Filing for Dissolution in Athens County, Ohio

Transparent, flat-fee dissolution help for Athens County

Skip the hourly-billing guesswork. Our Ohio family-law team handles dissolution for Athens County families at a transparent flat fee — you approve the price before we start, with payment plans and full representation available when a case needs it. Below you'll also find the Athens County court information — contacts in Athens, the forms you need, and local fee details.

• One flat fee, agreed up front. The price is fixed and quoted up front, so you're never billed by the hour or hit with add-ons after you begin.
• Payments that fit your budget. Flexible payment plans and financing are available, so cost doesn't have to delay getting help.
• Why Athens County families choose us. Hourly billing rewards slow cases; a flat fee rewards finished ones. That's how our licensed Ohio attorneys approach every dissolution matter in Athens County — and across 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.

Athens County Court of Common Pleas, General Division — Domestic Relations Division

Athens County Courthouse, 1 S. Court Street, 4th Floor, Athens, OH 45701 • (740) 592-3242 • Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)

Filing fee: $325–$375. Fee waiver available.

Important things to know about Athens County

• All standard Ohio Supreme Court forms — the only county-local forms are DR-1/DR-2, and only if you request a fee waiver or delayed payment.
• E-filing through CourtView e-services is mandatory for attorneys; pro se filers may e-file after registering, file paper at the Clerk's window, or use the Law Library public-access computer.
• The e-filing service fee is $2.00 minimum or 4% of the filing, whichever is greater, per filing (Clerk fee schedule).
• In cases with minor children, the Clerk includes a parent-education instructional letter with service of process (Local Rule 24.02(D)).

Required forms (all cases)

• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and Waiver of Service (Form 17) — Joint petition signed by both spouses. Waives formal service.
• Separation Agreement (Form 19) — Spells out the property, debt, and support terms both spouses agreed to.
• Affidavit of Basic Information, Income & Expenses (Aff. 1) — Each spouse files one.
• Affidavit of Property and Debt (Aff. 2) — Each spouse files one.
• Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (Form 18) — Final court order ending the marriage. Submit with your packet.
• Financial Disclosure / Fee-Waiver Affidavit & Order (Local Form DR-1, if needed) — Athens County's fee-waiver affidavit. It is published inside the 2026 Local Rules PDF appendix (Rule 33), reached from the Local Rules landing page.

Additional forms with minor children

• Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Aff. 3) — 5-year address history for each child.
• Health Insurance Affidavit (Aff. 4) — Each parent's ability to insure the children.
• Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) — Use if you'll share legal custody. Both parents sign.
• Parenting Plan (Form 21) — sole custody — Pair with the Parenting Judgment Entry if one parent will be residential.
• Parenting Judgment Entry (Form 22) — Sole-custody order.
• Ohio Child Support Worksheet — Run numbers in the Ohio Child Support Calculator and attach the printed worksheet.

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.