Carroll County Divorce Attorneys

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

Carroll County, Ohio · Carrollton

A Carroll County divorce is an adversarial action (Plaintiff v. Defendant) filed in the General & Domestic Relations Division before Judge Michael V. Repella II — there is no separate Domestic Relations Court here. File with the Clerk of Courts at 119 S. Lisbon St., Suite 401, Carrollton. The deposit is $350 (the same with or without children), the county routes the substantive pleadings to the standardized Ohio Supreme Court forms, and a divorce is deemed uncontested unless an answer, motion, or stipulation for leave to plead is filed within 28 days after service (Local Rule 10.05).

Hire Gavvl for your Carroll County divorce case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Carroll 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 Carroll County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Divorce (Ohio SC Form 6 without children, Form 7 with children) plus the Affidavit of Income & Expenses, Affidavit of Property, and Carroll County's Domestic Relations Case Designation Form with the Clerk of Courts, 119 S. Lisbon St., Suite 401, Carrollton. The deposit is $350. With minor children, also file the Parenting Proceeding (UCCJEA) Affidavit, the Health Insurance Affidavit, a child-support worksheet, a parenting plan, and an application for IV-D services with the CSEA, and complete the Successful Co-Parenting class before the final hearing. The filing spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months. A divorce is deemed uncontested unless a responsive pleading is filed within 28 days after service.

Hire Gavvl Law for your Carroll County divorce

A Carroll County divorce is an adversarial case filed in the General & Domestic Relations Division before Judge Michael V. Repella II — there's no separate domestic relations court here — with a $350 deposit that's the same whether or not you have children. The county routes the substantive pleadings to the standardized Ohio Supreme Court forms but adds its own Domestic Relations Case Designation Form and a Personal Identifiers sheet, and a divorce is deemed uncontested unless a responsive pleading is filed within 28 days of service. Gavvl Law assembles the packet the Clerk at 119 S. Lisbon St. will accept and drives the case through pre-trial and trial. Flat fee for straightforward matters, full representation when it's contested.

County forms on top of the statewide set. The pleadings are the Ohio Uniform Domestic Relations Forms, but Carroll County also demands its Domestic Relations Case Designation Form and a Disclosure of Personal Identifier Information sheet in every case. We file the complete set — the income and property affidavits and the county cover forms — so the case opens without a rejection.
The 28-day uncontested clock. A Carroll County divorce is treated as uncontested unless an answer, motion, or stipulation for leave to plead is filed within 28 days of service (Local Rule 10.05). We track that deadline on both sides — protecting your default if you filed, and preserving your defenses if you were served.
CSEA case and co-parenting class opened. Every support order runs through the Carroll County CSEA with a 2% processing charge and a required IV-D application, and cases with children need the $25 Successful Co-Parenting class through OSU Extension before the final hearing. We open the CSEA case and book the class so nothing holds up your decree.

Support paid directly instead of through the Carroll County CSEA (55 East Main Street, (330) 627-5357) is treated as a gift and earns no credit, and the co-parenting class is cash-only through OSU Extension at (330) 627-4310. We line up both correctly and file at the Clerk of Courts, 119 S. Lisbon St., Suite 401, Carrollton — in person, by mail, or through the optional e-services portal.

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: Carroll County Court of Common Pleas, General & Domestic Relations Division

119 S. Lisbon St., Suite 401, Carrollton, OH 44615
Phone: (330) 627-4886
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Website: Court website
e-Filing: Online e-filing portal

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Carroll County Probate & Juvenile Division
119 S. Lisbon St., Suite 202, Carrollton, OH 44615
Phone: (330) 627-2323
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

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 orders now — for support, parenting time, or use of the home.
You (the filing spouse) have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and can establish Carroll County venue.

If you and your spouse already agree on every issue in writing, a dissolution is usually faster at the same court. Compare divorce vs. dissolution.

Filing Fees

$350 divorce deposit (with or without children) · $350 counterclaim · deposits against costs, not flat totals, with any unused balance refundable — confirm with the Clerk at (330) 627-4886

Forms & Filing Packets

Core divorce filing packet (no minor children) — $350 deposit

File with the Carroll County Clerk of Courts. Use the standardized Ohio Supreme Court DR forms plus the county Domestic Relations Case Designation Form.

Domestic Relations Case Designation Form (Carroll County) — Required county cover sheet filed with every new Domestic Relations case. You choose the filing category (A–K), list any open or closed cases involving the children, and flag whether the case is appropriate for mediation.
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.
Decree of Divorce Without Children (Ohio SC Form 14) — Proposed final order ending the marriage. Prepare in advance; the Judge signs it at the final hearing.

Core divorce filing packet (with minor children) — $350 deposit

Add the UCCJEA and health-insurance affidavits, the child-support worksheet, and a parenting plan; file an IV-D application with the CSEA and register for the Successful Co-Parenting class.

