Champaign County Family Law Guide
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026
Gavvl Law helps Champaign County, Ohio families with divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and more. Find the right Champaign County court, filing fees, and parenting resources below, or book a $25 first consultation to talk through your options with a local-focused attorney.
How we can help in Champaign County
Ending a Marriage
- Divorce
Domestic Relations Court $450 divorce deposit · Answer $0
Best for: You and your spouse don't agree on everything (custody, parenting time, property, debt, or support).
View guide - Dissolution
Domestic Relations Court $350 dissolution deposit · conversion to divorce $100
Best for: You and your spouse agree on every issue — property, debt, support, and parenting.
View guide - Legal Separation
Domestic Relations Court personal-service request $50
Best for: You want court-ordered support, parenting, and property terms but not to end the marriage.
View guide - Annulment
Domestic Relations Court $450 annulment deposit (same as divorce)
Best for: You believe the marriage was void or voidable under R.C. 3105.31, not just unhappy.
View guide
Parents & Children
- Custody
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court $250 Juvenile Complaint for Custody (never-married parents)
Best for: You need a first custody and parenting-time order for your child.
View guide - Child Support
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court standalone Juvenile Complaint for Support $250 · DR reopen/issue-not-before-the-court $250
Best for: You need a first child-support order as part of a divorce, dissolution, or parentage case.
View guide - Paternity
Juvenile Court $250 Complaint for Paternity on the Juvenile side
Best for: You and the other parent were never married to each other.
View guide - Shared Parenting
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court $250 Motion for Shared Parenting on the Juvenile side
Best for: Both parents want to be named legal custodian and residential parent under one plan.
View guide - Non-Parent Custody
Juvenile Court $250 Complaint for Custody · $250 Motion for Visitation (companionship)
Best for: You are a grandparent, relative, or other non-parent actively caring for the child.
View guide
Changing or Enforcing Orders
- Modifications
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court DR reopen/issue-not-before-the-court $250 · Juvenile modification motions $250
Best for: There is an existing Champaign County custody, parenting-time, or support order.
View guide - Contempt
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court $250 Juvenile Motion in Contempt · $250 DR reopen/issue-not-before-the-court
Best for: There is a clear Champaign County court order the other party is violating.
View guide
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency Custody
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: A child faces immediate danger or a serious risk of harm.
View guide - Protection Orders
Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: Someone has harmed, threatened, or made you fear imminent harm.
View guide
The Champaign County family-law guide
Verified June 21, 2026
Download our free Champaign County family-law guide (PDF) — a plain-language walkthrough of which court hears each matter, the current filing fees, the required parenting class, and e-filing — checked against the county's own court rules and fee schedules.
Download the Champaign County family-law guide (PDF)
Talk to a Champaign County family-law attorney
Sources we checked
- Champaign County Family Court (Domestic Relations–Juvenile–Probate Division) — Local Forms & Rules
- Champaign County Family Court Clerk's Office — Filing Fees & E-Filing
- Ohio Supreme Court — Standard Domestic Relations & Juvenile forms
What we confirmed for 2026
- The Family Court charges $450 for a divorce, annulment, or legal separation and $350 for a dissolution; an Answer is $0, a Counterclaim is $100, and converting a dissolution to a divorce is $100.
- Reopening a case or filing an issue not currently before the court is $250, and most Juvenile-side complaints and motions (custody, support, paternity, shared parenting, visitation, contempt) are also $250.
- All family-law matters — Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate — are heard at one combined Champaign County Family Court under "one judge, one family," and cases e-file through eservices.champaigncountyfamilycourt.com.
- The Domestic Relations side uses county-local forms (ccfamct.us), while the Juvenile side uses Ohio Supreme Court Uniform forms (Forms 23/26/27/28 and Affidavits 1/3/4).
- If a spouse cannot be found, service is by posting and mail at three named bulletin boards — the Courthouse, the Community Center, and the Urbana Municipal Building — at least 7 days before the hearing.
