Under Ohio law in order to file for divorce, you and/or your spouse must have been a resident of the state of Ohio for at least the past six months and of the county in which one of you live for at least 90 days. When a Complaint for Divorce has been filed, the Clerk of Courts will prepare a summons and the Defendant will be served with the Complaint for Divorce. The Plaintiff is required to obtain proper service on their spouse. There are a number of ways to serve a person but the most common are: personal service; the Sheriff’s department; certified mail; and service by publication. 
Once service is perfected, your spouse has 28 days in which to file what is known as an Answer and a Counterclaim for Divorce. If a Counterclaim is filed, the Plaintiff then has 28 days to file a Reply to that Counterclaim.
Once a Divorce case is filed and service is perfected, numerous motions can be filed between the initial divorce filing and termination of the marriage. A good divorce lawyer will help guide you through the divorce and tell you what to expect throughout the process. It is important to note that while some divorces proceed in a predictable manner, many include complications and disagreements. Navigating the divorce process without an attorney you can trust can be extremely difficult or even impossible.
Through her ongoing training and certifications, Mariellen stays on the cutting edge of divorce and family law techniques to make sure that you are getting the quality service and personal attention you need during a difficult time.
Whether your needs are best served through collaborative law or through divorce litigation, Mariellen will take the time necessary to understand your individual needs and specific case goals and work with you to determine the best strategy to meet them.
