Dissolution of Marriage in Lawrence County

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

Lawrence County, Ohio · Ironton

A dissolution is the agreed, no-fault way to end a marriage. Both spouses are co-petitioners — not Plaintiff and Defendant — and agree on everything (property, debt, support, and all parenting issues) before filing, putting it in a written Separation Agreement. It runs through the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas in Ironton.

How does a dissolution work in Lawrence County, Ohio?

Both spouses first agree on every term — property, debt, spousal support, and (with children) custody, parenting time, and child support — and put it in a signed, notarized Separation Agreement (Form 19). You then jointly file a Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) and a proposed Decree of Dissolution (Form 18) with the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts, along with the Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Affidavit 1) and Affidavit of Property (Affidavit 2); with children, add the UCCJEA Affidavit (Affidavit 3), a parenting plan, and a child-support worksheet. The deposit is set on the Clerk's cost schedule (Local Rule 4) — confirm the current amount. The hearing is held 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64), and both spouses must appear and confirm the agreement on the record before the court signs the decree. Confirm details with the Clerk at (740) 533-4329.

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: Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas (General Division)

3rd Floor Annex Building, 111 South 4th Street, Ironton, OH 45638
Phone: (740) 533-4329
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: www.lawcocp.us

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Lawrence County Probate & Juvenile Court
111 South 4th Street, Ironton, OH 45638
Phone: (740) 533-4372
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Dissolution is the right path if…

You and your spouse agree on all the terms, including property, debt, support, and any parenting issues.
Both of you will sign a notarized Separation Agreement and appear at the dissolution hearing.
Neither of you needs the court to decide a contested issue — you only need the court to approve your agreement.
You can pay the deposit on the Clerk's cost schedule, or file a poverty affidavit to substitute for it.

Filing Fees

The dissolution deposit is set on the Clerk's cost schedule (Local Rule 4) — confirm the current amount with the Clerk. The hearing is held 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64), and both spouses must appear. Lawrence County does not fix family-law filing fees in its local rules — the deposit is set on the Clerk's cost schedule (Local Rule 4), so confirm the current amount with the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts before filing (case search / e-services at https://eservices.lawrencecountyclerk.com; domestic-relations office (740) 533-4329). A poverty (indigency) affidavit can substitute for the deposit, but costs must be paid in full before a final decree is accepted, and a publication deposit is required in all cases (even with an indigency affidavit) when service is by publication. For never-married-parent and juvenile cases, confirm the current deposit with the Probate & Juvenile Court at (740) 533-4372.

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution with no minor children — Deposit set on the Clerk's cost schedule (Loc. R. 4) — confirm with the Clerk

File the joint Petition for Dissolution (Form 17), the notarized Separation Agreement (Form 19), the proposed Decree (Form 18), and the income and property affidavits with the Clerk of Courts. Both spouses appear at the hearing 30–90 days later and confirm the agreement.

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.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.

Dissolution with minor children — Deposit set on the Clerk's cost schedule (Loc. R. 4) — confirm with the Clerk

Add the UCCJEA Affidavit, a Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) or Parenting Plan (Form 21), and an Ohio child-support worksheet so the Separation Agreement resolves custody, parenting time, and support. The county's Standard Visitation Guidelines (Local Rule 53) are the common reference for parenting time.

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 SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
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.

How to File Dissolution in Lawrence County

Reach full agreement. Agree on property, debt, spousal support, and — with children — custody, parenting time, and child support.
Prepare the joint paperwork. Sign a notarized Separation Agreement (Form 19) and prepare the Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) and proposed Decree (Form 18), with the income and property affidavits.
File jointly and pay. File together with the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts and pay the deposit set on the Clerk's cost schedule.
Attend the hearing. Both spouses appear 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64) and confirm the agreement; the court signs the Decree of Dissolution.

Lawrence County Practice Notes

Both spouses must appear and confirm the agreement. At the hearing — held 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64) — both spouses appear and confirm under oath that they entered the Separation Agreement voluntarily and still want the dissolution. The court then signs the Decree of Dissolution, incorporating the agreement.
A dissolution is not an uncontested divorce. A dissolution is jointly filed and fully agreed. An 'uncontested' divorce is still a divorce (Plaintiff v. Defendant) where the spouse was served but does not contest. If the agreement breaks down, a dissolution can be converted to a divorce under R.C. 3105.65(C).

