Ohio Family Law Blog

What is the Ohio “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” and How Should Divorcing Parents Prepare for It?

By Robert "Chip" Mues | March 1st, 2025

Ohio Parents’ Bill of Rights and Divorce: What Separating Parents Need to Know

Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio House Bill 8 into law, also known as the Ohio Parents’ Bill of Rights, which has implications for divorce and co-parenting. Bill 8 requires public schools to establish policies on parental notification on student health and well-being, Instructional materials with sexuality content, and policies for released time courses in religious instruction. The law goes into effect on April 9, 2025, but the school districts will have until July1, 2025, to implement these policies. Click hereto read the new law.

The schools will have to defer to parents in decisions concerning their child’s upbringing. Access to educational and health records shall be available to parents, and the school will notify parents of any change in health aspects of the child’s life including the student’s gender identity, school officials are not allowed to encourage a child to withhold this information from parents.… View Full Article → “What is the Ohio “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” and How Should Divorcing Parents Prepare for It?”

Did You Know: Your Credit Score Could Drop During Divorce?

By Robert "Chip" Mues | February 22nd, 2025

How to Protect Your Credit Score and Divorce-Proof Your Finances

If you are going through a divorce, most likely there are lots of things on your to do list, and lots of details to attend to. One of which is to protect your credit score during divorce. Understanding the link between your credit score and divorce can help prevent financial pitfalls. According to a survey conducted by Debt.com, 48% of respondents saw their credit score drop after separating from their partner, often linked to financial strain and changing household incomes. Going from a two-income household to a single-income household can cause a significant change in your financial situation, and this effect may be seen in many unexpected ways.

Especially in recent years, where we have seen inflation and rising interest rates result in significant economic pressures, it is increasingly difficult to manage debt and credit during a divorce. In 2023, credit card interest rates rose to record highs, which might make it harder to keep up with debt payments and maintain a high credit score.… View Full Article → “Did You Know: Your Credit Score Could Drop During Divorce?”

Is a Dissolution or Divorce Proceeding a Better Approach?

By Robert "Chip" Mues | February 15th, 2025

Marriages In Ohio Can Be Ended In One Of Two Ways, Dissolution Or By Divorce

Dissolution vs Divorce in Ohio is different from most states. In most states, those terms can be used synonymously, but they are alternate proceedings with different statutory regulations in Ohio. Marriages in Ohio can be ended in one of two ways – through Dissolution vs Divorce in Ohio, which have distinct legal processes.

Dissolution in Ohio – Key Aspects of Dissolution vs Divorce in Ohio

A dissolution proceeding is the quickest and easiest of the two methods to terminate your marriage, but in order to proceed with a dissolution there are certain considerations that must be met. Primarily, there must be a total and full agreement signed by both parties as to ALL terms of the dissolution. This means that both parties have to have a full agreement on all issues, including alimony, custody, child support, division of assets, debt allocation, division of household goods and furnishings, etc.… View Full Article → “Is a Dissolution or Divorce Proceeding a Better Approach?”

Dissolution: Out with the Old, in with the New? Understanding the Ohio Dissolution Process

By Robert "Chip" Mues | February 8th, 2025

Is Your Marriage Over and are you Thinking about a Divorce? Important Information About Ohio Dissolution Proceedings

Understanding the Ohio Dissolution Process and Its Benefits

Do you and your spouse BOTH recognize that your marriage is emotionally and all but officially over? Have you been procrastinating moving forward with dissolution and terminating your marriage? If so, understanding the Ohio dissolution process is crucial. Not a pleasant decision, but sometimes a necessary one.

Ohio Law permits the filing of both divorce and dissolution actions. Before filing you really should know the basic differences. The primary distinction between divorce and dissolution is the amicable nature with fully agreed upon terms in a dissolution proceeding. In dissolution, both parties must agree to every aspect and term in the final agreement, down to the last penny and detail. Various pleadings are prepared and signed by both parties and submitted to the Court for approval.

To be clear, the FULL agreement must be negotiated and executed before filing.… View Full Article → “Dissolution: Out with the Old, in with the New? Understanding the Ohio Dissolution Process”

Did You Know? You Can Convert Divorce to Dissolution in Ohio!

By Robert "Chip" Mues | February 1st, 2025

How to Easily Convert Divorce to Dissolution in Ohio

It is a common misconception that the only way to end a marriage is through a divorce; however, Ohio allows dissolutions as well as divorce. You can easily convert divorce to dissolution in Ohio. A dissolution differs in that it is a mutual agreement agreed to by both spouses. The key to any dissolution is that both parties need to agree on EVERY issue before being able to terminate the marriage via a dissolution proceeding.

Ohio Revised Code Section 3105.08 allows spouses to convert a divorce to a dissolution at any point before the final judgment. It only requires the filing of a motion and no additional costs to convert a divorce into a dissolution. The motion will require an attached petition for dissolution signed by both parties that follows the rules of section 3105.63 of the Revised Code. Section 3105.63 mainly explains the requirements for a fully agreed-upon separation agreement.… View Full Article → “Did You Know? You Can Convert Divorce to Dissolution in Ohio!”

Uncoupling: A Modern Approach to a Simpler Divorce

By Robert "Chip" Mues | January 25th, 2025

What is Alternative Dispute Resolution Divorce?

For many people, divorce is a scary and unprecedented experience that will result in changes to nearly every aspect of one’s personal life. Thinking about the long legal process that accompanies a divorce only makes it feel more intimidating. However, this does not have to be the case. Through the utilization of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) divorce methods, couples can simplify their divorces and maintain a large amount of autonomy and control over not only the end of their marriage, as well as the start of the new chapter of their lives.

Using ADR avoids a lengthy legal process. Instead of putting your case in front of a court and allowing a judge to decide its outcome, you will instead get to agree to your own future through the help of a neutral third party, or “mediator.” This mediator is a neutral third party whose only goal is to elicit cooperation between spouses.… View Full Article → “Uncoupling: A Modern Approach to a Simpler Divorce”

Did You Know: Why is a Financial Affidavit Necessary by Both Parties in an Ohio Dissolution?

By Robert "Chip" Mues | January 18th, 2025

Understanding Ohio Dissolution Financial Affidavit Requirements

Why Must a Financial Disclosure Affidavit Be Completed Before A Dissolution Can Go Forward?

Since 2007 we have posted a fair number of blogs about the differences between divorce and dissolutions and about the dissolution process. Here are some links to make it easy to find and to read them.

Dissolution: Out with the Old and in with the New?
Dissolution and Divorce in Ohio, What is the Difference?
Dissolution In Ohio: Can Parties Request Conciliation and Mediation Services?
Why Selecting One Court Over Another Could be Important In Your Dissolution

Key Steps in Meeting Ohio Dissolution Financial Affidavit Requirements

Recently, it seems that I have had a lot of new clients come in to the office wanting to discuss and proceed with a dissolution rather than a divorce. I was asked by a client the other day why her husband needed to complete a financial disclosure affidavit because she didn’t care what he had, she just wanted to terminate the marriage and for each to go their separate ways.… View Full Article → “Did You Know: Why is a Financial Affidavit Necessary by Both Parties in an Ohio Dissolution?”

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