Filing for Dissolution in Butler County, Ohio

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 4, 2026

Butler County is one of the most organized — and most procedure-heavy — dissolution counties in Ohio. The DR Court provides complete packets (with-children and no-children versions) that bundle every form into one download, AND the Case Management Office reviews your paperwork BEFORE you ever pay the filing fee, catching errors most self-represented filers miss. Three Butler-specific rules to plan around: (1) almost all filings now go through the mandatory E-Submission portal as PDFs (in effect since December 2, 2024); (2) a dissolution must be completed within 90 days of filing or the petition is dismissed — though you can convert it to a divorce inside that window if you stop agreeing; and (3) if you have minor children, both spouses must complete the 4-hour online parent education class "Helping Families Succeed During Divorce" (run by FESC at (513) 869-4014) before the final hearing, registering within 15 days of filing and attending on separate sessions. Plan for multiple copies of everything: the Decree alone requires the original plus 5 copies, and since April 2025 the court's Decree Checklist requires the address on your decree to match the address on file.

Hire a Butler County dissolution attorney at a flat fee

A flat fee means no clock running on every call or email. Our attorneys handle dissolution for Butler County families for one agreed price, with payment plans and the option to step up to full representation at any time. This page also covers the local side for Butler County: court contacts in Hamilton, forms, and fee details.

One flat fee, agreed up front. Every dissolution engagement starts with a fixed quote you sign off on. Calls, emails, and questions never add to the bill.
Payments that fit your budget. Flexible payment plans and financing are available, so cost doesn't have to delay getting help.
Why Butler County families choose us. Our incentive matches yours: with one flat fee, the sooner your dissolution case is resolved, the better for everyone. Licensed Ohio family-law attorneys serving Butler County and statewide.

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.

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)

Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

315 High Street, 2nd Floor, Hamilton, OH 45011 • (513) 887-3100 • Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. daily)

Filing fee: $211–$352. Fee waiver available.

Important things to know about Butler County

Pre-filing review is REQUIRED. Submit your packet to the Case Management Office, get approval, THEN file with the Clerk and pay. This catches errors before they cost you money.
E-Submission is mandatory for all non-DV filings (since December 2, 2024) — submit as PDFs through the portal; fillable forms must be completed on a computer, not a phone or tablet.
A dissolution must be completed within 90 days of filing or the petition is dismissed; if you and your spouse stop agreeing, you can convert it to a divorce within that 90-day window.
Butler provides complete dissolution packets (no children / with children) that bundle every form into one download. You don't have to hunt for individual forms.
Additional local forms (Family Information Sheet, Affidavit of Property, etc.) are provided by the court after you submit your packet.
With minor children, both spouses must complete the 4-hour online parent education class "Helping Families Succeed During Divorce" through FESC at (513) 869-4014 — register within 15 days of filing (you need your case number first), finish before the final hearing, and note that spouses cannot attend the same session.
Since April 14, 2025, the court's Decree Checklist requires service verification and address matching — the address on your decree must match the address on file or Case Management will reject it (a new Proof of ID requirement is being added April 13, 2026).
Multiple copies required for most filings: Petition (original + 2), Separation Agreement (original + 2 or 3), Decree (original + 5).
Bring a photo ID to the hearing — both spouses. No ID = no proceeding. If you don't have one, bring your Social Security card.
If a party can't appear, notify the Judicial Case Manager at least 7 days before the hearing (continuances use form DR629, due 7 days prior).
Court staff cannot give legal advice — the Butler County Bar Association lawyer-referral line is (513) 896-6671.
Add DRCourtNoReply@bcohio.gov to your safe sender list to receive court notifications.

Required forms (all cases)

Dissolution Without Minor Children — Complete Packet — Bundles every required form into one download.
Instructions for Filing a Dissolution — Read first. Step-by-step.
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage — Joint petition (Original + 2 copies).
Separation Agreement — Original + 2 copies (or +3 if spousal support is ordered).
Decree of Dissolution of Marriage — Original + 5 copies. Judge signs after hearing.
Waiver of Service (if applicable) — Original + 2 copies.
Waiver of Representation (if unrepresented) — Original + 2 copies — confirms you understand your right to a lawyer.
Family Information Sheet (DR729) — provided by court — Local form handed out during review.
Affidavit of Property (DR602-B) — provided by court — Each spouse files their own.
Addendum to Separation Agreement — Division of Personal Property (DR634) — Provided by the court.

Additional forms with minor children

Dissolution With Minor Children — Complete Packet — Adds parenting forms to the base packet.
Shared Parenting Plan (if applicable) — Original + 2 copies (or +3 if child support is ordered through plan).
Decree of Shared Parenting (if applicable) — Original + 6 copies.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (DR616 or Aff. 3) — provided by court — 5-year address history for each child.
Health Insurance Affidavit — provided by court — Each parent's access to health insurance.
Basic Child Support Schedule (DR626) — provided by court — The child support calculation worksheet.
Title IV-D Application (ODHS 7076) — provided by court — Child support enforcement application.
Withholding Order / Qualified Medical CSO Information Sheet (DR201) — Provided by the court.
Notice to Attend Mandatory Education Class (DR628) — Both parents register within 15 days of filing for the mandatory 4-hour online parent education class. Provided by the court.
Guidelines for Parents Living in Different Homes (DR803) — Provided by the court.

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.

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