Filing for Legal Separation in Ashland County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Ashland County, Ohio · Ashland

A legal separation (R.C. 3105.17) resolves property, support, and parenting issues while leaving your marriage legally intact — people choose it for insurance, religious, or financial reasons. In Ashland County it follows exactly the same path as a divorce: Local Rule 20.02 governs "divorce, annulment or legal separation actions" identically, so you file the same packet in the General and Domestic Relations Divisions, get the automatic Form 4.00 injunctions, and go through the non-oral temporary-order review. One important difference: a divorce after a Decree of Legal Separation requires a brand-new divorce action.

How do I file for legal separation in Ashland County, Ohio?

File the same Local Rule 20.02 packet as a divorce with the Clerk at 142 West 2nd Street, with the caption changed to "Legal Separation": the complaint and Plaintiff's affidavit, the Case Designation Sheet (Form 2.00), DRH Form (3.00), UDRF Affidavits 1, 2, and 4 (and 3 with children), the Personal Identifier form (18.00), and the Judgment Entry of Injunctions (4.00). With children, add the Form 5.00 paternity waiver, the child-support worksheet, and the IV-D application, and both parents complete the Divorcing Parents Education Program. The deposit is $375; a fee waiver is available with Form 1.00. Remember a later divorce requires a new case (LR 20.02(J)). Confirm current amounts with the Clerk's Legal Division at (419) 282-4242.

Ohio Legal Separation by the Numbers

Stay married A legal separation decree does not end the marriage — neither spouse may remarry Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.17
No residency rule Unlike a divorce, a legal separation has no 6-month Ohio residency requirement before filing Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.03
Full orders The court can divide property and order spousal support, custody, and child support Source: Ohio Revised Code §§ 3105.171, 3105.18
Can convert A legal separation does not stop either spouse from later filing for divorce Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.17

Legal Separation vs. Divorce in Ohio

Question	Legal separation	Divorce
Are you still legally married?	Yes — you stay married	No — the marriage ends
Can you remarry afterward?	No	Yes
Divides marital property and debts?	Yes	Yes
Can it order support, custody, and parenting time?	Yes	Yes
Ohio residency required to file?	Not required	6 months in Ohio
Can it later become a divorce?	Yes — either spouse can still file	It already ends the marriage

Where to File: Ashland County Common Pleas Court - Domestic Relations Division

142 W 2nd St, Ashland, OH 44805, Ashland, OH 44805
Phone: (419) 282-4242
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the Clerk to confirm current hours)
Website: ashlandcommonpleas.com

Legal Separation is the right path if…

Religious, insurance, or personal reasons mean you don't want to end the marriage, but you need court-ordered support, parenting time, or a property division.
One spouse needs to stay on the other's health insurance, which a divorce would cut off.
You want court orders in place during time apart before deciding whether to divorce.
You meet Ohio's 6-month residency and have lived in Ashland County at least 90 days.

Remember: a divorce after a legal separation requires a brand-new divorce case — the separation does not convert. See Ashland County divorce.

Filing Fees

$375 deposit (Clerk's schedule eff. 5/21/2026) · same Local Rule 20.02 track as divorce · automatic Form 4.00 injunctions · a later divorce requires a new case (LR 20.02(J)) · fee waiver via Form 1.00 · confirm at (419) 282-4242

Forms & Filing Packets

Core legal-separation packet (no minor children) — $375 deposit — confirm with the Clerk

File the Local Rule 20.02 packet with the caption changed to "Legal Separation." The court issues the Form 4.00 injunctions automatically.

Case Designation Sheet — Domestic (Local Form 2.00) — Required with every new or reopened domestic-relations case in the General and Domestic Relations Divisions (Local Rule 20).
Complaint for Divorce Without Children (Ohio SC Form 6) — Opens your divorce case and tells the court what you're asking for. Use when you and your spouse have no minor children together.
Request for Service (Ohio SC Form 31) — Tells the Clerk how to serve the other party (certified mail, personal service, posting, or publication).
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
DRH Form — Domestic (Local Form 3.00) — Domestic Relations heading/case-information sheet filed with divorces, legal separations, annulments, and dissolutions.
Judgment Entry of Injunctions (Local Form 4.00) — Ashland's standard mutual injunctions. The court grants this ex parte in EVERY divorce, legal separation, and annulment — no motion needed — and serves it with the summons (LR 20.11(A)).
Personal Identifier Disclosure Form (Local Form 18.00) — Required (and kept non-public) in every new or reopened DR case and every post-decree motion. Lists SSNs and other identifiers off the public record.

Core legal-separation packet (with minor children) — $375 deposit — confirm with the Clerk

Add the UCCJEA and health-insurance affidavits, the Form 5.00 paternity waiver, the child-support worksheet, and the IV-D application. Both parents complete the parenting class.

