Filing for Dissolution in Clark County, Ohio

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.