Columbus, Ohio Divorce Attorney

Contested Divorce:

A contested divorce occurs when a couple is unable to end their marriage by agreement. A divorce is an adversarial proceeding where one party, the Plaintiff, files a divorce complaint against the other spouse, the Defendant. As your Columbus, Ohio divorce lawyer I take the time to thoroughly understand your matter from your point of view. Because a divorce proceeding can be time consuming and expensive, it is imperative that you measure your expectations against the facts of your case and applicable law. As a result, I advise clients to prioritize the issues that most concern them. This helps identify and focus on the most important aspects of your case.

The Divorce Process:

Temporary Orders - Once a divorce complaint is filed, the legal process begins. In most instances, one or both of the parties will request the Court to issue temporary orders. Temporary orders are issued by the Court early in the divorce proceeding to address interim issues such as the party responsible for the payment of debts and liabilities, spousal support, the use and occupancy of the marital home, and other support issues facing the family during the divorce proceeding. Should you have children, temporary child custody, parenting time and child support issues are also addressed.

Discovery - Once a divorce complaint is filed the legal process continues during which the parties exchange information and identify the issues that are and may be in dispute in the proceeding. Also, during this period the parties may attempt to iron-out issues, and, if necessary, prepare for trial.

Trial - Should the parties be unable to resolve their issues by an agreement, then a trial will be held and the court will decide the terms and conditions of the parties’ divorce. It is not uncommon for a contested divorce proceeding to take upwards of two years before a trial is conducted.

A lengthy divorce can be costly. It is important for anyone involved in a divorce proceeding to have clear goals to ensure wise use of resources. Should children be involved, it is important for the parties to devise a plan to maintain as much stability for the children as possible during this difficult transition.

Whether you are filing for divorce or responding to your spouse's suit, it is important not to discuss issues with your spouse until you have talked to an attorney. As your Columbus Ohio divorce lawyer we will discuss your personal goals and legal situation to determine how best to pursue your case to maximize results and achieve your objectives.

Columbus, Ohio Divorce Lawyer

If you would like to speak with me regarding divorce, dissolution, child custody, child support, establishing parental rights, legal separation, spousal support, grandparent / companionship rights, stepparent adoptions and annulment of marriages, please e-mail or call (614) 461-5708 for a FREE telephone consultation.

Columbus, Ohio, Family Law Attorney Dirken D. Winkler