Filing for Divorce with Children in Fulton County

Fulton County Court of Common Pleas (General Division)

Fulton County Clerk of Courts, 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH 43567. Phone (419) 337-9260 · Fax (419) 337-9293.

Filing Fees

$325 without children / $400 with children — Appendix B cost deposit (the Clerk draws actual costs against it; confirm the current amount before filing)

Payment methods: Pay the Appendix B cost deposit ($325 without children, $400 with children) at filing; the Clerk bills or refunds the balance. Fulton does NOT add the four-county schedule's $30/child surcharge. Pay fees online at pa.fultoncountyoh.com or file an Affidavit of Indigency to waive or defer costs.

Fulton County Procedure Quirks

• No dedicated Domestic Relations Court — all family-law cases are heard in the General Division of Common Pleas by Hon. Scott Haselman alongside civil and criminal matters.
• Since July 1, 2013, the Fulton County Court of Common Pleas does NOT provide paper domestic-relations forms at the courthouse. All standardized forms must be downloaded from the Ohio Supreme Court website.
• Court staff cannot help you select or fill out forms — this is posted prominently on the court's website. If you need help, consult an attorney.
• Fulton County publishes four local Parenting Schedules (A, A-1, B, and C) that the court uses as a baseline. Review these even if you plan to submit a custom plan.
• Eight numbered local Court Order templates (1-8) plus a Pretrial Order and Settlement Conference Notice — the judge frequently uses these orders during the case.
• Appendix B cost deposits are $325 without children and $400 with children; post-judgment motions with children are $280. Fulton is the one county on the four-county schedule that does NOT add the $30/child surcharge. Call the Clerk at (419) 337-9260 to confirm the current amount before filing.
• Because one judge handles DR alongside civil and criminal dockets, scheduling can be tight — plan for hearings to be set based on the full court calendar.

Parenting Class

Mandatory parenting program (DR Local Rule 11.01) — Court-designated program under DR Local Rule 11. If completed in the county where the case is filed, the class cost is paid from the court-cost deposit; if you attend out of county or online, you pay the provider directly. The online option (assistingourkids.com) is allowed by request to the Assignment Commissioner for cause (language barrier, out-of-state party, disability, or financial hardship).
Under R.C. 3109.053 and DR Local Rule 11.01, any party in a case allocating parental rights for minor children must complete the program within 75 days of filing. A missed scheduled session incurs a $10 rescheduling fee. Cases with children ages 5 through 17 also complete the "What About Me" program (Rule 11.03). File the completion certificate with the Clerk before the final hearing; failing to finish on time can make a party ineligible to receive an allocation of parental rights.

Judges

• Hon. Scott Haselman (handles DR, civil, and criminal cases)

Fulton County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile/Probate Division

The combined Juvenile/Probate Court is a separate court with its own local rules (Juvenile Local Rules dated 2021), not part of the General Division. Like the DR side, no paper forms are provided — download from the Ohio Supreme Court site. A child's birth certificate must be filed with any Grandparent Power of Attorney / Caretaker Affidavit or Application for Custodian — this is a firm requirement, not optional. House Bill 130 POA/CAA and Application for Custodian forms are local; the Local Child Support Worksheet is also local. Fax (419) 337-9273.

Domestic Relations vs. Juvenile

Fulton County runs its family-law matters out of one courthouse at 210 S. Fulton Street in Wauseon, but in two separate courts. Married couples file divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment in the General Division (no separate DR Court), heard by Hon. Scott Haselman. Never-married parents file custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity in the combined Juvenile/Probate Court — a separate court with its own local rules. The Juvenile Division also requires a birth certificate at filing for Grandparent POA / Caretaker Affidavits and Applications for Custodian — that is a firm rule.

Free Local Resources in Fulton County

• Fulton County Court of Common Pleas. fultoncountyoh.com — Hon. Scott Haselman. Online dockets, local forms, and local rules.
• Fulton County Local Rules (rev. 1/26/2024). fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13192 — includes Appendix B fee schedule.
• 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.
• Fulton County Local Child Support Worksheet. fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/250 — local version used in addition to the Ohio Child Support Calculator output.
• The Center for Child & Family Advocacy (CPO help). (419) 335-4255 · theccfa.org — free Civil Protection Order advocacy.
• Legal Aid Hotline. (888) 534-1432 · legalaidline.lawolaw.org — free phone-based legal advice for income-qualified residents.
• Ohio Legal Help. ohiolegalhelp.org — plain-language guides and interactive court forms.

Required divorce-with-children packet (13 forms)

• Complaint for Divorce With Children — Opens your Fulton County divorce. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child support.
• Financial Affidavit — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own.
• Affidavit of Property — Lists every asset and debt.
• Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA) — Required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years.
• Health Insurance Affidavit — Discloses whether children's health insurance is available through either parent's employer.
• Child Support Worksheet — Run on the Ohio Child Support Calculator. Use alongside Fulton's local worksheet at fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/250.
• Fulton County Local Child Support Worksheet — Local version used in addition to the Ohio Child Support Calculator output.
• Parenting Plan (Form 20 or 21) — Form 20 for shared parenting (notarized); Form 21 for sole-residential. Use a Fulton parenting schedule (A, A-1, B, or C) as the baseline if you don't have a fully custom plan.
• Fulton Parenting Schedule A — One of Fulton's four local parenting-time templates. Attach the schedule you want incorporated into the order.
• Fulton Parenting Schedule A-1 — Alternative local parenting-time template.
• Fulton Parenting Schedule B — Alternative local parenting-time template.
• Fulton Parenting Schedule C — Alternative local parenting-time template.
• Decree of Divorce With Children — Proposed final order.

Temporary orders while your case is pending

Under Ohio Civil Rule 75(N), Fulton County may decide temporary-orders motions on the affidavits or set a hearing. File at the Clerk at 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). Remember that Fulton does not provide paper forms — print everything from the Ohio Supreme Court website before going in. The 42-day waiting period after service applies before any final divorce hearing. Both parents must complete the mandatory parenting program within 75 days of filing (DR Local Rule 11.01) before the final hearing; children ages 5–17 also complete the "What About Me" program (Rule 11.03).

• Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Requests temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending.
• Financial Affidavit (current) — Required attachment to any temporary-orders motion.
• Affidavit of Property (current) — Required attachment to any temporary-orders motion.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on divorce, custody, and related Ohio family law topics.

• How to File for Divorce in Ohio: A Step-by-Step Guide — Filing for divorce in Ohio follows a defined path: confirm residency, choose your grounds, file the complaint, serve your spouse, and work toward temporary orders and a final decree. Here is how each step works.
• 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.

Related to your divorce

• 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.