Fayette County Dissolution Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Fayette County dissolution case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Fayette County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

Fayette County dissolution, handled by Gavvl Law

A dissolution is Ohio's by-agreement exit from a marriage: both spouses sign one separation agreement, file a joint petition in the General & Domestic Relations Division on a $350 deposit, and appear together at a hearing set 30 to 90 days out. Fayette adds its own wrinkle — at least one petitioner must have lived in the county for 90 days under Local Rule 11.03. Gavvl Law drafts an agreement that holds up, builds the packet around the county's Dissolution Checklist, and prices uncontested work as one flat fee approved before we begin.

• A separation agreement built to be signed. Dissolution only works if the written agreement resolves every property, debt, support, and — with children — parenting and support term before filing. We draft it with the Ohio Supreme Court dissolution forms, the Dissolution Checklist, and a parenting plan plus the child-support worksheet where kids are involved, so the joint petition is complete on day one.
• The 90-day Fayette residency, confirmed early. On top of Ohio's six-month rule, Local Rule 11.03 requires at least one petitioner to have lived in Fayette County for 90 days before filing. We confirm that threshold up front so your joint petition is not challenged, and we prepare both spouses for the single 30-to-90-day hearing where the court reviews the agreement.
• One flat fee, lower because there's nothing to litigate. A dissolution carries the lower $350 deposit precisely because the terms are already agreed, and our flat fee reflects the same efficiency, with payment plans available. If talks break down before the hearing, we can pivot the matter to a contested divorce with full representation.

Because a Fayette dissolution and divorce are both heard by the same General & Domestic Relations Division under Judge Bender, we can steer you to the cheaper, faster agreed path when it fits and switch tracks the moment it doesn't — all with the same Clerk of Courts at (740) 335-6371 and the same local rules. That single point of contact keeps an already-cooperative case from stalling.

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.

Where to File: Fayette County Court of Common Pleas — General & Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Fayette County Probate-Juvenile Court
110 East Court Street, 2nd Floor, Washington Court House, OH 43160
Phone: (740) 335-0640
Hours: Monday–Friday

Dissolution is the right path if…

• You and your spouse agree on all property, debt, support, and parenting issues.
• Both of you are willing to sign a written separation agreement.
• At least one of you has lived in Fayette County for 90 days.
• Both of you are willing to appear together at the final hearing.

If you don't yet agree on everything, or your spouse won't participate, a divorce is the right path. Compare divorce.

Filing Fees

$350 dissolution deposit (eff. 07/03/2023) · at least one petitioner must have lived in Fayette County for 90 days (Local Rule 11.03) · final hearing 30–90 days after filing · Affidavit of Poverty available · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 335-6371

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Dissolution in Fayette County

1. Confirm the 90-day county rule. At least one petitioner must have lived in Fayette County for 90 days before filing a dissolution (Local Rule 11.03), in addition to the six-month Ohio rule.
2. Reach full agreement. Agree on property, debt, support, and (with children) custody and parenting time, and put it all in a written separation agreement.
3. Prepare the packet. Use the Ohio Supreme Court dissolution forms and the Fayette County Dissolution Checklist; with children, add a parenting plan and the support worksheet.
4. File jointly and pay the deposit. File the joint petition with the Clerk of Courts, (740) 335-6371, and pay the $350 deposit, or file for a fee waiver.
5. Attend the hearing. Both spouses appear at the final hearing held 30 to 90 days after filing; the court reviews the agreement and grants the dissolution.

Fayette County Practice Notes

• Divorce is heard by the General & Domestic Relations Division. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the General & Domestic Relations Division of the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas under Judge David B. Bender, 110 East Court Street, 3rd Floor, Washington Court House. The Division shares the General Division's judge, clerk, local rules, and fee schedule. File through the Clerk of Courts, (740) 335-6371; the Division can be reached at (740) 335-4750, option #6.
• Dissolution needs 90 days in Fayette County. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least six months to file for divorce (R.C. 3105.03). For a dissolution, at least one petitioner must also have lived in Fayette County for 90 days before filing (Local Rule 11.03).
• Attorneys e-file in Domestic Relations; pro se filers are exempt. E-filing through Henschen is required for attorneys in the General & Domestic Relations Division (https://www.fayette-co-oh.com/341/eFiling-Henschen); self-represented (pro se) filers are exempt and may file in person with the Clerk. The Probate-Juvenile Court does not offer e-filing — everything there is filed in person.
• Fee waivers are available with a poverty affidavit. If you cannot afford the deposit, file an approved Affidavit of Poverty asking the court to waive the up-front deposit. A waiver relieves only the up-front cost — court costs may still be owed at the end of the case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an uncontested divorce the same as a dissolution in Fayette County?

No. A dissolution is a separate, jointly-filed case where both spouses agree on everything before filing and appear together at a hearing 30 to 90 days later. An 'uncontested' divorce is a divorce that proceeds like a default because the other spouse can't be found (service by posting or publication) or won't participate.

How long does a dissolution take in Fayette County?

Between 30 and 90 days after filing, when both spouses appear at the final hearing (R.C. 3105.64).

What are the residency rules for divorce and dissolution in Fayette County?

Six months in Ohio to file for divorce (R.C. 3105.03). For a dissolution, at least one petitioner must also have lived in Fayette County for 90 days before filing (Local Rule 11.03).

How much does it cost to file for divorce or dissolution in Fayette County?

A $400 deposit for divorce and $350 for dissolution (effective 07/03/2023). An Answer with Cross-Claim is $300, a new married-parent custody complaint is $250, and a post-decree motion is $200. These are advance cost deposits, not flat fees. Fee waivers are available with an approved Affidavit of Poverty. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 335-6371.

Free Local Resources in Fayette County

• Fayette County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Current filing fees, deposit amounts, and case filing for divorce ($400), dissolution ($350), legal separation, annulment, and post-decree motions ($200). Clerk of Courts, 3rd Floor, 110 East Court Street, Washington Court House; (740) 335-6371; https://courts.fayette-co-oh.com/. Attorneys must e-file via Henschen (https://www.fayette-co-oh.com/341/eFiling-Henschen); pro se filers are exempt.
• Fayette County Probate-Juvenile Court. Judge Mary E. King, 2nd Floor, (740) 335-0640. Handles never-married-parent custody, parenting time, support, and parentage, plus non-parent custody, and runs a mediation program (Local Rule 18). All new juvenile family matters are a $100 deposit. There is no e-filing. Self-help: https://www.fayette-co-oh.com/269/Juvenile-Court.
• Fayette County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Arranges genetic testing, opens IV-D cases, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, and reviews existing orders. Contact (740) 335-0745.
• Prosecutor's Victim Witness Division. Fayette County directs people seeking a civil protection order to the Prosecutor's Victim Witness Division for help determining eligibility and preparing the petition. There is no filing fee for the person seeking protection.
• Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Online. Fayette County promotes Triple P Online as a free parent/caregiver resource: https://octf.ohio.gov/what-we-do/statewide-initiatives/triple-p-online. A parenting class is not a standard DR requirement, but the court may order one case by case.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.

Other Family-Law Topics in Fayette County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Fayette County family-law attorney for help with your case.

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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on dissolution 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.

Continue your Fayette County research

• Ohio Dissolution guide — Statewide overview of dissolution in Ohio.
• Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
• Fayette County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Fayette County guide.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.

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.