Filing for Divorce with Children in Clark County

Clark County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations

Clerk of Courts, Clark County Court of Common Pleas, 101 N. Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502 — call (937) 521-1753 to confirm the current filing deposit.

Filing Fees

Deposit set by the Clerk — call (937) 521-1753 to confirm the current amount before filing

Clark County Procedure Quirks

• Clark County does NOT publish local divorce forms — it uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized DR forms only.
• The Judge sits at 101 N. Limestone Street; Magistrates Ringler and Phillips hold hearings one block away at the A.B. Graham Building, 31 N. Limestone Street.
• Under Civ. R. 75(N), Clark County DR may set an oral hearing on temporary-orders motions — file with a complete Affidavit 1 and Affidavit 2 or risk a continuance.
• 42-day waiting period after service before a final divorce hearing — it cannot be waived.
• Court-connected mediation is available via the Clark County Mediation Referral Form.

Parenting Class

Confirm the current Clark County parenting-class requirement with the Clerk — Clark County Clerk of Courts (Register / learn more)
Clark County's parenting-class requirements are not published in a single form packet — call (937) 521-1753 to confirm the current required class and provider before your final hearing.

Free Local Resources in Clark County

• Clark County Domestic Relations Rules of Court. clarkcountyohio.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2787 — the local DR rules, including the temporary-orders cover sheet and mediation referral process.
• Ohio Supreme Court Standardized DR Forms. supremecourt.ohio.gov/forms — Clark County uses these standardized forms; no local divorce form packet exists.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run and print the Child Support Worksheet required at filing.

Required divorce-with-children packet (9 forms)

• Complaint for Divorce With Children — Opens your divorce case in Clark County DR. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child support. Ohio Supreme Court standardized form — Clark does not publish a local version.
• Affidavit of Income, Expenses & Financial Disclosure — Both parties must file. Must be notarized. Required at filing.
• Affidavit of Property — Lists every asset and debt. Required with the Complaint.
• Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA) — The children's 5-year residence history. Confirms Ohio's jurisdiction under R.C. 3127.23.
• Health Insurance Affidavit — Discloses whether children's health insurance is available through either parent's employer.
• Child Support Worksheet — Run on the Ohio Child Support Calculator and print. Must be signed.
• Shared Parenting Plan (if asking for shared parenting) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents and legal custodians under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
• Sole-Residential Parenting Plan (if one parent will be custodian) — Used when only one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
• Decree of Divorce With Children — Proposed final order. Draft and file with your packet — do NOT sign until the Judge signs at the final hearing.

Temporary orders while your case is pending

Under Ohio Civil Rule 75(N), Clark County DR may set an oral hearing on temporary-orders motions. File the motion with current Affidavit 1 and Affidavit 2 — incomplete financials cause continuances. The 42-day waiting period after service applies before any final divorce hearing.

• Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Requests temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Clark may set an oral hearing — call the Clerk at (937) 521-1753 for the local cover sheet.
• Affidavit 1 (Income/Expenses) — current — Required attachment to any temporary-orders motion. Incomplete affidavits routinely cause continuances.
• Affidavit 2 (Property) — current — Required attachment to any temporary-orders motion.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on divorce, custody, and related Ohio family law topics.

• 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.
• 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.

Related to your 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.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.