Filing for Dissolution in Fayette County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green, Esq. · Managing Partner, Gavvl Law · Last updated June 9, 2026

Fayette County, Ohio · Washington Court House

A dissolution lets both spouses end their marriage by agreement — you must agree on everything (property, debts, custody, and support) before filing. In Fayette County, both spouses file jointly using the county's Dissolution of Marriage Checklist, and the court schedules a hearing between 30 and 90 days later that both spouses must attend before the Honorable David B. Bender.

How do I file for a dissolution in Fayette County, Ohio?

Start with the Fayette County Dissolution of Marriage Checklist, then complete the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms it lists — typically the Petition for Dissolution (Form 17), the Separation Agreement (Form 19), and a Financial Affidavit (Affidavit 1) for each spouse. With minor children, also file the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3), Health Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit 4), the Ohio Child Support Worksheet, and a Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) or Parenting Plan (Form 21). File with the Clerk on the 3rd floor at 110 East Court Street or eFile through Henschen, pay the fee set by the Clerk (or file an Affidavit of Indigency), and both spouses attend the hearing the court sets 30–90 days after filing.

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: Fayette County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Fayette County Courthouse, 110 East Court Street, 1st Floor, Washington Court House, OH 43160, Washington Court House, OH 43160
Phone: (740) 333-3501
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Website: www.fayette-co-oh.com/268/Domestic-Relations-Court
e-Filing: https://www.fayette-co-oh.com/341/eFiling-Henschen

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Fayette County Juvenile Court
Fayette County Courthouse, 110 East Court Street, Washington Court House, OH 43160, Washington Court House, OH 43160
Phone: (740) 333-3501
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Dissolution is the right path if…

You and your spouse agree on every term: property, debts, custody, and support.
Both of you are willing to sign all paperwork and appear together at the final hearing.
You want a faster, lower-conflict alternative to a contested divorce.
You can complete the Dissolution of Marriage Checklist and the standardized forms it lists.

If you and your spouse can't agree on everything yet, a divorce lets the court decide the open issues. See Fayette County divorce options.

Filing Fees

Filing fee set by the Fayette County Clerk of Courts — call (740) 335-6371 for the current Fee Schedule. An Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) is available under Ohio Civ.R. 3(E). Pay online through BridgePayment.

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution packet (no minor children) — Fee set by the Clerk — call (740) 335-6371; Affidavit of Indigency waiver available

Both spouses sign every document. The Dissolution of Marriage Checklist lists the complete set of required documents.

Fayette County Dissolution of Marriage Checklist — Fayette County's pro se checklist listing every form a dissolution filing needs and how to complete it. Start here.
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Ohio SC Form 17) — The joint petition both spouses file to tell the court they have a complete agreement and want the marriage dissolved.
Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) — The contract that settles property, debt, and support. Both spouses must sign.
Financial Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Discloses each spouse's income, expenses, and basic financial information. Required for each party.

Dissolution packet (with minor children) — Fee set by the Clerk — call (740) 335-6371; Affidavit of Indigency waiver available

Adds the Ohio standardized children's forms the checklist requires when the spouses have minor children together.

Fayette County Dissolution of Marriage Checklist — Fayette County's pro se checklist listing every form a dissolution filing needs and how to complete it. Start here.
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Ohio SC Form 17) — The joint petition both spouses file when they have a complete agreement and want the marriage dissolved.
Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) — The contract that settles property, debt, support, and the parenting arrangement. Both spouses must sign.
Financial Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Discloses each spouse's income, expenses, and basic financial information. Required for each party.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Lists where each child has lived and with whom, confirming the court's jurisdiction over custody.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Reports the children's health-care coverage so the court can address medical support.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet — Run the official Ohio Income Shares calculator, print, and sign. Required any time the court will set support.
Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) or Parenting Plan (Form 21) — Use a Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) when both parents will be residential parents/legal custodians, or a Parenting Plan (Form 21) for the parenting schedule.

How to File Dissolution in Fayette County

Confirm you agree on everything. Dissolution requires a complete agreement on property, debts, custody, and support before you file. Download and read the Dissolution of Marriage Checklist first.
Complete all required forms. Complete the Petition (Form 17), Separation Agreement (Form 19), and a Financial Affidavit (Affidavit 1) for each spouse — plus the children's forms and a parenting plan if you have minor children.
File with the Clerk or eFile through Henschen. File at the Clerk of Courts on the 3rd floor, 110 East Court Street, or eFile through Henschen. Pay the fee set by the Clerk, or file an Affidavit of Indigency for a waiver.
Attend the hearing together. The court schedules a hearing 30–90 days after filing; both spouses must appear before Judge Bender, who reviews the agreement and signs the decree.

