Filing for Divorce with Children in Erie County

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

Erie County Clerk of Courts, 323 Columbus Avenue, 1st Floor, Sandusky, OH 44870. Clerk: (419) 627-7732.

Filing Fees

Contact Clerk for current DR filing fee (set by Clerk's Schedule of Costs)

Payment methods: Court costs can be paid online through PayGov (pay.paygov.us). Affidavit of Indigency available if you cannot afford fees.

Erie County Procedure Quirks

• No dedicated Domestic Relations Division — DR cases are heard by the General Division judges, with all scheduling routed through DR Assignment Commissioner Amanda Tubbs at (419) 627-7777.
• Cell phones are NOT permitted in the Erie County Courthouse. Everyone is screened by the Sheriff's Department at entry.
• Online court-cost payments through PayGov for civil, criminal, and domestic cases.
• Local rules require a cost deposit per the Clerk's Schedule of Costs before any case is accepted. Affidavit of Indigency available.
• Erie publishes a local Application/Instructions/Financial Disclosure Forms packet and a local Affidavit of Indigency — required at filing.
• Local Rules updated 2025 (DR_RULES20253.pdf).

Parenting Class

Court-approved parenting class — Confirm current provider with DR Commissioner Amanda Tubbs
Call (419) 627-7777 to confirm the current required parenting class and provider before your final hearing.

Judges

• Hon. Judge Binette (General Division)

Erie County Juvenile Court

Juvenile Court spans three separate facilities: the Courthouse 4th Floor for hearings and filings; the Juvenile Justice Center at 1338 Tiffin Avenue (24-hour Detention + Northern Ohio Juvenile Community Corrections); and Probation/Mediation/Diversion offices at 221 West Parish Street. Juvenile filing fees are unusually low — $50 paternity, $65 custody/visitation, $35 support, $20 contempt. CPO petitions have no filing fee.

Domestic Relations vs. Juvenile

Erie County houses DR and Juvenile in the same Courthouse on Columbus Avenue but on different floors — General Division/DR on the 2nd Floor (Judge Binette), Juvenile on the 4th Floor (Judge DeLamatre). Married couples file divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment with the General Division through the DR Commissioner; never-married parents file custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity with the Juvenile Division. Juvenile fees are very low ($35–$65) and Erie publishes an extensive set of local juvenile court forms.

Free Local Resources in Erie County

• Erie County DR Division. eriecounty.oh.gov/DomesticRelations.aspx — local forms, local rules, and contact information.
• Erie County DR Local Rules (2025). eriecounty.oh.gov/Downloads/DR_RULES20253.pdf — current as of 2025.
• PayGov Online Court Cost Payments. pay.paygov.us — pay court costs online for civil, criminal, and domestic cases.
• Public Case Search. clerkofcourts.eriecounty.oh.gov/eservices/home.page.2 — public docket search.
• Legal Aid Line of Western Ohio. 1-888-534-1432 · legalaidline.org — free civil legal help.
• Erie County Bar Association. (419) 627-2009 — lawyer referral.

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.