Filing for Divorce with Children in Defiance County

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

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

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.

Required divorce-with-children packet (8 forms)

• Complaint for Divorce With Children — Opens your Defiance County divorce. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child support.
• Financial Affidavit — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own.
• Affidavit of Property — Lists every asset and debt.
• Custody Affidavit (UCCJEA) — Required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years.
• Health Insurance Affidavit — Discloses whether children's health insurance is available through either parent's employer.
• Child Support Worksheet — Run on the Ohio Child Support Calculator and print.
• Parenting Plan (Form 20 or 21) — Form 20 for shared parenting (notarized); Form 21 for sole-residential.
• Decree of Divorce With Children — Proposed final order.

Temporary orders while your case is pending

Under Ohio Civil Rule 75(N), Defiance County may decide temporary-orders motions on the affidavits or set a hearing. File the motion with current Affidavit 1 and Affidavit 2. Pretrial scheduling follows the four-county uniform local rules (Defiance/Fulton/Henry/Williams). The 42-day waiting period after service applies before any final divorce hearing.

• Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Requests temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending.
• Financial Affidavit (current) — Required attachment to any temporary-orders motion.
• Affidavit of Property (current) — Required attachment to any temporary-orders motion.

Related guides

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

• 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.
• 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.

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.