Simplifying the Marriage Termination Process for Ohio Couples
Professional dissolution services for Ohio couples
Expert legal guidance for Ohio couples
Providing legal guidance for spouses seeking a collaborative, efficient end to their marriage through dissolution.
A dissolution of marriage is Ohio's version of an uncontested divorce, designed for parties who agree on all key issues and jointly petition to terminate their marriage through the court.
Unlike traditional divorce, dissolution is generally collaborative and faster, often taking considerably less time and costing significantly less than contested proceedings.
We handle the preparation of all draft pleadings and eventual filing to ensure your dissolution proceeds without delays or errors.
Even when parties agree, court orders must be thorough and enforceable. We help protect your rights and avoid future misunderstandings.
Ending a marriage—even on amicable terms—can be emotional and complex. We offer steady, experienced support through each stage.
Unlike traditional divorce, dissolution is generally collaborative and faster, often taking considerably less time and costing significantly less than contested proceedings.
You may be a good candidate for dissolution if you and your spouse:
Agree on how to divide marital property and debt
Agree on how to address parenting matters (if children are involved)
Are able to communicate openly and respectfully
Trust each other to disclose all assets and liabilities
We help ensure that your agreements are fair, enforceable and clearly written, and fully compliant with Ohio law.
Clear steps to successful dissolution
We create comprehensive Separation Agreement and Shared Parenting Plan (when applicable) outlining all necessary terms.
Both spouses sign and file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and other required pleadings in the appropriate county court.
Approximately 30–90 days after filing, both parties attend a brief final dissolution hearing to formally terminate the marriage.
Once the court approves the agreement at the final hearing, the court files the final decree and the marriage is officially dissolved.
Real results from real families
"Laken did an outstanding job on my case. She is very efficient and professional. Her logical advice and knowledge about the process gave me a lot of confidence in her abilities. Highly recommend!"
"Highly recommend working with Laken! She was always very informative and kind. She keeps things very clear and honest which I can appreciate. During a very difficult time, she kept me level headed and was there for exactly what I needed. A huge thank you to her!"
"Laken provided excellent support, clear communication and sound advice that led to our desired outcome. She was easy to work with and when the retainer was not all needed, it was promptly refunded without us asking. We would highly recommend her."
"Laken is AMAZING—professional, intelligent, and honest. She always had our best interests in mind and acted accordingly. Laken communicated everything swiftly every step of the way. Highly recommended from two happy clients! —Mr. & Mrs. Barto"
"I cannot say enough great things about Laken and The Schodzinski Law Firm! Laken's ability to listen, care, be compassionate, attention to detail, turn around time and all out professionalism is exactly what me and my family needed."
"Laken has went above and beyond for my daughter and I. I couldn't imagine going through a custody battle without her on my side! Going into the process I had no idea what was to come and she guided me through everything step by step. 10000|10 recommend!"
"I had the best experience possible with Laken as my lawyer for my dissolution of marriage. She made sure that I understood the process completely from start to finish and answered my questions thoroughly. Laken was very quick with her responses and always professional."
"Laken was very attentive to my needs. She always responded back to me promptly and quickly. She was also very knowledgeable on the questions that I would have. She also handled my case professionally."
"Laken was recommended by a close friend, I can't tell you enough how much she has helped me through all this. She is caring, firm, always available and when it came to winning she fought and won. You want her on your side in a legal battle. You will be glad you do!"
"Laken was excellent representation in my divorce. After successful mediation, she drafted complete and thorough affidavits and the various agreements (shared parenting plan, separation agreement, etc) quickly. I was able to get divorced much quicker than I anticipated because of the firms dedication to my case. Thank you!"
"10/10 for Laken! She has been an outstanding attorney. She's always available when I need her, incredibly efficient, and highly knowledgeable about child custody and support matters. Her professionalism is top-notch, and she consistently goes above and beyond for her clients."
"Laken is skilled at making a difficult situation easier. I'm really thankful for her and her help because I felt so overwhelmed about the legal stuff. She explained things clearly and simply, handled the process with finesse, and navigated everything with expertise."
"In a tight spot and in need of legal advice, Laken was recommended by an acquaintance. I was attempting to avoid a divorce, but the other party was not transparent. I called The Schodzinski Law Firm LLC the morning before we were to close on our house and Laken immediately took action."
"My experience with Laken has been nothing but great since the beginning. She was always very easy to talk to, she would over explain things for me so I could better understand what was going on when I asked questions. She definitely kept me informed throughout the entire process."
