To file for divorce in Columbus, you or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months (R.C. 3105.03), and the case is filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division. Jeckering & Associates, LLC represents individual spouses in contested divorce, custody and support cases.
This page provides general information, not legal advice about your matter. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.
The first orders shape the whole case
Who stays in the house, who pays which bills, and where the children sleep are often decided in temporary orders, weeks into the case. Those orders tend to stick.
We prepare your case to win at trial, so the other spouse’s lawyer has to negotiate against a real trial date.
Temporary-orders hearing coming? Call 614-944-5151 now.
Money the other side would rather you not see
Bank statements, retirement accounts, business books and credit-card history are obtained through discovery, under oath when needed. If assets were moved or spent down, the record has to show it before the property is divided. Business owners and large estates: see high-net-worth divorce.
Custody: a plan the court can believe
Ohio courts decide parenting time around the child’s interests. That means school, routine, health and each parent’s actual track record, not promises made in a courtroom. We build the parenting plan from the calendar you have actually lived.
Divorce or dissolution
A dissolution works when spouses agree on everything and file together. A divorce is a lawsuit for when they don’t. If one side hides money or refuses to engage, a dissolution is not on the table.
Champaign County cases
Champaign County spouses, from Urbana to Mechanicsburg, can meet at our Mechanicsburg law office. The same team handles the case, wherever it is filed.
If the decree is wrong
A decree can sometimes be appealed, on a short clock. See civil appeals.
Why clients hire us
- We represent one spouse: you.
- We prepare for temporary-orders hearings as if they were trials.
- We pursue financial discovery instead of trusting the other side’s numbers.
- We put one team on your case, from offices in Columbus and Mechanicsburg.
FAQ
How long do you have to live in Ohio to file for divorce?
At least 6 months before filing, under R.C. 3105.03. Venue within Ohio, such as Franklin County, has its own requirements.
What is the difference between divorce and dissolution in Ohio?
A dissolution is a joint filing when spouses agree on every term. A divorce is a contested lawsuit in which one spouse files and the court decides what the parties cannot.
How is custody decided in Franklin County?
The court decides parental rights based on the child’s interests, looking at factors like routine, school, health and each parent’s involvement.
Should I move out before filing?
Not without advice first. Leaving can affect temporary orders, parenting time and practical control of the home, so talk to a lawyer before you go.
Can I get temporary support while the case is pending?
Yes, often. The court can issue temporary orders on support, bills and parenting time while the divorce moves forward.
Do you handle divorces in Champaign County?
Yes. Champaign County cases are handled from our Mechanicsburg office, by the same team that handles Franklin County cases from Columbus.
Do both spouses need their own lawyer in an Ohio divorce?
Each spouse should have one. A divorce divides property, support and parenting time, and each spouse is better served by a lawyer who represents only that spouse.
Fight for your rights before the first orders stick
Call us in Columbus at 614-944-5151 or in Mechanicsburg at 937-896-2222, or start with a message.
Related
Jeckering & Associates, LLC · Columbus office: 10 N High St, Suite 301, Columbus, OH 43215 · 614-944-5151 · Mechanicsburg office: 16 S Main St, Mechanicsburg, OH 43044 · 937-896-2222 · staff@centralohiolegal.com · Hours Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:30 PM