Dayton Divorce & Family Law Attorneys

All Montgomery County services

Tap a service to open its Montgomery County guide — filing steps, local forms, fees, and what to expect.

• Divorce — Ending a marriage when you and your spouse don't agree on everything.
• Dissolution — Ending a marriage when you both agree on all the terms.
• Custody — Deciding legal custody and parenting time for your child.
• Child Support — Setting up, calculating, or collecting child support.
• Paternity — Establishing legal fatherhood when parents were never married.
• Shared Parenting — Building a joint parenting plan both parents follow.
• Post-Decree Modifications — Changing an existing custody, support, or parenting order.
• Post-Decree Contempt — Enforcing a court order the other side is ignoring.
• Emergency Custody — Protecting a child who is in immediate danger right now.
• Grandparent / Non-Parent Custody — Seeking custody or visitation as a grandparent or relative.
• Civil Protection Orders — Court protection from abuse, threats, or stalking.
• Legal Separation — Living apart with court-ordered terms while staying married.
• Annulment — Treating a marriage as if it never legally happened.

Two ways to be represented

Match the cost to the complexity of your Montgomery County case. Hire an attorney for your whole case, or for just the specific tasks you need.

Full representation

Your attorney manages the entire case from the first consultation through final orders — strategy, every filing, all court appearances, and negotiation. You have ongoing access the whole way through. Best for contested or complex cases, high-conflict situations, and anything that may go to trial. Billed as a retainer plus hourly fees. Learn about full representation.

Limited-scope (flat fee)

You hire us for specific tasks at a flat fee per service — document drafting and filing, a single hearing, legal advice, or document review. Predictable cost, focused on the task you need. Best for uncontested matters, simple modifications, and tighter budgets. Not recommended for high-conflict cases that need ongoing advocacy. Learn about limited scope.

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Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court

What You'll Pay to File in Montgomery County

• Divorce (estimated deposit): ~$250
• Dissolution of marriage: ~$200
• Legal separation: ~$175
• Post-decree motion: ~$125

Montgomery County filing fees are paid as a deposit to the Clerk of Courts and are subject to court cost adjustments and statewide surcharges, including the mandatory $32 Ohio domestic violence shelter fee. Service costs are billed separately. Fee waivers (poverty affidavits) are available for qualifying filers.

How the Montgomery County DR Court Process Works

• Montgomery County requires both parents in cases involving minor children to complete a court-approved parenting class before final decree.
• The court's Self-Help / Forms Center is publicly available, but represented parties move significantly faster through the docket.
• Dayton-area dissolutions are typically finalized in 30–90 days after filing if all paperwork is properly prepared.
• Contested Montgomery County divorces typically run 9–15 months from filing to trial.
• Wright-Patterson AFB military divorces require additional considerations under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which we routinely handle.

Parenting Class Requirement

Montgomery County's approved parenting class can be completed online or in person. We help every Dayton client get registered the same week of filing so it never holds up the final decree.

Montgomery County Juvenile Court (Juvenile Justice Center) (Never-Married Parents)

380 West Second Street, Dayton, OH 45422
Phone: (937) 225-4199
Hours: Court: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. • Clerk's Office (filing): 8:30 a.m.–4:15 p.m. Closed on federal holidays.

Pro Se Packet pickup Mon–Fri 8:30–12:00 and 1:00–3:30. Citizen Services / notary by appointment Wed–Fri. Email filing: MCJCEFile@mcjcohio.org.

Dayton's two family courts sit a couple of blocks apart downtown: Domestic Relations at 301 W. Third Street (with Compliance review before payment) for divorces and dissolutions; Juvenile Court at 380 W. Second Street for never-married-parent custody, parenting time, and child support — plus juvenile delinquency, abuse, neglect, and dependency cases.

The Dayton-Area Families We Serve

• Montgomery County: ~530,000 residents
• Dayton metro: ~810,000
• Median age: ~40

Serving Oakwood, Kettering, Centerville, Huber Heights, Beavercreek, Springboro, Miamisburg, Englewood, Vandalia, Tipp City, Washington Township, Bellbrook, Fairborn, Trotwood, West Carrollton.

Dayton Family Law Questions, Answered

Where do I file for divorce in Dayton?

Dayton divorce, dissolution, and custody cases are filed at the Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court, located at 301 West Third Street, 2nd Floor, in the Dayton-Montgomery County Courts Building. We e-file all documents on behalf of our clients.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Montgomery County?

Montgomery County divorce filing fees typically run around $250 as a deposit, with dissolutions slightly less. Statewide surcharges, including the $32 Ohio domestic violence shelter fee, are added. Service costs are separate. Fee waivers are available for qualifying filers.

How long does a Dayton divorce take?

A Montgomery County dissolution typically finalizes in 30–90 days. A contested Montgomery County divorce usually takes 9 to 15 months, depending on complexity, custody issues, and asset division.

What about military divorces involving Wright-Patterson AFB?

