Filing for Dissolution in Fulton County, Ohio

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

Fulton County hears dissolutions in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas at 210 S. Fulton Street in Wauseon — there is no separate Domestic Relations Court. One judge, Hon. Scott Haselman, hears DR cases alongside civil and criminal matters. Two practical realities shape every Fulton filing: the court does NOT provide paper forms at the courthouse (you must download everything from the Ohio Supreme Court website), and court staff cannot help you choose or fill out the right forms. Fulton publishes four local Parenting Schedules (A, A-1, B, C) the judge uses as a baseline — review them even if you plan to submit a custom plan. Ohio's mandatory 30-day waiting period after filing applies before any final hearing; hearings are typically set 30 to 90 days after filing and both spouses must appear. Filing fees are listed in Appendix B of the Local Rules — call the Clerk at (419) 337-9260 to confirm the current amount before filing.

Fulton County dissolution: one flat fee, no hourly surprises

Traditional firms bill dissolution by the hour, and the final total is anyone's guess. We do it differently for Fulton County families: one flat fee, quoted up front, with financing available and full representation on the table when it's warranted. This page also covers the local side for Fulton County: court contacts in Wauseon, forms, and fee details.

One flat fee, agreed up front. Your dissolution fee is quoted in full before we lift a finger — one number, approved by you, with no hourly clock behind it.
Payments that fit your budget. Pay in full, split it into a plan, or finance it — three ways to fit the same transparent flat fee into your budget.
Why Fulton County families choose us. Hourly billing rewards slow cases; a flat fee rewards finished ones. That's how our licensed Ohio attorneys approach every dissolution matter in Fulton County — and across all 88 counties.

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.

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)

Fulton County Court of Common Pleas (General Division)

210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH 43567 • (419) 337-9260 • Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Filing fee: $325.00 cost deposit (Appendix B)–$400.00 cost deposit (Appendix B). Fee waiver available.

Important things to know about Fulton County

No dedicated DR Court — Hon. Scott Haselman hears dissolutions alongside civil and criminal cases.
No paper forms provided at the courthouse since July 1, 2013 — you must download every standardized form from the Ohio Supreme Court website.
Court staff cannot help you select or fill out forms.
Fulton publishes four local Parenting Schedules (A, A-1, B, C) — use one as a baseline or attach a custom plan.
Local Child Support Worksheet used in addition to the Ohio Child Support Calculator output.
In any case with minor children, both parents must complete the mandatory parenting program within 75 days of filing under DR Local Rule 11.01 — if taken in-county the cost comes out of the court-cost deposit; an online option (assistingourkids.com) is allowed by request to the Assignment Commissioner for cause, and a missed session costs a $10 rescheduling fee. Children ages 5–17 also complete the "What About Me" program (Rule 11.03).

Required forms (all cases)

Petition for Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 17) — Joint petition; both spouses sign.
Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) — Full settlement on property, debt, and spousal support. Both spouses sign in front of a notary or two witnesses.
Financial Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each spouse files their own.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order ending the marriage; incorporates the Separation Agreement.

Additional forms with minor children

Custody Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3 — UCCJEA) — Required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Use if both parents will share legal custody. Must be notarized.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — sole custody — Outlines parenting time when one parent is residential parent and legal custodian.
Ohio Child Support Worksheet — Run on the Ohio Child Support Calculator and print.
Fulton County Local Child Support Worksheet — Local version used in addition to the Ohio Child Support Calculator output.
Fulton Parenting Schedule (A, A-1, B, or C) — Attach one of Fulton's local schedules as the parenting-time baseline if you don't have a fully custom plan.

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

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.

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