"Laken was incredibly good counsel. She was not only knowledgeable and diligent, but also patient and generously communicative about our case. She is an excellent lawyer and I highly recommend."
"Laken is an exceptional family law litigator. Her deep understanding, legal acumen, and compassionate approach set her apart. She's a dedicated advocate who leaves no stone unturned. Her ability to conduct research is phenomenal. Laken's attention to detail and strategic thinking are unmatched."
"Laken came highly recommended when I needed someone to represent me concerning custody matters for my child. I found Laken to be very knowledgeable and professional. I appreciated her honesty, hard-work, and dedication to helping us achieve the best possible outcome."
"Laken once told me that I would struggle to find anyone else that would work harder or care more than she and her team would. She was right! Laken was right there with me the whole way, she was respectful, responsive and most of all, she cared about my case and my family."
"Laken represented my daughter in her custody case. She was very responsive and knowledgeable in LGBTQ rights! I believe that her hard work and tenacity are some of her best characteristics! If you need someone on your side to listen and help guide you, I would recommend hiring Laken!"
"Laken made a very difficult time in my life easy to navigate. She took the time to explain everything and made sure I was well-prepared for whatever might happen. She acted professionally at all times, was very efficient, and did an excellent job with my dissolution. I highly recommend Laken and Schodzinski Law Firm!"
"Laken was extremely professional and she was always available to help me in my extremely complicated cases. Laken is highly educated in the law and was always calm and communicated everything very well to me. All her hard work paid off and she was very successful with all my cases and we won everything. Highly recommend her!"
"After multiple lawyers shot me down and told me that I had no case, Mrs. Laken Wise took the time to hear me out and then immediately took me under counsel. While the other lawyers made me feel pessimistic about my chances winning a case, Laken made me feel confident and hopeful."
"I cannot recommend Laken enough. Laken made the dissolution process easy, fast and efficient. She was always willing to answer questions or review paperwork with me. She is professional, fair, honest and reliable. She is knowledgeable about the law and always had my best interests in mind."
"Laken has been representing me on a somewhat unique case for the past few months and she has been amazing to work with. She has really taken the time and listened to my concerns and made me feel like she really cares. She is passionate about her work and it shows in everything she does."
"Laken was absolutely awesome! She knows everything about the processes you will need to go through and super helpful along the way. Any questions I had were answered very quickly and thoroughly which was great! She also always has your best interests in mind and fights hard for you."
"I cannot say enough positive things about Laken Wise (Schodzinski) and her work as my children's attorney advocate. Throughout the entire process of litigation, my children knew above all else that they could rely on Laken to have their best interests at heart and to fight for what was right."
"Laken was my attorney in my very complex child custody and divorce case. Her research, follow through, and capacity to understand very complex elements of my case were superb. Laken communicates promptly and very thoroughly. I would happily recommend anyone to work with her."
"For any individuals dealing with a case for the first-time; please know the court & law system is very complex. It was extremely challenging and difficult but glad I had Laken representing me. She was honest, compassionate, and made sure to prepare me for what was a personally difficult case."
"Laken was extremely thorough and methodical throughout the entire litigation process. She was very knowledgeable about all relevant case law and displayed skillfulness in the courtroom. I highly recommend Laken to anyone in need of a family attorney!"
Frequently asked questions about our dissolution services
Once filed, dissolution is usually finalized within 30 to 90 days.
If disagreements arise, your case may need to be converted to a divorce proceeding. We can represent your interests either way.
Yes. Both parties must appear at the final hearing to confirm that all agreements remain voluntary and acceptable, etc.
Understanding the key differences
Requires full agreement on all terms prior to filing
Fast and cost-effective
No grounds are necessary
United front – One joint petition – Parties are jointly labeled as “Petitioners”
Involves (at least) some degree of litigation and disputes
Lengthy and more expensive than dissolution
At least one ground is required, i.e., living separate and apart for one year or greater, extreme cruelty, habitual drunkenness, gross neglect of duty, adultery, etc.
Adversarial by nature – Individual filing – The initiating party is deemed the “Plaintiff.” The opposing party is deemed the “Defendant.”
If full agreement is not possible, we can help transition from a dissolution to a contested divorce with strong advocacy.
Schodzinski Law offers a full range of legal services in Columbus and across Ohio, including, but not limited to:
Representation through contested and/or complex divorce proceedings
Collaborative legal conflict resolution outside of court
Protecting custodial rights of parents
Child custody representation for LGBTQ+ parents, for families usually consisting of one biological parent and one non-biological parent
If you and your spouse are ready to end your marriage respectfully and efficiently, we're here to help you move forward with clarity and peace of mind.