Military divorces in the Dayton area require special handling under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, with additional considerations for military pensions, BAH, deployment, and Survivor Benefit Plans. We routinely handle Wright-Patterson AFB cases.

Is the parenting class required in Montgomery County?

Yes. The Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court requires both parents in any case involving minor children to complete a court-approved parenting class before the final decree. The class is offered in person and online.

Do you handle cases in Greene, Miami, and Warren counties?

Yes. We regularly file in Greene (Xenia), Miami (Troy), Clark (Springfield), Warren (Lebanon), and Preble (Eaton) counties — all part of the Miami Valley region surrounding Dayton.

Dayton Divorce Guide

Focused specifically on divorce in Montgomery County? See our in-depth guide: Dayton Divorce Lawyers — Montgomery County divorce guide.

Dayton Family Law Practice Areas

• Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable dissolution.
• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Dayton Divorce & Custody Attorneys Serving Montgomery, Greene & Miami Counties

We represent clients across the Dayton metro area and surrounding counties.

• Montgomery County divorce & family law — Dayton, Kettering, Centerville, Huber Heights, Miamisburg, Oakwood, Trotwood, West Carrollton
• Greene County divorce & family law — Beavercreek, Xenia, Fairborn, Yellow Springs, Bellbrook
• Miami County divorce & family law — Troy, Piqua, Tipp City, Covington
• Warren County divorce & family law — Springboro, Franklin, Lebanon (shared with Cincinnati metro)
• Clark County divorce & family law — Springfield, New Carlisle, Enon

Transparent Pricing & Payment Options in Dayton

Dayton families shouldn't have to guess what legal help will cost. Gavvl Law uses transparent pricing — flat fees for many uncontested and limited-scope matters, so you know the full cost before you commit, and clearly-scoped retainers for complex or contested cases. We offer several ways to pay so you can get help now and choose what fits your budget: pay in full by card through Confido Legal, finance through third-party providers like Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later, or spread a flat fee over time with a Gavvl Direct in-house payment plan that requires no credit check. Not sure which service or payment path fits your situation? Take our Find My Divorce Service quiz for a personalized recommendation, or review all of our payment options and financing details.

Flat-fee options for Dayton families

These are the real flat fees for limited-scope help — the attorney drafts and files your paperwork, and you appear at any hearings yourself. The same prices apply in every Ohio county, including Montgomery County.

Divorce

• Complaint for Divorce: $1,250
• With temporary orders: $1,750
• With minor children: $1,750
• With children + temporary orders: $2,000

Dissolution

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

Child Custody

• Establish custody: $1,250
• Modify custody: $1,450

Child Support

• Establish child support: $950
• Modify child support: $950
• Terminate child support: $950

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 case · See payment plans & financing

What Divorce & Dissolution Really Cost in Dayton

Before you decide on a path, see the real filing fees, court costs, and timelines for Dayton — and how the different ways to end a marriage compare.

• Cost of Divorce in Montgomery County — Real filing fees, court costs, timeline, and flat-fee options for a divorce in Montgomery County.
• Cost of Dissolution in Montgomery County — Real filing fees, court costs, timeline, and flat-fee options for a dissolution in Montgomery County.
• Divorce vs. Dissolution in Ohio — How the two paths compare on agreement, timeline, and cost.
• Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce in Ohio — What each path means for your timeline and total cost.
• Ohio Divorce Cost & Timeline by Path — Compare cost and timeline across every path to ending a marriage.

Attorneys Serving Dayton

Meet the Gavvl Law attorneys who represent Dayton and Montgomery County families. Consultations happen by phone or video — no trip to a downtown office — and flat-fee pricing is quoted up front before you commit to anything.

• Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder
• Samantha Berkhofer — Of Counsel Attorney
• Niva Elgin — Legal Consultant
• Eric Sommer — Of Counsel Attorney

Ohio families rate Gavvl Law 4.8/5 across 90+ Google reviews.

Meet the full Gavvl Law team or talk to a Dayton family-law attorney.

Related guides

Attorney-written guides covering the Ohio family law issues Dayton clients ask about most.

• 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.
• Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
• Child Support Calculation in Ohio: How the Formula Works — Ohio calculates child support with the income shares model, combining both parents' incomes to set a shared obligation. Here's how the formula works and what changes the bottom line.
• Spousal Support in Ohio: How Alimony Is Decided — Ohio has no fixed alimony formula. Courts weigh 14 statutory factors to decide whether spousal support is appropriate, how much, and for how long. Here's how it works.

Legal Disclaimer

This page is for general information about Ohio family law and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney–client relationship. Every case is different; outcomes, timelines, and costs depend on your specific facts and the county where your case is filed. An attorney–client relationship with Gavvl Law begins only after a written representation agreement is signed by both you and the firm. Financing through Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later is subject to separate third-party terms and approval, and Gavvl Direct payment plans carry 19% interest compounded monthly on the financed amount. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page may be considered attorney advertising under Ohio law.