Filing a Dissolution in Geauga County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Geauga County, Ohio · Chardon

A dissolution is Ohio's agreed, no-fault path to ending a marriage. Both spouses sign a complete Separation Agreement first, then jointly file with the General Division of the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas. The filing deposit is $350, and the law requires the final hearing between 30 and 90 days after filing.

How do I file for dissolution in Geauga County, Ohio?

Both spouses sign a complete Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) resolving property, debt, support, and — if you have children — a parenting plan and support worksheet, then jointly file a Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) with the Geauga County Clerk of Courts, 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, and the $350 deposit. Add the Domestic Case Designation Sheet. Under R.C. 3105.64 the court holds the final hearing no sooner than 30 days and no later than 90 days after filing; both spouses attend and confirm the agreement.

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)

Where to File: Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Domestic Relations)

100 Short Court Street, Chardon, OH 44024
Phone: (440) 279-1960
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
Website: courts.geauga.oh.gov/general-division/domestic-relations/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, Probate & Juvenile Divisions
Courthouse Annex, 231 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Chardon, OH 44024
Phone: (440) 226-4446
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed legal holidays)

Dissolution is the right path if…

You and your spouse agree on everything — property, debt, support, and parenting.
Both of you are willing to sign a written Separation Agreement and attend the final hearing.
You want a lower-conflict, typically faster path than a contested divorce.
Neither spouse needs the court to force temporary orders during the case.

If you can't reach full agreement or your spouse won't participate, a divorce is the right path. Compare divorce.

Filing Fees

$350 dissolution deposit (effective 11/01/2025) · advance cost deposit · final hearing 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64) · Affidavit of Indigency available · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (440) 279-1960

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution packet (no minor children) — $350 deposit

File the joint Petition for Dissolution with a signed Separation Agreement, the financial affidavits, and the Domestic Case Designation Sheet. The proposed Judgment Entry of Dissolution without Children is prepared for the hearing.

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Ohio SC Form 17) — Both spouses file jointly, telling the court they have a complete agreement and want the marriage dissolved.
Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) — The contract that settles property, debt, support, and parenting. Both spouses must sign in front of a notary.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Domestic Case Designation Sheet (Geauga County) — Filed with every new Domestic Relations case to identify the case type and parties. Required intake document under General Division Local Rule 11.
Judgment Entry of Dissolution without Children (Geauga County) — The proposed final dissolution decree with no minor children that incorporates the parties' Separation Agreement.

Dissolution packet (with minor children) — $350 deposit

Add a parenting plan, the parenting and health-insurance affidavits, and the Ohio child-support worksheet to the dissolution packet. Both spouses must agree to every parenting and support term.

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Ohio SC Form 17) — Both spouses file jointly, telling the court they have a complete agreement and want the marriage dissolved.
Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) — The contract that settles property, debt, support, and parenting. Both spouses must sign in front of a notary.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time the court sets or changes support.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
Judgment Entry of Dissolution with Children (Geauga County) — The proposed final dissolution decree with minor children that incorporates the parties' Separation Agreement and parenting plan.

How to File Dissolution in Geauga County

Reach full agreement. You and your spouse must agree on all property, debt, support, and parenting issues and put them in a Separation Agreement (Form 19).
Prepare the joint petition. Both spouses sign the Petition for Dissolution (Form 17), the Separation Agreement, and financial affidavits before a notary; add a parenting plan and support worksheet if you have children.
File with the $350 deposit. File jointly with the Clerk of Courts, 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, (440) 279-1960, and pay the $350 deposit, or file an Affidavit of Indigency.
Attend the final hearing. The court sets the hearing 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64); both spouses attend and confirm they still agree, and the court signs the Judgment Entry of Dissolution.

