Filing for Legal Separation in Fulton County

Fulton County, Ohio · Wauseon

A Fulton County legal separation follows the same process as a divorce — one spouse files a Complaint, the other is served, and the court resolves property, debt, support, and (if applicable) parenting. The marriage stays legally intact at the end. Fulton does not publish a separate legal-separation Complaint form, so you use the Ohio SC divorce Complaint (Form 4 or 5) with the caption and prayer for relief changed to "Legal Separation." Same courthouse, same judge (Hon. Scott Haselman), same no-paper-forms rule.

How do I file for legal separation in Fulton County, Ohio?

File the Ohio SC Complaint (Form 4 without children, Form 5 with children) with the caption changed to "Legal Separation" and the prayer for relief asking for legal separation. Include Affidavit 1 and Affidavit 2. With children, add Affidavit 3 (UCCJEA), Affidavit 4 (Health Insurance), both child-support worksheets, a parenting plan, and a Fulton local Parenting Schedule baseline. File at the Fulton County Clerk of Courts, 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon. Same residency rules as divorce (6 months Ohio + 90 days Fulton). Filing fees in Appendix B of the Local Rules — call (419) 337-9260.

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

Legal Separation is the right path if…

Religious beliefs prevent divorce, but you need court-ordered support, parenting time, or property division.
One spouse needs to remain on the other's health insurance.
You want time apart with court orders in place before deciding whether to divorce.
There are tax or Social Security benefit reasons to keep the marriage legally intact.

If you want to end the marriage entirely, file a Divorce instead — same fee, same process. See Fulton County divorce.

Filing Fees

Filing fees in Appendix B of the Local Rules · Same mandatory initial pleadings as divorce · Relabel the Ohio SC Complaint · No paper forms at courthouse

Forms & Filing Packets

Core legal-separation packet (no minor children)

Complaint for Legal Separation (Ohio SC Form — relabel caption) — Fulton does not provide a separate legal-separation Complaint. Use Ohio SC Form 4 (no children) or Form 5 (with children) with the caption changed to "Legal Separation" and the prayer for relief asking for legal separation rather than divorce.
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.

Core legal-separation packet (with minor children)

Complaint for Legal Separation (Ohio SC Form — relabel caption) — Fulton does not provide a separate legal-separation Complaint. Use Ohio SC Form 4 (no children) or Form 5 (with children) with the caption changed to "Legal Separation" and the prayer for relief asking for legal separation rather than divorce.
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.

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

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 Legal Separation in Fulton County

Confirm Ohio + Fulton County residency. Same as divorce: 6 months Ohio + 90 days Fulton before filing.
Pick your grounds. Ohio uses the same statutory grounds for legal separation as for divorce (R.C. 3105.01). The difference is the outcome — the marriage stays legally intact.
Relabel the Ohio SC Complaint. Take Form 4 (no children) or Form 5 (with children), change the caption to "Complaint for Legal Separation," and ask for legal separation in the prayer for relief.
Add the standard affidavits. Affidavit 1, Affidavit 2 — and with children, Affidavit 3, Affidavit 4, both child-support worksheets, a parenting plan, and a Fulton Parenting Schedule baseline.
File at the Clerk of Courts in Wauseon. Pay the filing fee from Appendix B (call (419) 337-9260 first) or file an Affidavit of Indigency.
Keep the option to convert. If you later decide to end the marriage, file a motion to convert the case into a divorce instead of refiling.

Fulton County Practice Notes

Relabel the Ohio SC Complaint. Fulton does not publish a separate Complaint for Legal Separation. Use Ohio SC Form 4 (no children) or Form 5 (with children) and change the caption and prayer for relief to ask for legal separation rather than divorce.
Either party can convert to divorce. If one spouse later decides to end the marriage, that party can file a motion to convert the legal-separation case into a divorce. You do not have to start over.
Marriage stays legally intact. A legal separation does not end the marriage. Neither party can remarry, and joint legal status (insurance, tax filing, Social Security spouse benefits) generally continues — confirm with a tax or benefits professional for your situation.
Same no-paper-forms rule. Download everything from the Ohio Supreme Court website. Fulton does not stock paper forms at the courthouse, and court staff cannot help you select or fill them out.

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).
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.

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 legal separation case

Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after 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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Legal Separation guide — Statewide overview of legal separation in Ohio.
Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
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