Erie County Annulment Attorneys

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026

Erie County, Ohio · Sandusky

An annulment treats the marriage as if it never happened. Ohio courts grant annulments only on the limited grounds in R.C. 3105.31. Erie County annulment cases are filed at the General Division at 323 Columbus Avenue, 2nd Floor, Sandusky, and follow the same complaint-and-service process as divorce. Erie does not publish a separate annulment form — use Ohio SC Form 6 (no children) or Form 7 (with children) with the caption changed to "Annulment" and the body pleading one of the five R.C. 3105.31 grounds.

Hire Gavvl for your Erie County annulment case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Erie 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 annulment in Erie County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Annulment at the Clerk of Courts on the 1st Floor, 323 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky. Use Ohio SC Form 6 (no children) or Form 7 (with children) and change the caption from "Divorce" to "Annulment." The body must plead one of the five R.C. 3105.31 grounds: underage at marriage, bigamy, mental incompetency, fraud or duress in obtaining consent, or non-consummation. Include Erie's local Application/Instructions/Financial Disclosure Forms packet, the DR Judgment Entry of Injunctions, Affidavit 1, and Affidavit 2. Filing fee set by Clerk's Schedule of Costs.

Hire Gavvl Law for your Erie County annulment

An annulment treats the marriage as if it never happened, and Ohio grants one only on the five narrow grounds in R.C. 3105.31 — underage marriage, bigamy, mental incompetency, fraud or duress, or non-consummation. Erie County hears these in the General Division at 323 Columbus Avenue and does not publish a separate annulment form, so the pleading is the Ohio SC Form 6 or Form 7 recaptioned "Annulment" with the specific statutory ground pleaded in the body. Gavvl Law confirms a ground fits, watches the strict timing limits, and drafts the complaint the court will accept.

Matching your facts to a R.C. 3105.31 ground. Erie will dismiss an annulment that does not plead one of the five statutory grounds — "we made a mistake" is not a ground. We test your facts against the underage, bigamy, incompetency, fraud-or-duress, and non-consummation grounds before filing so the complaint survives instead of getting tossed.
The timing limits that sink annulments. R.C. 3105.31 puts hard clocks on several grounds; the underage and non-consummation grounds generally must be raised before majority or before continued cohabitation. We read the statute against your dates first, because a late-pleaded ground is the fastest way to lose an otherwise valid annulment.
Children stay legitimate — we plan for that. Even if the court annuls the marriage, R.C. 3111.03 presumes a child born during it is the child of both parties, so custody and support still get allocated. When children are involved we add Affidavit 3, Affidavit 4, the child-support worksheet, and a parenting plan so the annulment resolves those issues too.

The annulment still rides on Erie's local machinery — the Application/Instructions/Financial Disclosure Forms packet and DR Judgment Entry of Injunctions filed with the complaint, the local Affidavit of Indigency for a fee waiver, and scheduling through Commissioner Amanda Tubbs at (419) 627-7777. We file the county's own forms with the Sandusky Clerk and confirm the Schedule-of-Costs deposit rather than guessing at a flat fee.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file your complaint for annulment to have the marriage declared void. You appear at any hearings yourself.

Complaint for annulment: $1,750

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 annulment 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: Erie County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Domestic Relations)

323 Columbus Avenue, 2nd Floor, Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: (419) 627-7732
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Erie County Juvenile Court
323 Columbus Avenue, 4th Floor, Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: (419) 627-7782
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Annulment is the right path if…

One party was under the legal age to marry without the required consent.
One spouse was already legally married to someone else when the ceremony took place (bigamy).
One spouse was mentally incompetent at the time of the marriage.
Consent to marry was obtained by fraud or duress.
The marriage was never consummated.

If none of the R.C. 3105.31 grounds applies, you cannot annul the marriage in Ohio — file a Divorce or Dissolution instead. See Erie County divorce.

Filing Fees

Filing fee set by Clerk's Schedule of Costs · Five R.C. 3105.31 grounds only · Strict timing limits apply to some grounds

Forms & Filing Packets

Core annulment packet (no minor children)

Complaint for Annulment Without Children (Form 6 — relabel caption) — Erie does not publish a separate annulment form. Use Ohio SC Form 6 with the caption changed to "Annulment" and the body pleading one of the R.C. 3105.31 grounds.
Application, Instructions & Financial Disclosure Forms (Erie local packet) — Erie County's required intake/financial-disclosure packet — file at the same time as the Complaint or Petition.
DR Judgment Entry of Injunctions (Erie local) — Erie's mutual injunctive judgment entry — restrains both parties from harassment and from disposing of assets during the pendency of the case. Typically filed alongside the Complaint.
Financial Affidavit / Basic Information, Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.

Core annulment packet (with minor children)

Even if the marriage is annulled, children born during the alleged marriage are presumed legitimate and the court must allocate parental rights and child support.

Complaint for Annulment With Children (Form 7 — relabel caption) — Use Form 7 with the caption changed to "Annulment" when minor children were born during the alleged marriage.
Application, Instructions & Financial Disclosure Forms (Erie local packet) — Erie County's required intake/financial-disclosure packet — file at the same time as the Complaint or Petition.
DR Judgment Entry of Injunctions (Erie local) — Erie's mutual injunctive judgment entry — restrains both parties from harassment and from disposing of assets during the pendency of the case. Typically filed alongside the Complaint.
Financial Affidavit / Basic Information, Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit / UCCJEA (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.

Fee waiver add-on

Affidavit of Indigency for Court Costs (Erie local) — Use to request waiver of the filing fee deposit if you cannot afford it. Erie's local form — use this rather than the Ohio SC version.

