Hey everyone, I’ve been trying to figure out how to file for divorce. I haven’t done anything yet but I just want him gone. We don’t have any kids or anything to fight over. I don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on an attorney either. Has anyone gone through this? I’m hoping it’s an easy process and I don’t need to fight for anything… any advice would be helpful!
I’ve been through this! If you’re in Ohio, you can file on your own if it’s uncontested. There are forms online that you can fill out and submit. You might need a process server to serve him, though. If he’s willing to just sign everything, that’ll make it easier. Good luck!
@LizCampbell
Wait, what’s a process server? Is that someone that just gives him the papers?
Kyrie said:
@LizCampbell
Wait, what’s a process server? Is that someone that just gives him the papers?
Yeah, exactly! A process server delivers the paperwork to him so it’s official. You can also have a sheriff do it if he’s local. If he’s okay with it, he can just admit he got the papers without needing to be served.
I think you can handle this yourself, honestly. It’s mostly about filling out paperwork. Check out Ohio’s legal help website, it has all the forms and instructions. Just make sure he actually gets served. If he doesn’t respond, you can still get a default judgment. It’s all doable if you both agree on everything.
@Dixie
Ooh, good tip. Didn’t realize you could get a default ruling if he doesn’t respond. Is that what happens if he just ignores everything?
FatherFigga said:
@Dixie
Ooh, good tip. Didn’t realize you could get a default ruling if he doesn’t respond. Is that what happens if he just ignores everything?
Yep, exactly! If he doesn’t file anything back or show up in court, you can ask the judge for a default ruling. So even if he’s MIA, you can still get things done.
I did something similar and it wasn’t bad at all. If you can both agree on everything, it’s just a matter of filling out the forms and filing them. If you’re not sure about some of the wording, there are free templates online that can help you draft a settlement agreement.
@Poppy
I saw something about a marital settlement agreement. Is that like a contract between you two on how everything’s divided?
Chris said:
@Poppy
I saw something about a marital settlement agreement. Is that like a contract between you two on how everything’s divided?
Yeah, that’s exactly it! It lays out all the details like property division, debts, etc. It can be simple if you don’t have much to divide, but it’s important to have everything written down.
I was in a similar situation, and the process was pretty straightforward once I got all the paperwork done. If he’s already gone and you don’t have any fights about assets, it should be a simple dissolution. If you don’t want to pay a ton in lawyer fees, doing it yourself is totally possible!
@NebulaNoble
What exactly is a dissolution? Is it just a quicker divorce?
Ulani said:
@NebulaNoble
What exactly is a dissolution? Is it just a quicker divorce?
Yeah, pretty much. A dissolution is just an uncontested divorce where both parties agree on everything. It’s simpler and doesn’t need to go through a trial. It’s usually faster and cheaper!
Definitely check out Ohio’s legal resources. There’s a lot of free info out there, and you can even use forms online to get started. It’s less stressful than it sounds, but I’d still recommend checking the official state websites for all the details!
@Emmy
Thanks for the heads up! I’ll look into that. It’s good to know there’s free help out there for stuff like this.