Ohio Divorce Forms & Papers

Divorce Papers > Ohio Divorce Forms & Papers

There are many ways to terminate a marriage in the state of Ohio, which includes, divorce, dissolution or annulment. A divorce is a legal confirmation that the marriage is over. While filing a divorce one should be very careful with the documents as it should be filled after meeting all the legal requirements and also with the right information. Ohio divorce forms and papers can also be obtained on-line. One should be sure about the website before downloading the forms in order to make sure that the documents are authentic. You can also seek the help of a lawyer and consult with them to meet other legal requirements to complete all the necessary formalities in limited time.

Residential requirements for filing a divorce in Ohio:

The spouse filing for the dissolution must have been a resident of Ohio for at least 6 months and a resident of the county for at least 90 days immediately prior to filing. [Ohio Revised Code Annotated; Section 3105.03 and Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 3]. For more information on filing divorce see our page on.

Grounds for a divorce:

The grounds for a no-fault divorce in Ohio are: 1) incompatibility; or 2) living separate and apart without cohabitation and without interruption 'for one year. [Ohio Revised Code Annotated; Section 3105.01].

Whereas the grounds for a fault based divorce includes: 1) imprisonment 2) desertion for a year by will 3) adultery 4) bigamy 5) fraud 6) neglect 7) intemperance 8) imprisonment

Divorces can be obtained on an agreed basis or by default regardless, of the reason for the termination of the marriage. Couple who opt for a Do It Yourself divorce can choose from either of these methods to dissolve the marriage.

An agreed divorce is when both the spouses agree on the terms and conditions of the divorce. An agreed divorce needs to be signed by both parties and they usually agree upon issues related to property distribution, parental rights and child custody. This method is the most preferred method of filing a divorce in the state of Ohio.

A default divorce on the other hand is not signed by one of spouses. They just default on the divorce case and it is termed as agreed. Entire process of filing a divorce is done by another spouse and the spouse filing the divorce usually gets everything that is been asked in the divorce documents.

Ohio divorce procedures:

Both spouses may jointly file a petition for dissolution of marriage. The petition must: 1) be signed by both spouses; 2) have attached to it a separation agreement which provides information on a) division of property, b) alimony (including the authorization of the court to modify any alimony terms), and c) custody, visitation, and child support, if there are any minor children. Between 30 and 90 days after filing such a petition, both spouses must appear in court and state under oath that he or she: 1) voluntarily signed the agreement; 2) is satisfied with the agreement; and 3) seeks dissolution of the marriage. In addition, marital settlement agreements are also authorized by statute and may be used in a divorce proceeding. There may be local court rules which apply to divorce proceedings for Ohio. [Ohio Revised Code Annotated; Sections 3105.03, 3105.10, 3105.61 - 65].

USE THESE WORDS IN THE COURT DOCUMENTS FOR OHIO

Use these exact words, all in capital letters: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF COUNTY, OHIO
Use these exact words, all in capital letters: PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE
Use the word "Petitioner'. Be sure the "P" is capitalized.
Use the word "Co- Petitioner". Be sure the "C" and "P" are always capitalized.
Use these exact words: DECREE OF DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE. Be sure to use capital letters only when placed as the title of your final document.
Use the word "County" here.

Ohio Child custody:

Child custody is basically a shared arrangement. Both the spouses get equal opportunity to spend time with the child and be part of their lives during their growing years. A sole custody is only considered if there is a good reason and only if both partners agree on the same. The financial status of a spouse is not considered one of the factors for giving rights and responsibilities to partners.

For detailed divorce laws in Ohio state, please see Ohio Divorce Laws page.

Free Ohio Divorce Forms for Download

Following divorce forms are free for download. Most of the forms are provided with instructions on how to fill the form. To download any of these divorce papers and forms just right click on the link and select "Save As...".

Ohio Divorce Instructions

Ohio Divorce Forms that both parties must sign

Forms & Documents

Ohio Divorce Court Forms