Lucas County Divorce & Family Law Attorneys
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026
Gavvl Law represents Toledo and Lucas County families in divorce, dissolution, custody and shared parenting, child support, paternity, and civil protection orders. Choose flat-fee, limited-scope help or full representation, and start with a $25 consultation — backed by our verified Lucas County court guide.
How we can help in Lucas County
Ending a Marriage
- Divorce
Domestic Relations Court $300 without children · $325 with children
Best for: You and your spouse do not agree on everything — custody, support, property, or debt.
View guide - Dissolution
Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: Both spouses agree on every issue — property, debt, support, and parenting — and will sign and appear together.
View guide - Legal Separation
Domestic Relations Court Case deposit roughly $300 without children
Best for: You want court-ordered support, property division, or a parenting plan.
View guide - Annulment
Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: Your marriage fits one of the R.C. 3105.31 grounds (bigamy, fraud, force, underage, incompetence, or non-consummation).
View guide
Parents & Children
- Custody
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court DR custody inside divorce: included in the $325 deposit
Best for: You need a court order setting who the children live with and how parenting time is divided.
View guide - Child Support
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: You need a child-support order established, enforced, or recalculated as part of your child support matters.
View guide - Paternity
Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: The parents were not married when the child was born.
View guide - Shared Parenting
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: Both parents want to share decision-making for the children.
View guide - Grandparent / Non-Parent Custody
Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: You are a grandparent or other relative raising or seeking to raise the child.
View guide
Changing or Enforcing Orders
- Modifications
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: There is already a final Lucas County custody, parenting-time, or support order.
View guide - Contempt
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court $200 deposit to enforce a residential-parent / parenting-time order · $150 to vacate/revise/modify
Best for: The other party isn't paying child support or spousal support as ordered.
View guide
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency Custody
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: A child faces immediate danger or risk of imminent harm right now.
View guide - Protection Orders
Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: You have been threatened, harmed, or stalked by a family or household member.
View guide
The Lucas County family-law guide
Verified June 20, 2026
Download our free Lucas County family-law guide (PDF) — a plain-language walkthrough of which court hears each matter, the current filing fees, the required parenting class, and e-filing — checked against the county's own court rules and fee schedules.
Download the Lucas County family-law guide (PDF)
Talk to a Lucas County family-law attorney
Sources we checked
- Lucas County Domestic Relations Court — Local Rules & Forms
- Lucas County Clerk of Courts — E-Filing
- Lucas County Juvenile Court — Filing Fees
- Ohio Supreme Court — Standard Domestic Relations forms
What we confirmed for 2026
- 2026 filing deposits confirmed (Local Rule 2.03): divorce, legal separation, or annulment $300 without minor children and $350 with children; dissolution $300 without children and $325 with children.
- Most post-decree motions cost $200 to enforce or modify and $150 to vacate or revise.
- Never-married parents establish paternity, custody, parenting time, and support in the Lucas County Juvenile Court, where the parentage or support filing fee is $193 ($282 for a third-party custody complaint).
- The required parenting class is "Children in Between," taken online, and must be completed within 90 days of filing (Local Rule 16).
- Lucas County requires you to schedule motions with the Assignment Commissioner before filing them, and to disclose any artificial intelligence used to prepare a filing (Local Rule 31).
Lucas County family-law courts
Domestic Relations Court
Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and spousal support for married spouses
Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division
Family Court Center, 429 N. Michigan Street, Toledo, OH 43604
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 213-6901
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Juvenile Court
Custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity for unmarried parents
Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division (Juvenile Justice Center)
1801 Spielbusch Avenue, Toledo, OH 43604
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 213-6722
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Court divisions, filing fees, and local requirements can change. Confirm the correct court, current fees, and required forms with the Lucas County Clerk of Courts before you file.
