Filing for Dissolution in Fulton County, Ohio

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: $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 Fulton 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 Fulton 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.

• Free parenting plan builder
• Free child support estimate
• Attorney-written guides
• See the Fulton County forms & local rules

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

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

Important things to know about Fulton County

• No dedicated DR Court — the judge 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 rescheduling fee. Children ages 5–17 also complete the "What About Me" program (Rule 11.03).

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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.
• 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

• 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.