Not all Ohio marriages will work out as planned. For a variety of reasons, people might decide that they want to move forward with a divorce and end their marriage. There are many factors that will be part of this process. Before anything else, however, it is important to understand the basics. The law has certain requirements that must be met for a person to file for divorce and for the other party to file a counterclaim for divorce.
If either party was already married and the spouse was alive when the subsequent marriage took place, then it is a legal justification for a divorce. A party might have been absent from the marriage for one year. If the absence was willful, then the law allows for a divorce. If the spouse committed adultery, the court will allow there to be a filing for divorce. Extreme cruelty can encompass many behaviors from physical to mental and emotional abuse and more. This is a legal cause for there to be a divorce.
Fraudulent contract involving outright fraud or a misrepresentation of the circumstances can occur that the spouse could not have known at the time of the marriage. If this is found out, and the spouse not involved in the acts was unaware of their partner’s behavior or activities, this can be a legal cause for divorce. Gross neglect of duty involves a failure to show fidelity, provide support and adhere to mutual respect among other behaviors. It can be a legal cause for divorce. Habitual drunkenness could have been an issue in the marriage and if the spouse is frequently under the influence, divorce is a legal alternative. Living separately and apart without cohabitating and without interruption is a legal foundation for divorce. The parties can declare that they are incompatible, which is also a legal cause for divorce.
When considering a divorce, it can be a complex situation. Knowing the legal grounds for a divorce is one of the most important parts of the process as there can be a delay if the requirements are not met. For those who are planning to move forward, seeking professional guidance is a critical factor that should not be ignored.
