What Is A Legal Separation?

While much less common than divorce or dissolution, Ohio law also allows for legal separation. A legal separation works similarly to a divorce or dissolution, in that the parties’ assets and liabilities are permanently divided, but, at the end of the legal separation process, the parties remain legally married. There are a variety of reasons why a party might choose to file for a legal separation rather than a divorce. Your attorney can help you decide if a legal separation would be right for you.

If one or both parties decide later that they do wish to terminate the marriage, the parties may either file for a dissolution or divorce and convert the legal separation decree as part of the terms of the dissolution or divorce.