Filing for Divorce in Clark County

Clark County, Ohio · Springfield

A Clark County divorce is filed at the Domestic Relations Court at 101 N. Limestone Street in Springfield, in front of Hon. Thomas J. Capper. The case is heard either by the Judge or by Magistrate Ann Ringler or Magistrate Patrick Phillips at the A.B. Graham Building. Clark County uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms — there are no Clark-specific divorce forms.

How do I file for divorce in Clark County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Divorce (Ohio Supreme Court Form 4 without children, Form 5 with children) with the Clark County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, at 101 North Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502. The Clerk at (937) 521-1753 sets the current deposit. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Clark County for at least 90 days. Under Ohio law, the court cannot hold a final divorce hearing until at least 42 days after service is completed.

Where to File: Clark County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Adult Section)

101 North Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502, Springfield, OH 45502
Phone: (937) 521-1753
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: www.clarkcountyohio.gov/

Divorce is the right path if…

You and your spouse don't agree on everything (custody, parenting time, money, property, debt, or support).
Your spouse won't sign paperwork, won't communicate, or you can't safely reach an agreement.
You need temporary orders now — for support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home.
You or your spouse have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months and a Clark County resident for at least 90 days.

If you and your spouse already agree on everything in writing, a Dissolution is faster and cheaper. See Clark County dissolution.

Filing Fees

Deposit set by Clerk · Call (937) 521-1753 for current amount · 42-day waiting period after service before final hearing

Forms & Filing Packets

Core divorce filing packet (no minor children) — Deposit set by Clerk — call (937) 521-1753

Complaint for Divorce Without Children (Supreme Court Form 4) — Opens your divorce case in Clark County DR when you and your spouse have no minor children together. Clark uses only Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms.
Affidavit of Income, Expenses & Financial Disclosure (Affidavit 1) — Must be notarized. Required at filing in every Clark DR case. Both parties file their own.
Affidavit of Property (Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing alongside the Income Affidavit.
Decree of Divorce Without Children (Supreme Court Form 14) — The proposed final order ending the marriage. Draft and bring/file with your packet — do NOT sign until the Judge signs at the final hearing.

Core divorce filing packet (with minor children) — Deposit set by Clerk — call (937) 521-1753

Complaint for Divorce With Children (Supreme Court Form 5) — Opens your divorce case in Clark County DR when you and your spouse have minor children together. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child-support allegations.
Affidavit of Income, Expenses & Financial Disclosure (Affidavit 1) — Must be notarized. Required at filing in every Clark DR case. Both parties file their own.
Affidavit of Property (Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing alongside the Income Affidavit.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3 — UCCJEA, R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom. Confirms Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, sign. Required any time the court is being asked to set support.
Sole-Residential Parenting Plan (Supreme Court Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian. Sets parenting time, decision-making, and exchanges.
Decree of Divorce With Children (Supreme Court Form 15) — Proposed final order for a divorce with minor children. Incorporates the parenting plan, child-support worksheet, and property allocation.

Shared parenting add-on

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

Shared Parenting Plan (Supreme Court Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents and legal custodians under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.

Temporary orders add-on packet

Under Civ. R. 75(N), Clark County may set an oral hearing on temporary orders. Bring complete financial affidavits — incomplete filings cause continuances.

Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Asks the Magistrate for temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Clark County may set an oral hearing under Civ. R. 75(N). Contact the Clerk at (937) 521-1753 for the local cover-sheet format. Tip: Attach current Affidavit 1 and Affidavit 2 — incomplete financials routinely cause continuances.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, sign. Required any time the court is being asked to set support.

How to File Divorce in Clark County

Confirm Ohio + Clark County residency. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Clark County for at least 90 days before filing.
Pick your grounds. Ohio recognizes no-fault grounds (living separate and apart for 1 year, or incompatibility unless denied) and fault grounds (adultery, extreme cruelty, gross neglect of duty, habitual drunkenness, fraudulent contract, imprisonment, or willful absence for 1 year).
Assemble the right packet. Form 4 (no children) or Form 5 (with children), plus Affidavit 1 (income/expenses, notarized), Affidavit 2 (property), and — if children — Affidavit 3 (UCCJEA), Affidavit 4 (health insurance), the Ohio Child Support Worksheet, and a proposed parenting plan.
Decide whether to request temporary orders. If you need support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home now, attach a Motion for Temporary Orders with current financial affidavits. Clark County may set an oral hearing under Civ. R. 75(N).
File at 101 N. Limestone Street. Pay the deposit set by the Clerk (call (937) 521-1753 for the current amount). Accepted payment: cash, money order, certified check, or credit/debit card.
Serve your spouse and wait 42 days. Service can be by certified mail, Sheriff, or process server. The defendant has 28 days to file an Answer or Counterclaim. A final hearing cannot be held until at least 42 days after service is completed.

