Filing for Divorce with Children in Fairfield County

Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

Fairfield County Clerk of Courts, Hall of Justice, 224 East Main Street, 4th Floor, Lancaster, OH 43130. DR Clerk filing line (740) 652-7357 · DR Division (740) 652-7440 · Fax (740) 652-7399.

Filing Fees

$350 without children / $400 with children — call the DR Clerk's filing line at (740) 652-7357 to confirm

Payment methods: Ohio's Civil Fee Waiver (Affidavit of Indigency) is available for qualifying low-income filers. New cases and fee-bearing pleadings cannot be filed by fax or email — file in person at the 4th Floor Clerk.

Fairfield County Procedure Quirks

• Midday Clerk closure 12:00–1:00 p.m. daily — plan filings for the morning (8:00–12:00) or afternoon (1:00–4:00) session.
• Clerk will NOT accept forms printed on both sides of the paper — all filings must be single-sided.
• Standard Mutual Restraining Order goes into effect automatically the moment a DR case is filed (Fairfield local form).
• Local Rule 17 Standard Parenting Time Order — most recently revised March 1, 2023; the current version applies to cases decided on or after that date.
• Domestic Relations matters are heard by Hon. Laura B. Smith and Magistrates Lora H. Cleary and Sandra S. Miller — always read your hearing notice to confirm the date, time, and courtroom.
• Fairfield publishes accessible HTML versions of nearly every local form alongside the PDFs — an accessibility feature few Ohio courts offer.
• Children In Between® parent education available online for $25 (divorce-education.com/OH/fairfield) — accounts valid for 30 days, 24/7 access.
• DV/CPO petitions must be filed by 3:00 p.m. for same-day hearing; after 3:00 p.m. you may be asked to return the next business day.

Parenting Class

Children In Between® (online, $25) — divorce-education.com/OH/fairfield
Required for parents with minor children in divorce, legal separation, or dissolution cases. $25 online; account valid 30 days; available 24/7. File the certificate of completion with the Clerk of Courts in person or by fax to (740) 652-7399.

Judges

• Hon. Laura B. Smith

Fairfield County Juvenile and Probate Court

Judge Vandervoort uniquely serves as both Judge and Clerk of the Juvenile and Probate Courts — uncommon in Ohio. Court Administrator: Michael E. Orlando. Juvenile fax (740) 687-6700. Email juvenilecourt@fairfieldcountyohio.gov. Online fee payments accepted. Three additional juvenile locations: Resource Center at 625 Garfield Ave Lancaster ((740) 652-7374), Diversion Services ((740) 652-7139), and a Pickerington office by appointment only. Restorative Justice Circles program available.

Domestic Relations vs. Juvenile

Fairfield houses both courts in the same Hall of Justice on Main Street in Lancaster — DR Division on the 4th Floor (Hon. Laura B. Smith), Juvenile & Probate on the 3rd Floor (Hon. Terre L. Vandervoort). Married couples file divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment with DR; never-married parents file custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity with the Juvenile Division. Judge Vandervoort uniquely serves as both Judge and Clerk of the Juvenile/Probate Courts — a dual role uncommon in Ohio.

Free Local Resources in Fairfield County

• Fairfield County DR Division. co.fairfield.oh.us/dr — Judge Laura B. Smith. Local forms in HTML and PDF, local rules, and contact information.
• Fairfield County DR Forms Hub. co.fairfield.oh.us/dr/DR-Court-Forms-FC.html — accessible HTML and printable PDF versions of every local DR form.
• Local Rule 17 Standard Parenting Time Order (rev. 2023). co.fairfield.oh.us/dr/pdf/Local-Rule-17-rev-2023.03.01.pdf — current standard order.
• Children In Between® Online. divorce-education.com/OH/fairfield — $25 online parent-education program required for cases with children.
• Fairfield County Visitation Center. 407 East Main Street, Lancaster — supervised visitation and exchange services.
• The Lighthouse, Inc. (CPO advocacy). 136 West Main Street, 2nd Floor, Lancaster · (740) 687-6778 ext. 3027 — free CPO advocacy (not legal advice).
• SEOLS Virtual Legal Clinics. 4th Tuesday of every month, 5:00–7:00 p.m. Call 844-302-1800 Mon–Fri to register.

Required divorce-with-children packet (13 forms)

• Complaint for Divorce With Children — Opens your Fairfield County divorce. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child support.
• Dissolution & Divorce Document Checklist (Fairfield local) — Fairfield's official checklist — work through it before filing to confirm every form is complete.
• Personal Identifier Form (Fairfield local) — Lists SSNs, DOBs, and other personal identifiers separately from the public docket — required at filing.
• Notice of Filing for Family File (Fairfield local) — Required intake notice creating the case's family file.
• Standard Mutual Restraining Order (Fairfield local) — Goes into effect automatically the moment your DR case is filed — restrains both parties from harassment and from disposing of assets.
• Financial Affidavit — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own.
• Affidavit of Property — Lists every asset and debt.
• Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA) — Required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years.
• Health Insurance Affidavit — Discloses whether children's health insurance is available through either parent's employer.
• Child Support Worksheet — Run on the Ohio Child Support Calculator and print.
• SETS Child Support Information Form (Fairfield local) — Required SETS intake form for any case involving a child-support order.
• Parenting Plan (Form 20 or 21) — Form 20 for shared parenting (notarized); Form 21 for sole-residential.
• Decree of Divorce With Children — Proposed final order.

Temporary orders while your case is pending

Under Ohio Civil Rule 75(N), Fairfield County may decide temporary-orders motions on the affidavits or set a hearing. File at the Clerk on the 4th Floor of the Hall of Justice (8:00–12:00 or 1:00–4:00). Single-sided only. The 42-day waiting period after service applies before any final divorce hearing. Children In Between® ($25 online) must be completed before final hearing.

• Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Requests temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending.
• Financial Affidavit (current) — Required attachment to any temporary-orders motion.
• Affidavit of Property (current) — Required attachment to any temporary-orders motion.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on divorce, custody, 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.

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.