Filing for Divorce in Columbiana County

Columbiana County, Ohio · Lisbon

A Columbiana County divorce is filed at the Common Pleas Court at 105 South Market Street, Lisbon, in front of Judges Scott Washam and Megan L. Bickerton (with DR Magistrates J. Bradley Allison and Lynsey Lyle-Opalenik hearing most contested matters). Columbiana County uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms plus several local forms — the Case Designation Sheet, Personal Information Form, local Financial Affidavit, and local UCCJEA Custody Affidavit.

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

File a Complaint for Divorce (Ohio Supreme Court Form 4 without children or Form 5 with children) with the Columbiana County Court of Common Pleas at 105 South Market Street, Lisbon, OH 44432. Include the local Case Designation Sheet, Personal Information Form, and Financial Affidavit. With children, also file the local UCCJEA Custody Affidavit and the IV-D Application. The filing fee is $300. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Columbiana County for at least 90 days. Ohio's mandatory 42-day waiting period after service applies before a final hearing.

Where to File: Columbiana County Court of Common Pleas (Domestic Relations)

105 South Market Street, Lisbon, OH 44432, Lisbon, OH 44432
Phone: (330) 424-7777
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: ccclerk.org/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Columbiana County Juvenile Court (Charles A. Pike Juvenile Center)
260 West Lincoln Way, Lisbon, OH 44432, Lisbon, OH 44432
Phone: (330) 424-4071
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (filings before 3:30 PM)

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 or won't communicate.
You need temporary orders now — for support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home.
You or your spouse have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Columbiana County for at least 90 days.

If you and your spouse already agree on everything in writing, a Dissolution is faster and cheaper — but Columbiana requires court approval BEFORE filing the petition. See Columbiana County dissolution.

Filing Fees

$300 flat (with or without children) · Answer & Cross-Complaint with service: $60 · 42-day waiting period after service

Forms & Filing Packets

Core divorce filing packet (no minor children) — $300

Columbiana County Case Designation Sheet (DR — local) — Required with every new domestic relations filing in Columbiana County.
Columbiana County Personal Information Form (local) — Required with every new DR filing. Captures personal identifiers (SSN, DOB) on a separate form so they stay out of the public file.
Complaint for Divorce Without Children (Supreme Court Form 4) — Opens your Columbiana County divorce when there are no minor children.
Columbiana County Financial Affidavit (local — replaces OSC Affidavit 1) — Columbiana County uses its own local Financial Affidavit in place of the Ohio Supreme Court Affidavit 1. Both parties must file their own.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Decree of Divorce Without Children (Supreme Court Form 14) — Proposed final order ending the marriage. Prepare in advance; the Judge signs it at the final hearing.

Core divorce filing packet (with minor children) — $300

Columbiana County Case Designation Sheet (DR — local) — Required with every new domestic relations filing in Columbiana County.
Columbiana County Personal Information Form (local) — Required with every new DR filing. Captures personal identifiers (SSN, DOB) on a separate form so they stay out of the public file.
Complaint for Divorce With Children (Supreme Court Form 5) — Opens your Columbiana County divorce when minor children are involved. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child support.
Columbiana County Financial Affidavit (local — replaces OSC Affidavit 1) — Columbiana County uses its own local Financial Affidavit in place of the Ohio Supreme Court Affidavit 1. Both parties must file their own.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Columbiana County Custody Affidavit (UCCJEA — local) — Local UCCJEA affidavit required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
Application for Child Support Services (IV-D — local) — Required in any DR case where the court will issue a child-support order. Routes the case to Columbiana County CSEA for collection.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign.
Parenting Plan (Supreme Court Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
Decree of Divorce With Children (Supreme Court Form 15) — Proposed final order for a divorce with minor children.

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 under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.

Temporary orders add-on packet

File under Civ. R. 75(N) with the current local Financial Affidavit and Affidavit 2 attached.

Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Asks the court for temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Tip: Attach a current local Financial Affidavit and Affidavit 2.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign.

How to File Divorce in Columbiana County

Confirm Ohio + Columbiana County residency. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Columbiana 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), the local Financial Affidavit, the OSC Affidavit 2 (property), and — if children — the local UCCJEA, Affidavit 4 (health insurance), the IV-D Application, the Ohio Child Support Worksheet, and a proposed parenting plan. Always include the Case Designation Sheet and Personal Information Form.
File at 105 South Market Street, Lisbon. Pay the $300 filing fee. The Clerk's office accepts in-person filings; online payments are available through ccclerk.org once your case is open.
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 (the answer-with-cross-complaint service fee is $60). A final hearing cannot be held until at least 42 days after service is completed.

