YES! Mediation is one of the most frequently used methods of negotiating a divorce settlement. Mediation is MUCH less expensive than a court trial or a series of hearings. This allows you to resolve your divorce cheaper, quicker, with less stress and emotional toll for all involved, especially children.

Every divorce case takes a different length of time, depending on the unique circumstances. This will likely depend on how many issues are contested and how quickly you and your spouse can come to agreements. The most common factors that affect the length of the process include the ability for you to cooperate with your spouse, honesty about existing assets, openness to negotiations, and willingness to make sacrifices. Stubbornness, evasion, and animosity can hurt the process and cost more time and more money.

Property division can be quite complex, and is completed by determining which property is community property and which is separate. The property which each party brought to the marriage will be treated separately than that property which was acquired in the marriage. Ohio is an equitable division state, which means that property shall be divided in a manner that is fair, not necessarily equal. Thus, division of property should ensure that each party receives an amount of the total assets that is enough to create a fair and equitable financial balance.

Spousal Support or Alimony, will be awarded only when a former spouse is unable to meet basic needs or maintain living conditions without financial assistance. Spousal support may be temporary to allow the receiving spouse time to get back into the job market, brush up on skills, complete an educational program, or raise the children; or permanent, such as when a spouse may never become self-supporting.

Certain issues involved in a family law case may be the subject of modification proceedings after a judgment or order is entered by the court. You can seek a modification of child custody and visitation orders at any time. The court may find the modification “necessary or proper” if it’s in the child’s best interest (Ca Fam § 3022).

Genreally, property division adjudicated by the final judgment in your divorce may not be modified by the court. However, it’s possible for a judgment to be rescinded in a set-aside motion under if an asset has not been disclosed and you learn about it after the divorce.