Legal Separation in Champaign County
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026
Champaign County, Ohio · Urbana
A legal separation (R.C. 3105.17) lets the Champaign County Family Court allocate property, support, and custody without ending the marriage — the spouses stay legally married and cannot remarry. It is filed on the Domestic Relations side in Urbana using the same local forms, affidavits, and process as a divorce, with the same $450 deposit. People choose it for religious, insurance, or personal reasons, and it does not prevent a later divorce or dissolution.
How do I file for legal separation in Champaign County, Ohio?
File a Complaint for Legal Separation on the Domestic Relations side of the Champaign County Family Court in Urbana, using the same county-local divorce path — a complaint, a Request for Service, an Affidavit of Income and Expenses, and an Affidavit of Property, plus the Cover Sheet and Confidential Disclosure (single-sided). The deposit is $450. With minor children, add the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, Health Insurance Affidavit, a child-support worksheet, and an Application for Child Support Services. The court can allocate parental rights, parenting time, child support, spousal support, and property — but the marriage continues, so neither spouse may remarry.
Ohio Legal Separation by the Numbers
- Stay married A legal separation decree does not end the marriage — neither spouse may remarry Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.17
- No residency rule Unlike a divorce, a legal separation has no 6-month Ohio residency requirement before filing Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.03
- Full orders The court can divide property and order spousal support, custody, and child support Source: Ohio Revised Code §§ 3105.171, 3105.18
- Can convert A legal separation does not stop either spouse from later filing for divorce Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.17
Legal Separation vs. Divorce in Ohio
| Question | Legal separation | Divorce |
|---|---|---|
| Are you still legally married? | Yes — you stay married | No — the marriage ends |
| Can you remarry afterward? | No | Yes |
| Divides marital property and debts? | Yes | Yes |
| Can it order support, custody, and parenting time? | Yes | Yes |
| Ohio residency required to file? | Not required | 6 months in Ohio |
| Can it later become a divorce? | Yes — either spouse can still file | It already ends the marriage |
Where to File: Champaign County Family Court (Domestic Relations–Juvenile–Probate Division)
200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana, OH 43078, Urbana, OH 43078Phone: (937) 484-1027
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed holidays)
Website: www.ccfamct.us
e-Filing: https://eservices.champaigncountyfamilycourt.com
Juvenile Branch (Never-Married 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)
Legal Separation is the right path if…
- You want court-ordered support, parenting, and property terms but not to end the marriage.
- You have religious, insurance, or personal reasons to stay legally married.
- You and your spouse can't fully agree, so you need the court to decide.
- You (the plaintiff) meet Ohio's 6-month residency requirement and Champaign County venue.
Filing Fees
$450 legal-separation deposit (same as divorce) · personal-service request $50 · deposits against costs — confirm with the Clerk at (937) 484-1027
Forms & Filing Packets
Legal separation packet (no minor children) — $450 deposit
File the legal-separation complaint with the universal cover forms, a Request for Service, and the income and property affidavits.
- Family Court Cover Sheet — Required cover sheet for every initial Champaign County Family Court filing. Must be printed single-sided.
- Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers — Required in every case so personal identifiers stay out of the public record (the filer must redact under Sup. R. 45). Printed single-sided.
- Complaint for Divorce without Children — Opens an adversarial divorce when there are no minor children of the marriage.
- Request for Service — Tells the Clerk how to serve the other party (certified mail, personal service, or — with a last known address — posting and mail at the three local bulletin boards).
- Affidavit of Income and Expenses (Champaign County local) — Champaign County's local income, expense, and financial-information affidavit. Each party files their own.
- Affidavit of Property (Champaign County local) — Lists every asset and debt of the marriage. Required at filing.
Legal separation packet (with minor children) — $450 deposit
Add the Parenting Proceeding and Health Insurance affidavits, the Ohio child-support worksheet, and an Application for Child Support Services.
