PUBLISHERS NOTE: Neither Jeff or MacKenzie Bezos live in Ohio. They live in Washington (where Amazon is headquartered). Nor, do we truly know all the facts of their highly publicized divorce. This article is hypothetical in nature assuming Jeff Bezos has committed adultery and an Ohio Divorce Court had jurisdiction.
Is Adultery Grounds For Divorce In OhIo?
In the aftermath of Jeff Bezos recently announcing that he and his wife MacKenzie will be divorcing, I was asked if the divorce was in Ohio, how his purported affair would affect his divorce. In addition, I am assuming that there is no prenuptial agreement in my answer.
In Ohio, Adultery is a Ground for Divorce.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3105.01 (c) adultery is a ground for divorce. It is one of 6 statutory grounds recognized for divorce plus there is also the no fault basis of incompatibility. If the grounds were contested in a trial, the wife would have the burden of proving the adultery. In the vast majority of Ohio divorce cases, grounds are not contested and the case proceeds based on incompatibility and both parties agreeing to terminate their marriage.
Adultery is fairly common in our society. Frequently, adultery is the grounds for many legal separation and divorce actions; however, “marital fault” is not typically given a great deal of attention by our legal systems. There are some steps individuals can take to help ensure their asset protection from adultery, such as prenuptial agreements, which may limit the ability for one spouse to take part in the estate once the divorce commences.