Filing for Dissolution in Guernsey County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green, Esq. · Managing Partner, Gavvl Law · Last updated June 9, 2026

Guernsey County, Ohio · Cambridge

Dissolution is Ohio's cooperative, no-fault way to end a marriage. You and your spouse agree on every term first — property, debt, support, and any parenting — then jointly file the petition with the Guernsey County Clerk of Courts at 801 East Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge. The filing fee is a flat $250, and the final hearing is set 30 to 90 days after filing.

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

Both spouses jointly file a Petition for Dissolution (Ohio Supreme Court Form 17) together with a signed Separation Agreement (Form 19), Local Form M-2 (Personal Identifiers), Local Form D-1 (Financial Affidavit), and — if you have minor children — Local Form D-3 (Parenting Proceeding Affidavit), Local Form D-5 (Title IV-D Application), a Shared Parenting Plan or Parenting Plan (Form 20 or 21), and Local Form D-20 (Child Support and Medical Support Order). File at the Guernsey County Clerk of Courts with the $250 fee (or Form D-18 for a waiver). If children are involved, both parents must complete the Rule 19.07 seminar. A final hearing is scheduled 30 to 90 days after filing, and both spouses must attend.

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: Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

801 East Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge, OH 43725, Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 432-9230
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the Clerk of Courts to confirm current hours)
Website: guernseycounty.gov/clerk-of-courts/
e-Filing: https://clerkofcourts.guernseycounty.org/eservices/efile.page.15

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Guernsey County Juvenile Court
801 East Wheeling Avenue, Suite 101-D (Second Floor), Cambridge, OH 43725, Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 432-9266
Hours: Monday–Friday (call (740) 432-9266 to confirm current hours)

Dissolution is the right path if…

You and your spouse agree on every term: property, debts, support, and (if applicable) custody and parenting time.
Both of you are willing to sign every document in front of a notary.
Both of you are willing to appear at one short final hearing 30–90 days after filing.
You or your spouse have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months.

If your spouse won't agree on everything, or you need temporary orders now, you need a divorce instead. See the divorce guide.

Filing Fees

$250 filing fee (with or without children) · fee waiver available (Local Form D-18) · 30–90 days to final hearing

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution packet (no minor children) — $250 filing fee

Dissolution without Children Packet (Guernsey County Clerk of Courts) — The Clerk's pre-assembled bundle for a dissolution with no minor children.
Petition for Dissolution and Waiver of Service (Ohio Supreme Court Form 17) — The joint petition both spouses file together to start a dissolution.
Separation Agreement (Ohio Supreme Court Form 19) — The complete written agreement on property, debt, support, and parenting that a dissolution depends on.
Personal Identifiers Form (Local Form M-2) — Keeps Social Security and account numbers out of the public file (Sup. R. 45). Required with every new case.
Financial Affidavit & Health Insurance (Local Form D-1) — Each party's sworn statement of income, expenses, assets, debts, and health-insurance coverage.
Household Goods and Furnishings (Local Form D-8) — A fill-in inventory used to divide personal property in a divorce or dissolution.
Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (Ohio Supreme Court Form 18) — The proposed final order ending the marriage by dissolution.

Dissolution packet (with minor children) — $250 filing fee (same as without children)

Adds the parenting, support, and seminar forms required when minor children are involved.

Dissolution with Children Packet (Guernsey County Clerk of Courts) — The Clerk's pre-assembled bundle for a dissolution involving minor children.
Petition for Dissolution and Waiver of Service (Ohio Supreme Court Form 17) — The joint petition both spouses file together to start a dissolution.
Separation Agreement (Ohio Supreme Court Form 19) — The complete written agreement on property, debt, support, and parenting that a dissolution depends on.
Personal Identifiers Form (Local Form M-2) — Keeps Social Security and account numbers out of the public file (Sup. R. 45). Required with every new case.
Financial Affidavit & Health Insurance (Local Form D-1) — Each party's sworn statement of income, expenses, assets, debts, and health-insurance coverage.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Local Form D-3, R.C. 3127.23) — The UCCJEA affidavit disclosing where the children have lived for the past five years. Required in any case involving minor children.
Application & Release for Title IV-D Services (Local Form D-5 / JFS 07076) — Enrolls the case with Guernsey County CSEA for income withholding and payment processing.
Ohio Child Support Guideline Worksheet — The statewide income-shares worksheet that calculates the guideline support amount.
Child Support and Medical Support Order (Local Form D-20) — The local order setting the child-support and medical-support terms.
Parenting Plan (Ohio Supreme Court Form 21) — Sets the parenting-time schedule and decision-making when one parent is the residential parent.
Notice of Education Seminar Requirement (Local Form D-6, Rule 19.07) — The mandatory parenting-seminar notice served on both parents in any case involving minor children.
Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (Ohio Supreme Court Form 18) — The proposed final order ending the marriage by dissolution.

Shared parenting add-on

Required when both spouses are choosing shared parenting under R.C. 3109.04(G).

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio Supreme Court Form 20) — Required when both parents will share parental rights as residential parents and legal custodians.

