Henry County Family Law Guide

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026

Gavvl Law helps Henry County, Ohio families with divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and more. Find the right Henry County court, filing fees, and parenting resources below, or book a $25 first consultation to talk through your options with a local-focused attorney.

How we can help in Henry County

Ending a Marriage

  • Divorce

    Domestic Relations Court $325 divorce deposit (no children) / $400 + $30 per child age 5–17 (with children)

    Best for: You and your spouse don't agree on everything (custody, parenting time, property, debt, or support).

    View guide
  • Dissolution

    Domestic Relations Court $325 dissolution deposit (no children) / $400 + $30 per child age 5–17 (with children)

    Best for: You and your spouse agree on everything — property, debt, support, and parenting.

    View guide
  • Legal Separation

    Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: You want to divide property and set support or parenting terms but stay married.

    View guide
  • Annulment

    Domestic Relations Court An annulment is filed as a Domestic Relations case (the divorce-style deposit applies: $325 without children / $400 + $30 per child age 5–17)

    Best for: You believe your marriage was void or voidable under R.C. 3105.31.

    View guide

Parents & Children

  • Custody

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court never-married custody: $200 juvenile deposit

    Best for: You need a first custody and parenting-time order, or to change one.

    View guide
  • Child Support

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court never-married support via the Juvenile Division ($200 deposit) or the CSEA · post-judgment support motion with children $280

    Best for: You need a first child-support order, or a change to an existing one.

    View guide
  • Paternity

    Juvenile Court Juvenile parentage deposit $200 (privately filed)

    Best for: The parents were not married when the child was born.

    View guide
  • Shared Parenting

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Shared parenting is decided inside a divorce/dissolution (Domestic Relations deposit) or a Juvenile parentage/custody case ($200 deposit)

    Best for: Both parents want to be named residential parent and legal custodian.

    View guide
  • Non-Parent Custody

    Juvenile Court Privately filed juvenile custody deposit $200

    Best for: You are a grandparent, relative, or other adult raising a child who is not yours.

    View guide

Changing or Enforcing Orders

  • Modifications

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Post-judgment motion with children $280 · consent-entry motion $50

    Best for: Circumstances have changed since your last custody, parenting-time, or support order.

    View guide
  • Contempt

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court A post-judgment motion with children carries a $280 deposit; a motion with a consent judgment entry is $50 · a juvenile motion to re-open is $150

    Best for: The other party is violating a current Henry County court order.

    View guide

Emergency & Safety

  • Emergency Orders

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: You have a pending divorce, legal separation, or annulment and need orders now.

    View guide
  • Protection Orders

    Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: Someone has threatened, harmed, stalked, or harassed you or your children.

    View guide

The Henry County family-law guide

Verified June 21, 2026

Download our free Henry County family-law guide (PDF) — a plain-language walkthrough of which court hears each matter, the current filing fees, the required parenting class, and e-filing — checked against the county's own court rules and fee schedules.

Download the Henry County family-law guide (PDF)

Talk to a Henry County family-law attorney

Sources we checked

  • Henry County Family Court — Forms & Local Rules (henrycountyfamilycourt.com)
  • Henry County Clerk of Courts — Filing Fees & Payment
  • Henry County Probate Division — Adoption, Name Change & Marriage
  • Ohio Supreme Court — Standard Domestic Relations forms

What we confirmed for 2026

  • Domestic Relations filing deposits: $325 for a divorce, legal separation, or annulment without children, and $400 plus $30 per child age 5–17 when there are children.
  • Never-married parents file in the Juvenile Division of the same Family Court, where the parentage/allocation/parenting-time deposit is $200 (a GAL deposit of $1,000 applies when one is appointed).
  • There is no e-filing — pleadings are filed in person or by mail; court costs can be paid online at payments.lexisnexis.com or by phone at (888) 562-9935.
  • The mandatory parenting class is "Assisting Our Kids" (A-OK), due within 75 days (online option at assistingourkids.com for hardship), plus "What About Me" for children age 5–17 (the $30-per-child add-on).
  • One combined Family Court (Judge Melissa Peper Firestone; Magistrate Steve Callejas) hears both Domestic Relations (3rd floor) and Juvenile (4th floor) cases.

Henry County family-law courts

Domestic Relations Court

Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and spousal support for married spouses

Henry County Family Court (Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division)
660 N. Perry St., Suite 401, Napoleon, OH 43545
Napoleon, OH 43545
Phone: (419) 599-5951
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk)

Visit the Domestic Relations Court website

Juvenile Court

Custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity for unmarried parents

Henry County Family Court (Juvenile Division)
660 N. Perry St., Suite 401, Napoleon, OH 43545
Napoleon, OH 43545
Phone: (419) 599-5951
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk)

Visit the Juvenile Court website

Court divisions, filing fees, and local requirements can change. Confirm the correct court, current fees, and required forms with the Henry County Clerk of Courts before you file.

