Legal Separation in Logan County

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

Logan County, Ohio · Bellefontaine

Legal separation (R.C. 3105.17) lets the court divide property and order support, custody, and parenting time without ending the marriage — useful for religious, insurance, or personal reasons. In Logan County it is filed in the Domestic Relations section of the Family Court.

How do I file for legal separation in Logan County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Legal Separation (R.C. 3105.17) in the Domestic Relations section using the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms and an Affidavit of Income & Expenses (DR Loc. R. 1.02). The original-complaint deposit is $400, and an Affidavit of Indigency can waive it. The spouses stay legally married, so a later divorce or dissolution is required to remarry. With minor children, add the parenting and child-support affidavits, the Application for Child Support Services, and both parents must complete the Common Ground Parenting Program (DR 1.06). Confirm the current deposit with the DR Department at (937) 292-4043.

Ohio Legal Separation by the Numbers

Stay married A legal separation decree does not end the marriage — neither spouse may remarry Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.17
No residency rule Unlike a divorce, a legal separation has no 6-month Ohio residency requirement before filing Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.03
Full orders The court can divide property and order spousal support, custody, and child support Source: Ohio Revised Code §§ 3105.171, 3105.18
Can convert A legal separation does not stop either spouse from later filing for divorce Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.17

Legal Separation vs. Divorce in Ohio

Question	Legal separation	Divorce
Are you still legally married?	Yes — you stay married	No — the marriage ends
Can you remarry afterward?	No	Yes
Divides marital property and debts?	Yes	Yes
Can it order support, custody, and parenting time?	Yes	Yes
Ohio residency required to file?	Not required	6 months in Ohio
Can it later become a divorce?	Yes — either spouse can still file	It already ends the marriage

Where to File: Logan County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division

101 S. Main Street, Bellefontaine, OH 43311
Phone: (937) 292-4043
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Website: www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court---family-court.html

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Logan County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division — Juvenile
101 S. Main Street, Bellefontaine, OH 43311
Phone: (937) 599-7245
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Legal Separation is the right path if…

You want court-ordered terms — property, support, parenting — but not to end the marriage.
You have a religious, insurance, or personal reason to remain legally married.
A spouse has been an Ohio resident for at least the last 6 months and Logan County is the right venue.
You can pay the $400 deposit (or file an Affidavit of Indigency to waive it).

Filing Fees

Legal separation original-complaint deposit $400 · an Affidavit of Indigency can waive the deposit (publication is still paid to the Daily Court Reporter). Court fees and deposits change — confirm the current amount with the Logan County Clerk of Courts before filing: Domestic Relations Department (937) 292-4043 or the Family Court main line (937) 599-7249 (Juvenile Department (937) 599-7245 for never-married-parent cases).

Forms & Filing Packets

Legal separation with no minor children — $400 deposit (Affidavit of Indigency can waive it)

File the Complaint for Legal Separation with your financial and property affidavits. The court can divide property and order support without ending the marriage.

Complaint for Legal Separation (R.C. 3105.17) — Opens a legal-separation case in the Family Court. Legal separation divides property, debt, support, and parenting without ending the marriage. Filed with the Ohio Supreme Court financial affidavits (and, with children, parenting affidavits).
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.
Affidavit of Indigency w/ Guidelines (Logan County, 3-23-21) — Asks the court to waive the filing deposit if you cannot afford it (Civ.R. 3(E)). Note: even in an approved indigent case, Logan County still requires service by publication to be paid directly to the Daily Court Reporter.

Legal separation with minor children — $400 deposit (Affidavit of Indigency can waive it)

Add the parenting and child-support affidavits and the Application for Child Support Services. Both parents complete the Common Ground Parenting Program (DR 1.06).

Complaint for Legal Separation (R.C. 3105.17) — Opens a legal-separation case in the Family Court. Legal separation divides property, debt, support, and parenting without ending the marriage. Filed with the Ohio Supreme Court financial affidavits (and, with children, parenting affidavits).
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.
Application for Child Support Services (Logan County, 3-6-18) — Required (Title IV-D) under DR Loc. R. 1.03 in any Logan County case involving children. It opens the CSEA support case so support can be collected by income withholding and enforced. Tip: File this whenever children are involved, even if you and the other parent currently agree on an amount.

