Delaware County Divorce Attorneys

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 4, 2026

Delaware County, Ohio · Delaware

Divorces in Delaware County are handled by the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division at 117 N. Union Street, Level 400, in Delaware. The court uses the Uniform Ohio Domestic Relations forms, and a mutual restraining order takes effect automatically the moment you file.

Hire Gavvl for your Delaware County divorce case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Delaware County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

How do I file for divorce in Delaware County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Divorce — Uniform DR Form 6 without children or Form 7 with children — with the Delaware County Clerk of Courts for the DR Division at 117 N. Union Street, Level 400, Delaware, OH 43015, or e-file at court.co.delaware.oh.us. The deposit is $385 without children or $485 with children. You must attach the Affidavit of Basic Information, Income, and Expenses (Affidavit 1) and Affidavit of Property and Debt (Affidavit 2); with children, add Affidavits 3 and 4. You or your spouse must have been an Ohio resident for 6+ months and a Delaware County resident for 90+ days.

Hire Gavvl Law for your Delaware County divorce

Every Delaware County divorce opens in the Domestic Relations Division at 117 N. Union Street, Level 400, with the Uniform Form 6 or Form 7 complaint, the Party Supplemental Information Affidavit that Local Rule 2.02(A) demands, and a $385 or $485 Clerk deposit — and a mutual restraining order snaps into place the moment you file (Local Rule 2.04). Gavvl Law assembles the packet the Clerk on Level 300 will accept, files it clean the first time, and offers one flat fee for straightforward cases or full representation when your spouse fights.

The local supplemental affidavits, done right. Delaware rejects DR filings that leave off the Party Supplemental Information Affidavit, and cases with children need the Parenting Supplemental Information Affidavit plus Affidavits 3 and 4 on top of the Form 7 complaint. We file the full Local Rule 2.02(A) package so your case number issues on day one, not after a bounce-back from the counter.
Temporary orders shaped for Local Rule 9. Delaware decides temporary support, parenting time, and use of the home about 14 days after service, usually on affidavits capped at 10 pages — and if the court holds a Civ.R. 75 hearing you get just 20 minutes. We write tight, sworn affidavits under that page cap so interim relief is decided on the paper, fast.
A default divorce moved to the 42-day mark. When a spouse will not respond, Delaware sets the uncontested final hearing at least 42 days after service is complete (Local Rule 8.01). We handle service, prove it up, and calendar that hearing so an absent spouse never stalls your divorce.

If the $385/$485 deposit is out of reach, Delaware County lets you file the Fee Waiver Affidavit under Local Rule 4.03, and the DR Division runs court-approved mediation, twice-yearly Settlement Weeks, and magistrate-led Neutral Evaluation to settle without a trial. We match your case to the county's own cost-saving tools — and we book the required For the Children seminar through OSU Extension at (740) 833-2030 before it can delay your decree.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the correct complaint packet for your situation; you appear at any hearings yourself.

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

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 divorce 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: Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

117 N. Union Street, Level 400, Delaware, OH 43015
Phone: (740) 833-2025
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Website: Court website
e-Filing: Online e-filing portal

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Delaware County Juvenile Court
145 N. Union Street, Delaware, OH 43015
Phone: (740) 833-2600
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Divorce is the right path if…

You and your spouse do not agree on everything — custody, support, property, or debt.
Your spouse won't sign paperwork, won't respond, or can't safely be negotiated with.
You need temporary orders now for support, parenting time, or use of the home.
You or your spouse meet Ohio's 6-month residency and Delaware County's 90-day venue rule.

If you and your spouse already agree on every term in writing, a dissolution is usually faster and cheaper. See Delaware County dissolution options.

Filing Fees

$385 without children · $485 with children · Fee Waiver Affidavit available if you can't afford the deposit (Local Rule 4.03)

Forms & Filing Packets

Core divorce filing packet (no children) — $385 deposit

Complaint for Divorce Without Children (Uniform DR Form 6) — Opens your divorce case. Use when you and your spouse have no minor children together.
Affidavit of Basic Information, Income, and Expenses (Uniform DR Affidavit 1) — Required at filing — discloses your income, monthly expenses, and basic case information.
Affidavit of Property and Debt (Uniform DR Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt for the marital balance sheet. Tip: Use "Est." for values you don't yet know.
Party Supplemental Information Affidavit (Local) — Delaware County local affidavit required with every initial DR filing under Local Rule 2.02(A).

Core divorce filing packet (with minor children) — $485 deposit

Complaint for Divorce With Children (Uniform DR Form 7) — Opens your divorce and pleads custody, parenting time, and child-support allegations.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom. Confirms Ohio's jurisdiction over custody.
Health Insurance Affidavit — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
Parenting Supplemental Information Affidavit (Local) — Delaware County local affidavit required in any DR case with minor children.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet — Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you're asking the court to set support.

Temporary orders add-on

File these when you need support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Local Rule 9 has the court consider the motion 14 days after service, usually on the affidavits.

