"Grounds" for Divorce in Ohio
In order to obtain a divorce or dissolution in Ohio, the court must find that there exist statutorily defined “grounds” to terminate the marriage. The grounds can be either “no-fault” or “fault” and must be established by the petitioner. A corroborating witness should be secured by your attorney prior to the final hearing to establish these grounds in court. You do not want your ex to delay the hearing by refusing to help you establish grounds.
“No-fault” grounds for divorce/dissolution include “incompatibility” and “living separate and apart without cohabitation for one year.” There are nine “fault” grounds in Ohio. These “fault” grounds include:
- another spouse living at the time of marriage (bigamy);
- willful absence of a party from the marital home for one year;
- adultery;
- extreme cruelty (defined as “acts conduct calculated to destroy the peace of mind and happiness of one of the parties to the marriage”);
- fraudulent contract (for example, one spouse was induced to enter the marriage as a result of a fraudulent representation that materially affects the essential elements of the marriage);
- gross neglect of duty (for example, a failure to support the family);
- habitual drunkenness;
- imprisonment of the adverse party in a state or federal institution at the time of the filing of the complaint; and
- an out-of-state divorce.
Jamie L. Anderson dedicates her practice to representing families through the changes of a divorce or dissolution. She has made herself one of Greene County’s most prominent matrimonial attorneys and will use her experience to secure your family, your finances and your future. Contact Jamie L. Anderson at (937) 879-9542 or visit www.OhioDivorceAttorney.com to learn more.
