Belmont County Divorce Attorneys

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

Belmont County, Ohio · St. Clairsville

A Belmont County divorce is filed with the Clerk of Courts at the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas — there is no separate Domestic Relations court, and a General Division Magistrate runs much of the divorce docket. Judges Frank A. Fregiato and John A. Vavra preside. The filing deposit is $251, and on your affidavit the Court can issue its Standard Mutual Restraining Order (Divorce Form 101).

Hire Gavvl for your Belmont County divorce case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Belmont County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

How do I file for divorce in Belmont County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Divorce with the Belmont County Clerk of Courts, Legal Division (3rd floor), 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, using Ohio Supreme Court Form 6 (without children) or Form 7 (with children) plus the financial affidavits (Affidavits 1 and 2). With children, add the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3), the Health Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit 4), a parenting plan, and the Ohio child-support worksheet, and — under Local Rule 12.29 — a IV-D Application, a Child Support Guideline, and the "Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class. Pay the $251 deposit. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio at least 6 months. Belmont County's Local Rule 12 divorce forms (101, 103/104, 105) are attached to the Local Rules.

Choose Gavvl Law for your Belmont County divorce

Belmont County has no separate Domestic Relations court, so your divorce is filed in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas at 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, where the General Division Magistrate runs the divorce docket and the deposit is $251. Because the county layers its own Local Rule 12 divorce forms on top of the statewide complaint, Gavvl Law prepares the full local packet, files it with the Clerk's Legal Division on the third floor, and offers a flat fee for straightforward cases or full representation when the divorce is contested.

Local Rule 12 forms filed the way the Magistrate expects. Belmont attaches its own numbered forms — Form 101 Standard Mutual Restraining Order, Forms 103 and 104 for property appraisal, and Form 105 Financial Affidavit — to the statewide complaint. We prepare each one so the packet is complete for the General Division Magistrate on the first filing rather than kicked back for a missing local form.
The property-appraisal 14-day window met. Under Local Rule 12.34–12.36 the moving party files the Property Appraisal Form within 14 days of the answer when property division is sought. We build your asset and debt list early so that short window is met and the value dispute is framed before the first pretrial, not scrambled afterward.
The Helping Children Cope certificate secured on time. With minor children, Local Rule 12.29 requires the 'Helping Children Cope with Divorce' class through OSU Extension and the Certificate of Attendance filed before the final hearing. We register you early and confirm the certificate is on file so an unfinished class never resets your decree date.

If the $251 deposit is out of reach, Belmont takes a poverty affidavit for about $11 under Local Rule 12.1, and a spouse who cannot be found is served by publication on a $500 deposit. We know the Clerk's Legal Division on the third floor at (740) 699-2169 and file so the case opens without a costly counter rejection.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the correct complaint packet for your situation; you appear at any hearings yourself.

Complaint for Divorce: $1,250
With temporary orders: $1,750
With minor children: $1,750
With children + temporary orders: $2,000

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 divorce case or see payment plans & financing.

Ohio Divorce by the Numbers

6 months Ohio residency required before you can file Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.03
90 days Residency in the county of filing (venue) Source: Ohio Civ. R. 3
30–90 days Typical time to finalize an uncontested dissolution Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.64
1 year Living separate and apart that qualifies as no-fault grounds Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.01

Compare Your Options for Ending a Marriage in Ohio

Path	Ends the marriage?	Agreement required?	Best when
Dissolution	Yes	Yes — on every term before filing	Both spouses agree on everything and want the fastest, lowest-cost path
Divorce (contested)	Yes	No	Spouses disagree on property, support, or parenting and need a judge to decide
Divorce (uncontested / default)	Yes	No	One spouse will not respond or cannot be located
Legal separation	No — you stay married	Optional	You need court orders but must stay married (religion, insurance, or benefits)
Annulment	Treated as never valid	No	The marriage was never legally valid (fraud, bigamy, underage, or incapacity)

Where to File: Belmont County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Phone: (740) 699-2169
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court
101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Phone: (740) 699-2141
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Divorce is the right path if…

You and your spouse don't agree on everything (custody, parenting time, property, debt, or support).
Your spouse won't sign paperwork, won't communicate, or can't be located.
You need temporary or final court orders your spouse won't agree to.
You or your spouse have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months before filing.