Geauga County Practice Notes

No separate Domestic Relations court. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the General Division of the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas — there is no separate Domestic Relations division. Judges Carolyn J. Paschke and Matthew Rambo preside, with Magistrates Lee, Powell, and Starrett hearing many domestic matters. File through the Clerk of Courts, Sheila M. Bevington, 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, (440) 279-1960.
Dissolution hearing 30–90 days after filing. After both spouses sign the Separation Agreement and file the joint Petition for Dissolution, R.C. 3105.64 requires the final hearing no sooner than 30 days and no later than 90 days after filing. Both spouses must attend and confirm they still agree to every term.
Fee waiver if you can't afford the deposit. File an Affidavit of Indigency (GC JF 14.0) with the Ohio Poverty Affidavit (ODP-206R) asking the court to waive the deposit. If the court later denies the waiver, you are responsible for the costs. Ask the Clerk at (440) 279-1960 for the current indigency packet.
Pleadings e-filed and served by the Clerk. Domestic Relations pleadings are generally e-filed in the General Division and served by the Clerk. Because e-filing portals and login requirements change, confirm the current e-filing process and any account registration with the Clerk of Courts at (440) 279-1960 before filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to file a dissolution in Geauga County?: The General Division dissolution deposit is $350 (effective November 1, 2025) per the Clerk's schedule. It is an advance cost deposit. A fee waiver is available by Affidavit of Indigency. Confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (440) 279-1960.
How long does a dissolution take in Geauga County?: Once both spouses sign the Separation Agreement and file the joint Petition for Dissolution, Ohio law (R.C. 3105.64) requires the final hearing to be held no sooner than 30 days and no later than 90 days after filing. Both spouses must attend the hearing and confirm they still agree to every term.
What is the difference between an uncontested divorce and a dissolution in Geauga County?: A dissolution is the agreed path: both spouses sign a complete Separation Agreement first, then jointly ask the court to end the marriage — no one is 'sued.' An uncontested divorce is still a divorce that one spouse files; it becomes uncontested when the other spouse does not respond, cannot be found, or does not dispute the terms. If you and your spouse already agree on everything in writing, a dissolution is usually faster and lower-conflict.
Which court handles family-law cases in Geauga County?: The General Division of the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas (100 Short Court Street, Chardon) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The combined Probate & Juvenile Court (Courthouse Annex, 231 Main Street, 2nd Floor) handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, under R.C. 2151.23) and non-parent custody. Domestic Relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts, Sheila M. Bevington, at (440) 279-1960.

Free Local Resources in Geauga County

Geauga County Clerk of Courts (files Common Pleas / Domestic Relations cases). 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, OH 44024; (440) 279-1960. Clerk Sheila M. Bevington files all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases, posts the filing-fee schedule, and confirms current deposits. Geauga uses mandatory e-filing for Common Pleas cases, with payment by PayPal checkout (guest checkout available). Forms: https://courts.geauga.oh.gov/forms/.
Geauga County Probate & Juvenile Court. Courthouse Annex, 231 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Chardon, OH 44024; (440) 226-4446 (https://geaugapjcourt.org/). The combined Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Timothy J. Grendell) hears unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting-time cases. Self-represented filers can use the Juvenile Help Center: https://geaugapjcourt.org/help-center/.
Geauga County Child Support Enforcement (GCCSED). Housed at Geauga County Job & Family Services, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, OH 44024; (440) 285-9141 (https://www.geaugajfs.org/). The county IV-D agency establishes, calculates, collects, and enforces child support. Support payments are processed through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (CSPC), not the local court (Local Rule 8(C)).
Geauga County CASA / Court Appointed Special Advocates. https://www.geaugacountycasa.org/. Trained volunteer advocates appointed in abuse, neglect, and dependency cases to represent the child's best interest. The Probate & Juvenile Court may also appoint a Guardian ad Litem in contested custody matters.
General Division Mediation Program. Mediation Coordinator (440) 279-1996. The General Division offers mediation to help divorcing and post-decree parents resolve parenting and property disputes without a contested hearing. Ask the Court or your attorney whether your case qualifies.

Related to your dissolution case

Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.
Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on dissolution 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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Dissolution guide — Statewide overview of dissolution in Ohio.
Cleveland family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cleveland metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.

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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