Akron Divorce & Family Law Attorneys

All Summit County services

Tap a service to open its Summit County guide — filing steps, local forms, fees, and what to expect.

• Divorce — Ending a marriage when you and your spouse don't agree on everything.
• Dissolution — Ending a marriage when you both agree on all the terms.
• Custody — Deciding legal custody and parenting time for your child.
• Child Support — Setting up, calculating, or collecting child support.
• Paternity — Establishing legal fatherhood when parents were never married.
• Shared Parenting — Building a joint parenting plan both parents follow.
• Post-Decree Modifications — Changing an existing custody, support, or parenting order.
• Post-Decree Contempt — Enforcing a court order the other side is ignoring.
• Emergency Custody — Protecting a child who is in immediate danger right now.
• Grandparent / Non-Parent Custody — Seeking custody or visitation as a grandparent or relative.
• Civil Protection Orders — Court protection from abuse, threats, or stalking.
• Legal Separation — Living apart with court-ordered terms while staying married.
• Annulment — Treating a marriage as if it never legally happened.

Two ways to be represented

Match the cost to the complexity of your Summit County case. Hire an attorney for your whole case, or for just the specific tasks you need.

Full representation

Your attorney manages the entire case from the first consultation through final orders — strategy, every filing, all court appearances, and negotiation. You have ongoing access the whole way through. Best for contested or complex cases, high-conflict situations, and anything that may go to trial. Billed as a retainer plus hourly fees. Learn about full representation.

Limited-scope (flat fee)

You hire us for specific tasks at a flat fee per service — document drafting and filing, a single hearing, legal advice, or document review. Predictable cost, focused on the task you need. Best for uncontested matters, simple modifications, and tighter budgets. Not recommended for high-conflict cases that need ongoing advocacy. Learn about limited scope.

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Summit County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

Summit County Filing Fees, Up Front

• Divorce with children (deposit): ~$420
• Divorce without children (deposit): ~$370
• Dissolution of marriage: ~$400
• Post-decree motion: ~$240

Summit County domestic relations filing fees are paid as a deposit to the Clerk of Courts and are subject to court cost adjustments and statewide surcharges, including the mandatory $32 Ohio domestic violence shelter fee. Service costs are billed separately. Fee waivers (Local Form 124, Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis) are available for qualifying filers.

How a Summit County Divorce Actually Proceeds

• Summit County requires married parents with minor children to complete the "Remember the Children" program before the court will set a final hearing.
• The court hosts its own numbered forms on drcourt.org — use the Summit forms and flatten the PDFs before filing.
• Summit County dissolutions are heard 30 to 90 days after filing under Local Rule 7, once both spouses have signed the separation agreement and petition.
• An ex parte emergency order triggers a full (de novo) hearing within about 10 business days under Local Rule 2.10.

Parenting Class Requirement

Summit County's "Remember the Children" program is completed online through the court's Learning Management System. We help every Akron client register the same week as filing so it never delays a hearing.

Summit County Juvenile Court (Never-Married Parents)

650 Dan Street, Akron, OH 44310
Phone: (330) 643-2900
Hours: Clerk's Office: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Hears custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity for unmarried parents — plus delinquency, unruly, juvenile traffic, and abuse/neglect/dependency. Located at 650 Dan Street, separate from the downtown Domestic Relations courthouse.

Akron's two family courts sit in different parts of the city: Domestic Relations is downtown at 205 South High Street (divorce, dissolution, legal separation for married couples). The Summit County Juvenile Court is at 650 Dan Street and handles custody, parenting time, and child support for never-married parents — plus juvenile delinquency, abuse, neglect, and dependency cases.

The Akron Families We Represent

• Summit County: ~540,000 residents (4th largest in Ohio)
• Greater Akron metro: ~700,000
• Median age: ~41

Serving Downtown, Highland Square, West Akron, Merriman Valley, Firestone Park, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Hudson, Tallmadge, Barberton, Green, Twinsburg, Norton, Fairlawn, Munroe Falls.

Akron Divorce & Custody Questions, Answered

Where do I file for divorce in Akron?

Akron divorce, dissolution, and legal separation cases are filed at the Summit County Domestic Relations Court, 205 South High Street in downtown Akron. We e-file all documents on behalf of our clients.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Summit County?

Summit County divorce filing deposits run about $420 with minor children and $370 without; a dissolution is about $400. Statewide surcharges, including the $32 Ohio domestic violence shelter fee, are added. Fee waivers are available for qualifying filers.

How long does an Akron divorce take?

Summit County dissolutions are heard 30 to 90 days after filing under Local Rule 7. A contested Summit County divorce usually takes 9 to 18 months, depending on the complexity of property division and any custody disputes.