How to File Annulment in Erie County

Verify a R.C. 3105.31 ground applies. Underage at marriage, bigamy, mental incompetency, fraud or duress, or non-consummation. If none fits, annulment is not available.
Check the statute's timing limits. Several grounds must be raised within a fixed period after discovery or before continued cohabitation. Read R.C. 3105.31 carefully or consult an attorney.
Draft the complaint. Use Ohio SC Form 6 (no children) or Form 7 (with children) and change the caption to "Annulment." Plead the specific R.C. 3105.31 ground and the supporting facts.
Add Erie's locals. Application/Instructions/Financial Disclosure Forms packet, DR Judgment Entry of Injunctions, Affidavit 1, Affidavit 2 — and with children, Affidavit 3, Affidavit 4, the child support worksheet, and a parenting plan.
File at the Clerk on the 1st Floor, 323 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky. Pay the cost deposit (or file an Affidavit of Indigency). Schedule through DR Commissioner Amanda Tubbs at (419) 627-7777.

Erie County Practice Notes

Grounds are strictly limited. Ohio courts will dismiss an annulment that does not plead one of the five R.C. 3105.31 grounds. "We made a mistake" is not a ground — file a divorce or dissolution instead.
Watch the timing limits. R.C. 3105.31 imposes specific timing limits on certain grounds — for example, the underage and non-consummation grounds must generally be raised before a party reaches majority or starts cohabiting. Read the statute carefully or call us before filing.
Children are still legitimate. Even if the court grants annulment, R.C. 3111.03 presumes a child born during the alleged marriage is the child of both parties. Custody, parenting time, and child support are allocated just like in a divorce.
Use Erie's locals. The Application/Instructions/Financial Disclosure Forms packet and DR Judgment Entry of Injunctions are required the same way as in a divorce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Erie County?: For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Erie County for at least 90 days before filing. Dissolution only requires the 6-month Ohio residency.
How much does it cost to file in Erie County DR?: Erie County publishes its DR filing fees through the Clerk's Schedule of Costs rather than as a flat-rate fee table. Call the Clerk of Courts at (419) 627-7732 (or DR Assignment Commissioner Amanda Tubbs at (419) 627-7777) for the current cost deposit. An Affidavit of Indigency (Erie local form) is available if you cannot afford the fee. Court costs can be paid online through PayGov.
Does Erie County have a dedicated Domestic Relations Court?: No. Erie County hears DR cases through its General Division judges — Hon. Judge Binette presides — rather than through a separate DR division. All DR scheduling and coordination runs through Domestic Relations Assignment Commissioner Amanda Tubbs at (419) 627-7777. For any scheduling question, call Amanda Tubbs directly rather than the general Clerk line.
What Erie-specific forms do I need to file with my case?: Erie publishes several local forms that must be filed alongside the Ohio SC standardized forms: the Application/Instructions/Financial Disclosure Forms packet (form_2_03.pdf), the Affidavit of Indigency for Court Costs (form_1_02.pdf, if you need a fee waiver), the DR Judgment Entry of Injunctions (typically filed with the Complaint), and the Waiver of Legal Counsel (if you are unrepresented). Erie also has its own Notice of Voluntary Dismissal form for withdrawing a pending case.
When do I file in Erie County Juvenile Court instead of General Division?: If the parents were never married, custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity are filed in Erie County Juvenile Court (4th Floor of the same Courthouse) in front of Hon. Robert C. DeLamatre. If you were married, those issues travel with the divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in the General Division (2nd Floor).

Free Local Resources in Erie County

Erie County DR Division. 323 Columbus Avenue, 2nd Floor, Sandusky, OH 44870. Phone (419) 627-7732. Toll-free 1 (888) 399-6065. Hon. Judge Binette presides (General Division).
DR Assignment Commissioner — Amanda Tubbs. Direct line (419) 627-7777. Handles all DR scheduling and coordination.
Erie County Clerk of Courts. 323 Columbus Avenue, 1st Floor, Sandusky, OH 44870. Phone (419) 627-7732.
Erie County DR Forms Hub. eriecounty.oh.gov/FormsforDomesticRelations.aspx — local Application/Instructions packet, Affidavit of Indigency, DR Injunctions JE, Voluntary Dismissal, and more.
Erie County DR Local Rules (PDF, 2025). eriecounty.oh.gov/Downloads/DR_RULES20253.pdf — current as of 2025.
PayGov — Pay Court Costs Online. pay.paygov.us — civil, criminal, and domestic case court costs.
Public Case Search. clerkofcourts.eriecounty.oh.gov/eservices/home.page.2 — public docket search.
Erie County Juvenile Court. 323 Columbus Avenue, 4th Floor, Sandusky. Phone (419) 627-7782. Hon. Robert C. DeLamatre.
Erie County Juvenile Justice Center. 1338 Tiffin Avenue, Sandusky — 24-hour Juvenile Detention + Northern Ohio Juvenile Community Corrections.
Juvenile Probation / Mediation / Diversion. 221 West Parish Street, Sandusky. Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
Legal Aid Line of Western Ohio. 1-888-534-1432 · legalaidline.org — free civil legal help.
Erie County Bar Association. Phone (419) 627-2009 — lawyer referral.
Erie County Public Defender. Phone (419) 627-6620.
Safe Harbour. Domestic violence assistance — contact Erie County Prosecutor's Office for connection.
Ohio Supreme Court Standardized Forms. supremecourt.ohio.gov — Erie DR uses Ohio SC standardized forms alongside Erie locals.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the worksheet and print it for filing.
Ohio Legal Help. ohiolegalhelp.org — plain-language guides and interactive court forms.

Related to your annulment case

Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.
Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.

Related guides

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

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 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.

Keep exploring Erie County family law

Ohio Annulment guide — Statewide overview of annulment in Ohio.
Toledo family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Toledo metro.
Erie County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Erie County guide.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
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