In Cincinnati, dissolution can offer a streamlined and less adversarial path to legally ending your marriage, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple. Even the most amicable divorces involve important legal and financial decisions that can impact your future for years to come. At Brown Carrington, PLLC, our divorce attorney in Cincinnati has helped numerous individuals and families accomplish the dissolution process with clarity, dignity, and strength.
What Is a Dissolution in Cincinnati?
A Dissolution is filed jointly when both spouses agree on all key terms of the divorce before anything is filed with the court. This includes mutual agreement on:
- Division of property and debts
- Spousal support (alimony), if any
- Child custody, parenting time (visitation), and child support
- Division of retirement accounts and other financial matters
When there’s nothing to litigate, the court’s role becomes simplified in some respects: reviewing your paperwork, ensuring equity under Ohio law, and finalizing the divorce through a decree. This streamlined path is generally faster, less expensive, and far less emotionally taxing than a contested divorce.
Dissolution Doesn’t Mean It Is Uncomplicated
Even if you and your spouse generally agree, the legal documents you submit to the court must comply with Ohio’s divorce statutes and reflect a full understanding of your rights and responsibilities. Many couples who attempt to handle the process themselves end up with agreements that are incomplete, unenforceable, or unfair, requiring expensive litigation later to fix what could have been done correctly from the beginning.
At Brown Carrington, we take a comprehensive and preventive approach to dissolutions:
- We ensure your rights are protected now and in the future
- We help you comprehend the legal, and practical implications of the agreement you reach with your spouse
- We draft detailed documents intended to avoid ambiguity and future disputes
Our job is to help you get out of the marriage peacefully, but also to make sure you don’t regret how you did it.
Key Benefits of a Dissolution in Cincinnati
When it’s done properly, a dissolution can offer several advantages:
Cost-Effectiveness
Dissolution typically avoids costly litigation. By working with one of our attorneys to draft a comprehensive settlement agreement, you can control your legal fees and avoid the unpredictable costs of trial preparation and court hearings.
Faster Timeline
Cincinnati courts process dissolutions faster than a contested divorce. Once your paperwork is filed, a final decree may be filed in as little as 31 to 90 days, depending on the court’s docket and whether there are children involved.
Privacy
Dissolution allows couples to keep sensitive details out of the courtroom. When you settle privately and file your final agreement with the court, you avoid airing your financial, emotional, or parenting challenges in open court proceedings.
Less Conflict, More Control
You and your spouse are in charge, and not a judge. That control reduces stress, avoids polarization, and can lay a better foundation for cooperative co-parenting if children are involved.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dissolutions?
The legal process for a dissolution works best when both parties:
- Maintain open communication
- Have no significant power imbalance (e.g., financial abuse, domestic violence)
- Can compromise in good faith
- Have already discussed and generally agreed on the key issues
- Are committed to ending the marriage respectfully
That said, there are cases where one or both parties assume an agreement has been reached on key issues, but hidden conflicts or sensitive legal aspects emerge. That’s why we take the time to fully vet each case before filing. We ask smart questions, flag red flags early, and structure your agreement in ways that preserve peace.
Special Considerations in Cincinnati Dissolutions
Property Division Under Ohio Law
Ohio is an equitable distribution state. It means that while there is a presumption equal division of marital property is equitable, there are some instances when equal division may not necessarily be equitable. In a dissolution, you and your spouse decide how to divide your marital assets and debts, but courts may weigh in as to whether they believe the agreement is “equitable.” We make sure your proposed division meets this threshold, and protects your post-divorce financial health.
Child Custody and Support
If you have minor children, the court requires a shared parenting plan or agreement regarding parental responsibilities and time-sharing. We help you:
- Structure a comprehensive parenting schedule that fits your child’s needs
- Address decision-making authority for school, medical, and extracurricular issues
- Perform child support computations to assist in the drafting of a child support agreement that complies with Ohio’s statutory requirements and a court’s local rules
We also address relocation issues, vacation time, communication protocols, and dispute resolution tools to help prevent conflict after the divorce.
Spousal Support (commonly referred to as “Alimony”)
Unlike child support, spousal support is discretionary in Ohio. If you and your spouse agree on the amount and duration of support, we ensure the agreement is properly structured and enforceable under state law.
We advise on waivers of support and language that protects you if circumstances change later (e.g., job loss, remarriage, or retirement).
The Process: How We Handle Your Cincinnati Dissolution
At Brown Carrington, PLLC, our approach is client-centered, efficient, and grounded in real-world results. Here’s how we guide you through the process:
Step 1: Strategy Consultation
We start by learning about your situation, your goals, and any existing agreements between you and your spouse. We flag potential risks and lay out your options.
Step 2: Agreement Drafting
We prepare a detailed separation agreement, including all required court forms and financial disclosures. We address every detail-property division, debts, support, custody, and retirement-so that nothing is left unresolved.
Step 3: Filing and Service
Once both parties approve the documents, we file the petition and agreement with the Domestic Relations Court and ensure proper service or waiver of service is completed.
Step 4: Final Hearing or Waiver
Dissolutions will require a short court appearance called a “Final Merits” Hearing. We walk you through every step and handle court communications on your behalf.
Step 5: Final Decree
Once the court approves your separation agreement (and if children are involved, your parenting plan) and enters a Decree of Dissolution, your marriage will be legally dissolved. We will provide certified copies, explain next steps (for example, the division of retirement accounts, including the use of special orders to avoid creating taxable events where possible drafting and delivery of titles, etc.) and ensure you can move forward confidently.
Choose Our Seasoned Family Law Attorneys in Cincinnati
In divorce proceedings and family law matters, even if you and your spouse agree on the big picture, the details can make all the difference. It is not advisable to rely on court-provided forms or generic templates in the divorce process. At Brown Carrington, our lawyers are known for:
- Creative problem-solving tailored to your family’s needs
- Sharp attention to detail in every agreement we draft
- Strong negotiation skills that prioritize fairness without unnecessary conflict
- Clear, consistent communication so you’re never left in the dark
We aren’t just checking boxes. We’re protecting your future, your finances, and your peace of mind. Let our legal counsel guide you through a dissolution that is comprehensive, enforceable, and right for you. To schedule your confidential consultation, call us at 513-334-3050 or contact us online.
