child support is calculated based on the income of both parents. The calculation is done under the Ohio State Support Guidelines.
Unlike many states, Ohio does not have the usual mandatory waiting period for a divorce. However, in the case of an uncontested divorce, the court can not grant a divorce to the spouses until 30 days have passed from the date of application.
The court usually gives this time for a possible reconciliation of the couple. The petitioner also uses the assigned time to serve the other spouse.
However, even with an uncontested divorce, spouses may not receive a final judgment after 30 days of waiting. Therefore, they should consider the peculiarities of their case and the court’s workload.
For spouses to be eligible to file for divorce in Ohio, they must meet the residency requirement. According to local laws, the court can grant a marriage dissolution to intimate partners if at least one of them lived in the state for at least six months before filing.
In addition, one of the spouses must live in the county where they want to apply for divorce for more than 90 days before the filing date.
All couples can file for divorce in Ohio, regardless of the state where the marriage was registered and where the reason for the breakup of the marriage occurred.
How long will it take in Ohio?
In an uncontested divorce, spouses can obtain a court order for divorce 30 days after filing. In a contested case, a divorce can last 6-12 months.
Can I get a free divorce in Ohio?
The filing spouse may file a waiver to pay legal fees if they have low incomes. They need to take the Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit and Order Form (Form 20).
How to file for divorce in Ohio?
Spouses need complete paperwork and file them in the Court of Common Pleas in the county where they have lived.
How much does a divorce cost in Ohio?
The cost of a divorce in Ohio is at least $300-400, which spouses pay for filing paperwork. However, the price increases dramatically depending on the type of divorce and the services of a lawyer.
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