Filing for Dissolution in Defiance County, Ohio

Defiance County (Defiance) has two unusual structural features for family law. First, its local rules are shared with three neighboring counties — Fulton, Henry, and Williams — creating a uniform Northwest Ohio four-county system. Second, the same Magistrate, Carson L. Slade, serves BOTH the Common Pleas/DR Division and the Juvenile Division — rare continuity for families whose case touches both sides. Filing fees are $325 without children and $400 with children, a consistent $75 gap. The court uses Ohio Supreme Court standardized DR forms throughout, with no Defiance-specific intake forms. Plan around the Clerk's midday closure (12:00–1:00 p.m.) and note the 12-page cap on fax filings. Final hearings are typically set 30–90 days after filing and both spouses must attend in person.

Defiance County Court of Common Pleas (General & Domestic Relations Division)

221 Clinton Street, Third Floor, Defiance, OH 43512 • (419) 782-5931 • Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00)

Filing fee: $325–$400.

Important things to know about Defiance County

Four-county uniform local rules: Defiance shares its local rules with Fulton, Henry, and Williams Counties. The same pretrial procedures and parenting-time defaults apply across all four.
Same magistrate serves both DR and Juvenile divisions: Carson L. Slade hears matters on both sides, providing rare continuity for families whose case moves between the two.
Midday Clerk closure: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily. Plan filings around the lunch hour.
Fax filings accepted at (419) 782-2437 but limited to 12 pages per transmission. Longer packets must be filed in person or mailed.
Standard Ohio Supreme Court DR forms throughout — no Defiance-specific intake forms (no case designation sheet, no personal identifier form).

Required forms (all cases)

Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) — Joint petition; both spouses sign.
Separation Agreement (Form 19) — Full settlement on property, debt, and spousal support. Both spouses sign in front of a notary.
Financial Affidavit (Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each spouse files their own.
Decree of Dissolution (Form 18) — Proposed final order ending the marriage; incorporates the Separation Agreement.

Additional forms with minor children

Custody Affidavit / UCCJEA (Affidavit 3) — Required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) — Use if both parents will share legal custody. Must be notarized.
Parenting Plan (Form 21) — sole custody — Outlines parenting time when one parent is residential parent and legal custodian.
Ohio Child Support Worksheet — Run on the Ohio Child Support Calculator and print.

Related to your 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.

Call +1-844-694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.