How to File Legal Separation in Logan County

Confirm residency and venue. A spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least the last 6 months, with Logan County the correct venue.
Build the packet. Complete the Complaint for Legal Separation, the Affidavit of Income & Expenses, and the Affidavit of Property; with children, add the parenting and support affidavits and the Application for Child Support Services.
File and pay. File with the Clerk and pay the $400 deposit (or file an Affidavit of Indigency to waive it).
Serve and attend the hearing. Serve your spouse and, with children, complete the parenting program before the hearing on the decree of legal separation.

Logan County Practice Notes

You stay married. A legal separation does not end the marriage — you remain legally married until a later divorce or dissolution. It is used for religious, insurance, or personal reasons while still getting court-ordered property, support, and parenting terms.
Same packet requirements as divorce. Under DR Loc. R. 1.02, the complaint must include an Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Form DR-10) and, with children, a Child Custody Affidavit (R.C. 3109.27) and a child-support worksheet; with children, the Common Ground Parenting Program is mandatory (DR 1.06).

Frequently Asked Questions

How is legal separation different from divorce in Logan County?: Legal separation (R.C. 3105.17) lets the court divide property and order support, custody, and parenting time without ending the marriage — the spouses stay legally married, so a later divorce or dissolution is required to remarry. It is filed in the Domestic Relations section with the same $400 deposit and the same affidavits as a divorce, and with children the Common Ground Parenting Program is mandatory.
How much does it cost to file a family law case in Logan County?: The original-complaint deposit for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment is $400. A Domestic Relations motion or pleading to re-open a case (custody, visitation, or contempt) is $150 under the DR Cost Deposits Schedule A. A DVCPO petition has no filing fee. Juvenile filing deposits are not on a posted schedule — confirm them with the Juvenile Department. Service by publication is paid directly to the Daily Court Reporter, even in an approved indigent case. An Affidavit of Indigency can waive the deposit. Confirm current amounts with the DR Department at (937) 292-4043.
What is the residency requirement to file in Logan County?: To file for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in Ohio, a spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months before filing and must meet Logan County venue. Logan County is the right county when you or your spouse live here.
Is a parenting class required in Logan County?: Yes. Under DR Loc. R. 1.06, the Common Ground Parenting Program is mandatory in all actions involving children — every party in a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation involving children must attend. A certificate of attendance is filed in the case. If a parent does not attend, the court considers that refusal when allocating parental rights and may order attendance at additional cost. Confirm the provider, schedule, and fee with the Domestic Relations Department at (937) 292-4043.

Free Local Resources in Logan County

Logan County Court of Common Pleas — Family Court Division. The single combined Family Court for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree matters, and protection orders (Domestic Relations), plus never-married-parent custody/support, non-parent custody, and CPS (Juvenile), and adoption (Probate), at 101 S. Main Street, Bellefontaine. Family Court main line (937) 599-7249; Domestic Relations (937) 292-4043; Juvenile (937) 599-7245; Probate (937) 599-7252. DR/civil documents can be e-filed by email before 4:15 p.m. Court information and rules are at https://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court---family-court.html.
Logan County Domestic Relations Forms. Logan County uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized DR/Juvenile forms, plus a few local forms (the Visitation Guidelines, the Application for Child Support Services, and the Affidavit of Indigency). The DR forms page is at https://www.logancountyohio.gov/domestic-relations-forms.html.
Logan County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Any case involving children requires the Application for Child Support Services (Title IV-D). The CSEA sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, and can review existing orders. Confirm contact details with the Family Court at (937) 599-7249.
CASA of Logan County. Provides trained volunteer Guardian ad Litem advocates for children in contested cases. Learn more at https://www.casaoflogancounty.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 legal separation case

Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after 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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on legal separation 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 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.
Spousal Support in Ohio: How Alimony Is Decided — Ohio has no fixed alimony formula. Courts weigh 14 statutory factors to decide whether spousal support is appropriate, how much, and for how long. Here's how it works.

Keep exploring

Ohio Legal Separation guide — Statewide overview of legal separation in Ohio.
Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton 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.

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