Clark County Practice Notes

42-day waiting period is mandatory. Ohio law forbids a final divorce hearing until at least 42 days after service is perfected. This cannot be waived even when the case is uncontested.
Two buildings, one case. The Judge sits at 101 N. Limestone Street; both Magistrates hold hearings in the A.B. Graham Building at 31 N. Limestone — one block away. Check your hearing notice carefully.
No local divorce forms. Clark County uses only the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms. The Clark County Law Library does not stock pro se divorce forms.
Mediation is available. Either party can request a referral to court-connected mediation using the Clark County Mediation Referral Form. The Magistrate can also refer the case sua sponte.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Clark County?: For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months immediately before filing, and a Clark County resident for at least 90 days. Dissolution requires only the 6-month Ohio residency — there is no separate Clark County residency rule.
How much does it cost to file in Clark County DR?: Dissolution is a $350 deposit (not a flat fee — the balance is refunded after costs). For divorce, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree motions, deposits are set by the Clerk — call (937) 521-1753 for the current amount before filing. CPO petitions are free. Juvenile court charges a $25 non-refundable application fee for court-appointed counsel.
How does Clark County DR accept payment?: Cash, money order, certified check, or credit/debit card at 101 N. Limestone Street in Springfield. The dissolution deposit is applied to court costs at the final hearing and any unused balance is refunded to the person who posted it.
Does Clark County have its own local divorce or dissolution forms?: No. Clark County uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment. The Clark County Law Library does not stock pro se forms. The main Clark County Public Library on South Fountain has LawPak's Ohio Dissolution forms at the Reference Desk and access to the Cengage Legal Forms Database with a library card.
Where do hearings actually take place?: Cases are assigned to Hon. Thomas J. Capper at 101 N. Limestone Street, but Magistrates Ann Ringler and Patrick Phillips hold most hearings in the A.B. Graham Building at 31 N. Limestone Street (a separate building one block away). Confirm your location on the hearing notice before you arrive.
How long does a Clark County divorce take?: Ohio has a mandatory 42-day waiting period after service is completed — the court cannot hold a final hearing on a divorce until that period has run, and the 42 days cannot be waived. Uncontested divorces in Clark typically take 4-6 months total. Contested divorces routinely run 8-18 months depending on temporary-orders activity, discovery, and the Magistrate's calendar.
How do temporary orders work in Clark County?: Under Civ. R. 75(N), Clark County may set an oral hearing on temporary-orders motions. File a Motion for Temporary Orders with current Affidavit 1 (income/expenses) and Affidavit 2 (property). Contact the Clerk at (937) 521-1753 for the local cover sheet and to find out whether your assigned Magistrate decides on the affidavits or sets a hearing.
Is mediation available in Clark County?: Yes. Clark County offers court-connected mediation for custody, parenting time, and other family-law disputes — including post-decree motions. Either party can request a referral using the Clark County Mediation Referral Form, or the Magistrate can refer sua sponte. Mediation is generally not used in CPO cases involving domestic violence.
When do I file in the Juvenile Section instead of DR?: If you were never married to the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are filed in the Clark County Juvenile Section (clarkohiojuvcourt.us), not in DR. If you were married, those issues travel with the divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in DR at 101 N. Limestone Street.

Free Local Resources in Clark County

Clark County DR Clerk. 101 N. Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502. Phone (937) 521-1753 for filing-fee deposits, copy requirements, and procedural questions.
Ohio Supreme Court Standardized Forms. Clark County uses these forms for every DR case type — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree modifications. Available at supremecourt.ohio.gov.
Clark County Public Library (Main Branch, S. Fountain Ave.). LawPak Ohio Dissolution forms at the Reference Desk and access to the Cengage Legal Forms Database (library card required).
Clark County Mediation Referral. Court-connected mediation for custody, parenting time, and post-decree disputes. Referral form linked from clarkcountyohio.gov DR forms page.
Legal Aid of Western Ohio. Free civil legal assistance for income-qualifying Clark County residents. Call (877) 894-4599.
Clark County Bar Association. Lawyer referral service. clarkcobar.com.
United Way 2-1-1 (Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties). Free 24/7 referral line for local shelter, advocacy, and social services.

Related to your divorce case

Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable dissolution.
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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.

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