The legal justifications for ending a marriage in Ohio fall into two primary categories: fault-based and no-fault. Fault-based reasons allege misconduct by one spouse, providing specific evidence to support the claim that their actions caused the marriage to fail. Examples include adultery, extreme cruelty, habitual drunkenness, and willful absence for more than one year.
The availability of options simplifies and streamlines the divorce process, potentially reducing conflict and legal costs. Historically, demonstrating fault was the sole method for obtaining a divorce, often requiring extensive documentation and potentially adversarial court proceedings. The introduction of a no-fault basis reflects a societal shift toward recognizing irreconcilable differences as a valid reason for marital dissolution.
