Divorce Attorney in Dayton, Ohio
If you’re facing divorce, you need more than legal information — you need a lawyer who will tell you the truth, protect what matters most, and guide you from your first conversation through to the other side. Anne Harvey has done exactly that for Dayton and Southwest Ohio families for 30+ years, working directly with every client herself.
Contacting Anne Harvey Law through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Hire the Lawyer Who Actually Handles Your Case
Divorce is stressful enough without wondering who you’ll be talking to next. Here is what it actually means to hire Anne for your divorce:
You Work With Anne — Not a Rotating Team
Every call, every filing, every court date involves the same attorney: Anne herself. You will never have to re-explain your case to a new associate.
Straight Answers, Not Just What You Want to Hear
Anne tells clients the truth about where their case stands, including the parts that are hard to hear, so decisions get made with clear eyes.
30+ Years Focused on Ohio Family Law
Decades spent exclusively on divorce, custody, and support matters in Southwest Ohio courts, not a general practice that handles family law on the side.
Credentials You'd Expect From a Large Firm
OSBA Board Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law, and an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest peer-review rating.
“She will not steer you wrong and will be honest with you. She never fed me any lies. In Anne you have it all — she delivers what she says she will, as long as you do your part too.”— Former Client, Anne Harvey Law
Every family law matter is different. Past client experiences do not predict or guarantee the outcome of your case.
On Thirty-Plus Years of Divorce Cases
I’ve been doing this a long time now — long enough to watch the kids of some of my earliest clients grow up, get married, and in a few cases end up sitting across the desk from me for the same reason their parents once did. Nobody teaches you that in law school. You learn it by staying in one place, doing one kind of work, for thirty-plus years.
Divorce doesn’t get easier to watch, even after this many years, and honestly, I don’t think it should. Every file on my desk is somebody’s actual life: their kids, their house, their retirement, their sense of what comes next. If a lawyer ever tells you they’ve seen it all and nothing surprises them anymore, that’s usually a good moment to find a different lawyer.
What experience has really given me isn’t a formula. It’s judgment. I know which fights are worth having in front of a judge and which ones just burn through a family’s savings and patience for nothing. I’ve learned how different courtrooms around this area tend to read the same set of facts, and I’ve learned to trust that instinct. I also know, most of the time, when a client is telling me what actually happened versus what they wish had happened. I need both, honestly, to do my job well.
More than anything, thirty-plus years has taught me patience with people going through the worst stretch of their lives. Nobody calls a divorce lawyer on a good day. I try to remember that every time the phone rings, because somewhere underneath the paperwork and the deadlines is a person who just needs someone to be straight with them, and to actually show up.
— Anne Harvey
Divorce vs. Dissolution in Ohio
Ohio law provides more than one way to legally end a marriage, and the right path depends heavily on your circumstances. A divorce is a contested court proceeding, used when spouses do not agree on every issue — property division, custody, support, or something else. The court resolves whatever remains in dispute, which can involve hearings and, in some cases, a trial.
A dissolution, by contrast, is available when both spouses have already reached a complete agreement on property, debt, support, and any parenting matters. Rather than asking a court to decide contested issues, the spouses jointly petition the court to approve the agreement they have already reached. When both people can communicate and agree, dissolution is often a faster and less adversarial route.
Many clients aren’t sure which path fits their situation, and that is a normal place to start. Anne will walk through your circumstances with you — including the complexity of your assets, whether children are involved, and how well you and your spouse are able to communicate — and help you understand which approach realistically applies. If a dissolution attempt stalls because agreement can’t be reached on a particular issue, Anne can help you pivot to a divorce filing without starting over from nothing.
What a Divorce in Ohio May Involve
Every divorce is different, but most Ohio divorces address some combination of the following issues. As a general matter, Ohio law also requires meeting certain residency requirements before a divorce can be filed in the state, which is one of the first things worth confirming with an attorney.
Property & Debt Division
Sorting marital property and debt from separate property, and working toward a fair division of homes, retirement accounts, vehicles, and other assets.
Child Custody & Parenting Time
Addressing the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities and building a parenting time schedule that works for your family.
Learn moreChild Support
Applying Ohio's child support guidelines accurately, and addressing income, healthcare, and other support-related questions.
Learn moreSpousal Support
Evaluating whether spousal support may apply in your case, on either side of the request, and what factors a court is likely to weigh.
Learn moreAlong the way, the court may issue temporary orders covering things like temporary support or a temporary parenting schedule while the case is pending. Most cases also involve a period of discovery, where each side gathers financial and other information, followed by negotiation between attorneys. Many divorces settle through negotiation or mediation without ever reaching a contested trial — but when an agreement genuinely cannot be reached, Anne is prepared to advocate for you in court.
Common Divorce Questions
General answers to help you get oriented. These do not substitute for advice about your specific situation.
How long does a divorce take in Ohio?
Timelines vary widely depending on whether the case is contested, how complex the finances are, and each county's court schedule. An uncontested matter can resolve in a matter of months, while a contested divorce with disputed custody or property issues can take considerably longer.
Do I have to prove fault to get divorced in Ohio?
No. Ohio allows for divorce on the ground of incompatibility, which does not require proving fault. Fault-based grounds still exist under Ohio law, but many divorces proceed without either spouse needing to prove wrongdoing.
Will I have to go to court?
Some hearings are typically required even in an agreed case, but many issues can be resolved through negotiation between attorneys rather than contested trial testimony. Anne will explain what to expect at each stage of your specific case.
Can we agree on everything and still benefit from a lawyer?
Yes. Even when spouses agree on the major issues, a lawyer can make sure the resulting agreement is complete, enforceable, and accurately reflects what was intended, which can prevent costly disputes later.
What is the difference between divorce and dissolution?
A divorce is a court proceeding used when spouses do not agree on every issue and ask a judge to resolve what remains disputed. A dissolution is available when both spouses have already reached a complete agreement and jointly ask the court to approve it.
Related Family Law Services
Serving Dayton and Southwest Ohio
Anne represents divorce clients throughout Dayton, Ohio and the surrounding counties, including Montgomery County, Warren County, Greene County, Clark County, Miami County.
Talk to Anne Before You Decide Anything Else
The sooner you understand your actual options, the more clearly you can plan your next move. Reach out directly to Anne and find out where you stand.
Please do not use the contact form to send highly sensitive or time-critical information. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.