Licking County Divorce Attorneys

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 17, 2026

Licking County, Ohio · Newark

Divorce in Licking County is filed in the Domestic Relations Court at 75 E. Main Street, Newark. A divorce is the contested or one-sided way to end a marriage; when both spouses fully agree on every term, a dissolution is usually faster and cheaper. The court decides custody, parenting time, child and spousal support, and the division of property and debt, and every parent with minor children must complete the "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" seminar before the final hearing.

Hire Gavvl for your Licking County divorce case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Licking County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

How do I file for divorce in Licking County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Divorce (with or without children) and the supporting financial affidavits in the Licking County Domestic Relations Court, 75 E. Main Street, Newark. At least one spouse must have lived in Ohio for 6 months and in Licking County long enough for venue (generally 90 days). The divorce filing fee is a flat $400 (a counterclaim is $250). If you have minor children, add the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, a Health Insurance Affidavit, and a Child Support Computation Worksheet, and complete the "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" seminar before the final hearing. Confirm the current deposit with the Domestic Relations Court at (740) 670-5400.

Hire Gavvl Law for your Licking County divorce

Licking County charges a flat $400 to open a divorce at the Domestic Relations Court on East Main Street in Newark — no separate with-children rate — and every parent of minor children must finish the "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" seminar before the final hearing. Gavvl Law prepares the complaint and financial affidavits, files through eFileOH where the court allows it, and represents you through mediation, pretrial, and trial, on a flat fee when the case is simple and full representation when it isn't.

Venue and residency checked before you spend $400. Licking requires six months in Ohio plus county venue (generally 90 days) before you file. We confirm both up front — and whether a $250 counterclaim is the smarter posture if your spouse filed first — so your deposit buys a case that sticks, not a dismissal.
The Woodlands seminar certificate, never the bottleneck. The court will not hold your final hearing until both parents' "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" certificates from The Woodlands are on file. We get you registered when the case opens and track your spouse's compliance, so the seminar never becomes the reason your decree waits.
Rule 19.0 parenting time as the starting framework. Newark's court applies its Rule 19.0 parenting-time schedule as the default. We draft your proposed schedule from Rule 19.0 — arguing deviations where your work schedule or the children's needs justify them — instead of handing the court a plan it will rewrite.

Licking refers contested parenting issues to mediation and moves cases through pretrials before trial — and interim needs are handled by a Motion for Temporary Orders or the county's own Ex Parte Motion Form in a true emergency. We know which filing fits which situation at 75 E. Main Street, so you have enforceable orders while the case is pending, not just a court date.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the correct complaint packet for your situation; you appear at any hearings yourself.

Complaint for Divorce: $1,250
With temporary orders: $1,750
With minor children: $1,750
With children + temporary orders: $2,000

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your divorce case or see payment plans & financing.

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: Licking County Domestic Relations Court

75 East Main Street, Newark, OH 43055
Phone: (740) 670-5400
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–Noon and 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Website: Court website
e-Filing: Online e-filing portal

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Licking County Probate & Juvenile Court
1 North Park Place, Newark, OH 43055
Phone: (740) 670-5624
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the court to confirm current hours)

Divorce is the right path if…

You or your spouse have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and meet Licking County venue (generally 90 days).
You and your spouse do NOT agree on every term (otherwise a dissolution is usually the better path).
You need the court to divide property and debt and set support and — if you have children — custody and parenting time.
You can complete the "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" seminar before the final hearing if you have minor children.

Filing Fees

Divorce: flat $400 (no separate "with children" rate) · Counterclaim: $250 · Post-decree motion/reopen: $200 · QDRO: $50. Parenting seminar cost is set by The Woodlands. A fee waiver (Poverty Affidavit / Affidavit of Indigency) is available if you can't afford the deposit. Confirm current amounts with the Licking County Domestic Relations Court at (740) 670-5400 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Divorce with minor children — $400 flat divorce deposit (no separate "with children" rate); counterclaim $250 — confirm with the Clerk

Filed in the Licking County Domestic Relations Court. Custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside the divorce. Both parents must complete the parenting seminar before the final hearing.

Complaint for Divorce With Children (Ohio SC Form 7) — The divorce Complaint used when you and your spouse have minor children together. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child-support allegations.
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.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
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.

Divorce without minor children — $400 flat divorce deposit; counterclaim $250 — confirm with the Clerk

Filed in the Licking County Domestic Relations Court. The court divides marital property and debt and addresses spousal support; no parenting forms or seminar are required.

Complaint for Divorce Without Children (Ohio SC Form 6) — Opens your divorce case and tells the court what you're asking for. Use when you and your spouse have no minor children together.
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.

How to File Divorce in Licking County

Confirm residency and venue. At least one spouse must have lived in Ohio for 6 months and in Licking County long enough to satisfy venue (generally 90 days) before filing.
Assemble your forms packet. Without children: the Complaint for Divorce plus the income/expense and property affidavits. With children: add the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, a Health Insurance Affidavit, and an Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet.
File with the Clerk and pay the deposit. File at the Domestic Relations Court, 75 E. Main Street, Newark, and pay the $400 deposit (or file a Poverty Affidavit). Attorneys and self-represented filers may use eFileOH; CPO petitions and foreign-decree registrations cannot be e-filed.
Serve your spouse and request temporary orders if needed. Arrange service on your spouse. If you need temporary custody, parenting time, or support while the case is pending, file a Motion for Temporary Orders (or the county Ex Parte Motion Form in a genuine emergency).
Complete the parenting seminar (if you have children). Both parents complete the "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" seminar by The Woodlands and file the certificate before the final hearing.
Attend pretrial, mediation, and the final hearing. Contested parenting issues may be referred to mediation. The court holds pretrial(s) and then a final hearing or trial, and signs the Decree of Divorce.

