Sowald Sowald Anderson Hawley & Johnson

Yes. We frequently represent business owners, doctors, athletes, professors and other divorce clients who may have accumulated a significant amount of assets over the course of their marriage.

Yes.

There are many things the court looks at when determining what is fair. They will take a look at each spouse’s age, their financial standing, the standard of living during the marriage and the length of the marriage, among other things.

Even if both parties have full-time jobs, the court will still often order spousal support if there is a significant disparity between the parties’ incomes

Mediation can be a great alternative to appearing in court. It is a process where a neutral person meets with both parents and facilitates discussion and thought between the parents to help them come up with an agreement that addresses their needs, desire and concerns. The mediator does not make any decisions for the parents and is not there to tell them what the agreement should be. If the parents are able to come to an agreement, the mediator prepares a written agreement for the parents to take to their attorneys so that the appropriate legal documents can be prepared to file with the court. Mediation is often a good first step towards a full resolution that can shorten the court process and save the parents a lot of time and money.

The court’s number one priority is the best interests of the child, which is now generally presumed to be served by the parents having equal authority and parenting time. In making the final determination, the court will consider the wishes of both parents and the wishes of the child, judging the child’s wishes on the child’s age, maturity and reasoning ability. They look at the physical and mental health of each parent, each parents ability to care for the child, whether or not the child would have to move, and whether either parent has a past history of child-related offenses.

Some spouses can agree on how they want their property and assets divided. For others, the court must decide. This does not necessarily mean your property will be divided 50/50. Proving why you deserve more can be important. Anything you acquired before your marriage is known as separate property and typically will stay in your possession.

Each state is different, but in Ohio, if you are living separately for one year you are eligible to file for a no-fault divorce. This means you are not required to show wrongdoing of either party in order to file the divorce.

Yes. You can get legally separated, which allows you to retain your marital status. Typically, people do this because of religious beliefs or to maintain health care benefits. It is also an option for those who might consider reconciling in the future. Another alternative is an annulment which means your marriage was never legally valid; this can only happen for specific reasons.