Filing a Dissolution in Crawford County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Crawford County, Ohio · Bucyrus

Dissolution is the agreed path. Both spouses file together as co-petitioners and ask the Court of Common Pleas to approve a signed Separation Agreement. It costs less to file than a divorce — $200 — and the court holds a hearing 30 to 90 days later, where both spouses must appear and confirm the agreement.

How do I file a dissolution in Crawford County, Ohio?

Sign your Separation Agreement in front of a notary first, then file the joint Petition for Dissolution with that agreement and your financial affidavits in person at the Crawford County Clerk of Courts. The deposit is $200. With children, add a parenting plan and a child-support worksheet. The court schedules a hearing 30 to 90 days after filing, and both spouses must appear and affirm the agreement is what they want. One spouse must have lived in Ohio at least 6 months. Confirm the current deposit with the Clerk at (419) 562-2766.

Flat-fee dissolution for Crawford County families

A flat fee means no clock running on every call or email. Our attorneys handle dissolution for Crawford County families for one agreed price, with payment plans and the option to step up to full representation at any time. Below you'll also find the Crawford County court information — contacts in Bucyrus, the forms you need, and local fee details.

One flat fee, agreed up front. We put the entire dissolution price in writing first. Once you approve it, that's the fee — no meters running and nothing tacked on later.
Payments that fit your budget. Flexible payment plans and financing are available, so cost doesn't have to delay getting help.
Why Crawford County families choose us. Because it's a flat fee, we're paid to resolve your dissolution case — not to run up hours — so nothing drags for the sake of billing. Licensed Ohio family-law attorneys serve Crawford County and all 88 counties.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we prepare your full dissolution petition and separation agreement for an agreed, no-court split.

Dissolution: $1,750
Dissolution with children: $2,300

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your dissolution case or see payment plans & financing.

Ohio Divorce by the Numbers

6 months Ohio residency required before you can file Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.03
90 days Residency in the county of filing (venue) Source: Ohio Civ. R. 3
30–90 days Typical time to finalize an uncontested dissolution Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.64
1 year Living separate and apart that qualifies as no-fault grounds Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.01

Compare Your Options for Ending a Marriage in Ohio

Path	Ends the marriage?	Agreement required?	Best when
Dissolution	Yes	Yes — on every term before filing	Both spouses agree on everything and want the fastest, lowest-cost path
Divorce (contested)	Yes	No	Spouses disagree on property, support, or parenting and need a judge to decide
Divorce (uncontested / default)	Yes	No	One spouse will not respond or cannot be located
Legal separation	No — you stay married	Optional	You need court orders but must stay married (religion, insurance, or benefits)
Annulment	Treated as never valid	No	The marriage was never legally valid (fraud, bigamy, underage, or incapacity)

Where to File: Crawford County Court of Common Pleas

112 E. Mansfield Street, Bucyrus, OH 44820
Phone: (419) 562-5771
Hours: Monday–Friday
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Crawford County Juvenile & Probate Court
112 E. Mansfield Street, Bucyrus, OH 44820
Phone: (419) 562-1896
Hours: Monday–Friday

Dissolution is the right path if…

You and your spouse agree on everything — property, debt, support, and parenting — in writing.
Both of you are willing to sign a notarized Separation Agreement and appear at the hearing together.
One of you has lived in Ohio for at least the last 6 months.
You want the lower-cost, faster, non-adversarial path ($200 versus $300 for a divorce).

Filing Fees

Dissolution deposit $200 · paid by cash, check, money order, or card (3% card fee); a poverty affidavit waives the deposit. Court fees and deposits change — confirm the current amount with the Crawford County Clerk of Courts at (419) 562-2766 (Domestic Relations) or the Juvenile Court at (419) 562-1896 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution with no minor children — $200 deposit (poverty affidavit waives it)

File the joint Petition for Dissolution with the notarized Separation Agreement and each spouse's financial affidavit. The court sets a hearing 30 to 90 days later; both spouses appear and confirm the agreement, and the judge signs the Decree of Dissolution.

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Ohio SC Form 17) — Both spouses file jointly, telling the court they have a complete agreement and want the marriage dissolved.
Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) — The contract that settles property, debt, support, and parenting. Both spouses must sign in front of a notary.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.

Dissolution with minor children — $200 deposit (poverty affidavit waives it)

Add a parenting plan and an Ohio child-support worksheet so the Separation Agreement settles custody, parenting time, and support. Both spouses attend the 30-to-90-day hearing.

