A legal separation does not legally end a marriage in Ohio. It allows attorneys and court officials to begin dividing property, outlining spousal support agreements, and determining parental rights. The individuals remain married from a legal standpoint but live in separate locations. Spouses must adhere to all court mandates after it grants a legal separation.
In some cases, individuals can dissolve a marriage. Both parties must agree and jointly sign and file a dissolution petition. Before filing, spouses must address all aspects of childcare, spousal support, and property division. After a 30-day waiting period, court officials will review the separation agreement and grant the marriage dissolution unless any problems arise.
Divorce is similar to a dissolution of marriage but occurs when spouses cannot agree on how to manage assets or childcare responsibilities. If their partners do not agree to a dissolution, spouses must pursue a divorce. Ohio residents must cite specific grounds for a divorce, and family attorneys can help them present their cases to the courts. Agreements settle most divorces in Ohio.
Finally, certain marriages qualify for annulment. After a court has annulled a marriage, it is as if the union never took place. A few legal grounds for annulment include one of the spouses being underage at the time of the marriage or fraudulent activity leading to the marriage, such as one spouse using a false identity with the other. Any person forced to marry another person can have the marriage annulled.