A Complete Guide to Divorce Mediators in Ohio
If you are about ready to call it quits on your marriage, don’t feel like you’re alone because you’re not.
The United States has the 6th-highest divorce rate in the world, at about 50% of married couples. If you’re an Ohioan, it’s incumbent upon you to figure out all the divorce laws that pertain to your situation.
It’s also up to you to seek the best possible dissolution of your marriage. If you’re interested in peace, speediness, and the most pain-free process possible, you’ll want to work with mediators.
Here is a complete guide to understanding and working with divorce mediators in Ohio.
Understand Divorce Laws in Ohio
Divorce mediators act as impartial facilitators to help negotiate the divorce with you and your spouse. Before negotiating in earnest, you need to know what you want from the divorce.
Desires are one thing, but it’s essential to understand how the law in Ohio addresses divorces so that you can approach it with accurate information.
Ohio Residency Requirements
The process of divorce begins with a simple filing, and the filing isn’t valid unless both spouses can prove their residency.
When you file, make sure that you have proof that you’ve been living in Ohio for at least the past six months. Decide on which Ohio County you want to file your petition.
Many people choose the county where they were married or the one in which they currently reside. However, you’re allowed to file your petition in any Ohio county.
Grounds for Divorce
Next, your divorce petition is only valid once you cite your grounds for divorce. These grounds are different depending on the state, and choosing a particular ground for divorce can change how the process is handled.
Here are the legal grounds for divorce in Ohio:
- Spousal cruelty
- Infidelity
- Abandonment of at least a year
- Finding out your spouse had another legal husband or wife
- Neglect of spousal duty
- Drunkenness
- Fraud
- State or federal imprisonment
- Spousal incompatibility
Knowing these grounds for divorce and responding accordingly will help you choose what’s best as you select a mediator to work with.
Property Splits in Ohio Divorces
You must also know how any marital property is divided toward the end of your marriage. Ohio is one of many states that operates under equitable distribution during divorce.
This means they don’t have hard and fast rules about property distribution. Instead, they charge the courts with doing what’s fair and in the best interests of both parties.
These rules allow much room for negotiation with divorce mediators in Ohio.
Child Custody and Other Arrangements
Deciding how to handle your family after the divorce is one of the most important aspects of mediation that you’ll need to hash out. You’ll want to familiarize yourself with how Ohio considers these matters.
The state also finds equitable ways to handle the assignment of parental rights and responsibilities to each parent. They will guide you toward coming up with a schedule for visitation and primary parenting and will hear arguments on both sides.
Likewise, the courts will consider income and the child’s needs when assigning child support orders.
The Benefits of Divorce Mediators in Ohio
With Ohio’s state of divorce laws, what makes mediators so vital? If you know the benefits, you’ll be more likely to take the following steps of hiring a mediator and moving forward.
Here are some of the main reasons that people get mediation:
It Makes the Divorce Quicker
A divorce takes about a year, on average. This clock starts from the time of the filing to the time you both receive the final divorce decree.
Mediation can speed this timetable up significantly. The reason that divorce can take as long as a year is that constant hearings are being scheduled and re-scheduled, and you need to work around the schedules of the judge and both attorneys.
You’re also fighting for things and defending yourself rather than working collaboratively like you are in the case of divorce mediation. Handling your divorce expeditiously is reason enough for anyone to hire a mediator.
Mediation Lowers the Cost of Divorce
Divorce mediation also drives down the total cost of your divorce. On average, people pay roughly $13,000 for their divorce, and mediation costs much less, especially since you’re not spending as much on lawyer fees.
There’s less need for legal strategy since you’re negotiating and cooperating, so the cost goes down significantly.
You Can Cooperate Without Emotion and Turmoil
Divorce mediation lawyers also are valuable because they help you put the emotion of divorce into proper perspective. Instead, mediators help you work on constructive solutions rather than focus on negative emotions.
Divorce can affect your brain, causing undue stress, headaches, and self-doubt. Working with a mediator saves you a lot of this trouble, which protects your health and well-being.
Mediators Can Find Workable Agreements for Your Family
If the two of you have kids together, finding a divorce mediation attorney is essential.
When you’re co-parenting, there are always some inherent challenges that you’ll have to work through. These challenges will be even more demanding if either of you has an unfair parenting arrangement.
Mediators will help you split custody in a fair and reasonable way. Also, learning how to negotiate and communicate now will pay off for years when it’s time to start co-parenting while living apart from each other.
You Both Will Enjoy the Freedom and Flexibility
Nobody wants to stand before a judge and have them dictate matters about their personal lives. Hiring a quality mediator and cooperating in an agreement is the only way to ensure that.
Compromises will have to be made, so you may not get 100% of the outcome you desired, but you’ll know that you came to these agreements on your terms.
Hire a Divorce Mediator
How can I hire divorce mediation near me? If this is what you’re asking now that you’re aware of what these professionals offer, it’s time to figure out how to work with them.
Search for the Most Credible Mediators
Chances are high that you know someone that has gone through a divorce. If so, contact them to learn if their divorce was contested, tried in court, or collaborative.
If it was collaborative, ask for the name of the mediation firm they used. Search for reviews and background check them until you have a list of at least three credible mediators.
Schedule an Appointment
Reach out to your spouse and have a heart-to-heart about ending the relationship on a positive note. If you’re both on the same page about mediation, it’s far easier to get results and end things peacefully.
Share your list of credible mediators and invite them to add some of their own. From there, begin scheduling appointments with the mediators that you both like. During the consultation, the mediators will let you know how they operate and what you can expect from each session.
You can also discuss your goals with them to get an idea of their ability to help you. Go over their price and contract and make sure that it suits you.
Attend All Sessions in Good Faith
Finally, please recognize that you’ll only get from mediation what you put into it. Come to each session in good faith, prepared to leave behind all the emotional turmoil so you can move forward with your life.
In between mediation sessions, ensure that you’re taking care of your physical and mental health, getting plenty of sleep, getting out of the house, and attending therapy or counseling sessions if needed.
Get Ohio Divorce Mediation Help
Divorce mediators in Ohio have the skills and experience to help you with your divorce. If you’re ready to get the most straightforward and productive divorce possible, your shoud reach out to some professional divorce mediators like Next Page Mediation.
Without question, mediation is the future of divorce. You can call it quits without being at odds with each other, and mediators can help make this your reality.
Next Page Mediation can give you the conclusion to the marriage that you’re seeking. Schedule a free consultation call, or contact our firm by calling us at (216)206-9789.