Case Designation Sheet — Domestic (Local Form 2.00) — Required with every new or reopened domestic-relations case in the General and Domestic Relations Divisions (Local Rule 20).
Complaint for Divorce With Children (Ohio SC Form 7) — The divorce Complaint used when you and your spouse have minor children together. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child-support allegations.
Request for Service (Ohio SC Form 31) — Tells the Clerk how to serve the other party (certified mail, personal service, posting, or publication).
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time the court sets or changes support.
Waiver of Paternity Testing (Local Form 5.00) — Filed with the initial pleadings for any child born before or during the marriage. Strictly enforced under LR 20.14; if parentage is disputed the case goes inactive until birth and testing.
DRH Form — Domestic (Local Form 3.00) — Domestic Relations heading/case-information sheet filed with divorces, legal separations, annulments, and dissolutions.
Judgment Entry of Injunctions (Local Form 4.00) — Ashland's standard mutual injunctions. The court grants this ex parte in EVERY divorce, legal separation, and annulment — no motion needed — and serves it with the summons (LR 20.11(A)).
Personal Identifier Disclosure Form (Local Form 18.00) — Required (and kept non-public) in every new or reopened DR case and every post-decree motion. Lists SSNs and other identifiers off the public record.
IV-D Application for Child Support Services (JFS-07076) — Required with any DR or Juvenile filing involving custody or support. In DR cases it is EMAILED to hadkins@ashlandcommonpleas.com — never filed with the Clerk.

Can't afford the deposit?

File the Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit (Form 1.00) in place of the $375 deposit.

Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit & Order (Local Form 1.00) — If you cannot afford the filing deposit, file the statewide Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit (Ashland's Form 1.00). With an approved affidavit the Clerk must accept your pleadings.

How to File Legal Separation in Ashland County

Confirm residency. You must have lived in Ohio 6 months and Ashland County 90 days before filing, the same as a divorce.
Use the divorce forms with the caption changed. Form 6 (no children) or Form 7 (with children), with "Divorce" changed to "Legal Separation" in the caption and the prayer for relief.
Assemble the Local Rule 20.02 packet. Add Affidavits 1, 2, and 4 (and 3 with children), Case Designation Sheet (2.00), DRH Form (3.00), Personal Identifier (18.00), and the Judgment Entry of Injunctions (4.00).
File and pay (or waive) the deposit. File with the Clerk at 142 West 2nd Street and pay the $375 deposit, or file the Form 1.00 fee waiver. Confirm amounts at (419) 282-4242.

Ashland County Practice Notes

Same forms as divorce, different caption and outcome. Ashland publishes no separate legal-separation packet — Local Rule 20.02 governs divorce, annulment, and legal separation identically. Use the divorce complaint (Form 6 or 7) with the caption changed to "Legal Separation." The marriage stays legally intact (R.C. 3105.17).
A later divorce is a new case. A divorce after a Decree of Legal Separation requires filing a brand-new divorce action — the separation case does not convert (LR 20.02(J)).
Children trigger the same requirements. With children, the Form 5.00 paternity waiver, the child-support worksheet, the IV-D application, and the Divorcing Parents Education Program all apply the same as in a divorce (LR 20.14, 20.22).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a legal separation end my marriage in Ashland County?: No. A legal separation under R.C. 3105.17 divides property and sets support and parenting orders while you remain legally married. To end the marriage later you must file a brand-new divorce action — the separation case does not convert (LR 20.02(J)).
Is the legal-separation process different from divorce in Ashland?: No. Local Rule 20.02 governs "divorce, annulment or legal separation actions" identically: the same complaint packet, the automatic Judgment Entry of Injunctions (Form 4.00), the non-oral temporary-order review, the Form 5.00 paternity waiver when applicable, mandatory parent education with children, and the same pretrial/final-hearing track.
How much does a legal separation cost to file in Ashland County?: The Clerk's deposit for a legal separation is $375 (effective May 21, 2026). A fee waiver is available with Form 1.00. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk's Legal Division at (419) 282-4242 before filing.
Do we have to take a parenting class?: Yes. In every divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment involving minor children, both parents must complete the court's Divorcing Parents Education Program — administered and taught by Advocates for Families (270 Sandusky St, Ashland, (419) 281-3788) — and file the certificate before a final order is entered (LR 20.22). Confirm the current cost and format by phone.

Free Local Resources in Ashland County

Ashland County Clerk of Courts. Provides current filing fees, local forms, and filing instructions for custody, divorce, and dissolution cases. Call (419) 282-4242 or visit https://ashlandcommonpleas.com before filing to confirm deposits and packet requirements.
Ashland County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Ashland County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.

Related to your legal separation case

Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after 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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on legal separation 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 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.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Legal Separation guide — Statewide overview of legal separation in Ohio.
Medina family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Medina metro.
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