Filing for Divorce in Butler County

Butler County, Ohio · Hamilton

Divorces in Butler County are handled by the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division at the Gov't Services Center, 315 High Street, Hamilton. Butler County is Case-Management-driven: your packet must be approved by the Case Management Office before you file it with the Clerk, and most non-DV documents are submitted through the E-Submission portal.

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

File a Complaint for Divorce (with or without children) with the Butler County Domestic Relations Court at the Gov't Services Center, 315 High Street, 2nd Floor, Hamilton, OH 45011. First submit the packet to the Case Management Office through E-Submission at drcsubmit.bcohio.gov for Local Rules review, then file with the Clerk of Courts and pay the deposit set by the Clerk (clerkofcourts.bcohio.gov). You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio 6+ months and Butler County 90+ days. A mutual restraining order attaches automatically at filing.

Where to File: Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Gov't Services Center, 315 High Street, 2nd Floor, Hamilton, OH 45011, Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: (513) 887-3100
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.)
Website: drcourt.bcohio.gov/
e-Filing: https://drcsubmit.bcohio.gov/ESubmit/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Butler County Juvenile Justice Center
280 N. Fair Ave., Hamilton, OH 45011, Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: (513) 887-3317
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (Clerk 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)

Divorce is the right path if…

You and your spouse don't agree on everything (custody, money, property, debt, or support).
Your spouse won't sign paperwork, won't communicate, or you can't safely reach an agreement.
You need temporary orders now (support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home).
You or your spouse have lived in Ohio for 6+ months and Butler County for 90+ days.

If you and your spouse already agree on every term in writing, a dissolution is usually faster and cheaper than a divorce. See Butler County dissolution options.

Filing Fees

Deposit set by the Butler County Clerk of Courts (clerkofcourts.bcohio.gov) · GAL deposit $1,200 if appointed · Cash, money order, certified check, AmEx/MasterCard/Discover

Forms & Filing Packets

Core divorce filing packet (no children) — Deposit set by the Butler County Clerk of Courts

Submit to Case Management through E-Submission first, then file with the Clerk of Courts.

Complaint for Divorce With or Without Children (PDF Fillable) — Opens your divorce case and tells Butler County DR what you are asking for. Used for cases with or without minor children.
DR729 Family Information Sheet — Required with every original action under DR Local Rule 1. Identifies the parties, children, and any prior or related cases.
DR602-B Affidavit of Property — Lists every asset and debt. Affidavits of Property, Income, and Expenses must be exchanged within 30 days (DR Local Rule 6). Tip: Use "Est." for unknown values — falsification can be contempt.
DR602-A Affidavit of Income — Snapshot of gross income and take-home pay. Required at filing.
DR602-C Affidavit of Expenses — Lists monthly household expenses. Required at filing.

Core divorce filing packet (with minor children) — Deposit set by the Butler County Clerk of Courts

Adds the children's documents Butler County requires when minor children are involved.

Complaint for Divorce With or Without Children (PDF Fillable) — The divorce Complaint, completed for a case with minor children — pleads custody, parenting time, and child-support allegations.
DR616 Parenting Affidavit — Butler County's parenting/UCCJEA affidavit. Lists where each child has lived and confirms Ohio's jurisdiction over custody.
Health Insurance Affidavit — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet — Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you're asking the court to set support.
DR628 Notice to Attend Mandatory Parent Education — Registers both parents for FESC's 'Helping Families Succeed During Divorce.' Schedule within 15 days of filing and finish before the final hearing.
IV-D Application for Child Support Services — Opens your case with Butler County CSEA so support can be collected, tracked, and enforced through wage withholding.

Temporary orders add-on

File with the complaint or answer to ask for support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending.

DR301 Motion and Affidavit for Temporary Orders — Asks the magistrate for temporary support, parenting time, and bill responsibility. Butler County usually decides on the affidavits without an oral hearing.
DR303 Certification / Notice of Perfection of Service — Confirms the other party was served. The court cannot issue temporary orders until this is on file and 14 days have passed.

How to File Divorce in Butler County

Confirm Ohio residency and Butler County venue. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio 6+ months and Butler County 90+ days before filing.
Assemble the correct packet. Complaint for Divorce plus DR729, DR602-A/B/C affidavits — and, with children, the DR616 parenting affidavit, health insurance affidavit, child-support worksheet, DR628 parent-ed notice, and IV-D application.
Submit to Case Management through E-Submission. Upload your PDF packet at drcsubmit.bcohio.gov for Local Rules review. Expect a phone or email notification and at least one round of corrections.
File with the Clerk and pay the deposit. Once approved, file with the Butler County Clerk of Courts and pay the deposit set on clerkofcourts.bcohio.gov, then arrange service on your spouse.
Complete the parenting class if you have children. Register with FESC within 15 days of filing (Form DR628) and file the Certificate of Completion before the final hearing.

