Filing for Divorce with Children in Ashtabula County

Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas — General & Domestic Relations Division

Clerk of Courts April Daniels, 25 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson. (440) 576-3637, fax (440) 576-2819. eFiling is not yet live — file by fax, mail, or in person.

Filing Fees

$385 divorce with children ($270 without)

Ashtabula County Procedure Quirks

• eFiling is not yet live for divorce and dissolution — file your papers by fax ((440) 576-2819), by mail, or in person at the Clerk's office.
• Local Rule 3.6 requires you to disclose any use of generative artificial intelligence in preparing a court filing — an unusual, recently adopted rule.
• Shared parenting carries a presumption of roughly equal parenting time under the General Division's local rules; be ready to address it if you want a different schedule.
• Both parents must complete the "New Beginnings" parent-education program within 60 days; the Clerk issues an Order to Attend Parent Education Program (OAPEP) when the case is filed.

Parenting Class

New Beginnings — Family Court Services (Mediation & Conflict Management Services)
Court-approved three-hour parent-education class; both parents complete it within 60 days of the court's OAPEP order. The class fee is $40 per person, paid to Family Court Services.

Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas — Juvenile Division

Handles never-married-parent custody, parentage, and support, plus juvenile matters. The Juvenile Division accepts filings by email (juvenile@ashtabulacounty.us) and fax ((440) 994-6020); a new custody/support case fee is about $130.

Domestic Relations vs. Juvenile

Ashtabula splits across two cities: the Court of Common Pleas, General & Domestic Relations Division at 25 West Jefferson Street (in Jefferson) for divorces and dissolutions, and the Juvenile Division at 4717 Main Avenue (in Ashtabula) for never-married-parent cases and juvenile matters.

Free Local Resources in Ashtabula County

• Family Court Services (MCMS). Court-connected mediation and the New Beginnings parent-education program, run through the Juvenile Court. Mediation is available but not free — a $150 mediation fee is assessed as part of court costs.
• Ashtabula Resource Center. 4717 Main Avenue, Basement, Ashtabula, OH 44004 • (440) 994-6044 — self-help support for self-represented filers.
• Ashtabula County Law Library. Legal-research resources open to the public for self-represented litigants.
• Ohio Legal Help. ohiolegalhelp.org — statewide self-help articles, plain-language guides, and court forms.

Required divorce-with-children packet (9 forms)

• Complaint for Divorce with Children — The main document that starts your case. Ohio Supreme Court Uniform Form.
• Affidavit of Income & Expense — Your income and monthly bills.
• Affidavit of Property & Debt — Lists what you own and owe — house, vehicles, accounts, retirement, debts.
• Parenting Proceeding Affidavit — The children's history — where they've lived for the past 5 years and with whom.
• Health Insurance Affidavit — Confirms who provides insurance for the family and the cost.
• Motion & Affidavit for Temporary Orders — Requests temporary parenting, support, and other orders while the case is pending.
• Confidential Form (Ashtabula local) — Identifying information about you and your spouse — kept confidential by the court.
• Standard Parenting Order (Ashtabula local) — The Court's default parenting time order — attached to your case unless you propose a different schedule.
• Health Insurance Expense Order — Proposed order requiring health insurance coverage and division of medical expenses.

Temporary orders while your case is pending

Affidavit 5 requests parenting time, support, and other rules while the case is pending. Decisions are typically made on the affidavits; the spouse has 14 days to file a counter-affidavit before the court rules.

• Motion & Affidavit for Temporary Orders — Requests temporary parenting, support, and other orders while the case is pending.

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.