While Ohio does not require you to have legal representation in a divorce or dissolution action, you risk losing significant legal rights if you do not talk with a lawyer before you initiate an action or defend against a divorce. The laws that apply to the divorce process, division of property, custody and parenting, child support, and spousal support are extensive and extremely complex. When you initiate a court action, detailed rules of court procedure also apply.

Proceeding in a dissolution or divorce action without a lawyer is extremely risky. Without the proper knowledge, expertise, and skill, you could make mistakes that are costly to fix. In some cases, errors made in self-representation are impossible to remedy after the fact.