Filing for Divorce with Children in Henry County

Henry County Family Court

File in Suite 401 on the 4th Floor; pay your DR court costs on the 3rd Floor. Phone: (419) 599-5951 • Fax: (419) 599-0179 • Email: family.court@henrycountyohio.com

Henry County Procedure Quirks

• Unusual fee structure base plus a per-child cost for ages 5–17 — most counties don't add per-child fees.
• Two-floor process: Family Court is in Suite 401 on the 4th Floor, but DR court costs must be paid on the 3rd Floor of the Courthouse.
• Other fees: certification each, fax filing +, photocopies 25¢/page (first 25), then 10¢ (next 75), then 6¢ thereafter.
• Henry combines DR and Juvenile divisions — the same court handles any related custody or support matters going forward.
• Henry County is in the 3rd District Court of Appeals (Lima).

Parenting Class

Co-Parenting in Today's World — Henry County Family Court
Mandatory for divorcing couples and never-married parents with minor children. Both parents must complete it before the final hearing. Contact the Court for registration: (419) 599-5951 • family.court@henrycountyohio.com.

Henry County Family Court — Juvenile Division (combined with Domestic Relations)

Henry combines its Domestic Relations and Juvenile divisions into one Family Court — the same judge and the same office handle divorce, dissolution, never-married-parent custody/support, and juvenile matters.

Domestic Relations vs. Juvenile

Henry County uses a single Family Court for everything — there is no separate Juvenile Court to find. Divorce, dissolution, never-married-parent custody/support, juvenile delinquency, and abuse/neglect/dependency are all filed at 660 N. Perry Street, Suite 401, with court costs paid on the 3rd Floor.

Free Local Resources in Henry County

• Free Pro-Se Clinic (Legal Aid-qualified filers). If you qualify for Legal Aid assistance, Henry County Family Court runs a Pro-Se Clinic to help you complete forms for divorce, custody, or parenting time at no charge. Sign up: (419) 599-5951.
• Resources for Families. henrycountyfamilycourt.com/resources-for-families — community resource guides and FAQs on divorce, custody, and legal matters.

What it costs — two ways to hire us

Limited scope, flat fee — Flat fees from $1,440

You hire us for a defined piece of the work — drafting and filing your divorce with children paperwork, a single hearing, a specific motion — at a fixed, published price. The court's filing fee is paid to the Clerk of Courts separately. The number you see is the number you pay at checkout. What each flat fee covers.

Full representation — $3,500 retainer to start

An attorney manages the whole case — strategy, filings, hearings, negotiation. The retainer is known before you sign and is a deposit against work, not the total cost; the total depends on how contested your case becomes. You watch every dollar of it in real time. How full representation is billed.

Is there financing? Yes.

On limited-scope services of $2,000 or more, Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan with no interest and no credit check — takes 60% down to start, then the balance in three monthly payments, the first due 28 days after your initial payment. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay. See every financing option.

Real people — with direct lines

• Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
• Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
• Niva Elgin — Director of Attorney Relations · Licensed New Mexico Attorney

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — or Niva Elgin, our Director of Attorney Relations and a licensed New Mexico attorney. They've heard hundreds of situations like yours and will tell you plainly what you need, and what you don't. Meet the firm.

Your attorney

One of our Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorneys is your attorney for the case — from the first strategy call to the final order in Henry County. You have their name and a direct line the day your file opens. Our attorneys.

Your case team

Niva Elgin keeps your case moving as Director of Attorney Relations. Madeline Wampler, Certified Paralegal, handles documents and scheduling. Erin Schultz, Finance Manager, handles billing and payment plans. Real people who answer when you call.

• 95+ five-star Google reviews
• 60+ years of combined Ohio family-law experience
• Super Lawyers Rising Stars honorees on the team: Elizabeth Warren (2021–2023) and Samantha Berkhofer (2019–2021)
• Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained — and every step after

1. Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, or Niva Elgin about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
2. Choose — Pick the level of help. Pay, or set up financing. Limited-scope flat fee or full representation — you choose, with real numbers in front of you. Pay online, or secure a Gavvl Direct payment plan or third-party financing in a few minutes. Nothing is billed until you decide.
3. Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
4. Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

• Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
• Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
• Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
• Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
• Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
• 24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Can I do this without an attorney?

sometimes, yes. Ohio lets you represent yourself, and for a genuinely agreed dissolution or a simple motion, some people do. Every Ohio county's forms and local rules are linked from our county pages, and our free tools will draft a parenting plan or estimate child support before you spend anything.

Here's what the online-divorce platforms leave out: most Ohio counties require their own forms and language on top of the statewide ones, and a rejected filing is the most common reason people call us after trying it alone. A $25, 30-minute call tells you whether you can do this yourself — and if you can, we'll say so.

• Free parenting plan builder
• Free child support estimate
• Attorney-written guides

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

Required divorce-with-children packet (8 forms)

• Complaint for Divorce with Children — The main document that starts your case. Ohio Supreme Court Uniform Form.
• Affidavit of Income & Expenses — Your income and monthly bills.
• Affidavit of Property & Debt — Lists what you own and owe — house, vehicles, accounts, retirement, debts.
• Parenting Proceeding Affidavit — The children's 5-year address history.
• Health Insurance Affidavit — Confirms who provides insurance for the family and the carries a deposit.
• Motion & Affidavit for Temporary Orders — Requests temporary parenting, support, and other orders while the case is pending.
• Request for Service — Tells the court how to deliver papers to your spouse (mail, sheriff, etc.).
• Judgment Entry — Decree of Divorce With Children — The court's final order — submitted at the final hearing.

Temporary orders while your case is pending

Affidavit 5 requests parenting time, support, and other rules while the case is pending. The spouse has 14 days to file a counter-affidavit; decisions are typically made on affidavits alone unless an oral hearing is requested.

• Motion & Affidavit for Temporary Orders — Requests temporary parenting, support, and other orders while the case is pending.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on divorce, custody, and related Ohio family law topics.

• How to File for Divorce in Ohio: A Step-by-Step Guide — Filing for divorce in Ohio follows a defined path: confirm residency, choose your grounds, file the complaint, serve your spouse, and work toward temporary orders and a final decree. Here is how each step works.
• 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.
• What Happens If I Move Out Before the Divorce? (Ohio Myths vs. Reality) — Moving out of the marital home does not forfeit your share of the house, your retirement, or your right to parent your children. It can affect the date the court uses to divide property, and it can affect custody indirectly if you become less involved. This guide separates the myths from what Ohio law actually does, and explains why temporary orders solve most of it.
• 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.
• 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.
• Who Gets the House in an Ohio Divorce? — The marital home is often a couple's biggest asset and most emotional decision. Ohio divides its equity equitably — through a buyout, a sale, or a deferred sale. Here's how.

Related to your 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.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.