Best Child Custody Lawyers in Akron, OH

A person who files for a divorce must be a resident of Ohio for six months before filing. In an action for dissolution of a marriage, one of the spouses must reside in the state for six months before filing.

Ohio law establishes the standard of equitable division for marital property in a divorce. Equitable division usually means equal division, with specific exceptions stated in the law. If the court determines that equal division is not equitable, the court has authority to divide property in a manner deemed equitable. The law includes factors for the court to consider in making those determinations.

The family home is part of the division of property that occurs as part of a divorce case. If keeping the home is important to you, your attorney will work hard to negotiate settlement terms that enable you to stay in your home.

Under Ohio statutes, basic child support is determined according to a formula. A court can deviate from the basic calculated amount for specific reasons set forth in the law.

While Ohio does not require you to have legal representation in a divorce or dissolution action, you risk losing significant legal rights if you do not talk with a lawyer before you initiate an action or defend against a divorce. The laws that apply to the divorce process, division of property, custody and parenting, child support, and spousal support are extensive and extremely complex. When you initiate a court action, detailed rules of court procedure also apply. Proceeding in a dissolution or divorce action without a lawyer is extremely risky. Without the proper knowledge, expertise, and skill, you could make mistakes that are costly to fix. In some cases, errors made in self-representation are impossible to remedy after the fact.