Filing for Dissolution in Knox County

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

Knox County, Ohio · Mount Vernon

A dissolution is a no-fault way to end a marriage when both spouses already agree on everything — property, debt, spousal support, and (with children) custody, parenting time, and support. The spouses file jointly as co-petitioners after signing a Separation Agreement. In Knox County it is heard in the Domestic Relations Division, with a hearing 30–90 days after filing.

How does a dissolution work in Knox County, Ohio?

Both spouses settle every issue and sign a Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19), then file a joint Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) with the Knox-hosted financial affidavits and, with children, a parenting plan and Child Support Worksheet, paying the $425 deposit. The Domestic Relations Division holds a hearing not less than 30 nor more than 90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64); both spouses must appear and confirm the agreement, and the court grants the Decree of Dissolution (Form 18). With children, complete the Parenting Wisely seminar within 45 days.

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: Knox County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

111 East High Street, 2nd Floor, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Phone: (740) 393-6777
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk of Courts at (740) 393-6788)
Website: co.knox.oh.us/common-pleas/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Knox County Probate & Juvenile Court
111 East High Street, 1st Floor, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Phone: (740) 393-6798
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the court at (740) 393-6798)

Dissolution is the right path if…

You and your spouse agree on everything — property, debt, support, and (if you have children) custody, parenting time, and support.
You've put the full agreement in writing in a Separation Agreement both of you will sign before a notary.
Both of you are willing to attend the final hearing together (both co-petitioners must appear).
One of you has been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months (R.C. 3105.03).

Don't agree on everything yet? You'll need a divorce instead. Compare divorce.

Filing Fees

$425 dissolution deposit + $6 and $20 computerization fees · Parenting Wisely $30 (with children) · fee waiver available · hearing 30–90 days after filing. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 393-6788.

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution without minor children — $425 deposit + $6 and $20 computerization fees (fee waiver available)

Both spouses file jointly after signing the Separation Agreement. There is no plaintiff suing a defendant.

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 Uniform Affidavit 1, Knox-hosted) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each spouse files their own, and it is reused for temporary orders. Must be notarized.
Affidavit of Property & Debt (Ohio Uniform Affidavit 2, Knox-hosted) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing in any divorce, dissolution, or legal separation.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.

Dissolution with minor children — $425 deposit + computerization fees · Parenting Wisely $30

Adds the parenting and health-insurance affidavits, a parenting plan, and a Child Support Worksheet. Complete Parenting Wisely within 45 days (Rule 12).

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 Uniform Affidavit 1, Knox-hosted) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each spouse files their own, and it is reused for temporary orders. Must be notarized.
Affidavit of Property & Debt (Ohio Uniform Affidavit 2, Knox-hosted) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing in any divorce, dissolution, or legal separation.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio Uniform Affidavit 3, Knox-hosted) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction over custody.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio Uniform Affidavit 4, Knox-hosted) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
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 Wisely — Knox County parenting-education information — Knox's court-ordered parenting seminar for any divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment with minor children. Roughly 2 hours; $30 cash or money order payable to the Knox County Treasurer. Tip: Complete it within 45 days of filing (DR Rule 12) and file the certificate before the final hearing.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.

How to File Dissolution in Knox County

Settle everything in writing. Agree on property, debt, support, and (with children) custody and parenting time, and sign the Separation Agreement (Form 19) before a notary.
File the joint petition. File the Petition for Dissolution (Form 17), the signed Separation Agreement, the Knox-hosted financial affidavits, and any parenting documents, and pay the $425 deposit (or file a fee-waiver affidavit).
Complete Parenting Wisely (with children). If you have minor children, both parents complete the Parenting Wisely seminar within 45 days of filing (DR Rule 12) and file the certificate.
Attend the 30–90 day hearing. Both spouses appear at the hearing held 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64), confirm the agreement, and the court grants the Decree of Dissolution (Form 18).

