Filing for Divorce with Children in Defiance County

File for divorce with minor children in the Defiance County Court of Common Pleas (General & Domestic Relations Division). Step-by-step guidance, 8 required forms, $400 filing fee, parenting class requirements, and Ohio attorney help.

Defiance County's Common Pleas Court at 221 Clinton Street in Defiance hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases in front of Hon. Joseph N. Schmenk. Two structural quirks shape every Defiance case: (1) the local rules are uniform across four counties — Defiance, Fulton, Henry, and Williams — and (2) Magistrate Carson L. Slade serves BOTH the DR Division and the Juvenile Division, giving families rare continuity when a case touches both. Filing fees are $325 without children and $400 with children, a consistent $75 gap. The court uses Ohio Supreme Court standardized DR forms throughout — no county-specific intake forms. Plan filings around the Clerk's midday closure (12:00–1:00 p.m.) and note the 12-page cap on fax filings.

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

221 Clinton Street, Third Floor, Defiance, OH 43512
Phone: (419) 782-5931
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch)
Website: www.defiance-county.com/common-pleas-court/

Defiance County Clerk of Courts, 221 Clinton Street, Third Floor, Defiance, OH 43512. Mailing: P.O. Box 386, Defiance, OH 43512.

Filing Fees

$400 divorce with children ($325 without children)

Defiance County Procedure Quirks

  • Four-county uniform local rules: Defiance shares its local rules with Fulton, Henry, and Williams Counties — the Northwest Ohio four-county system.
  • Same Magistrate (Carson L. Slade) serves BOTH the DR Division and the Juvenile Division — rare cross-division continuity.
  • Standard Ohio Supreme Court DR forms throughout — no Defiance-specific intake forms (no case designation sheet, no personal identifier form).
  • Midday Clerk closure 12:00–1:00 p.m. daily. Fax filings accepted at (419) 782-2437 but capped at 12 pages per transmission.
  • Post-decree motion fee is $280 — but drops to $50 when accompanied by a consent judgment entry signed by both parties.

Parenting Class

Court-approved parenting class — Confirm current provider with the Clerk at (419) 782-1936
Required for parents with minor children before the final hearing. Call the Clerk to confirm current provider and registration.

Judges

  • Hon. Joseph N. Schmenk

Defiance County Probate and Juvenile Court

221 Clinton Street, Second Floor, Defiance, OH 43512
Phone: (419) 782-4181
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00)
Website: https://www.defiance-county.com/probate-and-juvenile-court/

No electronic, online, or email filings accepted — in person or by mail only. Email contact: probatecourt@defiancecounty.oh.gov. Juvenile Probation Department: 1300 East Second Street, Suite 203, (419) 782-0226.

Domestic Relations vs. Juvenile

Defiance keeps DR and Juvenile in the same Clinton Street courthouse on different floors — DR on the Third Floor (Hon. Joseph N. Schmenk), Probate & Juvenile on the Second Floor (Hon. Jeffrey A. Strausbaugh). Married couples file with DR; never-married parents file custody, parenting time, and support with the Juvenile Division. Magistrate Carson L. Slade hears matters on both sides — unusual continuity.

Free Local Resources in Defiance County

  • Defiance County Common Pleas Court. defiance-county.com — court page with local rules PDF and contact information.
  • Four-County Local Rules (PDF). defiance-county.com/common-pleas-court/Local_Rules_-_1-31-23.pdf — uniform rules for Defiance/Fulton/Henry/Williams.
  • Ohio Supreme Court Standardized Forms. supremecourt.ohio.gov — Defiance uses standardized OSC DR forms for all filings.

Related to your 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.
  • Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

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