Butler County Practice Notes

Case Management approves before you file. Butler County DR reviews complaints, motions, agreed entries, and decrees through the Case Management Office for Local Rules compliance before you file with the Clerk. Filing directly with the Clerk without approval can get your case dismissed. Build in time for at least one round of corrections.
Mutual restraining order attaches automatically. Under DR Local Rule 22, a Mutual Temporary Restraining Order attaches to every divorce complaint at filing — restraining both spouses from wasting assets, removing children from Ohio, changing insurance, or running up joint debt. It is not a no-contact order.
Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Butler County?: For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months before filing and in Butler County for at least 90 days. For dissolution, only the 6-month Ohio residency applies — there is no separate Butler County residency requirement. For never-married custody, paternity, or support filed at the Juvenile Justice Center, Ohio must be the children's 'home state' under the UCCJEA, which generally means they have lived in Ohio for the last 6 months.
How much does it cost to file in Butler County?: Domestic Relations filing deposits are set by the Butler County Clerk of Courts and posted at clerkofcourts.bcohio.gov; you pay them after the Case Management Office approves your packet. Juvenile Justice Center filings are $165 plus $50 clerk service for a custody, support, allocation, or visitation complaint ($165 plus service for paternity; $45 for a relocation notice). If you cannot pay, file Form DR824 to proceed in forma pauperis at DR, or an indigency affidavit at Juvenile.
How long does a case take in Butler County?: Dissolution: about 30–90 days — Butler County requires the final hearing within 90 days of filing or the petition is dismissed. Uncontested (default) divorce: roughly 4–6 months once the 28-day answer window passes with no Answer filed. Contested divorce: 6–18 months depending on temporary-orders activity and the trial calendar. Civil Protection Orders: an ex parte order can issue the same day, with the full hearing in 7–10 business days.
Why does my filing have to go through Case Management first?: Butler County DR is Case-Management-driven. Almost every filing — complaints, answers, counterclaims, motions, agreed entries, decrees, separation agreements, and shared parenting plans — must be submitted to the Case Management Office and approved for Local Rules compliance before you file it with the Clerk of Courts. Filing directly with the Clerk without approval can get your case dismissed. Submit non-DV documents through the E-Submission portal at drcsubmit.bcohio.gov.
Can I e-file in Butler County?: Yes. Since December 2, 2024, E-Submission at drcsubmit.bcohio.gov is mandatory for all non-DV Domestic Relations documents, including transcript and interpreter requests. DV/CPO filings cannot use E-Submission — file those in person or through the Document Submission portal. Use a computer or laptop with Acrobat Reader (not a phone or browser viewer), upload PDF files only, and add DRCourtNoReply@bcohio.gov to your safe senders.
How do temporary orders work in Butler County?: File a DR301 Motion and Affidavit for Temporary Orders with your complaint, answer, or counterclaim. Butler County DR usually decides temporary orders on the affidavits without an oral hearing. The opposing party has 14 days after service to file a counter-motion, and a DR303 Notice of Perfection of Service must be on file before the court can issue the order. Use a DR302 to request an oral hearing or to set the decision aside.
Does Butler County issue an automatic restraining order at filing?: Yes — unlike many Ohio counties, Butler County automatically attaches a Mutual Temporary Restraining Order to every divorce, annulment, and legal separation complaint (DR Local Rule 22). It restrains both spouses from hiding or wasting assets, removing children from Ohio, changing insurance or retirement beneficiaries, and running up joint debt. It is not a no-contact order and does not restrain wages, ordinary living expenses, or attorney fees.
Is the parenting class required in Butler County?: Yes. Both parents in any Butler County divorce or dissolution with minor children must complete 'Helping Families Succeed During Divorce,' a 4-hour online Zoom program run by the Forensic Evaluation Services Center (FESC, (513) 869-4014). Register within 15 days of filing using Form DR628 and finish before the final hearing. Spouses cannot attend the same session, and you need your DR case number to schedule. A Spanish-language version runs about once a month.

Free Local Resources in Butler County

Butler County DR Court Forms & E-Submission. All Domestic Relations forms, instructions, and completed packets are posted at drcourt.bcohio.gov/forms. Non-DV documents are submitted through the E-Submission portal at drcsubmit.bcohio.gov; DV/CPO documents use the Document Submission portal.
Butler County Juvenile Justice Center Forms. Custody, visitation, support, contempt, and emergency-custody complaints and motions (PDF and DOC) are at juvenilejusticecenter.bcohio.gov/forms___downloads. CSEA e-filing is at bcjjcefile.bcohio.gov/EFile.
Butler County Bar Association. Attorney referral and general legal information at (513) 896-6671 / butlercountybar.org. Court staff cannot give legal advice.
Women Helping Women (24-hour DV hotline). Confidential domestic-violence support and victim advocacy at (513) 381-5610. The Butler County Sheriff's Victim Assistance Program is at (513) 887-3430.

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.

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