Filing for Divorce with Children in Lucas County

Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Clerk of Courts, 1st Floor, Family Court Center, 429 N. Michigan Street, Toledo — or pay DR fees online through the Forte portal with your case number.

Filing Fees

$325 with children • $300 without children

Payment methods: Pay in person at the Clerk's Office (1st Floor, 429 N. Michigan St.) or online through the Forte portal — credit cards accepted. The online portal is ONLY for Domestic Relations Division payments and you MUST include your case number. Confirm current amounts on the Filing Fee Schedule (11-13-2023).

Lucas County Procedure Quirks

• Lucas-specific FIVE-Schedule local form system (Schedules 1–5). Each must be signed AND notarized, and you must submit the ORIGINAL plus 5 additional copies of each schedule.
• Dedicated Family Court Center at 429 N. Michigan Street, separate from the main courthouse — Clerk on the 1st Floor, courtrooms on the 4th and 5th Floors.
• Four DR judges (Lewandowski, McGowan, Ramsey, Zemmelman) — one of the largest domestic relations benches in Northwest Ohio.
• Online payment portal accepts credit cards but is RESTRICTED to Domestic Relations Division payments — you MUST include your case number or the payment may not be processed.
• Domestic Violence Resource Center on the 2nd Floor helps obtain Civil Protection Orders — (419) 213-2700.

Parenting Class

Parenting-Through-Divorce Education Program (Children in Between — Lucas County approved online course) — Court Counseling Department (4th Floor, Family Court Center) (Register / learn more)
Required for both parents in any case with minor children. The Court Counseling Department (established 1938) handles scheduling.

Judges

• Hon. Lewandowski
• Hon. McGowan
• Hon. Ramsey
• Hon. Zemmelman

Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division (Juvenile Justice Center)

Hears custody, parenting time, child support, and parentage for never-married parents, plus non-parent and grandparent custody — at 1801 Spielbusch Avenue, separate from the DR Family Court Center.

Domestic Relations vs. Juvenile

Married and divorcing couples file divorce, dissolution, and related custody/support at the Domestic Relations Division (Family Court Center, 429 N. Michigan Street). Never-married parents file parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support at the Juvenile Division (Juvenile Justice Center, 1801 Spielbusch Avenue).

Free Local Resources in Lucas County

• Lucas County DR Division — Forms Hub (Schedules 1–5). Every Domestic Relations local schedule form and filing instruction is posted free at co.lucas.oh.us/1360/Domestic-Relations-Division-Forms.
• Court Counseling Department (4th Floor). Established 1938 — handles family evaluations, mediation, conciliation assessments, intake, and parenting-education scheduling through the Family Court Center.
• Domestic Violence Resource Center (2nd Floor). Helps petitioners obtain Civil Protection Orders. Call (419) 213-2700.

Required divorce-with-children packet (8 forms)

• Complaint for Divorce with Children — The Ohio Supreme Court uniform complaint that starts your case and lists what you want the court to decide for you and your children.
• Schedule I — Affidavit of Income — Lucas local financial disclosure of your income, filed with the complaint.
• Schedule II — UCCJEA / Parenting Proceeding Affidavit — The children's 5-year address history, required in every case involving minor children.
• Schedule III — Affidavit of Monthly Expenses — Your monthly household bills and expenses.
• Schedule IV — Property Division and Spousal Support — Lists what you own and owe and your spousal-support position.
• Sample Shared Parenting Plan — Template parents can use to propose a shared-parenting arrangement for the children.
• Health Insurance Compliance Order — Confirms who provides health insurance for the children and sets the compliance terms.
• Application for Child Support Services (IV-D) — Opens your case with the child support enforcement agency — required when children are involved.

Temporary orders while your case is pending

Lucas issues mutual preliminary injunctions at filing to keep assets, insurance, and the children's situation stable. File the praecipe so the Clerk can serve your spouse, and request additional temporary support or parenting orders from the assigned Magistrate if needed.

• Preliminary Injunctions — Lucas's mutual preliminary injunctions restraining both spouses from hiding assets, canceling insurance, or removing the children while the case is pending.
• Praecipe for Service — Tells the Clerk how to serve your spouse with the complaint.

Related guides

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

Related to your 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.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.