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Ohio SC Form 17) — Both spouses file jointly, telling the court they have a complete agreement and want the marriage dissolved.
Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) — The contract that settles property, debt, support, and parenting. Both spouses must sign in front of a notary.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time the court sets or changes support.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.

How to File Dissolution in Crawford County

Reach a full written agreement. Agree on property, debt, support, and parenting, and put it all in a Separation Agreement.
Notarize the Separation Agreement. Both spouses sign the agreement in front of a notary before filing.
Assemble the joint petition. Complete the joint Petition for Dissolution and financial affidavits; with children, add a parenting plan and child-support worksheet.
File in person and pay. File with the Clerk of Courts and pay the $200 deposit (or file a poverty affidavit to waive it).
Attend the 30-to-90-day hearing. Both spouses appear, confirm the agreement, and the judge signs the Decree of Dissolution.

Crawford County Practice Notes

Notarize the Separation Agreement first. Dissolution is built around the signed Separation Agreement. Sign it in front of a notary before you assemble the rest of the packet — the petition and decree are built around it.
Both spouses must appear at the hearing. The court holds a hearing 30 to 90 days after filing, and both spouses must appear and affirm the agreement is what they want. If the agreement breaks down before then, the case may need to convert to a divorce.
Temporary orders are available if you need them. Even in an agreed case you can file a Proposal for Temporary Orders if you need interim support or a parenting schedule before the decree — but most dissolutions resolve everything in the Separation Agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a Crawford County dissolution take?: Both spouses file the joint petition with the signed Separation Agreement and pay the $200 deposit. The court holds a hearing 30 to 90 days later, and both spouses must appear and affirm the agreement is what they want.
How much does it cost to file a family law case in Crawford County?: Common deposits are: divorce $300, dissolution $200, a QDRO to divide a retirement account $50, a post-decree motion $200, and an agreed judgment entry $50. A new Juvenile filing (custody or parentage) is about $250, and a modification about $200. An adoption deposit is $170, and a civil protection order has no fee. Pay by cash, check, money order, or card (3% card fee); a poverty affidavit waives the deposit. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (419) 562-2766 or the Juvenile Court at (419) 562-1896.
What is the residency requirement to file in Crawford County?: To file for divorce or dissolution in Ohio, one spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months before filing. Crawford County is the right county when you or your spouse live here.
Can I e-file a family law case in Crawford County?: No. Crawford County does not have e-filing yet, so you file in person at the Clerk of Courts in Suite 204. Fax filing is reserved for emergencies. You can pay by cash, check, money order, or card, and cards add a 3% fee.
Which court handles family law in Crawford County?: All family law runs through the Court of Common Pleas at 112 E. Mansfield Street in Bucyrus. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, spousal support, property division, and civil protection orders are heard before Judge Sean E. Leuthold, (419) 562-5771. Custody, parenting time, and child support for never-married parents are heard in the Juvenile Court before Judge Patrick T. Murphy, (419) 562-1896. Adoption is handled by the Probate Court before Judge Murphy, Suite 103, (419) 562-5876.

Free Local Resources in Crawford County

Crawford County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Current filing fees, deposit amounts, and case filing for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matters. File in person in Suite 204 at 112 E. Mansfield Street, Bucyrus; (419) 562-2766. No e-filing yet; fax is reserved for emergencies. Local court rules and the Proposal for Temporary Orders are at https://crawfordcocpcourt.org/local-court-rules/.
Crawford County Juvenile & Probate Court. Handles never-married-parent parentage, custody, parenting time, and support, plus non-parent custody, abuse/neglect/dependency (CPS), and adoption. Juvenile (419) 562-1896; Probate Suite 103 (419) 562-5876. Judge Patrick T. Murphy presides over both.
Crawford County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, and pays through the state. Opens IV-D cases and can review existing orders. Contact (419) 562-0773.
Crawford County Children Services hotline. To report a concern about a child's safety, call (419) 563-1570, which runs 24 hours. In an emergency, call 911.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.

Related to your dissolution case

Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.
Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.

Related guides

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

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.
Dividing Property in an Ohio Divorce — Ohio divides marital property equitably — meaning fairly, not always equally. The first step is classifying every asset and debt. Here's how the process works.

More Crawford County family-law resources

Ohio Dissolution guide — Statewide overview of dissolution in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
Crawford County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Crawford County guide.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.

Understand the cost

Divorce vs. Dissolution in Ohio — How the two paths compare on agreement, timeline, and cost.
Ohio Divorce Cost & Timeline by Path — Compare cost and timeline across every path to ending a marriage.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.