Filing for Divorce with Children in Adams County

Adams County Common Pleas Court

Adams County Common Pleas, 110 W Main St, West Union.

Filing Fees

Confirm current fee with the Court Administrator before filing

Adams County Procedure Quirks

• Adams County's required parenting class is 'Helping Children Cope With Family Separation Seminar' — one per spouse. Failure to attend may delay your final decree until both parents have completed it.
• Forms are organized by case type at the Adams County Common Pleas DR Forms Hub (sites.google.com/view/adamscountycommonpleas).

Parenting Class

Helping Children Cope With Family Separation Seminar — Online via Beech Acres (notice AC-203, registration packet AC-204 — submitted directly to Beech Acres, not the court)
Required — one per spouse. Failure to complete may delay your final decree until both parents have finished it.

Judges

• Judge Brett M. Spencer

Adams County Juvenile Court

Accepts cash, money order, credit, or debit cards — no personal checks. Email: juvenilecourt@adamscountycourts.com.

Domestic Relations vs. Juvenile

Adams keeps both courts at the same address — 110 W. Main Street in West Union — under the same judge (Brett M. Spencer). Common Pleas handles divorces and dissolutions; Juvenile Court (Room 221) handles never-married-parent custody/support and juvenile matters.

Free Local Resources in Adams County

• Adams County DR Forms Hub. sites.google.com/view/adamscountycommonpleas — every divorce-with-children form, organized by case type.
• Southeastern Ohio Legal Services. Income-qualified help with custody, parenting time, and child support.
• Ohio State Bar — Law You Can Use. ohiobar.org/ForPublic/Resources/LawYouCanUse
• Ohio Child Support Calculator. jfs.ohio.gov/ocs

Required divorce-with-children packet (12 forms)

• Complaint for Divorce with Children — The main document that starts your case. Ohio Supreme Court Uniform Form.
• Notice of Appearance — Required for every party in Adams County, including self-represented spouses.
• Waiver of Counsel — Required if you don't have an attorney.
• Affidavit of Income & Expenses — Your income and monthly bills.
• Affidavit of Property — Lists what you own and owe — house, vehicles, accounts, retirement, debts.
• Parenting Proceeding Affidavit — The children's 5-year address history.
• Health Insurance Affidavit — Confirms who provides insurance for the family and the cost.
• Motion & Affidavit for Temporary Orders (optional) — Requests temporary parenting time, support, etc. while the case is pending. A hearing may be required.
• Praecipe for Service — Tells the Clerk how to deliver papers to your spouse.
• Child Support Worksheet — Ohio Child Support Guidelines Calculator — must be signed by both spouses.
• Helping Children Cope Notice — Notice that you'll attend the required parenting seminar.
• Helping Children Cope Registration Packet — Sign-up packet for the seminar — one per spouse.

Temporary orders while your case is pending

Rules the court puts in place while the divorce is pending. They cover living situation, bills & debts, spousal support, and the children. Accurate facts and supporting statements are the most important part of a temporary-orders request — Adams may require a hearing.

• Motion & Affidavit for Temporary Orders (optional) — Requests temporary parenting time, support, etc. while the case is pending. A hearing may be required.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on divorce, custody, and related Ohio family law topics.

• How to File for Divorce in Ohio: A Step-by-Step Guide — Filing for divorce in Ohio follows a defined path: confirm residency, choose your grounds, file the complaint, serve your spouse, and work toward temporary orders and a final decree. Here is how each step works.
• Divorce vs. Dissolution in Ohio: Which Path Is Right for You? — Divorce and dissolution both end an Ohio marriage, but they work very differently. Dissolution is a no-fault, agreed process; divorce is a lawsuit for couples who can't agree. Here's how to choose.
• How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Ohio? — The cost of an Ohio divorce ranges widely depending on conflict and complexity. Here's what drives the price — court fees, attorney fees, experts — and how to keep it manageable.
• How Long Does a Divorce Take in Ohio? — There is no single answer to how long an Ohio divorce takes — an agreed dissolution can finish in a couple of months, while a contested divorce may run a year or more. Here's what drives the timeline.

Related to your divorce

• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.