Filing for Dissolution in Erie County, Ohio

Transparent, flat-fee dissolution help for Erie County

A flat fee means no clock running on every call or email. Our attorneys handle dissolution for Erie County families for one agreed price, with payment plans and the option to step up to full representation at any time. Everything local — the court in Sandusky, required forms, and Erie County fee details — is laid out on this page.

• One flat fee, agreed up front. You approve the flat fee before any work starts — no hourly meter, and no surprise invoices later.
• Payments that fit your budget. Spread the cost with a payment plan, or use financing — so the flat fee works with your budget.
• Why Erie County families choose us. Hourly billing rewards slow cases; a flat fee rewards finished ones. That's how our licensed Ohio attorneys approach every dissolution matter in Erie County — and across all 88 counties.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we prepare your full dissolution petition and separation agreement for an agreed, no-court split.

• Dissolution: $1,750
• Dissolution with children: $2,300

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 dissolution case or see payment plans & financing.

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

323 Columbus Avenue, 1st Floor, Sandusky, OH 44870 • (419) 624-6428 • Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Filing fee: $282 — confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (419) 624-6428. Fee waiver available.

Important things to know about Erie County

• No dedicated DR Division — General Division judges (Roger E. Binette, Tygh M. Tone, Beverly K. McGookey) hear dissolutions, with all scheduling routed through DR Assignment Commissioner Amanda Tubbs at (419) 627-7777.
• Erie County does not post a county DR form packet online — the court routes filers to the statewide Ohio Supreme Court Uniform Domestic Relations forms.
• There is no separate Erie local Affidavit of Indigency posted online — ask the Clerk for the Poverty Affidavit / Affidavit of Indigency, or use the Ohio Supreme Court version where the local rule permits.
• Cell phones are NOT permitted in the Erie County Courthouse; everyone is screened by the Sheriff's Department on entry.
• Common Pleas court costs can be paid online through the Clerk's "Pay Common Pleas Court Costs" service at eriecounty.oh.gov.
• The full Civil/Domestic Local Rules booklet is sold by the Clerk for $15.00 by mail and is not posted online; it contains fill-in divorce forms in the back.

Required forms (all cases)

• Petition for Dissolution and Waiver of Service (Ohio SC Form 17) — Joint petition; both spouses sign and waive service of summons.
• Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) — Full settlement on property, debt, and spousal support. Both spouses sign in front of a notary; filed with the Petition.
• Affidavit of Basic Information, Income and Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information for both spouses.
• Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order ending the marriage; incorporates the Separation Agreement.
• Poverty Affidavit / Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) — Use to ask the court to waive the deposit if you cannot afford it. Erie does not post a local version online — ask the Clerk for the form, or use the Ohio Supreme Court Affidavit of Indigency where the local rule permits.

Additional forms with minor children

• Custody Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3 — UCCJEA) — 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.
• Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Use if both parents will share legal custody. Must be notarized.
• Parenting Plan (Ohio SC 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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on dissolution, divorce, 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 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.
• Dividing Property in an Ohio Divorce — Ohio divides marital property equitably — meaning fairly, not always equally. The first step is classifying every asset and debt. Here's how the process works.

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.