Divorce Resources in Ohio: Court Forms, Legal Aid & Filing Guide

To file for divorce in Ohio, you must have been a resident of the state for at least six months immediately before filing, as required by ORC § 3105.03. You must also have resided in the county where you file for at least 90 days. Ohio recognizes two paths to end a marriage: divorce (contested or uncontested) and dissolution (fully agreed). For divorce, you file a Complaint using Uniform Domestic Relations Form 6 (without children) or Form 7 (with children) in the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division. The complaint must allege at least one of the 11 grounds listed in ORC § 3105.01, most commonly incompatibility as the no-fault ground.

After filing the complaint, you must serve the other spouse with a copy of the complaint and summons. Ohio allows service by certified mail, registered mail, sheriff service, or process server through the county clerk's office. The filing fee varies by county, typically ranging from $200 to $420 depending on the county and whether children are involved — for example, Franklin County charges $250 for a divorce action, while Summit County charges up to $420 with children. An additional $32 statewide surcharge funds domestic violence shelters under ORC § 2303.201. A separate $5.50 fee applies upon filing the final decree.

Both parties must complete mandatory financial disclosure by filing Uniform Domestic Relations Form Affidavit 1 (Income and Expenses) and Affidavit 2 (Property), which must be submitted at least seven days before the first pretrial conference. Under ORC § 3105.171, each spouse must disclose all marital property, separate property, assets, debts, income, and expenses in full. Failure to disclose can result in sanctions up to three times the value of concealed assets. If minor children are involved, both parties must also file Affidavit 3 (Parenting Proceeding Affidavit) and Affidavit 4 (Health Insurance Affidavit) detailing the children's living arrangements and health coverage.

For an uncontested dissolution of marriage, both spouses jointly file Uniform Domestic Relations Form 17 (Petition for Dissolution) along with Form 19 (Separation Agreement) resolving all issues. Under ORC § 3105.65, the court must hold a hearing between 30 and 90 days after filing the petition. Both parties must appear at the hearing. If the court finds the separation agreement is fair and equitable, it will grant the dissolution. Active-duty military members stationed in Ohio for at least 90 days may file for divorce even without meeting the six-month state residency requirement under the military exception to ORC § 3105.03.

Ohio law authorizes courts to require divorcing parents with minor children to complete a parenting education course before the court issues a final order. Under ORC § 3109.053, in any divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment proceeding involving minor children, the court may require both parents to attend a court-approved in-person or online parenting education course. In practice, most Ohio counties enforce this as a mandatory requirement. The course must be completed before the final hearing. Course certification is valid for two years — parties must retake the class if certification expires before the case concludes. The court may also require the parties' children to attend classes or counseling with the parents. Course costs are allocated between the parents by the court, though indigent parents may be exempted from payment under ORC § 3109.053.

Ohio does not impose a blanket statewide mandatory mediation requirement in all divorce cases, but courts have broad discretionary authority to order mediation. Under ORC § 3109.052, if a divorce proceeding involves minor children and the parents cannot agree on allocation of parental rights, responsibilities, or a parenting time schedule, the court may order the parents to mediate their differences in accordance with mediation procedures adopted by local rule. Many county courts have expanded mediation requirements beyond parenting issues to include property division, spousal support, and debt allocation. The Supreme Court of Ohio's Superintendence Rule 16 governs mediator qualifications and procedures for court-connected mediation. Mediators must hold a bachelor's degree and have at least two years of professional experience with families. If either parent has a domestic violence conviction under ORC § 2919.25, the court may order mediation only upon a written finding that it is in the parties' best interests. Mediation costs may be waived for good cause upon motion. For more information, visit the Supreme Court's dispute resolution page.

Ohio requires full financial disclosure from both spouses in every divorce or dissolution proceeding. Under ORC § 3105.171, the court shall require each spouse to disclose "in a full and complete manner" all marital property, separate property, and other assets, debts, income, and expenses. Both parties must complete Uniform Domestic Relations Form Affidavit 1 (Income and Expenses) detailing three years of income history, current monthly expenses, housing costs, child-related expenses, and insurance premiums. Affidavit 2 (Property) requires listing all real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, investments, business interests, and debts — categorized as marital, separate, or joint. These affidavits must be filed at least seven days before the first pretrial conference and updated as ordered by the court. Under ORC § 3105.171(E)(5), failure to disclose constitutes financial misconduct — the court may compensate the offended spouse with a distributive award or a greater share of marital property up to three times the value of the undisclosed asset.