Filing for Dissolution in Clark County, Ohio
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026
Clark County (Springfield) splits its Domestic Relations work between TWO downtown buildings — Judge Capper sits at 101 N. Limestone Street while Magistrates Ringler and Phillips hold hearings at the A.B. Graham Building (31 N. Limestone Street). Check your hearing notice carefully. Three Clark-specific rules drive most dissolutions: (1) the $350 fee is a DEPOSIT applied to actual court costs after the hearing, with the balance refunded — not a flat fee; (2) there are NO local dissolution forms — Clark uses only the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms, and the Clark County Law Library does not stock pro se forms; and (3) strict copy requirements per document (Petition orig + 2, Separation Agreement orig + 4, Decree orig + 4, plus per-party affidavit copies) — plan ahead. The Separation Agreement must be notarized OR signed before 2 witnesses, and the Decree is signed by both parties and the Judge AT the final hearing, not before. Court-connected mediation is available via the Mediation Referral Form.
Affordable, flat-fee dissolution in Clark County
Skip the hourly-billing guesswork. Our Ohio family-law team handles dissolution for Clark County families at a transparent flat fee — you approve the price before we start, with payment plans and full representation available when a case needs it. Everything local — the court in Springfield, required forms, and Clark County fee details — is laid out on this page.
- One flat fee, agreed up front. You approve the flat fee before any work starts — no hourly meter, and no surprise invoices later.
- Payments that fit your budget. Pay in full, split it into a plan, or finance it — three ways to fit the same transparent flat fee into your budget.
- Why Clark County families choose us. With a flat fee there's no clock on every call or email — we're rewarded for resolving your Clark County case, not prolonging it. Licensed Ohio family-law attorneys, 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) |
Clark County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division — Adult Section
101 North Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502 • (937) 521-1753 • Monday–Friday, regular court hours — call (937) 521-1753 to confirm.
Filing fee: $350 deposit.
Important things to know about Clark County
- Court is SPLIT between two buildings: the Judge sits at 101 N. Limestone Street, but Magistrates Ringler and Phillips hold their hearings at the A.B. Graham Building (31 N. Limestone Street). Check your hearing notice for the correct location.
- The $350 is a DEPOSIT, NOT a flat fee — applied to actual court costs after the final hearing, with any balance refunded.
- No local dissolution forms — Clark uses ONLY the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms. The Clark County Law Library does not stock pro se dissolution forms.
- Strict copy requirements: Petition (orig + 2 copies), Separation Agreement (orig + 4), Affidavit 1 (orig + 1 per party), Decree (orig + 4), Shared Parenting Plan (orig + 4), Sole Custody Forms 21/22 (orig + 4).
- Separation Agreement MUST be notarized OR signed before 2 witnesses.
- Affidavit of Income, Expenses & Financial Disclosure (Affidavit 1) MUST be notarized.
- Do NOT sign the Decree or Shared Parenting Decree before the final hearing — they require both parties' AND the Judge's signatures at the hearing.
- Forms available at Clark County Public Library main branch on S. Fountain — LawPak Ohio Dissolution forms at the Reference Desk plus access to the Cengage Learning Legal Forms Database (library card required).
- Court-connected mediation available via Mediation Referral Form — helpful even in dissolutions where one issue still needs resolution.
Required forms (all cases)
- Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) — original + 2 copies — The main joint petition asking the court to end the marriage. Include names and addresses. Both spouses sign together.
- Waiver of Service of Summons — original + 2 copies — Can be included in the body of the Petition or filed as a separate document. Waives formal service.
- Separation Agreement (Form 19) — original + 4 copies — Your full settlement on property, debt, and spousal support. MUST be notarized OR signed before 2 witnesses. Both spouses must sign.
- Affidavit of Income, Expenses & Financial Disclosure (Affidavit 1) — original + 1 copy per party — Each spouse files their own — employment, income, monthly expenses. MUST be notarized.
- Decree of Dissolution (Form 18) — original + 4 copies — Final court order ending the marriage. Prepare in advance but DO NOT sign until the final hearing — requires both parties' AND the Judge's signatures.
Additional forms with minor children
- Child Support Worksheet — original + 1 copy — Run the numbers in the Ohio Child Support Calculator, print the worksheet, and file it.
- Application for Child Support Services — 1 copy — Available from the Clerk's office. Required when a child support order will be issued.
- Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) — original + 4 copies (must be notarized) — Option A — Use if both parents will share legal custody and significant parenting time. Both parents must sign and the plan must be notarized.
- Shared Parenting Decree — original + 4 copies — Court order implementing the Shared Parenting Plan. DO NOT sign until the final hearing.
- Parenting Plan (Form 21) — original + 4 copies — Option B, sole custody — Use if one parent will be residential — outlines the parenting time schedule for the other parent.
- Parenting Judgment Entry (Form 22) — original + 4 copies — Option B, sole custody — Sole-custody court order naming the residential parent.
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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