Divorce Attorneys In Columbus, Ohio

Divorce affects nearly every part of your life, from your finances and living arrangements to your relationship with your children. The emotional strain can also make it difficult to assess your options and make sound decisions about the future.

At Mowery Youell & Galeano, Ltd., our Columbus divorce attorneys help clients address these challenges with practical advice and determined representation. Our firm has served individuals and families in Central Ohio since 1983. We take the time to understand what is at stake, develop a strategy around your priorities and prepare each case for the possibility of court.

When your marriage is ending, early legal guidance can help you avoid preventable mistakes. Call 888-401-2692 or complete our contact form to schedule a consultation.

Why Choose Our Ohio Divorce Lawyers

Divorce requires more than completing forms and attending hearings. Decisions made during the process can affect your property, income and parenting arrangements for years.

Clients turn to Mowery Youell & Galeano, Ltd., because we offer:

• More than 40 years of service: Our firm has helped people resolve legal problems in Columbus and throughout Central Ohio since 1983.
• Personalized legal strategies: We consider your family, finances, concerns and long-term goals before recommending a course of action.
• Negotiation and trial experience: We work to resolve disputes efficiently, but we are prepared to litigate when the other party will not agree to reasonable terms.
• Local court knowledge: Our lawyers regularly handle family law matters involving Franklin County and understand the procedures that can affect local cases.
• A reputation built on trust: Many clients come to us through referrals from former clients, attorneys and other members of the community. Our firm has also earned an AV peer-review rating for legal ability and ethical standards.

We approach each divorce as a problem that requires a focused solution. You will receive straightforward advice, direct communication and representation shaped around the facts of your case.

Understanding Divorce In Ohio

Ohio provides two main ways for married couples to legally end their marriage: divorce and dissolution.

In a dissolution, both spouses must agree on every issue before filing. They submit a signed separation agreement that addresses property, debts, support and all parenting matters. The process may work well when both people provide complete information and can reach acceptable terms.

A divorce is a contested court proceeding. One spouse files a complaint, and the court may need to decide any issue the parties cannot resolve. Those issues can include property division, child custody, parenting time, child support and spousal support.

A divorce does not always require a trial. Spouses may reach an agreement through negotiation or mediation after the case begins. However, filing for divorce allows the court to issue orders and decide unresolved disputes.

Grounds For Divorce In Ohio

A spouse seeking a divorce must identify at least one ground recognized under Ohio law. The state permits both no-fault and fault-based grounds.

Common no-fault grounds include:

• Incompatibility: The spouses agree that they are no longer compatible. This ground may not apply if either spouse denies it.
• Living separately: The spouses have lived apart without cohabitation for at least one year.

Ohio also recognizes several fault-based grounds, including:

• Adultery
• Extreme cruelty
• Gross neglect of marital duties
• Habitual drunkenness
• Willful absence for at least one year
• Imprisonment
• Fraud in the marriage contract
• A spouse having another living husband or wife at the time of the marriage

The grounds raised in a complaint may affect how the case proceeds, although they do not automatically determine the outcome of every financial or parenting issue.

Key Issues In An Ohio Divorce Case

Significant issues in an Ohio divorce may include:

Property Division

Ohio follows an equitable distribution system. Courts generally begin with the position that marital property should be divided equally, but they may order a different division when an equal split would be unfair.

Marital property may include income, real estate, retirement benefits, investments, business interests and other assets acquired during the marriage. Marital debts must also be addressed.

Separate property may include assets owned before the marriage, inheritances and certain gifts. However, separate and marital funds can become mixed. Detailed financial records may be needed to trace an asset and establish how the court should classify it.

Our attorneys handle property disputes involving homes, retirement accounts, closely held businesses, investments and suspected hidden assets.

Child Custody And Parenting Plans

Ohio courts refer to custody as the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities. Decisions must serve the child’s best interests.

Courts may consider the child’s relationship with each parent, adjustment to home and school, the parents’ ability to cooperate, prior compliance with parenting orders and other facts affecting the child’s welfare.

A parenting plan may address:

• Where the child will live
• Parenting time schedules
• Holidays and school breaks
• Transportation between homes
• Education and medical decisions
• Communication between the parents
• Procedures for resolving future disagreements

Shared parenting does not always mean equal parenting time. The schedule should reflect the child’s needs and the family’s circumstances.

Child Support

Ohio calculates child support under state guidelines. The calculation generally considers both parents’ incomes, health insurance costs, child care expenses and certain other financial factors.

Both parties must provide accurate financial information. Pay records, tax returns, business documents and benefit statements may be needed to calculate income. A court may also address income that a parent receives from bonuses, commissions or self-employment.

In some cases, the court may approve an amount above or below the guideline calculation when applying the standard figure would be unjust or inappropriate.

Spousal Support

Spousal support, sometimes called alimony, is not automatic in an Ohio divorce. A court may award it after reviewing factors such as:

• Each spouse’s income and earning ability
• The length of the marriage
• The spouses’ ages and health
• Retirement benefits
• The standard of living during the marriage
• Education and career sacrifices
• Time needed to obtain training or education
• Assets and debts awarded to each spouse

Temporary support may help cover expenses while the divorce remains pending. A final order may require payments for a set period or, in some circumstances, for a longer duration. The court may also decide whether the amount can be changed later.

How Our Columbus Divorce Lawyers Can Help

A divorce can involve strict procedures, extensive financial records and high-stakes disagreements. We help clients understand the process and take deliberate steps from the beginning of the case through its conclusion.

Our representation may include:

• Evaluating your situation and explaining your legal options
• Preparing and filing the required court documents
• Gathering financial records and identifying marital assets
• Requesting appropriate temporary orders
• Negotiating property, support and parenting terms
• Representing you during mediation
• Preparing witnesses, exhibits and arguments for court
• Addressing attempts to hide, transfer or undervalue property
• Protecting your financial interests and parental rights

Some cases can be resolved through direct negotiation. Others require formal discovery, expert analysis or a contested hearing. We assess the strength of the available evidence and prepare a strategy suited to the level of conflict involved.

Schedule A Consultation With A Columbus Divorce Attorney

Waiting too long to seek advice may limit your options. Financial accounts can change, important records may become harder to find and informal parenting arrangements can create new disputes.

Speak with an attorney before signing an agreement, moving out of the family home or making major decisions about property and parenting time. At Mowery Youell & Galeano, Ltd., we will listen to your concerns, explain the legal process and help you determine the next step.

Call our Dublin office at 888-401-2692 or complete our online contact form to schedule a consultation with a Columbus divorce attorney. We represent clients throughout the Columbus metropolitan area and Central Ohio.