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First divorce between same-sex partners in Hancock County

On Behalf of | Aug 23, 2013 | Uncategorized

Though same-sex couples cannot get married in the state of Ohio, they can get divorced. Recently, the first same-sex divorce in Hancock County occurred and according to an attorney for one of the women involved in the marriage, this should not come into question. According to him, the state of Ohio recognizes marriages that occur in other states, including those between minors and cousins. He believes it should same-sex marriages regardless of the issues that many residents of the state have with homosexuality. This was underscored by the 62-percent vote to ban same-sex marriage within Ohio’s borders in 2004.

The divorce in Hancock County was between a 34-year-old woman from Cygnet, Ohio, and a 37-year-old woman from Findlay, Ohio. The two were married in February 2012 in New York, but recently, the 37-year-old woman converted to Christianity and has stated that she is no longer gay. Still, she believes same-sex couples should be allowed to divorce because if a relationship does not work, it should be allowed to end. Just like heterosexual couples, same-sex partners can share children. Though the two women in this case did not have any children, other same-sex couples do and this can be a very strenuous part of a divorce case.

Drafting a custody agreement that both partners approve of is extremely important. It will allow the parents to continue raising their child or children in a more amicable manner. Parents that have custody agreements that one or both parents do not like can lead to regular arguments over the stipulations. This causes even more negative feelings to arise between the parents. Heterosexual couples and same-sex couples have a lot in common in this regard.

If you are involved in a divorce and there are children involved, speak to an Ohio family law attorney. Your attorney can explain some of the more contentious matters of divorce, including child custody and support, alimony and property division.

Source: LimaOhio.com, “Hancock County first: A same-sex divorce” No author given, Aug. 16, 2013

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