Filing for Dissolution in Franklin County, Ohio

Hire Gavvl Law for your Franklin County dissolution

Dissolution is the agreed, no-fault way to end a marriage in Ohio: both spouses sign a Separation Agreement covering property, debt, support, and parenting before anything is filed. Franklin County's $225 filing fee is among the lowest in the state — but the Separation Agreement is a permanent court order, and the local filing mechanics are unforgiving. Gavvl Law takes your dissolution either as flat-fee limited scope, where we draft and review the Agreement and every form while you file, or as full representation, where an Ohio attorney handles the drafting, the e-filing, and the final hearing.

• We draft a Separation Agreement that holds up. In a dissolution the Agreement is the entire case — it locks in your property, debt, and (with children) parenting for good, and Ohio courts rarely reopen it. We draft it to be clear and enforceable rather than a fill-in template you end up litigating later.
• We file Franklin's paperwork the court won't bounce. Columbus filings turn on local mechanics: Local Rule 10's copy rule (triplicate with children, duplicate without), the Certificate of Assignment, the separately filed Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers, and the Decree e-filed in WORD format as 'Filing Submitted to Judge.' We handle all of it so your packet isn't rejected at intake.
• Flat fee or full representation — priced up front. Most agreed dissolutions fit flat-fee limited scope at a price you see before you pay. When there's a 401(k), OPERS/STRS pension, or QDRO to divide, full representation on a retainer keeps an attorney on the numbers and in the hearing.

Even when both parents agree to $0 child support, Franklin County still requires a signed Child Support Worksheet AND Deviation Findings — skip either and the final hearing gets reset. Hearings run 30–90 days out and are usually finalized the same day, with Zoom available if all parties agree. We prepare the whole packet so your first hearing is your last.

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.

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic and Juvenile Division

373 South High Street, 4th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 • (614) 525-4410 • Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (opens to the public at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesdays)

Filing fee: $225. Fee waiver available.

Important things to know about Franklin County

• Among the lowest filing fees in Ohio — $225 flat for dissolution, with or without children.
• Attorneys MUST e-file. Self-represented parties may file paper, but must place the Petition on top of each set of copies.
• Local Rule 10 copy rule: file in TRIPLICATE (original + 2 copies) if minor children, or DUPLICATE (original + 1 copy) if no children.
• The Decree of Dissolution must be e-filed in WORD format and submitted as 'Filing Submitted to Judge.'
• Certificate of Assignment is required — it checks for any previously filed case between the parties.
• Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers is filed SEPARATELY from the public case file to keep SSNs/DOBs private.
• Even if both parents agree to ZERO child support, you must still file a Child Support Worksheet AND Deviation Findings of Fact.
• Model Parenting Time Schedule is established by local court rule (Local DR Rule 27.1 / Juv Rule 22.1).
• Capital University Law School Clinic operates inside the courthouse on the 4th floor — 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon–Fri, by appointment.
• Final hearing is normally held 30–90 days after filing and the dissolution is typically finalized the same day.

Required forms (all cases)

• Without Children Checklist — Franklin County's official packet checklist for dissolutions without minor children.
• Petition, Agreement, Waivers & Judgment Entry — Combined Packet — Franklin County's bundled starter packet (includes the Petition for Dissolution / Form 17).
• Separation Agreement (Form 19) — Your full settlement on property, debt, and support. Both spouses must sign.
• Certificate of Assignment — Required Franklin County form — checks for any prior case between the parties.
• Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers — Filed SEPARATELY from the public case file to protect SSNs, DOBs, and other sensitive data.
• Affidavit of Income & Expenses (one per party) — Each spouse files their own — employment, income, and monthly expenses.
• Affidavit of Property (one per party) — Each spouse files their own — must match the Separation Agreement.
• Waiver of Legal Representation (if no attorney) — Each unrepresented spouse signs to confirm they are filing without an attorney.
• Waiver of Service of Summons — Skips formal service — both spouses agree to proceed.
• Property Findings of Fact (or waiver) — Court findings on the division of property — or signed waiver.
• Decree of Dissolution (e-file in WORD format) — Final order ending the marriage — must be e-filed in Word as 'Filing Submitted to Judge' before the hearing.
• Fee Waiver Request (if needed) — Optional poverty affidavit if you can't afford the $225 filing fee.

Additional forms with minor children

• With Children Checklist — Franklin County's official packet checklist for dissolutions with minor children.
• Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (one per party) — Required in every case with minor children — 5-year address history and any other court cases involving the kids.
• Health Insurance Affidavit — Each parent's access to health insurance for the children.
• Child Support Affidavit — Income and expense disclosure used to calculate child support.
• Child Support Worksheet (both parties must sign) — Run the numbers in the Ohio Child Support Calculator, print the worksheet, and BOTH parents sign. Required even when both parents agree to ZERO support.
• Deviation Findings (if deviating from guideline support) — Required any time the agreed support amount is different from the guideline number — including agreements at $0.
• IV-D Application for Child Support Services — Opens a child support case with Franklin County CSEA. Obtained through the Clerk of Courts at filing.
• Shared Parenting Plan (Option A) — Use if both parents will share legal custody. Both parents must sign.
• Parenting Plan (Option B — sole custody) — Use if one parent will be residential. Pair with the Parenting Judgment Entry.
• Parenting Judgment Entry (Option B — sole custody) — Sole-custody court order naming the residential parent.
• Model Parenting Time Schedule (Local Rule) — Franklin County's standardized parenting time schedule — used when parents don't include their own.
• QDRO — Private Pension (if dividing a 401(k)/private retirement) — Qualified Domestic Relations Order for private retirement plans.
• QDRO — General (alternate template) — General-purpose QDRO template available from the Franklin County Law Library.
• DPO — Ohio Public Retirement (if dividing OPERS/STRS/etc.) — Division of Property Order for Ohio public retirement plans.

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.
• 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.

Understand the cost

• Cost of Dissolution in Franklin County — Real filing fees, court costs, timeline, and flat-fee options for a dissolution in Franklin County.
• 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.