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: $2,015
• Dissolution with children: $2,645
• Review & advise (your own paperwork): $805
• Review & advise with children: $1,610

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

On limited-scope services of $2,000 or more, Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan with no interest and no credit check — takes 60% down to start, then the balance in three monthly payments, the first due 28 days after your initial payment. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your dissolution case or see payment plans & financing.

Real people — with direct lines

• Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
• Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
• Niva Elgin — Director of Attorney Relations · Licensed New Mexico Attorney

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — or Niva Elgin, our Director of Attorney Relations and a licensed New Mexico attorney. They've heard hundreds of situations like yours and will tell you plainly what you need, and what you don't. Meet the firm.

Your attorney

One of our Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorneys is your attorney for the case — from the first strategy call to the final order in Erie County. You have their name and a direct line the day your file opens. Our attorneys.

Your case team

Niva Elgin keeps your case moving as Director of Attorney Relations. Madeline Wampler, Certified Paralegal, handles documents and scheduling. Erin Schultz, Finance Manager, handles billing and payment plans. Real people who answer when you call.

• 95+ five-star Google reviews
• 60+ years of combined Ohio family-law experience
• Super Lawyers Rising Stars honorees on the team: Elizabeth Warren (2021–2023) and Samantha Berkhofer (2019–2021)
• Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained — and every step after

1. Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, or Niva Elgin about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
2. Choose — Pick the level of help. Pay, or set up financing. Limited-scope flat fee or full representation — you choose, with real numbers in front of you. Pay online, or secure a Gavvl Direct payment plan or third-party financing in a few minutes. Nothing is billed until you decide.
3. Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
4. Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

• Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
• Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
• Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
• Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
• Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
• 24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Can I do this without an attorney?

sometimes, yes. Ohio lets you represent yourself, and for a genuinely agreed dissolution or a simple motion, some people do. The Erie County forms and local rules are linked in the questions below, and our free tools will draft a parenting plan or estimate child support before you spend anything.

Here's what the online-divorce platforms leave out: most Ohio counties require their own forms and language on top of the statewide ones, and a rejected filing is the most common reason people call us after trying it alone. A $25, 30-minute call tells you whether you can do this yourself — and if you can, we'll say so.

• Free parenting plan builder
• Free child support estimate
• Attorney-written guides
• See the Erie County forms & local rules

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

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: Set by the Clerk of Courts — confirm the current filing fee before filing. 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 is set by the court by mail and is not posted online; it contains fill-in divorce forms in the back.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file for dissolution in Erie County? Which forms do I need?

Direct links to every form pulled from the Erie County court's published packet.

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.
• What Happens If I Move Out Before the Divorce? (Ohio Myths vs. Reality) — Moving out of the marital home does not forfeit your share of the house, your retirement, or your right to parent your children. It can affect the date the court uses to divide property, and it can affect custody indirectly if you become less involved. This guide separates the myths from what Ohio law actually does, and explains why temporary orders solve most of it.
• 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.
• 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.
• Who Gets the House in an Ohio Divorce? — The marital home is often a couple's biggest asset and most emotional decision. Ohio divides its equity equitably — through a buyout, a sale, or a deferred sale. Here's how.

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.