Filing for Dissolution in Franklin County, Ohio

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026

Franklin County (Columbus) runs one of the most resource-rich Domestic Relations Courts in Ohio — and at flat for either track, dissolution here is among the cheapest in the state. Three Franklin-specific rules drive most filings: (1) Local Rule 10's copy requirement (triplicate with children, duplicate without); (2) the Decree of Dissolution must be e-filed in WORD format as 'Filing Submitted to Judge' before the hearing; and (3) every case with minor children requires a Child Support Worksheet AND Deviation Findings — even when both parents agree to zero support. Self-represented filers get an unusual amount of in-courthouse help: the Capital University Law School Clinic operates on the 4th floor of 373 S. High Street, and the Self-Represented Resource Center is reachable at (614) 525-7531. Zoom hearings are available with the agreement of all parties, and final hearings are typically held 30–90 days after filing.

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 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 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: $2,015
Dissolution with children: $2,645
Review & advise (your own paperwork): $805
Review & advise with children: $1,610

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

On limited-scope services of $2,000 or more, Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan with no interest and no credit check — takes 60% down to start, then the balance in three monthly payments, the first due 28 days after your initial payment. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your dissolution case or see payment plans & financing.

Real people — with direct lines

Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
Niva Elgin — Director of Attorney Relations · Licensed New Mexico Attorney
Richard Furnish — Of Counsel Attorney

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — Niva Elgin, our Director of Attorney Relations and a licensed New Mexico attorney — or Richard Furnish, an Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorney. They've heard hundreds of situations like yours and will tell you plainly what you need, and what you don't. Meet the firm.

Your attorney

One of our Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorneys is your attorney for the case — from the first strategy call to the final order in Franklin County. You have their name and a direct line the day your file opens. Our attorneys.

Your case team

Niva Elgin keeps your case moving as Director of Attorney Relations. Madeline Wampler, Certified Paralegal, handles documents and scheduling. Erin Schultz, Finance Manager, handles billing and payment plans. Real people who answer when you call.

95+ five-star Google reviews
60+ years of combined Ohio family-law experience
Super Lawyers Rising Stars honorees on the team: Elizabeth Warren (2021–2023) and Samantha Berkhofer (2019–2021)
Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained — and every step after

Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, Niva Elgin, or Richard Furnish about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
Choose — Pick the level of help. Pay, or set up financing. Limited-scope flat fee or full representation — you choose, with real numbers in front of you. Pay online, or secure a Gavvl Direct payment plan or third-party financing in a few minutes. Nothing is billed until you decide.
Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Can I do this without an attorney?

sometimes, yes. Ohio lets you represent yourself, and for a genuinely agreed dissolution or a simple motion, some people do. The Franklin County forms and local rules are linked in the questions below, and our free tools will draft a parenting plan or estimate child support before you spend anything.

Here's what the online-divorce platforms leave out: most Ohio counties require their own forms and language on top of the statewide ones, and a rejected filing is the most common reason people call us after trying it alone. A $25, 30-minute call tells you whether you can do this yourself — and if you can, we'll say so.

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

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)

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: Set by the Clerk of Courts — confirm the current filing fee before filing. Fee waiver available.

Important things to know about Franklin County

Among the lowest filing fees in Ohio 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file for dissolution in Franklin County? Which forms do I need?

Direct links to every form pulled from the Franklin County court's published packet.

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 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 is set by the court.
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.
What Happens If I Move Out Before the Divorce? (Ohio Myths vs. Reality) — Moving out of the marital home does not forfeit your share of the house, your retirement, or your right to parent your children. It can affect the date the court uses to divide property, and it can affect custody indirectly if you become less involved. This guide separates the myths from what Ohio law actually does, and explains why temporary orders solve most of it.
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.
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.
Who Gets the House in an Ohio Divorce? — The marital home is often a couple's biggest asset and most emotional decision. Ohio divides its equity equitably — through a buyout, a sale, or a deferred sale. Here's how.

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.

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