Legal Question in Family Law in Ohio
I have recently moved to China and am trying to get divorced in Hamilton County, Ohio. If my wife and I both agree and sign a no-contest divorce and file it with the courts, can she show up on the court date and object to the agreement that has been signed by both of us, or even try to make changes to the agreement? I cannot be there since I am in China and would have no way to object or make my own arguments.
On a related, but not nearly as important, question. How long does it take to receive a certified divorce certificate after the court hearing?
1 Answer from Attorneys
This answer is the typical it depends. :) There are ways to try and prepare the documents to protect yourself from her changing her mind at the final hearing. Your best bet is to hire an attorney to prepare the documents for you and appear on your behalf at the final hearing. The bonus to that is that if an attorney prepares the documents there is less likelihood of having issues after the hearing with getting the documents approved. This will lead to a MUCH shorter time getting "officially" divorced and receiving certified copies of the Divorce Decree. Finally, an attorney will make sure you are adequately represented and there are no surprises. As long as everything is agreed upon, that kind of service should be relatively affordable. The peace of mind is worth it.