Knox County Practice Notes

Both spouses must appear at the 30–90 day hearing. The court holds the dissolution hearing not less than 30 nor more than 90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64). Both co-petitioners must appear and confirm under oath that they still agree to the Separation Agreement and want the dissolution. If either spouse no longer agrees, the matter proceeds as a divorce.
Settle first, then file. A dissolution only works when everything is already agreed and written into the Separation Agreement (and a parenting plan, with children). If you reach full agreement only after a divorce is already filed, the settlement is handled inside the divorce case — confirm the mechanics with the Magistrate.
Pro se filers file on paper. E-filing is discretionary for attorneys (with paper courtesy copies); self-represented filers file on paper with the Clerk of Courts at 117 East High Street, Suite 201, Mount Vernon. Civil Protection Order documents are paper-only for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a dissolution take in Knox County?: Once the Separation Agreement (and a parenting plan, if there are children) is signed and the joint Petition is filed, the court holds the hearing not less than 30 nor more than 90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64). Both spouses must appear at that hearing and confirm under oath that they still agree to the terms. A dissolution typically resolves within about one to three months.
How much does it cost to file a divorce or dissolution in Knox County?: The Clerk's deposit for a divorce, legal separation, dissolution, or counterclaim is $425.00 (Fee Schedule effective 9/26/2025), plus $6 and $20 computerization fees (DR Rule 27.4). A Complaint for Custody and/or Support where the parties are married is also $425. If you can't afford the deposit, a Financial Disclosure / Fee Waiver Affidavit (Rule 27.2; R.C. 2323.311) can substitute for it. Confirm the current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 393-6788 before filing.
What are the residency requirements to file in Knox County?: To file for divorce, dissolution, or legal separation, the plaintiff (or one spouse, for a dissolution) must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months before filing (R.C. 3105.03) and meet county venue under Civil Rule 3. The Knox County rules do not set a separate minimum county-residency period. For never-married custody in the Probate & Juvenile Court, 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.
Is a parenting class required in Knox County?: Yes. In any divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment involving minor children, both parents must complete the court's Parenting Wisely seminar within 45 days of filing (DR Rule 12) and file the certificate of completion before the final hearing. The seminar is about 2 hours and costs $30 (cash or money order payable to the Knox County Treasurer). Confirm the current schedule with the court before you register.
Which Knox County court hears my family-law case?: If you are (or were) married to the other parent, divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree matters, and civil protection orders are heard in the Domestic Relations Division of the Knox County Court of Common Pleas (Judge Richard D. Wetzel; Magistrate Natasha Plumly), and filed with the Clerk of Courts at 117 East High Street, Suite 201, Mount Vernon. If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support — and all non-parent custody requests — are heard in the Knox County Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Jay W. Nixon), 111 East High Street, 1st Floor, (740) 393-6798.

Free Local Resources in Knox County

Knox County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Where divorce, dissolution, legal-separation, and post-decree filings are made — 117 East High Street, Suite 201, Mount Vernon, (740) 393-6788. The Clerk confirms current deposits and packet requirements; the Fee Schedule (effective 9/26/2025) and DR Rules are posted at https://co.knox.oh.us/common-pleas/.
Knox County Probate & Juvenile Court. Hears never-married parentage, custody, support, and non-parent custody, plus adoption — 111 East High Street, 1st Floor, Mount Vernon, (740) 393-6798. New parentage/custody/support case $300; reopen $200. Local rules at https://knoxpjcourt.com/.
Knox County Child Support Services (CSEA). The IV-D agency that establishes, collects, and enforces child support by income withholding. Apply for services at https://co.knox.oh.us/jfs/child-support/ or call (740) 397-7177 ext. 3040 or (800) 298-2223.
Parenting Wisely seminar. The court-ordered parenting-education seminar for any divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment with minor children — about 2 hours, $30 cash or money order payable to the Knox County Treasurer, due within 45 days of filing (DR Rule 12).
Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.

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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