How to File Dissolution in Guernsey County

Confirm Ohio residency. You or your spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months before filing.
Negotiate a complete Separation Agreement. Cover property, debt, spousal support, and (if children) the parenting plan and child support. Both spouses sign Form 19 in front of a notary.
Download the Clerk's dissolution packet. Choose Dissolution with Children or Dissolution without Children from the Guernsey County Clerk of Courts website and complete the Petition (Form 17) and proposed Decree (Form 18).
File and pay the $250 fee. File jointly at the Clerk of Courts, 801 East Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge, with the $250 fee — or file Form D-18 for a waiver.
Complete the parenting seminar (if children). Both parents complete the Rule 19.07 seminar (Form D-6) and file proof before the final hearing.
Attend the final hearing. Scheduled 30–90 days after filing. Both spouses must appear and confirm the agreement under oath before the Decree of Dissolution (Form 18) is issued.

Guernsey County Practice Notes

Both spouses must appear at the final hearing. The court schedules the dissolution final hearing 30 to 90 days after filing, and both spouses must attend and confirm under oath that the Separation Agreement is fair and voluntary.
The Separation Agreement must be complete. Form 19 must fully resolve property, debt, support, and (if children) parenting time and decision-making. If anything is left open, the court will continue the hearing until it's fixed.
The parenting seminar applies to dissolutions with children. Local Rule 19.07 requires both parents to complete the parenting-education seminar (Form D-6) in any dissolution involving minor children before the court will finalize.
Use the Clerk's dissolution packet. The Dissolution with Children and Dissolution without Children packets bundle the right Ohio Supreme Court and local forms, reducing the risk of missing a required document.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Guernsey County?: To file for divorce in Ohio, you or your spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months before filing, and venue is proper in the county where you have lived. Dissolution has the same 6-month Ohio-residency requirement. For never-married custody, Ohio must be the children's "home state" under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127) — generally, the children have lived in Ohio for the last 6 consecutive months. Guernsey County cases are filed at the Common Pleas Courthouse, 801 East Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge.
How much does it cost to file for divorce or dissolution in Guernsey County?: The Guernsey County Clerk of Courts charges a flat $250.00 filing fee for ALL divorce and dissolution complaints — there is no difference between cases with children and cases without. The fee is due at the time of filing. Protection orders (DV CPO and civil stalking/SOOPO) have no filing fee by Ohio statute. Some other fees (legal separation, parentage, post-decree motions, and the separate Juvenile Court fee schedule) are not published online — call the Clerk before filing. If you can't afford the $250, file Form D-18 (Application for Waiver of Filing Fee).
How long does a divorce or dissolution take in Guernsey County?: A dissolution final hearing is scheduled 30 to 90 days after the joint petition is filed, and both spouses must attend. An uncontested divorce typically reaches hearing in about 42–90 days; a contested divorce takes longer because of discovery, pretrial conferences, and possibly trial. In any case involving minor children, the court will not finalize until both parents complete the Rule 19.07 parenting seminar.
Is a parenting class required in Guernsey County?: Yes. Under Guernsey County Local Court Rule 19.07, both parents must complete a mandatory parenting-education seminar in every divorce, dissolution, and custody case involving minor children. Local Form D-6 (Notice of Education Seminar Requirement) is served on both parties. The court will not issue a final decree or judgment entry until both parents complete the seminar and file proof of completion — skipping it can stall your case. Confirm the approved provider, cost, and format on Form D-6 or with the Clerk.
What if I can't afford the filing fee in Guernsey County?: File Local Form D-18 (Application for Waiver of Filing Fee & Financial Disclosure) along with your case. It requires a financial disclosure that the court reviews. If granted, the court defers the cost — note that a deferral is not always a permanent waiver; the court may order payment from a property settlement or at the end of the case.
Can I e-file in Guernsey County?: The Guernsey County Clerk of Courts provides an e-filing portal at clerkofcourts.guernseycounty.org. Whether e-filing is mandatory for attorneys or optional for self-represented filers is set by the local rules — confirm with the Clerk, and ask whether paper filing is still accepted at the counter. You can also pay court costs online through the Clerk's payment page.
What is the Personal Identifiers Form (M-2) and do I need it?: Yes — Local Form M-2 (Personal Identifiers Form) must be filed with every new Guernsey County case. Under Superintendence Rule 45 you must not put full Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, or employer identification numbers in documents filed with the court (only the last four digits of an SSN are allowed). Form M-2 lets you place that confidential information in a separate, non-public filing.

Free Local Resources in Guernsey County

Guernsey County Clerk of Courts. Provides the pre-assembled divorce, dissolution, and parentage packets, the local D-series forms, the e-filing portal, and online cost payment. The Clerk cannot give legal advice but can hand you forms and accept filings. Confirm the $250 fee and copy requirements before filing.
Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS). The free legal-aid provider for the Guernsey County area (nearest office in New Philadelphia). Call (330) 339-3998 or 1-800-686-3670 for help with divorce, custody, protection orders, and child support if you qualify.
Guernsey County CSEA (through County Job & Family Services). Opens IV-D child-support cases, runs income withholding, distributes payments, and handles administrative reviews of existing orders (JFS 01849). File Local Forms D-4 and D-5 when establishing or modifying support.
Ohio Legal Help. Statewide self-help portal at ohiolegalhelp.org with free guided interviews that complete the Ohio Supreme Court family-law forms used in Guernsey County.

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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Dissolution guide — Statewide overview of dissolution in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron 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.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.