Champaign County family-law courts
Domestic Relations Court
Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and spousal support for married spouses
Champaign County Family Court (Domestic Relations–Juvenile–Probate Division)
200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana, OH 43078
Urbana, OH 43078
Phone: (937) 484-1027
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed holidays)
Juvenile Court
Custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity for unmarried parents
Champaign County Family Court (Juvenile side)
200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana, OH 43078
Urbana, OH 43078
Phone: (937) 484-1027
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed holidays)
Court divisions, filing fees, and local requirements can change. Confirm the correct court, current fees, and required forms with the Champaign County Clerk of Courts before you file.
Why Champaign County is different
One judge, one family
Champaign is unusual: Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate are all heard at a single combined Family Court at 200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana. One of two judges — Brett A. Gilbert or Lori L. Reisinger — is assigned at random and keeps your whole family's matters. (Champaign County Family Court)
DR and Juvenile use different forms
On the Domestic Relations side you use Champaign's county-local forms (ccfamct.us), but on the Juvenile side you use the Ohio Supreme Court Uniform forms (Forms 23, 26, 27, 28 and Affidavits 1, 3, 4). Pull the right set for your case type. (Champaign County Family Court Clerk's Office)
Service by posting at three bulletin boards
If your spouse cannot be found, Champaign serves by posting and mail at three named locations — the Courthouse, the Community Center, and the Urbana Municipal Building — at least 7 days before the hearing, instead of newspaper publication. (Champaign County Family Court)
Free local resources in Champaign County
- Champaign County Family Court Clerk's Office — 200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana, OH 43078. Phone (937) 484-1027 / (937) 484-1028; fax (937) 484-1026; email clerks@ccfamct.us. Hours Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Clerks can check that the right blanks are filled in but cannot give legal advice. Online records (eServices): https://eservices.champaigncountyfamilycourt.com.
- Champaign County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) — Champaign County Department of Job & Family Services / CSEA, 1512 S. US Hwy 68, Ste. N100, Urbana, OH 43078. Phone (937) 484-1500; website https://www.champaigndjfs.org. Establishes, collects, and enforces support and can establish paternity administratively.
- Champaign County Law Library — Located on the basement level of the Champaign County Court of Common Pleas, open Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Self-represented parties can research the law there.
- Children Services (abuse / neglect) — Report concerns during business hours at (937) 484-1500 (ask for Children Services Intake); after hours/holidays call the Champaign County Dispatch Center at (937) 653-3409. Call 911 if a child is in immediate danger.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gavvl Law serve Champaign County, Ohio?
Yes. Gavvl Law represents families across all 88 Ohio counties, including Champaign County and Urbana. We handle divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and other family law matters for Champaign County residents.
Which Champaign County court handles my family law case?
Champaign County uses different courts for different family matters. Married spouses file for divorce, dissolution, or legal separation at Champaign County Family Court (Domestic Relations–Juvenile–Probate Division). Unmarried parents handle custody, parenting time, and child support at Champaign County Family Court (Juvenile side). Filing in the wrong court can delay your case, so confirm where your matter belongs with the Champaign County Clerk of Courts before you start.
How much does it cost to file a family law case in Champaign County?
Court filing fees in Champaign County are deposits that vary by case type. These deposits can change and do not include attorney fees. Confirm the current schedule with the Champaign County Clerk of Courts, and ask Gavvl Law about flat fees and payment plans for representation.
Do I have to take a parenting class in Champaign County?
Most Ohio courts require divorcing or separating parents to complete a short parenting or co-parenting class before a judge will finalize the case. Confirm Champaign County's current requirement and approved providers with the Clerk of Courts.
Can I file Champaign County family law forms online?
Yes. Champaign County accepts electronic filing through its court e-filing portal, and self-represented (pro se) registration is typically available. Not every case type is eligible, so confirm what you can e-file — and any convenience fees — with the Champaign County Clerk of Courts.
How long does a divorce or dissolution take in Champaign County?
It depends on the path. An Ohio dissolution — used when both spouses agree on every issue — is generally finalized within about 30 to 90 days of filing, because the law sets the final hearing in that window. A contested divorce takes longer, often several months to more than a year, depending on the issues and the court's schedule. Champaign County's docket affects timing, so ask about current wait times at your consultation.
What family law services does Gavvl Law offer in Champaign County?
Gavvl Law offers divorce, dissolution, legal separation, custody, shared parenting, child support, paternity, post-decree modifications, and more for Champaign County families. Choose a service below to see the local process and forms.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