Why Lucas County is different
Schedule before you file
Lucas County expects you to schedule motions and Civ.R. 75(N) temporary-order requests with the Assignment Commissioner before you file them (Local Rule 7). Filing first and scheduling later can delay your hearing. (Lucas County Domestic Relations Court)
Two courts by marital status
Married parents divorce in the Domestic Relations Court ($300 without children, $350 with). Never-married parents establish paternity, custody, parenting time, and support in the Juvenile Court, where the filing fee is $193 (or $282 for a third-party custody complaint). (Lucas County Domestic Relations & Juvenile Courts)
The 150-mile rule sets your parenting schedule
Under Local Rule 13.06, if you live within 150 miles of Lucas County the Local parenting-time schedule applies; moving farther away triggers the Long-Distance schedule. Plan parenting time around which schedule fits your distance. (Lucas County Domestic Relations Court)
Who you'll work with in Lucas County
Gavvl Law serves all 88 Ohio counties, and Lucas County filings are handled by our statewide flat-fee team. Because consultations and document preparation happen by phone, video, and secure upload, Toledo families get the same attorneys and the same up-front pricing as clients anywhere in Ohio.
- Richard Furnish — Of Counsel Attorney. Part of the statewide team handling Lucas County divorce, dissolution, and custody filings remotely.
- Kimberly Lawrence — Of Counsel Attorney. Prepares and reviews Lucas County family-law filings as part of Gavvl's statewide flat-fee practice.
- Matthew Ameer — Of Counsel Attorney. Works with Toledo-area clients on family-law matters through Gavvl's phone and video consultation model.
Ohio families rate Gavvl Law 4.8/5 across 90+ Google reviews.
Free local resources in Lucas County
- Lucas County DR Division — Forms Hub (Schedules 1–5) — Every Domestic Relations local Schedule form, the Uniform Ohio forms, and the filing instructions are posted free at co.lucas.oh.us/1360/Domestic-Relations-Division-Forms.
- Court Counseling Department (4th Floor, Family Court Center) — Established 1938 — handles family evaluations, mediation, conciliation assessments, intake services, and parenting-education scheduling through the Family Court Center.
- Domestic Violence Resource Center (2nd Floor, Family Court Center) — Helps petitioners obtain Civil Protection Orders. Call (419) 213-2700.
- Lucas County CSEA — Child Support Enforcement Agency at 3737 W. Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, OH 43623, (419) 213-3001 — opens cases, collects, and enforces support.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gavvl Law serve Lucas County, Ohio?
Yes. Gavvl Law represents families across all 88 Ohio counties, including Lucas County and Toledo. We handle divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and other family law matters for Lucas County residents.
Which Lucas County court handles my family law case?
Lucas County uses different courts for different family matters. Married spouses file for divorce, dissolution, or legal separation at Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division. Unmarried parents handle custody, parenting time, and child support at Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division (Juvenile Justice Center). Filing in the wrong court can delay your case, so confirm where your matter belongs with the Lucas County Clerk of Courts before you start.
How much does it cost to file a family law case in Lucas County?
Court filing fees in Lucas County are deposits that vary by case type. These deposits can change and do not include attorney fees. Confirm the current schedule with the Lucas County Clerk of Courts, and ask Gavvl Law about flat fees and payment plans for representation.
Do I have to take a parenting class in Lucas County?
Most Ohio courts require divorcing or separating parents to complete a short parenting or co-parenting class before a judge will finalize the case. Confirm Lucas County's current requirement and approved providers with the Clerk of Courts.
Can I file Lucas County family law forms online?
Yes. Lucas County accepts electronic filing through its court e-filing portal, and self-represented (pro se) registration is typically available. Not every case type is eligible, so confirm what you can e-file — and any convenience fees — with the Lucas County Clerk of Courts.
How long does a divorce or dissolution take in Lucas County?
It depends on the path. An Ohio dissolution — used when both spouses agree on every issue — is generally finalized within about 30 to 90 days of filing, because the law sets the final hearing in that window. A contested divorce takes longer, often several months to more than a year, depending on the issues and the court's schedule. Lucas County's docket affects timing, so ask about current wait times at your consultation.
What family law services does Gavvl Law offer in Lucas County?
Gavvl Law offers divorce, dissolution, legal separation, custody, shared parenting, child support, paternity, post-decree modifications, and more for Lucas County families. Choose a service below to see the local process and forms.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
