Filing for Dissolution in Allen County, Ohio

Hire a Allen County dissolution attorney at a flat fee

A flat fee means no clock running on every call or email. Our attorneys handle dissolution for Allen County families for one agreed price, with payment plans and the option to step up to full representation at any time. This page also covers the local side for Allen County: court contacts in Lima, forms, and fee details.

• One flat fee, agreed up front. You approve the flat fee before any work starts — no hourly meter, and no surprise invoices later.
• Payments that fit your budget. A payment plan lets you break the dissolution flat fee into manageable installments, and financing is an option too — start now, pay over time.
• Why Allen County families choose us. Because it's a flat fee, we're paid to resolve your dissolution case — not to run up hours — so nothing drags for the sake of billing. Licensed Ohio family-law attorneys serve Allen County and all 88 counties.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we prepare your full dissolution petition and separation agreement for an agreed, no-court split.

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

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.

Start your dissolution case or see payment plans & financing.

Allen County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

301 North Main Street, Lima, OH 45801 • (419) 223-8511 • Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Filing fee: $375 deposit (Domestic Relations petition — same for all DR filings)–$375 deposit (same with or without children; a $450 custody-investigation deposit is added only if the court orders an investigation). Fee waiver available.

Important things to know about Allen County

• Magistrates Drexler and Kerber don't just hear contested matters — they also provide MEDIATION services on request. Built-in dispute resolution without a separate mediator.
• Allen County's local Case Designation Sheet is required with EVERY new filing — it tells the Clerk what type of action you're filing.
• Cases with minor children require the 'Assisting Our Kids (A-OK)' online parenting program (Loc.R. 20.01(H)) — register and pay the provider directly, then file a Notice of Completion before the final hearing.
• Fax filing is allowed for documents AFTER the original filing — up to 20 pages per transmission to (419) 222-8427.
• Family File system under Local Rule 20: every DR case has a 'Family File' that follows the case through the court system.
• Self-rep formatting rule: 8½ x 11 paper, 3-inch top margin, 1-inch margins on sides and bottom, legibly handwritten or typed, signed, with a certificate of service to the other party.
• Historic Allen County Courthouse — on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.
• Court staff can answer questions about procedures, rules, and legal terms but cannot help fill out forms or give legal advice.

Required forms (all cases)

• Allen County Case Designation Sheet (local) — Required with every new case. Tells the court what type of action you're filing.
• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and Waiver of Service of Summons (Form 17) — The main joint petition — both spouses sign together and waive formal service.
• Separation Agreement (Form 19) — Your full settlement on property, debt, and spousal support. Both spouses must sign.
• Affidavit of Basic Information, Income & Expenses (Affidavit 1) — Each spouse files their own — employment, income, and monthly expenses.
• Affidavit of Property and Debt (Affidavit 2) — Each spouse files their own — all assets and debts.
• Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (Form 18) — Final court order ending the marriage. Prepare it in advance for the Judge to sign.

Additional forms with minor children

• Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3) — Required in every case with minor children — 5-year address history and any other court cases involving the children.
• Health Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit 4) — Each parent's access to health insurance for the children.
• Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) — Option A — Use if both parents will share legal custody and significant parenting time. Both parents must sign.
• Parenting Plan (Form 21) — Option B, sole custody — Use if one parent will be residential — outlines the parenting time schedule. Pair with the Parenting Judgment Entry.
• Parenting Judgment Entry (Form 22) — Option B, sole custody — Sole-custody court order naming the residential parent.
• Ohio Child Support Worksheet — Run the numbers in the Ohio Child Support Calculator, print the worksheet, and file it with your packet.
• IV-D Application for Child Support Services — Required when child support orders are to be issued. Contact Allen County CSEA directly for the application.

Related to your dissolution

• 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.

Related guides

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

• 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.
• Dividing Property in an Ohio Divorce — Ohio divides marital property equitably — meaning fairly, not always equally. The first step is classifying every asset and debt. Here's how the process works.

Understand the cost

• Divorce vs. Dissolution in Ohio — How the two paths compare on agreement, timeline, and cost.
• Ohio Divorce Cost & Timeline by Path — Compare cost and timeline across every path to ending a marriage.