Filing a Dissolution in Hardin County

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

Hardin County, Ohio · Kenton

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 Hardin County Domestic Relations Division through the Clerk in Kenton. The cost deposit is $350 (GD Rule 3), the law requires the final hearing between 30 and 90 days after filing, and if you have minor children GD Rule 16 also requires 90 days of Hardin County residency.

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

Both spouses sign a complete Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) resolving property, debt, support, and — with children — a parenting plan and support worksheet, plus the county Affidavit of Income & Expenses and Affidavit of Property. Then jointly file a Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) with a Case Designation Sheet at the Hardin County Clerk of Courts, One Courthouse Square, Suite 310, Kenton, and pay the $350 deposit (GD Rule 3). With children, add the Parenting Proceeding and Health Insurance affidavits, the IV-D Application, and complete the 'Successful Co-Parenting' class before the hearing — and note GD Rule 16 requires 90 days of Hardin County residency for a dissolution with children. Under R.C. 3105.64 the court holds the final hearing 30–90 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: Hardin County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

One Courthouse Square, Suite 210, Kenton, OH 43326
Phone: (419) 674-2233
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk)
Website: hardincountyjuvenilecourt.com/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Hardin County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division (juvenile, parentage & never-married matters)
One Courthouse Square, Suite 210, Kenton, OH 43326
Phone: (419) 674-2233
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk)

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.
If you have children, a party has lived in Hardin County for at least 90 days (GD Rule 16).

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 (GD Rule 3) · final hearing 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64) · 90-day Hardin County residency required for a dissolution with children (GD Rule 16) · Affidavit of Indigency waiver available · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (419) 674-2278

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution packet (no minor children) — $350 deposit (GD Rule 3)

File the joint Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) with a signed Separation Agreement (Form 19), a Case Designation Sheet, and the county Affidavit of Income & Expenses and Affidavit of Property. The proposed Decree of Dissolution 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 (Hardin County) — Each party's sworn income, expenses, and basic financial information. Required at filing in a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment, and before any temporary-orders hearing. Must be notarized.
Affidavit of Property (Hardin County) — Lists every asset and debt so the court can divide marital property. Required at filing and must be notarized.
Case Designation Sheet (Hardin County Clerk of Courts) — The cover sheet the Clerk uses to open and classify your case. File it with your complaint or petition at the Clerk of Courts, Suite 310.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.

Dissolution packet (with minor children) — $350 deposit (GD Rule 3)

Add a parenting plan, the Parenting Proceeding (UCCJEA) and Health Insurance affidavits, the IV-D Application, and the Ohio child-support worksheet. Both spouses must agree to every parenting and support term, complete the 'Successful Co-Parenting' class, and a party must have 90 days of Hardin County residency (GD Rule 16).

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 (Hardin County) — Each party's sworn income, expenses, and basic financial information. Required at filing in a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment, and before any temporary-orders hearing. Must be notarized.
Affidavit of Property (Hardin County) — Lists every asset and debt so the court can divide marital property. Required at filing and must be notarized.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Hardin County) — Required in any case involving minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction over custody (R.C. 3127.23).
Health Insurance Affidavit (Hardin County) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support. Required in cases with children.
IV-D Child Support Application (Hardin County) — Opens a child-support case with the Hardin County CSEA so support is collected by automatic wage withholding and enforced. Required whenever a child-support order is set in a case with children.
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.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.

How to File Dissolution in Hardin 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).
Confirm residency (with children). For a dissolution with minor children, GD Rule 16 requires that a party has lived in Hardin County for at least 90 days before filing.
Prepare the joint petition. Both spouses sign the Petition for Dissolution (Form 17), the Separation Agreement, and the county Affidavit of Income & Expenses and Affidavit of Property before a notary; add a parenting plan, IV-D Application, and the parenting and health-insurance affidavits if you have children.
File with the deposit. File jointly through the Clerk of Courts, One Courthouse Square, Suite 310, Kenton, 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, confirm they still agree, and the court signs the Decree of Dissolution.