- Family Court Cover Sheet — Required cover sheet for every initial Champaign County Family Court filing. Must be printed single-sided.
- Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers — Required in every case so personal identifiers stay out of the public record (the filer must redact under Sup. R. 45). Printed single-sided.
- Complaint for Divorce with Children — Opens an adversarial divorce when you and your spouse have minor children together. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child support.
- Request for Service — Tells the Clerk how to serve the other party (certified mail, personal service, or — with a last known address — posting and mail at the three local bulletin boards).
- Affidavit of Income and Expenses (Champaign County local) — Champaign County's local income, expense, and financial-information affidavit. Each party files their own.
- Affidavit of Property (Champaign County local) — Lists every asset and debt of the marriage. Required at filing.
- Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Champaign County local) — Required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
- Health Insurance Affidavit (Champaign County local) — 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.
- Application for Child Support Services (Champaign County) — Opens a IV-D case with the Champaign County CSEA so support can be collected and enforced. Filed in any case where the court sets child support.
How to File Legal Separation in Champaign County
- Confirm residency and venue. The plaintiff must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months before filing (R.C. 3105.03), with Champaign County venue.
- Complete the local DR forms. Prepare the legal-separation complaint, Request for Service, and income and property affidavits; add the child-related affidavits and worksheet if you have minor children. Attach the Cover Sheet and Confidential Disclosure (single-sided).
- File and pay $450. File on the DR side of the Champaign County Family Court in Urbana and request service on your spouse.
- Attend the hearing. The court allocates support, parenting, property, and debt while the marriage continues — neither spouse may remarry.
Champaign County Practice Notes
- You stay legally married. Because a legal separation does not end the marriage, neither spouse may remarry. It is a court status under R.C. 3105.17 that resolves financial and parenting issues, and it does not prevent a later divorce or dissolution — either spouse can still pursue one.
- Same forms and process as a divorce. Champaign County does not publish a separate legal-separation packet — the case follows the divorce filing path with the same local Complaint, affidavits, service, and possible temporary orders, but the result is a separation order rather than a termination of the marriage. The $450 deposit matches a divorce.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does a legal separation end my marriage in Champaign County?
- No. A legal separation (R.C. 3105.17) resolves property, support, and custody without ending the marriage — the spouses remain legally married and cannot remarry. It is filed on the Domestic Relations side with the same $450 deposit as a divorce, and it does not prevent a later divorce or dissolution.
- What are the residency requirements to file for divorce in Champaign County?
- For a divorce, legal separation, or annulment, the plaintiff must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months before filing (R.C. 3105.03), with proper Champaign County venue. The case is filed at the Champaign County Family Court, 200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana. A dissolution also requires the 6-month Ohio residency.
- How much does it cost to file a Domestic Relations case in Champaign County?
- 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. These are deposits due at filing; confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (937) 484-1027. A fee waiver is available by filing the Ohio Supreme Court poverty affidavit (Affidavit of Indigency).
- Where do I file a family-law case in Champaign County?
- All Champaign County family-law cases — divorce, dissolution, custody, support, paternity, protection orders, and adoption — are filed at one combined court: the Champaign County Family Court (Domestic Relations–Juvenile–Probate Division), 200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana, OH 43078, Clerk's Office (937) 484-1027. This is separate from the General Division of Common Pleas, which handles felonies and general civil cases and is not where family law is filed.
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.
Other Family-Law Topics in Champaign County
- Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
- Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Champaign County custody attorney for help with your case.
Related to your legal separation case
- Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.
- Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
- Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Related guides
In-depth, attorney-written guides on legal separation 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 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.
- Spousal Support in Ohio: How Alimony Is Decided — Ohio has no fixed alimony formula. Courts weigh 14 statutory factors to decide whether spousal support is appropriate, how much, and for how long. Here's how it works.
Keep exploring
- Ohio Legal Separation guide — Statewide overview of legal separation in Ohio.
- Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
- Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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