Legal Separation in Auglaize County

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

Auglaize County, Ohio · Wapakoneta

Legal separation lets the Auglaize County Court of Common Pleas - Domestic Relations Division divide property and debt and set support and parenting orders while you stay legally married. People choose it for religious, insurance, or financial reasons, or when they aren't ready to end the marriage. Confirm the current deposit with the Domestic Relations Court.

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

File a Complaint for Legal Separation with the Auglaize County Court of Common Pleas - Domestic Relations Division, Suite 119, 201 S Willipie St, Wapakoneta, with Affidavit 1 (Income & Expenses) and Affidavit 2 (Property). With minor children, add Affidavits 3 and 4, the child-support worksheet, a IV-D application, and the A-OK parenting class. At filing both spouses sign a Waiver of Service of Summons (and a Waiver of Counsel if unrepresented), and the Standing Orders take effect. The court can divide property and debt and order support and parenting time, but you stay legally married at the end. Confirm the current deposit with the Domestic Relations Court at (419) 739-6775.

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: Auglaize County Court of Common Pleas

201 S Willipie St, Wapakoneta, OH 45895, Wapakoneta, OH 45895
Phone: (419) 739-6775
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the Clerk to confirm current hours)
Website: www2.auglaizecounty.org/courts/domestic-relations-court

Legal Separation is the right path if…

You want court orders on property, support, and parenting but aren't ending the marriage.
You have religious, insurance, or financial reasons to stay legally married.
You or your spouse have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months.
You understand legal separation does not end the marriage or allow remarriage.

Filing Fees

Confirm the current deposit with the Domestic Relations Court at (419) 739-6775 · with children, the A-OK parenting class is required · the Standing Orders take effect at filing · Affidavit of Indigency available

Forms & Filing Packets

Legal separation (no minor children) — Confirm the current deposit with the Domestic Relations Court

File the complaint with the income/expense and property affidavits, the Standing Orders, and the two waivers.

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.
Standing Orders (DR-SO) — Mutual Restraining Order — Auglaize County's Standing Orders, which take effect when you file and are served with the summons. They bind both spouses, stopping either from removing the children from the county to relocate, harassing the other, or disposing of property. Download from the Domestic Relations Court page; confirm the current version with the court at (419) 739-6775.
Waiver of Service of Summons + Waiver of Counsel (Auglaize local forms) — At filing, both spouses sign a Waiver of Service of Summons, and anyone without a lawyer signs a Waiver of Counsel too. Download from the Domestic Relations Court page; confirm the current versions with the court at (419) 739-6775.

Legal separation (with minor children) — Confirm the current deposit with the Domestic Relations Court

Add the children's affidavits, support worksheet, and a IV-D application; complete the A-OK class.

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.
Title IV-D Child Support Services Application — Opens a IV-D child-support case with the Auglaize County Child Support Enforcement Agency so it can calculate, collect, and enforce support by income withholding. Reach CSEA at (567) 242-2700; confirm the current form before filing.
A-OK Parenting Class Certificate of Completion — Proof that you finished the A-OK (Assisting Our Kids) class — a 4-hour online course that costs $30 and is required once every two years. File the certificate before the final hearing in any case with minor children.
Standing Orders (DR-SO) — Mutual Restraining Order — Auglaize County's Standing Orders, which take effect when you file and are served with the summons. They bind both spouses, stopping either from removing the children from the county to relocate, harassing the other, or disposing of property. Download from the Domestic Relations Court page; confirm the current version with the court at (419) 739-6775.
Waiver of Service of Summons + Waiver of Counsel (Auglaize local forms) — At filing, both spouses sign a Waiver of Service of Summons, and anyone without a lawyer signs a Waiver of Counsel too. Download from the Domestic Relations Court page; confirm the current versions with the court at (419) 739-6775.

How to File Legal Separation in Auglaize County

Confirm Ohio residency. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months before filing.
Prepare the complaint and affidavits. Complete a Complaint for Legal Separation plus Affidavits 1 and 2; with children add Affidavits 3 and 4, the worksheet, and a IV-D application. Sign the two waivers.
File with the Clerk. File at Suite 119, 201 S Willipie St, Wapakoneta; the Standing Orders take effect at filing. Confirm the deposit with the Domestic Relations Court.
Complete the A-OK class (if children). Both parents take the A-OK online class and file the certificate before the final hearing.
Attend the hearing. The court divides property and debt and sets support and parenting orders; you remain legally married. Bring a typed decree to the hearing.

Auglaize County Practice Notes

You stay legally married. Legal separation divides property and debt and sets support and parenting orders, but the marriage continues — neither spouse can remarry. It can later be converted toward a divorce if you change course.
A-OK parenting class is required with minor children. Both parents in a case with minor children must complete the A-OK (Assisting Our Kids) class unless excused. It is a 4-hour online course that costs $30 and is required once every two years. File the certificate before the final hearing.
Standing Orders are automatic at filing. When you file, Auglaize County's Standing Orders (DR-SO) take effect and are served with the summons. This mutual restraining order binds both spouses — neither may remove the children from the county to relocate, harass the other, or dispose of property or open a safe-deposit box. It is not a no-contact order; for that you need a domestic violence protection order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file for legal separation in Auglaize County?: Yes. Legal separation is filed in the Auglaize County Court of Common Pleas - Domestic Relations Division and lets the court divide property and set support and parenting orders while you stay legally married. Confirm the current deposit with the Domestic Relations Court at (419) 739-6775.
What parenting class is required in Auglaize County, and what does it cost?: Auglaize County uses the A-OK (Assisting Our Kids) class. Both parents in a case with minor children must complete it unless excused — it is a 4-hour online course that costs $30 and is required once every two years. File the certificate before the final hearing.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Auglaize County?: Auglaize County charges one flat $325 deposit for a divorce, applied toward your court costs — there is no separate with-children fee. Service by publication adds a $600 security deposit. If you can't afford the deposit, an Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) is available under Ohio Civil Rule 3(E). Confirm the current amount with the Domestic Relations Court at (419) 739-6775 before filing.
Is the filing deposit different if I have children in Auglaize County?: No. Auglaize charges a single $325 deposit for a divorce, dissolution, or annulment whether or not you have children — the deposit goes toward your court costs. Cases with children add the A-OK parenting class ($30) and may add custody-investigation, GAL, or home-study deposits if custody is contested. Confirm current amounts with the Domestic Relations Court at (419) 739-6775.

Free Local Resources in Auglaize County

Auglaize County Clerk of Courts. Provides current filing fees, local forms, and filing instructions for custody, divorce, and dissolution cases. Call the Domestic Relations Court at (419) 739-6775 or visit https://www2.auglaizecounty.org/courts/domestic-relations-court before filing to confirm deposits and packet requirements.
Auglaize County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Auglaize 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.
Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
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