Why Henry County is different

One Family Court, two floors

Henry County runs a single combined Family Court at 660 N. Perry St., Suite 401, Napoleon ((419) 599-5951). Judge Melissa Peper Firestone and Magistrate Steve Callejas hear Domestic Relations cases on the 3rd floor and Juvenile cases on the 4th floor — divorce, dissolution, custody, parenting time, support, paternity, and non-parent custody all run through the same court. (Henry County Family Court)

No e-filing in Henry County

There is no general e-filing portal here — every pleading must be filed in person or by mail with the Clerk of Courts (660 N. Perry St., Suite 302; (419) 592-5886). You can still pay court costs online at payments.lexisnexis.com or by phone at (888) 562-9935. (Henry County Clerk of Courts)

Two parenting classes — for you and your kids

Parents in a case with minor children must complete "Assisting Our Kids" (A-OK) within 75 days, and children age 5–17 attend "What About Me" (a $30-per-child add-on paid from the deposit). A hardship online version of A-OK is offered at assistingourkids.com, with a $10 reschedule fee. (Henry County Family Court — parenting education)

Free local resources in Henry County

  • Henry County Clerk of Courts (record custodian) — 660 N. Perry St., Suite 302, Napoleon, OH 43545; (419) 592-5886. The Clerk is the record custodian for Family Court filings, posts the filing-fee schedule, and confirms current deposits and copy counts. There is no general e-filing portal — file in person or by mail. Court costs can be paid online at https://payments.lexisnexis.com/oh/co/henry/familycourt or by phone at (888) 562-9935.
  • Henry County Family Court (Domestic Relations & Juvenile Divisions) — 660 N. Perry St., Suite 401, Napoleon, OH 43545; (419) 599-5951 (https://henrycountyfamilycourt.com/). One combined Family Court — Judge Melissa Peper Firestone and Magistrate Steve Callejas hear both Domestic Relations (3rd floor) and Juvenile (4th floor) cases, including divorce, dissolution, custody, parenting time, support, paternity, and non-parent custody.
  • Henry County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) — 104 E. Washington St., Hahn Center Suite 202, Napoleon, OH 43545; (419) 592-4633 (toll-free 888-844-9783). The county IV-D agency establishes, calculates, collects, and enforces child support. Open a IV-D case to set up automatic wage withholding and enforcement.
  • Henry County Family, Adult & Children's Services (FACS) — (419) 592-4210. 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).
  • Henry County Probate Division (adoption, name change, marriage) — 660 N. Perry St., 2nd Floor (Suite 203), Napoleon, OH 43545; (419) 592-7771 (https://www.henrycountyohio.gov/261/Probate-Division). Judge Amy C. Rosebrook's separate Probate Division handles stepparent and kinship adoptions, name changes, and marriage licenses — not divorce or custody.

Frequently asked questions

Does Gavvl Law serve Henry County, Ohio?

Yes. Gavvl Law represents families across all 88 Ohio counties, including Henry County and Napoleon. We handle divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and other family law matters for Henry County residents.

Which Henry County court handles my family law case?

Henry County uses different courts for different family matters. Married spouses file for divorce, dissolution, or legal separation at Henry County Family Court (Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division). Unmarried parents handle custody, parenting time, and child support at Henry County Family Court (Juvenile Division). Filing in the wrong court can delay your case, so confirm where your matter belongs with the Henry County Clerk of Courts before you start.

How much does it cost to file a family law case in Henry County?

Court filing fees in Henry County are deposits that vary by case type. These deposits can change and do not include attorney fees. Confirm the current schedule with the Henry County Clerk of Courts, and ask Gavvl Law about flat fees and payment plans for representation.

Do I have to take a parenting class in Henry County?

Most Ohio courts require divorcing or separating parents to complete a short parenting or co-parenting class before a judge will finalize the case. Confirm Henry County's current requirement and approved providers with the Clerk of Courts.

Can I file Henry County family law forms online?

It depends on the court. Some Ohio courts accept e-filing while others require paper filing in person or by mail. Check the Henry County Clerk of Courts website for the current options before you prepare your documents.

How long does a divorce or dissolution take in Henry County?

It depends on the path. An Ohio dissolution — used when both spouses agree on every issue — is generally finalized within about 30 to 90 days of filing, because the law sets the final hearing in that window. A contested divorce takes longer, often several months to more than a year, depending on the issues and the court's schedule. Henry County's docket affects timing, so ask about current wait times at your consultation.

What family law services does Gavvl Law offer in Henry County?

Gavvl Law offers divorce, dissolution, legal separation, custody, shared parenting, child support, paternity, post-decree modifications, and more for Henry County families. Choose a service below to see the local process and forms.

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