Domestic Relations Case Designation Form (Carroll County) — Required county cover sheet filed with every new Domestic Relations case. You choose the filing category (A–K), list any open or closed cases involving the children, and flag whether the case is appropriate for mediation.
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.
Decree of Divorce With Children (Ohio SC Form 15) — Proposed final order for a divorce with minor children.

Shared parenting add-on

Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G).

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.

Temporary orders add-on packet

File a motion for temporary orders with current income and property affidavits attached; the court schedules these motions for hearing (Local Rule 10.04(A)).

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).
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 Carroll County

Confirm Ohio residency and Carroll County venue. The filing spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months before filing (R.C. 3105.03), with proper Carroll County venue.
Complete the standardized DR forms. Fill out the Complaint (Form 6 or 7), Affidavit of Income & Expenses, Affidavit of Property, and the Domestic Relations Case Designation Form; add the UCCJEA and health-insurance affidavits, the worksheet, and a parenting plan if you have children.
File with the Clerk and pay the $350 deposit. File at the Carroll County Clerk of Courts, 119 S. Lisbon St., Suite 401, Carrollton (in person, by mail, or via the optional e-services portal), and request service on your spouse.
Open the CSEA case (with children). File an application for IV-D services with the Carroll County CSEA so support can be collected and enforced; no support order issues without it.
Finish the parenting class and proceed. Complete the Successful Co-Parenting class (if you have children). The case is deemed uncontested unless a responsive pleading is filed within 28 days after service; contested cases proceed through a mandatory pre-trial conference (Local Rule 10.06), discovery, and trial.

Carroll County Practice Notes

Carroll routes to the standardized statewide forms. The substantive pleadings use the Ohio Uniform Domestic Relations Forms; the county supplies assembled divorce packets (with and without children) and requires its Domestic Relations Case Designation Form, a Disclosure of Personal Identifier Information / Personal Identifiers sheet in all DR cases, and (with children) the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, Health Insurance Affidavit, a Child Support Computation Worksheet, and an IV-D application before any support order (Local Rule 10.08).
Successful Co-Parenting class is mandatory with children. In cases with minor children, the parent education program "Successful Co-Parenting" (through OSU Extension Carroll County, (330) 627-4310) must be completed before the final hearing. It costs $25 per person, cash only (Local Rule 10.08(D)).
All support runs through the CSEA. Support ordered in General & DR cases must be paid through the Carroll County CSEA — direct payments are treated as gifts and earn no credit — and a 2% processing charge applies. Filings with minor children must include an application for IV-D services with the CSEA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file for divorce in Carroll County?: For a divorce, legal separation, or annulment, the filing spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months before filing (R.C. 3105.03), plus Carroll County venue. The case is filed with the Clerk of Courts at 119 S. Lisbon St., Suite 401, Carrollton, and heard by the General & Domestic Relations Division (Judge Michael V. Repella II).
How much does it cost to file a Domestic Relations case in Carroll County?: The General & DR Division's Schedule of Deposits sets a $350.00 deposit for a divorce, dissolution, annulment, or legal separation — the same whether or not there are minor children, and a counterclaim in a divorce is also $350.00. These are deposits against court costs, not flat totals, and any unused balance is refundable. Confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (330) 627-4886 before filing.
Is an uncontested divorce the same as a dissolution in Carroll County?: No. A dissolution is a joint, fully agreed, no-fault case filed together by both spouses after they sign a complete Separation Agreement. An "uncontested" divorce is typically a default — the other spouse can't be found or won't participate — and a divorce or legal separation is deemed uncontested unless an answer, motion, or stipulation for leave to plead is filed within 28 days after service (General & DR Division Local Rule 10.05). They use different forms and paths.
Is a parenting class required for cases with children in Carroll County?: Yes. In cases with minor children, the General & DR Division requires the parent education program "Successful Co-Parenting," offered through the Ohio State University Extension Office, Carroll County ((330) 627-4310). It costs $25 per person (cash only) and must be completed before the final hearing (Local Rule 10.08(D)).
Can I e-file a Domestic Relations case in Carroll County?: E-filing is optional in the General & DR Division through the Clerk's e-services portal (available since June 15, 2022), which also provides online docket access. Fees and deposits are paid by credit card through the portal (the processor, Five-Point, adds a surcharge); the Clerk does not accept personal checks for e-filed fees. Fax filings are not accepted, and certain documents — including all civil protection order pleadings — are excluded and must be filed on paper.

Free Local Resources in Carroll County

Carroll County Clerk of Courts. Provides current filing fees, local forms, and filing instructions for custody, divorce, and dissolution cases. Call (330) 627-4886 or visit https://carrollcountyohio.us/agencies-and-departments/courts/court-of-common-pleas/ before filing to confirm deposits and packet requirements.
Carroll County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Carroll 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 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.

Keep exploring Carroll County family law

Ohio Divorce guide — Statewide overview of divorce in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
Carroll County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Carroll County guide.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.

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.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.