Filing for Legal Separation in Columbiana County

Columbiana County, Ohio · Lisbon

A Columbiana County legal separation follows the same process as a divorce — one spouse files a complaint, the other is served, and the court resolves property, debt, support, and (if applicable) parenting. The only difference is that the marriage stays legally intact at the end. Either party can later file a motion to convert the case into a divorce.

How do I file for legal separation in Columbiana County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Legal Separation at the Columbiana County Court of Common Pleas, 105 South Market Street, Lisbon, OH 44432. Columbiana uses the same Ohio Supreme Court complaint forms as divorce — change the caption from "Divorce" to "Legal Separation." Include the local Case Designation Sheet, Personal Information Form, and Financial Affidavit. With children, also file the local UCCJEA and the IV-D Application. The filing fee is $300 flat. Same residency rules: 6 months in Ohio and 90 days in Columbiana County.

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)

Legal Separation is the right path if…

Religious beliefs prevent divorce, but you need court-ordered support, parenting time, or property division.
One spouse needs to remain on the other's health insurance.
You want time apart with court orders in place before deciding whether to divorce.
There are tax or Social Security benefit reasons to keep the marriage legally intact.

If you want to end the marriage entirely, file a Divorce instead — the forms and process are nearly identical. See Columbiana County divorce.

Filing Fees

$300 flat (with or without children) · Same residency rules as divorce (6 months Ohio + 90 days Columbiana)

Forms & Filing Packets

Core legal-separation 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 Legal Separation Without Children (Form 4 — relabel caption) — Use Form 4 with the caption changed to "Legal Separation."
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.

Core legal-separation 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 Legal Separation With Children (Form 5 — relabel caption) — Use Form 5 with the caption changed to "Legal Separation."
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.

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

Same Civ. R. 75(N) process as divorce. Attach the current local Financial Affidavit and Affidavit 2.

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 Legal Separation in Columbiana County

Confirm Ohio + Columbiana County residency. Same as divorce: 6 months Ohio + 90 days Columbiana County before filing.
Pick your grounds. Ohio uses the same statutory grounds for legal separation as for divorce (no-fault and fault grounds under R.C. 3105.01). The difference is the outcome — the marriage stays legally intact.
Use the Ohio SC divorce forms with the caption changed. Form 4 without children, Form 5 with children — change "Divorce" to "Legal Separation" in the caption and body.
Add the local and statewide affidavits. Local Case Designation Sheet, Personal Information Form, and Financial Affidavit. Plus Affidavit 2 (property), and — if children — the local UCCJEA, Affidavit 4 (health insurance), the IV-D Application, the child support worksheet, and a parenting plan.
File at 105 South Market Street, Lisbon. Pay the $300 filing fee. The case proceeds like a divorce — service, 28-day answer period, and (if contested) discovery and hearings.
Keep the option to convert. If you later decide to end the marriage, file a motion to convert the case into a divorce instead of refiling.

Columbiana County Practice Notes

Same forms, different caption. Columbiana does not publish separate legal-separation forms. Use the OSC divorce complaint forms (Form 4 or Form 5) and change the caption to "Legal Separation."
Local Financial Affidavit and UCCJEA still apply. The same local-form requirements that apply to divorce filings also apply to legal-separation filings in Columbiana.
Either party can convert to divorce. If one spouse later decides to end the marriage, that party can file a motion to convert the legal-separation case into a divorce. You do not have to start over.
Request for Hearing required to schedule. Columbiana requires the local Request for Hearing form to put a contested matter on the calendar. File it from ccclerk.org once the case is ready for 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.
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 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 legal separation case

Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after 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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Legal Separation guide — Statewide overview of legal separation in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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