Divorce is usually a chaotic time, even under the simplest of separations. For Ohio couples who have decided to end their marriages, it can be easy to overlook certain legal requirements if they decide to go the do-it-yourself route. An unpleasant surprise awaited one woman in her pursuit to divorce her husband.
The husband is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence after the night in 2016 when he nearly killed her. He had been drinking and used her as a punching bag as well as choking her to the point of unconsciousness. In addition, he tried to shoot her but missed due to his inebriated state, she says.
When the woman filed for divorce, she found out about a little-known state law in Kentucky that reveals she has to foot the bill for his divorce attorney. It was ratified years ago for the reason that an incarcerated person does not have the resources to pay for an attorney. Several of the state’s senators are currently working to get the law changed so that the state pays the legal fees for the divorce of a person who has been convicted on abuse charges and is serving time in prison.
Ohio may also have older divorce laws that, although antiquated, must be obeyed until they are changed. It could spell disaster for a couple who may be considering finalizing a divorce without the benefit of an attorney, perhaps in an effort to save money. An experienced attorney with knowledge of the state’s divorce laws will be beneficial in the long run.
Source: courier-journal.com, “Kentucky law sticks domestic violence victims with abuser’s divorce bill“, Deborah Yetter, Jan. 9, 2018