Hardin County Practice Notes

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. With minor children, GD Rule 16 also requires 90 days of Hardin County residency before filing.
One Domestic Relations Division hears it all. Hardin County has a single Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division (Judge Maria Santo; division created 1/1/2023 under R.C. 2301.03(FF)(1)) at One Courthouse Square, Suite 210, Kenton, (419) 674-2233. The same division hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment AND parentage, never-married custody, and civil protection orders — there is no separate juvenile court. Only adoptions and guardianships go to the separate Probate Court (Judge Steve Christopher).
Mandatory parenting education (Successful Co-Parenting). In cases involving the allocation of parental rights, both parents must complete OSU Extension's court-approved 'Successful Co-Parenting' class — $30 per participant — before the final hearing (GD Rule 21 / Juv Rule 37). Register through OSU Extension at (419) 674-2297 and file the certificate of completion. Confirm the current cost and schedule with the provider.
File through the Clerk of Courts (Suite 310). Petitions and motions are filed through the Hardin County Clerk of Courts, One Courthouse Square, Suite 310, Kenton, (419) 674-2278, https://www.hardincourts.com/CLSite/ (local forms under /CLSite/pdf/). Hardin accepts e-filing through the Henschen portal (efile.henschen.com) and fax filing at (419) 674-2273 for documents of 10 pages or fewer.
Fee waiver if you can't afford the deposit. File an Affidavit of Indigency (poverty affidavit) under Ohio Civil Rule 3(E) asking the court to waive prepayment of the cost deposit. Legal Aid of Western Ohio, (888) 534-1432, can help income-eligible filers. Confirm the current indigency form with the Clerk of Courts at (419) 674-2278.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a dissolution in Hardin County?: The Domestic Relations deposit for a dissolution is $350 (GD Rule 3) — lower than the $500 divorce deposit. It is an advance cost deposit, and an Affidavit of Indigency can waive prepayment. Confirm the current amount with the Clerk of Courts at (419) 674-2278.
How long does a dissolution take in Hardin 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 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. If you have minor children, GD Rule 16 also requires that a party has lived in Hardin County for at least 90 days before filing the dissolution.
What is the difference between an uncontested divorce and a dissolution in Hardin 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' — with a hearing 30–90 days later that both attend. An uncontested divorce is still a divorce one spouse files; it becomes uncontested when the other spouse won't respond or can't be found. If you and your spouse already agree on everything in writing, a dissolution is usually faster, lower-conflict, and carries the lower $350 deposit.
Which court handles divorce, custody, and support in Hardin County?: One court hears all of it: the Court of Common Pleas, Hardin County, Domestic Relations Division, One Courthouse Square, Suite 210, Kenton, (419) 674-2233 (Judge Maria Santo). The same Domestic Relations Division hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment for married spouses AND parentage, never-married custody, and civil protection orders — there is no separate juvenile court in Hardin County. Only adoptions and guardianships go to the separate Probate Court (Judge Steve Christopher). Petitions are filed through the Clerk of Courts, Suite 310, (419) 674-2278.

Free Local Resources in Hardin County

Hardin County Clerk of Courts (record custodian). One Courthouse Square, Suite 310 (3rd floor), Kenton, OH 43326; (419) 674-2278 (fax (419) 674-2273). The Clerk is the record custodian for Common Pleas filings, posts local forms at https://www.hardincourts.com/CLSite/forms.php, and confirms current deposits and copy counts. E-filing is available through https://efile.henschen.com/; fax filings to (419) 674-2273 must be 10 pages or fewer with a compliant cover page. Court costs can be paid online at https://www.hardincourts.com/CLSite/payment.php.
Hardin County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division. One Courthouse Square, Suite 210 (2nd floor), Kenton, OH 43326; (419) 674-2233 (https://hardincountyjuvenilecourt.com/). Created January 1, 2023 (R.C. 2301.03(FF)(1)) and led by Judge Maria Santo, this single Domestic Relations Division hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment AND juvenile, parentage, never-married custody, and civil protection-order cases — there is no separate Juvenile Court in Hardin County.
Hardin County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 175 W. Franklin St., Suite 200, Kenton, OH 43326; (419) 674-2269. The county IV-D agency establishes, modifies, collects, and enforces child support. Open a IV-D case to set up automatic wage withholding and enforcement.
Hardin County Job & Family Services — Children Services Agency. (419) 675-1130 (after hours (419) 673-1268; or (800) 442-7346). The county children-services agency investigates child abuse, neglect, and dependency. For an emergency call 911; the statewide child-abuse hotline is 855-642-4453 (855-OH-CHILD).
Successful Co-Parenting (parenting-education class). Hardin County's required parenting/co-parenting education is provided through OSU Extension's "Successful Co-Parenting" program — $30 per participant, offered in person and/or online. Registration is required; call (419) 674-2297 for current Hardin County dates before relying on it for a specific case.
Hardin County Probate Court (adoption & guardianship). One Courthouse Square, Suite 200, Kenton, OH 43326; (419) 674-2230. The separate Probate Court — not the Domestic Relations Division — handles stepparent and kinship adoptions ($200, plus $100 for publication if required) and guardianships; the Probate Court requires that you have an attorney for an adoption. It does not handle divorce or custody.
Legal Aid of Western Ohio. (888) 534-1432. Free civil legal help for income-eligible Hardin County residents, including some family-law matters. The Ohio Supreme Court also posts statewide self-help forms for self-represented litigants.

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.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus 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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