Motion/Affidavit for Temporary Orders Without Oral Hearing (Uniform DR Affidavit 5) — Requests temporary support, parenting time, and use of the home. Affidavits are capped at 10 pages without prior approval (Local Rule 9.01).

How to File Divorce in Delaware County

Confirm Ohio residency and Delaware County venue. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio 6+ months and Delaware County 90+ days.
Decide whether you are filing or answering. File Form 6 (no children) or Form 7 (with children). If you were served, file your Answer and affidavit package within the time allowed (Form 10 or 11).
Assemble the affidavit package. Core complaint plus Affidavits 1 and 2 and the Party Supplemental Information Affidavit; with children, add Affidavits 3 and 4, the Parenting Supplemental Information Affidavit, and the child-support worksheet.
File at 117 N. Union Street or e-file. Pay the $385 or $485 deposit at the Clerk of Courts, Level 300, or e-file at court.co.delaware.oh.us. A mutual restraining order takes effect on filing.
Complete the For the Children seminar if you have children. Register through OSU Extension at (740) 833-2030 and file proof before the final hearing.

Delaware County Practice Notes

Automatic mutual restraining order at filing. Under Local Rule 2.04, filing a complaint for divorce, annulment, or legal separation automatically puts a mutual restraining order in place against both spouses — no separate motion is required. It restrains dissipating property, canceling insurance, incurring debt against the other, and moving the children's residence, among others.
Parenting seminar is mandatory before the decree. Both parents must complete the 'For the Children' seminar through the OSU Extension Office, (740) 833-2030, before any final decree in a case with minor children. Failure to attend can delay or dismiss the case.
Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Delaware County?: For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months immediately before filing, and a Delaware County resident for at least 90 days to set venue here. For a dissolution, only the 6-month Ohio residency applies — there is no separate Delaware County residency requirement.
How much does it cost to file in the Delaware County DR Court?: Clerk of Courts deposits are: divorce $385 without children / $485 with children; dissolution $355 without children / $455 with children; parentage complaint $200; post-decree reactivation $200. Counterclaims and amended complaints are $150 each. If you cannot afford the deposit, file the Fee Waiver Affidavit (Local Rule 4.03).
How long does a Delaware County case usually take?: Dissolution: 30–90 days — Local Rule 7.03 sets the final hearing between 30 and 90 days after filing. Uncontested (default) divorce: roughly 4–6 months, with the uncontested final hearing held at least 42 days after service is completed (Local Rule 8.01). Contested divorce: 6–18 months depending on discovery, custody disputes, and trial scheduling.
Can I e-file in Delaware County?: Yes. Delaware County uses the eAccess / E-Services portal at court.co.delaware.oh.us for Domestic Relations, General, Probate, and Juvenile filings. Documents proposed to be filed under seal must NOT be e-filed — they have to be filed in person or by mail with a motion to seal. LexisNexis processes payment, so confirm the amount before authorizing.
Does Delaware County issue an automatic restraining order when I file?: Yes. Under Local Rule 2.04, a mutual restraining order takes effect automatically upon the filing of a complaint for divorce, annulment, or legal separation. It restrains both spouses from six categories of conduct, including dissipating property, canceling insurance, incurring debt against the other, and removing the children's residence. A standalone dissolution does not trigger it.
How do temporary orders work in Delaware County?: Under Local Rule 9, temporary-orders motions are considered 14 days after service and are generally decided on the filed affidavits (capped at 10 pages without prior approval). If a Civ.R. 75 oral hearing is held, each party is allotted 20 minutes and initial discovery must be exchanged first. File the Affidavit for Temporary Orders Without Oral Hearing (Uniform DR Affidavit 5) to request support, parenting time, or use of the home now.
Is the parenting seminar required in Delaware County?: Yes. Under Local Rule 2.02(E) / 7.02(C), both parents in any divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment involving minor children must complete the 'For the Children' parenting seminar before a final decree is issued. The seminar is run through the OSU Extension Office at (740) 833-2030. It may be waived only for good cause, and failure to attend can result in dismissal or suspension of court-ordered parenting time.

Free Local Resources in Delaware County

Delaware County DR Court Forms Page. Every Domestic Relations form, the case-type ZIP packets (divorce, dissolution, parentage, modification, CPO), and the filing checklists are posted free at domestic.co.delaware.oh.us/forms.
Delaware County DR Virtual Resource Center. The DR Division's self-help hub links the general-information pages, FAQs, common-terms glossary, the For the Children parenting seminar, and the Co-Parenting Program at domestic.co.delaware.oh.us/virtual-resource-center.
Delaware County eAccess / E-Services Portal. Self-represented and represented parties can e-file and check dockets at court.co.delaware.oh.us/eservices. Payment is processed through LexisNexis — confirm the amount before authorizing.

Related to your divorce case

Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable 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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on divorce 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.

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.
Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce in Ohio — What each path means for your timeline and total cost.

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