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between divorce and dissolution in Lawrence County?: A dissolution is a jointly filed, fully agreed end to a marriage — both spouses sign a Separation Agreement and both appear at a hearing held 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64). A divorce is a lawsuit (Plaintiff v. Defendant) used when the spouses don't fully agree or one won't participate. An 'uncontested' divorce is still a divorce where the spouse was served but does not contest — it is not the same as a dissolution. Both are filed in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas.
How long does a dissolution take in Lawrence County?: Under R.C. 3105.64, the dissolution hearing is set 30–90 days after the joint petition is filed. Both spouses must appear at the hearing and confirm under oath that they entered the Separation Agreement voluntarily and still want the dissolution before the court signs the Decree of Dissolution. Everything must be agreed in a signed, notarized Separation Agreement before filing.
How much does it cost to file a family law case in Lawrence County?: Lawrence County does not fix family-law filing fees in its local rules. Common Pleas deposits for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, or post-decree motion are set on the Clerk's cost schedule (Local Rule 4), so confirm the current amount with the Clerk of Courts before filing (case search / e-services at https://eservices.lawrencecountyclerk.com; domestic-relations office (740) 533-4329). A poverty (indigency) affidavit can substitute for the deposit, but costs must be paid in full before a final decree is accepted, and a publication deposit is required in all cases (even with an indigency affidavit) when service is by publication. Juvenile deposits are confirmed with the Probate & Juvenile Court at (740) 533-4372, and a DVCPO petition has no filing fee for the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31).
Which court handles family law in Lawrence County?: Lawrence County (seat: Ironton) has no separate Domestic Relations division. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, spousal support, property division, married-parent custody, domestic-relations post-decree matters, and domestic violence civil protection orders are heard in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas before Hon. Andrew Ballard or Hon. Christen Finley (Magistrate D.L. McWhorter) on its Domestic Track, (740) 533-4329. Cases for unmarried parents (custody, parentage, companionship, support), non-parent custody, and abuse/neglect/dependency are heard in the Probate & Juvenile Court (Juvenile Division) before Hon. Patricia Sanders, (740) 533-4372. Adoptions, name changes, and marriage licenses are Probate matters (also Judge Sanders), (740) 533-4343. File with the Clerk of Courts at 111 South 4th Street, Ironton, OH 45638.
What is the standard parenting-time schedule in Lawrence County?: Under the county's Standard Visitation Guidelines (Local Rule 53), the non-residential parent has alternating weekends from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 8:00 p.m. Sunday — but ending 6:00 p.m. Sunday if the following Monday is a school or pre-school day — plus one weekday evening 4:00–8:00 p.m. (Wednesday if the parties can't agree). Holidays alternate by even/odd year, the non-residential parent has Christmas from 4:00 p.m. December 25 to 6:00 p.m. December 28, and there are Mother's Day, Father's Day, and birthday provisions. The schedule can be changed on motion if it is in the children's best interest; liberal arrangements beyond the minimum are encouraged.

Free Local Resources in Lawrence County

Lawrence County Clerk of Courts. The Clerk handles filing, fees, and the docket for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, DVCPOs, and domestic-relations post-decree matters in the General Division. File at 111 South 4th Street, Ironton; case search and e-services at https://eservices.lawrencecountyclerk.com. Confirm the current deposit on the Clerk's cost schedule and packet requirements before filing (domestic-relations office (740) 533-4329).
Lawrence County Probate & Juvenile Court. The Probate & Juvenile Court (Hon. Patricia Sanders) handles never-married parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support, plus non-parent custody and adoption. Confirm juvenile filing deposits and procedures at (740) 533-4372 or https://lawrenceohiopjc.org/juvenile.php.
Lawrence County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). The CSEA, part of the Department of Job & Family Services at 1100 South 7th Street, Ironton ((740) 533-4338), establishes paternity, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, and can review existing orders. Support payments run through the Ohio Child Support Payment Central. More at https://www.lawrencecountydjfs.com/child-support.htm.
Common Pleas Rules of Practice (Local Rules). The Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas Rules of Practice set the cost schedule (Rule 4), Domestic Track (Rule 21), magistrate/objection rules (Rules 35, 40), mediation (Rule 37), custody investigations (Rule 52), and the Standard Visitation Guidelines (Rule 53). Read them through the Law Library at https://lawrencelawlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Rules-of-Practice-Common-Pleas-2013-to-Print-web.pdf.
Lawrence County Law Library. The Law Library offers online resources and the local rules for self-represented parties and attorneys at https://lawrencelawlibrary.org.
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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