Do parents have to take a parenting class in Akron?

Yes. Married parents with minor children must complete Summit County's "Remember the Children" program online before the court will set a final hearing. Never-married parents complete "Working Together" through the Juvenile Court.

What's the difference between the Domestic Relations and Juvenile courts in Summit County?

Married couples file divorce, dissolution, and legal separation at the Domestic Relations Court, 205 South High Street. Never-married parents handle custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity at the Summit County Juvenile Court, 650 Dan Street.

Do you handle cases in Portage, Medina, Stark, and Wayne counties?

Yes. We regularly file across Greater Akron and Northeast Ohio, including Portage (Ravenna/Kent), Medina, Stark (Canton), and Wayne (Wooster) counties.

Akron Family Law Practice Areas

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

Akron Divorce & Custody Attorneys Serving Summit, Portage & Stark Counties

We represent clients across the Akron metro area and surrounding counties.

• Summit County divorce & family law — Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Hudson, Tallmadge, Barberton, Green, Twinsburg
• Portage County divorce & family law — Kent, Ravenna, Aurora, Streetsboro
• Medina County divorce & family law — Medina, Brunswick, Wadsworth, Hinckley
• Stark County divorce & family law — Canton, Massillon, Alliance, North Canton
• Wayne County divorce & family law — Wooster, Orrville, Rittman, Wadsworth

Transparent Pricing & Payment Options in Akron

Akron families shouldn't have to guess what legal help will cost. Gavvl Law uses transparent pricing — flat fees for many uncontested and limited-scope matters, so you know the full cost before you commit, and clearly-scoped retainers for complex or contested cases. We offer several ways to pay so you can get help now and choose what fits your budget: pay in full by card through Confido Legal, finance through third-party providers like Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later, or spread a flat fee over time with a Gavvl Direct in-house payment plan that requires no credit check. Not sure which service or payment path fits your situation? Take our Find My Divorce Service quiz for a personalized recommendation, or review all of our payment options and financing details.

Flat-fee options for Akron families

These are the real flat fees for limited-scope help — the attorney drafts and files your paperwork, and you appear at any hearings yourself. The same prices apply in every Ohio county, including Summit County.

Divorce

• Complaint for Divorce: $1,250
• With temporary orders: $1,750
• With minor children: $1,750
• With children + temporary orders: $2,000

Dissolution

• Dissolution: $1,750
• Dissolution with children: $2,300

Child Custody

• Establish custody: $1,250
• Modify custody: $1,450

Child Support

• Establish child support: $950
• Modify child support: $950
• Terminate child support: $950

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

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What Divorce & Dissolution Really Cost in Akron

Before you decide on a path, see the real filing fees, court costs, and timelines for Akron — and how the different ways to end a marriage compare.

• Cost of Divorce in Summit County — Real filing fees, court costs, timeline, and flat-fee options for a divorce in Summit County.
• Cost of Dissolution in Summit County — Real filing fees, court costs, timeline, and flat-fee options for a dissolution in Summit County.
• Divorce vs. Dissolution in Ohio — How the two paths compare on agreement, timeline, and cost.
• Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce in Ohio — What each path means for your timeline and total cost.
• Ohio Divorce Cost & Timeline by Path — Compare cost and timeline across every path to ending a marriage.

Attorneys Serving Akron

Meet the Gavvl Law attorneys who represent Akron and Summit County families. Consultations happen by phone or video — no trip to a downtown office — and flat-fee pricing is quoted up front before you commit to anything.

• Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner & Co-Founder
• David Thomas — Of Counsel Attorney
• Ari Goldstein — Of Counsel Attorney

Ohio families rate Gavvl Law 4.8/5 across 90+ Google reviews.

Meet the full Gavvl Law team or talk to a Akron family-law attorney.

Related guides

Attorney-written guides covering the Ohio family law issues Akron clients ask about most.

• 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.
• Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
• Child Support Calculation in Ohio: How the Formula Works — Ohio calculates child support with the income shares model, combining both parents' incomes to set a shared obligation. Here's how the formula works and what changes the bottom line.
• Spousal Support in Ohio: How Alimony Is Decided — Ohio has no fixed alimony formula. Courts weigh 14 statutory factors to decide whether spousal support is appropriate, how much, and for how long. Here's how it works.

Legal Disclaimer

This page is for general information about Ohio family law and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney–client relationship. Every case is different; outcomes, timelines, and costs depend on your specific facts and the county where your case is filed. An attorney–client relationship with Gavvl Law begins only after a written representation agreement is signed by both you and the firm. Financing through Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later is subject to separate third-party terms and approval, and Gavvl Direct payment plans carry 19% interest compounded monthly on the financed amount. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page may be considered attorney advertising under Ohio law.