Licking County Practice Notes

"Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" seminar is mandatory. Everyone with minor children who files for divorce or dissolution in Licking County must complete the "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" Seminar by The Woodlands (about 90 minutes online or a 2-hour in-person class). Register at www.thewoodland.org or (740) 349-7066, and file the certificate of completion before the final hearing. Both parents are typically required to attend.
Rule 19.0 standard parenting time. When parents don't agree on a schedule, the Domestic Relations Court applies its Rule 19.0 standard parenting-time order (the May 1, 2009 version is the most recent reviewed in full): alternate weekends Friday 6:00 p.m. to Monday 9:00 a.m., a Wednesday 6:00 p.m. to Thursday 9:00 a.m. midweek, a holiday rotation, and one of four summer options. The version that governs a family is the one in effect when their order was entered.
Court mediation through Christopher R. Meyer. The Domestic Relations Court offers mediation for divorce and post-divorce parenting disputes. Contact Mediation Coordinator Christopher R. Meyer at (740) 670-5409 for an assessment; suitable parties are referred to a court-approved mediator. Any mediated agreement is not binding until approved by the parties' attorneys (if any) and the judge or magistrate. A domestic-violence victim may decline mediation and may bring a support person.
e-Filing via eFileOH (with exceptions). The Clerk of Common Pleas uses eFileOH (Tyler Technologies) for the General and Domestic Relations Divisions. Documents are PDF, one per filing code, 35 MB max, signed /s/Name. Some filings cannot be e-filed — including protection-order (CPO) petitions, registration of foreign judgments/decrees, garnishments, depositions, and transcripts — and fax filings are not accepted. Ask the separate Probate & Juvenile Court ((740) 670-5624) about its own e-filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Licking County?: For divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment, at least one spouse must have been a resident of Ohio for 6 months and a resident of Licking County long enough to satisfy venue (generally 90 days) before filing. For never-married parents filing 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.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Licking County?: The divorce filing fee is a flat $400 — there is no separate "with children" rate. A counterclaim is $250. If you can't afford the deposit, you can file a Poverty Affidavit / Affidavit of Indigency. E-filed submissions carry a non-refundable convenience fee. Confirm the current deposit with the Domestic Relations Court at (740) 670-5400 before filing.
Is a parenting class required in Licking County?: Yes. Everyone with minor children who files for divorce or dissolution in Licking County must complete the "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" Seminar by The Woodlands — about 90 minutes online or a 2-hour in-person class. Register at www.thewoodland.org or (740) 349-7066. File the certificate of completion before the final hearing; both parents are typically required to attend.
Can I get temporary orders during my Licking County case?: Yes. In a pending Domestic Relations case you can ask for temporary custody, parenting time, support, or exclusive use of the home — usually with the complaint — and the assigned magistrate decides them. For a genuine emergency, the county Ex Parte Motion Form asks for relief without first hearing the other side, after which the court sets a prompt follow-up hearing.
Can I file electronically in Licking County?: Yes, for the General and Domestic Relations Divisions — the Clerk of Common Pleas uses eFileOH (Tyler Technologies): https://efileoh.tylertech.cloud/OfsEfsp/ui/landing. Attorneys are encouraged to register; it's optional for self-represented filers. Documents are PDF, one per filing code, 35 MB max, signed /s/Name. Some filings cannot be e-filed — including protection-order (CPO) petitions, registration of foreign judgments/decrees, garnishments, depositions, and transcripts — and fax filings are not accepted. Ask the separate Probate & Juvenile Court ((740) 670-5624) about its own e-filing.
Does Licking County offer mediation?: Yes. The Domestic Relations Court has a Mediation Coordinator, Christopher R. Meyer, (740) 670-5409. A court mediator does an assessment, then usually refers parties to a court-approved mediator. Any agreement is not binding until approved by the parties' attorneys (if any) and the judge or magistrate. Mediation can be used even before a case is filed, and a domestic-violence victim may decline mediation or bring a support person.

Free Local Resources in Licking County

Licking County Domestic Relations Court. 75 East Main Street, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 670-5400, fax (740) 670-5419. Provides current filing deposits, the Domestic Relations forms, rules & guides page (https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/domestic/forms_rules.htm), and CPO packets. The civil docket is maintained by the Clerk of Common Pleas, Olivia C. Parkinson.
Licking County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 65 East Main Street, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 670-5998 or 1-800-513-1128 (https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/csea/). Opens IV-D cases, sets and collects support by wage withholding, and enforces orders. CSEA enforces the court's order; it does not represent either parent.
Parenting seminar — "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" (The Woodlands). Required for everyone with minor children who files for divorce or dissolution. About 90 minutes online or a 2-hour in-person class. Register at www.thewoodland.org or (740) 349-7066 (online tech support ext. 241).
Licking County Domestic Relations Mediation. Mediation Coordinator Christopher R. Meyer, (740) 670-5409 (https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/domestic/mediation.htm). Offers assessment and referral to a court-approved mediator for divorce and post-divorce parenting disputes. A domestic-violence victim may decline mediation or bring a support person.
The Center for New Beginnings (domestic-violence help). Helps victims obtain a protection order and offers free confidential housing and services: (740) 345-4498 or (740) 349-8719, toll-free 1-800-686-2760.
Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (SEOLS) — Newark. 15 West Locust Ave., Suite A, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 345-0850 or 1-888-831-9412. Free civil legal help for those who qualify.

Related to your divorce case

Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable dissolution.
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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on divorce 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.
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.

Continue your Licking County research

Ohio Divorce guide — Statewide overview of divorce in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
Licking County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Licking County guide.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder 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.
Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce in Ohio — What each path means for your timeline and total cost.

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