Columbiana County Practice Notes

Local Financial Affidavit replaces OSC Affidavit 1. Columbiana County uses its own local Financial Affidavit in place of the Ohio Supreme Court Affidavit 1. Use the link on ccclerk.org — do not file the OSC Affidavit 1.
Local UCCJEA in child cases. For any DR case with minor children, Columbiana requires its local UCCJEA Custody Affidavit instead of the OSC Affidavit 3.
Local companionship schedules apply. Local Rule 9.4 (Uniform), 9.41 (Long Distance), and 9.42 (Transitional) govern parenting time by default. Either propose one of these schedules or attach a custom parenting plan.
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.
Request for Hearing required to schedule. Columbiana County requires the local Request for Hearing form (ccclerk.org/images/pdf/request_for_hearing_cp.pdf) to be filed in order to put your matter on the court's calendar. The complaint alone does not auto-schedule a hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Columbiana County?: For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Columbiana County for at least 90 days before filing. Dissolution only requires the 6-month Ohio residency.
How much does it cost to file in Columbiana County DR?: Dissolution, divorce, legal separation, and annulment are all $300 flat. Post-decree motions are $100. A QDRO filing is $60. An Answer and Cross-Complaint with a service request is $60. Out-of-county Sheriff service is $60. Service by publication is $650. CPO petitions have no filing fee.
What local forms does Columbiana County require?: Every DR filing needs the Case Designation Sheet (DR) and the Personal Information Form. Columbiana also uses its own local Financial Affidavit (in place of the Ohio Supreme Court Affidavit 1) and its own local UCCJEA Custody Affidavit. Cases with child support need the IV-D Application. Post-decree motions need the local Request for Hearing form. All are linked from ccclerk.org.
Does Columbiana County have its own parenting-time schedules?: Yes. Local Rule 9.4 establishes the Uniform Companionship Plan, Local Rule 9.41 is the Long Distance Companionship Schedule, and Local Rule 9.42 is the Transitional Schedule. Pick the schedule that matches your situation (or attach a custom plan); the local rules govern unless the court orders otherwise.
Who hears Columbiana County DR cases?: The General Division judges are Hon. Scott Washam and Hon. Megan L. Bickerton. The DR Magistrates are J. Bradley Allison and Lynsey Lyle-Opalenik, who hear most contested matters and motions. Anthony J. Dattilio is the Clerk of Courts.
How long does a Columbiana County divorce take?: Ohio's mandatory 42-day waiting period after service applies. Uncontested divorces typically run 4-6 months; contested cases routinely run 8-18 months depending on discovery and the court's calendar.
How do temporary orders work in Columbiana County?: Under Civ. R. 75(N) you may request temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, exclusive use of the marital home, or property restraining orders. File the motion with a current local Financial Affidavit and Affidavit 2 (property). The court may decide on the affidavits or set a hearing.

Free Local Resources in Columbiana County

Columbiana County Clerk of Courts (Anthony J. Dattilio). 105 South Market Street, Lisbon, OH 44432. Phone (330) 424-7777.
Columbiana County Local Rules. ccclerk.org/common-pleas-court-rules — Local Rules 9.4, 9.41, 9.42 and DR procedure.
Ohio Supreme Court Standardized Forms. supremecourt.ohio.gov — used for the complaint, decree, parenting plans, and post-decree motions.
Columbiana County Local Forms (ccclerk.org). Case Designation Sheet, Personal Information Form, Financial Affidavit, UCCJEA, IV-D Application, Request for Hearing.
Local Companionship Schedules. Rule 9.4 (Uniform), Rule 9.41 (Long Distance), Rule 9.42 (Transitional) — linked from ccclerk.org.
Charles A. Pike Juvenile Center. 260 West Lincoln Way, Lisbon — (330) 424-4071. Judge Thomas M. Baronzzi. Filings before 3:30 p.m.
Columbiana County Law Library. columbianacountylawlibrary.org — research and self-help resources.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the worksheet and print it for filing.
Ohio Legal Help. ohiolegalhelp.org — plain-language guides and form walkthroughs.

Related to your divorce case

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

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Ohio Divorce guide — Statewide overview of divorce in Ohio.
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