Filing Fees

$251 divorce deposit · $225 counterclaim deposit · $500 service-by-publication deposit · advance cost deposit, not a flat fee · poverty affidavit (~$11) available under Local Rule 12.1 · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 699-2169

Forms & Filing Packets

Core divorce filing packet (no minor children) — $251 deposit

File the Complaint for Divorce without Children with the financial affidavits and the $251 deposit. On affidavit, request the Standard Mutual Restraining Order (Divorce Form 101). File the Property Appraisal Form (Form 103) within 14 days of the answer if property division is sought.

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.
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.
Standard Mutual Restraining Order (Belmont Divorce Form 101) — On a party's affidavit, the Court issues its standard mutual restraining order freezing assets, restraining harassment, and preserving insurance and the status quo (Local Rule 12.11–12.12). It is attached to Local Rule 12 and is separate from a domestic-violence protection order.
Property Appraisal Form (Belmont Divorce Form 103) — Lists and values the parties' real and personal property and debts. The moving party files it within 14 days of the answer when property division is sought (Local Rule 12.34–12.36).
Belmont County General Division Local Rules (Rule 12 Divorce Forms) — The General Division's Local Rule 12 and its attached Belmont Divorce Forms (101 restraining order, 103/104 property appraisal, 105 financial affidavit). There is no separate Domestic Relations court — the General Division Magistrate runs the DR docket. Obtain the current packet from the Clerk's Legal Division, 3rd floor, (740) 699-2169.

Core divorce filing packet (with minor children) — $251 deposit

Use the Complaint for Divorce with Children, add the parenting and health-insurance affidavits, a parenting plan, and the support worksheet, plus — under Local Rule 12.29 — a IV-D Application, a Child Support Guideline, and the "Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class.

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.
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.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
Child Support (IV-D) Application — Belmont County CSEA — Opens a child-support case with the Belmont County CSEA, Belmont County DJFS, 68145 Hammond Road, St. Clairsville, (740) 695-1075 option 8. Required in any minor-children divorce under Local Rule 12.29 so support can be collected and enforced.
"Helping Children Cope with Divorce" Parenting Class (OSU Extension, Belmont County) — Under Local Rule 12.29, parents of minor children in a divorce, legal separation, or annulment must complete the "Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class through OSU Extension (Belmont County) and file the Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing. Waivable only for good cause.

Temporary orders add-on

Request temporary support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home by affidavit under Civ.R. 75(N); the court can rule without an oral hearing and the orders take effect while the case is pending.

Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Asks the court for temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Tip: Attach a current Financial Affidavit (Affidavit 1) and Affidavit 2 (Property).
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
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.

How to File Divorce in Belmont County

Confirm Ohio residency. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months before filing for divorce (R.C. 3105.03). There is no separate Belmont County residency period.
Prepare the complaint and affidavits. Use Ohio Supreme Court Form 6 (no children) or Form 7 (with children) with Affidavits 1 and 2; with children, add Affidavits 3 and 4, a parenting plan, the support worksheet, a IV-D Application, and a Child Support Guideline (Local Rule 12.29). Request the Standard Mutual Restraining Order (Form 101) by affidavit.
File with the deposit. File with the Clerk of Courts, Legal Division (3rd floor), 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, (740) 699-2169, and pay the $251 deposit, or file a poverty affidavit.
Serve your spouse. The Clerk serves the complaint; if your spouse cannot be found after a diligent search, the case can proceed by service by publication ($500 deposit).
Complete the parenting class (with children). Parents of minor children complete the "Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class through OSU Extension and file the Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing (Local Rule 12.29).
Pretrial and decree. The Magistrate holds pretrial or status conferences and, if the case does not settle, a contested hearing; the case ends with a Judgment Entry of Divorce.

