Filing for Divorce in Fulton County

Fulton County, Ohio · Wauseon

Fulton County is a small rural county in northwest Ohio. There is NO separate Domestic Relations Court — your divorce is filed at the Court of Common Pleas (General Division) at 210 S. Fulton Street in Wauseon, in front of Hon. Scott Haselman, who handles civil and criminal cases in the same courtroom. Two practical realities shape every Fulton filing: (1) since July 1, 2013, the courthouse does NOT provide paper forms — you must download everything from the Ohio Supreme Court website; and (2) court staff cannot help you select or fill out the right forms. Fulton publishes four local Parenting Schedules (A, A-1, B, C) that the judge uses as a baseline, plus a local Child Support Worksheet used alongside the Ohio Child Support Calculator output.

How do I file for divorce in Fulton County, Ohio?

File the Complaint for Divorce (Ohio SC Form 4 without children or Form 5 with children) at the Fulton County Clerk of Courts, 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon. Include Affidavit 1 (Financial) and Affidavit 2 (Property). With children, add Affidavit 3 (UCCJEA/Parenting Proceeding), Affidavit 4 (Health Insurance), the Ohio Child Support Worksheet, Fulton's local Child Support Worksheet, a parenting plan, and one of Fulton's local Parenting Schedules (A, A-1, B, or C) as the baseline. Download every form from supremecourt.ohio.gov — Fulton does not stock paper forms at the courthouse. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Fulton County for at least 90 days. Ohio's mandatory 42-day waiting period after service applies before any final hearing; the defendant has 28 days to file an Answer. Filing fees are in Appendix B of the Local Rules — call the Clerk at (419) 337-9260 to confirm. Affidavit of Indigency available if you cannot afford the fee. Both parents with minor children must complete a court-approved parenting-education seminar before the final hearing.

Where to File: Fulton County Court of Common Pleas (General Division)

210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH 43567, Wauseon, OH 43567
Phone: (419) 337-9260
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Website: www.fultoncountyoh.com/231/Records-Search

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Fulton County Juvenile Division
210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH 43567, Wauseon, OH 43567
Phone: (419) 337-9260
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Divorce is the right path if…

You and your spouse don't agree on everything (custody, parenting time, money, property, debt, or support).
Your spouse won't sign paperwork or won't communicate.
You need temporary orders now — for support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home.
You or your spouse have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Fulton County for at least 90 days.

If you and your spouse already agree on everything in writing, a Dissolution is faster — same court, joint petition. See Fulton County dissolution.

Filing Fees

Filing fees in Appendix B of the Local Rules — call (419) 337-9260 · 42-day waiting period after service · 28 days to answer · No paper forms at courthouse · Court staff cannot help with forms · Approved parenting seminar required for children's cases

Forms & Filing Packets

Core divorce filing packet (no minor children) — Contact Clerk (Appendix B)

Download every form from the Ohio Supreme Court website — Fulton does not stock paper forms at the courthouse.

Complaint for Divorce Without Children (Ohio SC Form 4) — Opens your Fulton County divorce when there are no minor children.
Financial Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Decree of Divorce Without Children (Ohio SC Form 14) — Proposed final order ending the marriage.

Core divorce filing packet (with minor children) — Contact Clerk (Appendix B)

Adds the UCCJEA/parenting affidavits, both child-support worksheets, and a Fulton Parenting Schedule baseline.

Complaint for Divorce With Children (Ohio SC Form 7) — Opens your Fulton County divorce when minor children are involved. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child support.
Financial Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit / UCCJEA (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — 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.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Use alongside Fulton's local worksheet.
Fulton County Local Child Support Worksheet — Local version used in addition to the Ohio Child Support Calculator output.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian. Attach one of Fulton's local Parenting Schedules (A, A-1, B, or C) as the baseline.
Fulton Parenting Schedule A — One of Fulton's four local parenting-time templates. Attach the schedule you want incorporated into the order.
Decree of Divorce With Children (Ohio SC Form 15) — Proposed final order for a divorce with minor children.

Shared parenting add-on

Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents and legal custodians under R.C. 3109.04(G).

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.

Temporary orders add-on packet

File under Civ. R. 75(N) with a current Affidavit 1 and Affidavit 2 attached.

Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Asks the court for temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Tip: Attach a current Affidavit 1 (Financial) and Affidavit 2 (Property).
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Use alongside Fulton's local worksheet.

How to File Divorce in Fulton County

Confirm Ohio + Fulton County residency. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Fulton County for at least 90 days before filing.
Pick your grounds. Ohio recognizes no-fault grounds (living separate and apart for 1 year, or incompatibility unless denied) and fault grounds in R.C. 3105.01 (adultery, extreme cruelty, gross neglect, habitual drunkenness, fraudulent contract, imprisonment, or willful absence for 1 year).
Download everything from the Ohio SC site. Complaint (Form 4 or 5), Affidavit 1, Affidavit 2 — plus with children, Affidavit 3, Affidavit 4, child-support worksheets, and a parenting plan. Fulton does not stock paper forms.
Pick a Fulton Parenting Schedule (with children). Choose A, A-1, B, or C as your parenting-time baseline, or prepare a custom schedule. Attach it to your parenting plan.
File at the Clerk of Courts in Wauseon. 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH 43567. Pay the filing fee from Appendix B (call (419) 337-9260 first) or file an Affidavit of Indigency.
Serve your spouse and wait 42 days. Service can be by certified mail, Sheriff, or process server. The defendant has 28 days to file an Answer or Counterclaim. A final hearing cannot be held until at least 42 days after service is completed.
Complete the parenting seminar (if children). Confirm the current approved provider with the Court Administrator at (419) 337-9260 and file the certificate of completion with the Clerk before the final hearing.