Fayette County Practice Notes

Dissolution is agreed, not 'uncontested'. A dissolution means both spouses already agree on every term before filing. That is different from an uncontested (default) divorce, where only one spouse participates because the other won't respond or can't be found.
Hearing is set 30–90 days after filing. Once a complete packet is filed, the court schedules the dissolution hearing between 30 and 90 days later, and both spouses must attend that hearing before Judge Bender.
Use the Dissolution of Marriage Checklist. Fayette County's pro se Dissolution of Marriage Checklist lists exactly which forms are required and how to complete them. The Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms it references are downloaded from the Ohio Supreme Court forms page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a dissolution take in Fayette County?: Once a complete dissolution packet is filed, the court schedules a hearing between 30 and 90 days after filing. Both spouses must attend that hearing before Judge Bender. Because a dissolution requires that the spouses already agree on every term — property, debts, custody, and support — it is generally faster and lower-conflict than a contested divorce.
How much does it cost to file a family law case in Fayette County?: The Fayette County Clerk of Courts publishes a Fee Schedule (PDF) on the Clerk's website rather than a single flat number — call the Clerk at (740) 335-6371 for the current amount for your case type before you file. If you cannot afford the deposit, an Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) is available for qualifying low-income filers under Ohio Civil Rule 3(E). All three court divisions accept payment online through the BridgePayment portal.
Where do I file in Fayette County?: Domestic Relations cases (divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree motions, and protection orders) run through the Domestic Relations Division on the 1st floor of the Fayette County Courthouse, 110 East Court Street, Washington Court House. You file your paperwork with the Clerk of Courts on the 3rd floor of the same building, or eFile through the Henschen system. Custody, support, and paternity for never-married parents are filed in the Juvenile Court at the same address.
Can I eFile in Fayette County?: Yes. Fayette County accepts electronic filing through the Henschen eFiling system, and separate instructions are available for attorneys and for pro se (self-represented) litigants on the Clerk of Courts page. You can also file in person with the Clerk of Courts on the 3rd floor of the courthouse at 110 East Court Street.
Does Fayette County have self-help checklists for filing without a lawyer?: Yes — Fayette County provides an unusually detailed set of six pro se filing checklists: a Dissolution of Marriage Checklist, a Divorce Checklist, a Post-Decree Motion Checklist, a Complaint for Custody Checklist, an Answer Checklist, and a unique Married but Separated Custody Packet. Each checklist walks you through exactly which forms are needed and how to complete them. The Juvenile Court also posts a Self-Help Custody Info sheet and a Motion to Continue / Blank Motion form.
Who decides family law cases in Fayette County?: The Honorable David B. Bender presides over all divisions of the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas — General, Domestic Relations, and Juvenile. Having one judge across every division is common in smaller Ohio counties and means scheduling, local rules, and court culture stay very consistent from one case type to the next.

Free Local Resources in Fayette County

Fayette County Clerk of Courts. Publishes the Fee Schedule, the six pro se filing checklists, and eFiling (Henschen) instructions. Located on the 3rd floor of the courthouse, 110 East Court Street; call (740) 335-6371 to confirm current fees before filing. Online payments are accepted through BridgePayment.
Pro Se Checklists & Juvenile Self-Help Forms. Fayette County posts Divorce, Dissolution, and Custody checklists plus a Juvenile Self-Help/Forms page (including the Self-Help Custody Info sheet and a Motion to Continue / Blank Motion form) for people filing without an attorney.
Fayette County Victim Witness Office. Provides domestic violence and protection order resources, including a downloadable Domestic Violence brochure, Protection Orders information, and a Teens, Dating Violence & Sexual Assaults page.
Triple P Positive Parenting Program. Free, evidence-based parenting tools through the Ohio Children's Trust Fund's Triple P Online program, linked by the Fayette County Juvenile Court.
Ohio Legal Help & Fayette County Law Library. Ohio Legal Help (ohiolegalhelp.org) offers free plain-language guides and form help, and the Fayette County Law Library provides legal research resources and forms.

Related to your dissolution case

Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Dissolution guide — Statewide overview of dissolution in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.