Belmont County Practice Notes

No separate Domestic Relations court. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the General Division of the Belmont County Court of Common Pleas — there is no separate Domestic Relations division. Judges Frank A. Fregiato ((740) 699-2137) and John A. Vavra ((740) 699-2138) preside, and a General Division Magistrate runs much of the divorce docket (Local Rule 12.4 / 12.6). File through the Clerk of Courts, Laura Zupko, Legal Division (3rd floor), 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, (740) 699-2169.
Standard Mutual Restraining Order (Divorce Form 101). On a party's affidavit, the Court issues its standard mutual restraining order freezing assets, restraining harassment, and preserving insurance and the status quo (Local Rule 12.11–12.12). It is attached to Local Rule 12 and is separate from a domestic-violence protection order.
Property Appraisal Form within 14 days of the answer. When property division is sought, file the Property Appraisal Form (Divorce Form 103) within 14 days of the answer, with the Response Property Appraisal Form (Form 104) in reply; file a Financial Affidavit (Form 105) when spousal support is raised (Local Rule 12.34–12.36).
"Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class required. Under Local Rule 12.29, parents of minor children must complete the "Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class through OSU Extension (Belmont County) and file the Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing. The Court may waive the class only for good cause.
Fee waiver by poverty affidavit. An indigent party may file a poverty affidavit (affidavit of inability to prepay costs) in place of the deposit; the fee is about $11 under Local Rule 12.1, subject to a financial review and a payment schedule. If the Court later denies the waiver, you remain responsible for the costs.
Service by publication when a spouse can't be found. If your spouse cannot be located after a diligent search, the case can proceed by service by publication (Belmont County publication deposit $500). Once publication is complete and the response time passes, the Court can grant an uncontested divorce on your testimony.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to file for divorce in Belmont County?: The General Division divorce deposit is $251, with a $225 deposit for a counterclaim, per the Clerk's schedule. These are advance cost deposits, not flat fees — the Clerk applies them to actual costs and bills or refunds the balance. If you cannot afford the deposit, file a poverty affidavit (about $11 under Local Rule 12.1) asking the Court to waive prepayment. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 699-2169.
Which court handles family-law cases in Belmont County?: The General Division of the Belmont County Court of Common Pleas (101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The General Division Magistrate runs the divorce docket (Local Rule 12.4 / 12.6). The combined Probate & Juvenile Court handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, under R.C. 2151.23) and non-parent custody, (740) 699-2141. Domestic Relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts, Laura Zupko, Legal Division (3rd floor), (740) 699-2169.
How long must I live in Ohio before filing for divorce in Belmont County?: You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months immediately before filing (R.C. 3105.03). The Belmont County local rules reviewed do not impose a separate county-residence period; the case is filed in Belmont County when a party resides here. There is no 90-day county-residency requirement.
Is there a mutual restraining order in a Belmont County divorce?: Belmont County provides a Standard Mutual Restraining Order (Divorce Form 101). On a party's affidavit, the Court issues its standard order freezing assets, restraining harassment, and preserving insurance and the status quo (Local Rule 12.11–12.12). It is attached to Local Rule 12 and is separate from a domestic-violence protection order, which is a different filing.
What if I cannot afford the filing deposit in Belmont County?: File a poverty affidavit (affidavit of inability to prepay costs) in place of the deposit; the fee is about $11 under Local Rule 12.1 and is subject to a financial review and a payment schedule. If the Court later denies the waiver, you remain responsible for the costs. Ask the Clerk at (740) 699-2169 for the current indigency packet.

Free Local Resources in Belmont County

Belmont County Clerk of Courts (General Division). Current filing deposits, the Local Rule 12 divorce forms (101, 103/104, 105), and filing instructions for divorce, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matters. File with the Legal Division on the 3rd floor, 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville; (740) 699-2169. Local rules at https://belmontcountycoc.org/local-rules and the cost schedule at https://belmontcountycoc.org/costs-and-fees.
Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court. Handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time, plus the Belmont Grandparent Power of Attorney. Forms at https://www.belmontcountyohiocourts.com/forms/; Juvenile (740) 699-2141, Probate (740) 699-2144.
Belmont County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Belmont County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Belmont County DJFS, 68145 Hammond Road, St. Clairsville; (740) 695-1075 option 8; https://belmontcdjfs.com/.
Belmont County Children Services. Investigates child abuse and neglect and supports kinship caregivers. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or Children Services at (740) 695-3813.
Representing Yourself in Belmont County. The Clerk's self-represented-litigant resources and filing guidance for the General Division at https://belmontcountycoc.org/representing-yourself. The Clerk cannot give legal advice but can explain what a complete filing requires.

Related to your divorce case

Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable 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 divorce 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.

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.
Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce in Ohio — What each path means for your timeline and total cost.

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