Fulton County Practice Notes

No paper forms at the courthouse. Since July 1, 2013, the Fulton County Court of Common Pleas does NOT provide paper domestic-relations forms. You must download everything from the Ohio Supreme Court website at supremecourt.ohio.gov before walking in.
Court staff cannot help with forms. Fulton's court website states this prominently. If you need help selecting or completing the right forms, consult an attorney — clerks and other court personnel are prohibited from giving legal advice.
Pick a Fulton Parenting Schedule (or attach your own). Fulton publishes four local Parenting Schedules — A, A-1, B, and C — that the judge uses as a baseline. Review them all before deciding which best fits your situation, or attach a fully custom schedule to your parenting plan.
Use both child-support worksheets. Run the Ohio Child Support Calculator AND also fill out Fulton's local Child Support Worksheet at fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/250. The judge expects both in the file.
One judge for everything. Hon. Scott Haselman hears DR cases alongside civil and criminal matters. Scheduling can be tight — your hearing date depends on the full court calendar.
Parenting seminar before final hearing. Both parents in any case with minor children must complete a court-approved parenting-education seminar before the final hearing. Confirm the current approved provider with the Court Administrator at (419) 337-9260 before paying for a class.
Watch the local Court Orders. The judge frequently uses Fulton's numbered local Court Order templates (1-8) plus a Pretrial Order and Settlement Conference Notice to set schedules and procedural expectations. Read any order you receive carefully and calendar the deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Fulton County?: For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Fulton County for at least 90 days before filing. Dissolution only requires the 6-month Ohio residency.
How much does it cost to file in Fulton County?: Fulton publishes its full fee schedule in Appendix B of the Local Rules at fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13191. Call the Clerk of Courts at (419) 337-9260 to confirm the current fee for your specific case type before filing. An Affidavit of Indigency is available to waive fees for qualifying low-income filers.
Why doesn't the courthouse have paper forms?: Since July 1, 2013, the Fulton County Court of Common Pleas does not provide paper domestic-relations forms at the courthouse. All standardized forms are free on the Ohio Supreme Court website at supremecourt.ohio.gov. The court's staff also cannot help you choose or fill out the right forms — if you need help, consult an attorney.
Does Fulton County have a separate Domestic Relations Court?: No. Fulton County does not have a separate DR Court. All family-law cases — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree motions — are heard in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas by Hon. Scott Haselman, who also handles civil and criminal cases. Cases involving never-married parents go to the Juvenile Division (same judge).
What parenting-time schedule will the court use in my case?: Fulton publishes four local Parenting Schedules — A, A-1, B, and C — that the judge uses as a baseline. You can attach one of those to your parenting plan, or submit a fully custom schedule. Review all four templates on the Fulton local forms page before deciding which best fits your situation.
What are the Fulton County local Court Orders 1-8?: Fulton publishes eight numbered local Court Order templates plus a Pretrial Order and Settlement Conference Notice. The judge frequently uses these orders during the case to set schedules, discovery deadlines, and procedural expectations. You'll see them on the local forms page at fultoncountyoh.com/235/Forms.
Do I have to take a parenting class in Fulton County?: Yes — if you have minor children, both parents must complete an approved parenting-education seminar before the court will finalize a divorce or dissolution. Confirm the current approved provider with the Court Administrator at (419) 337-9260 before paying for a class. File the certificate of completion with the Clerk before the final hearing.
How long does a Fulton County divorce take?: Ohio's mandatory 42-day waiting period after service applies before any final hearing. The defendant has 28 days to file an Answer after service. Uncontested divorces typically run 4-6 months; contested cases routinely run 8-18 months depending on discovery and the court's calendar. Because one judge handles DR alongside civil and criminal dockets, scheduling can be tight.
Do I have to use Fulton's local Child Support Worksheet?: Use both. Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov, print and sign that output, and also use Fulton's local Child Support Worksheet at fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/250. The judge expects both to be in the file.

Free Local Resources in Fulton County

Fulton County Court of Common Pleas. 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH 43567. Phone (419) 337-9260 · Fax (419) 337-9293. Hon. Scott Haselman presides — handles DR, civil, and criminal cases.
Fulton County Local Rules (rev. 1/26/2024). fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13192 — includes Appendix B fee schedule.
Fulton County Court Fee Schedule (Appendix B). fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13191/appendix-b — confirm current amount with Clerk before filing.
Fulton County Local Forms Page. fultoncountyoh.com/235/Forms — Court Orders 1-8, Pretrial Order, Settlement Conference Notice, and Parenting Schedules A/A-1/B/C.
Local Child Support Worksheet. fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/250 — used alongside the Ohio Child Support Calculator output.
Fulton County Juvenile Division. Same courthouse, same judge. Forms at fultoncountyoh.com/650/Juvenile-Court-Forms. Birth certificate required at filing for Grandparent POA / Caretaker Affidavit and Application for Custodian filings.
Juvenile Local Rules (2021). fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13596 — covers juvenile filing requirements.
Online Dockets / Records Search. fultoncountyoh.com/231/Records-Search
The Center for Child & Family Advocacy (CPO help). (419) 335-4255 · theccfa.org — free Civil Protection Order assistance.
Legal Aid Hotline. (888) 534-1432 · legalaidline.lawolaw.org — free phone-based legal advice for income-qualified residents.
Ohio Supreme Court Standardized DR & Juvenile Forms. supremecourt.ohio.gov — Fulton does not provide paper forms; download everything here.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the worksheet and print it for filing.
Ohio Legal Help. ohiolegalhelp.org — plain-language guides and interactive court forms.

Related to your divorce case

Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable 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.

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Ohio Divorce guide — Statewide overview of divorce in Ohio.
Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
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