Madison County Family Law Guide
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026
Gavvl Law helps Madison County, Ohio families with divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and more. Find the right Madison County court, filing fees, and parenting resources below, or book a $25 first consultation to talk through your options with a local-focused attorney.
How we can help in Madison County
Ending a Marriage
- Divorce
Domestic Relations Court $450 divorce deposit (plus $100 Special Projects Fund fee) · Answer & Counterclaim $450
Best for: You and your spouse don't agree on everything (custody, parenting time, property, debt, or support).
View guide - Dissolution
Domestic Relations Court $300 dissolution deposit (plus $100 Special Projects Fund fee)
Best for: You and your spouse agree on everything: property, debt, support, and (if any) parenting.
View guide - Legal Separation
Domestic Relations Court $100 Special Projects Fund fee on each civil action
Best for: You want court orders on property, support, or parenting but not a divorce.
View guide - Annulment
Domestic Relations Court $100 Special Projects Fund fee on each civil action
Best for: You believe the marriage was never legally valid.
View guide
Parents & Children
- Custody
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court General Division custody within a divorce ($450 case deposit) or Juvenile custody case ($200)
Best for: You need a first custody and parenting-time order.
View guide - Child Support
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Juvenile support/modification $200 deposit · General Division post-decree $400
Best for: You need to establish a first child-support order.
View guide - Paternity
Juvenile Court $200 Juvenile parentage deposit
Best for: The parents were not married when the child was born.
View guide - Shared Parenting
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court General Division shared parenting within a divorce ($450 case deposit) or Juvenile shared-parenting motion ($200)
Best for: Both parents want to remain residential parents and share decision-making.
View guide - Grandparent/Non-Parent
Juvenile Court $200 Juvenile custody deposit
Best for: You are a grandparent or relative caring for a child.
View guide
Changing or Enforcing Orders
- Modifications
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court General Division post-decree motion $400 · Juvenile modification $200 (school-purposes-only custody $100)
Best for: There has been a substantial change in circumstances since your last order.
View guide - Contempt
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court General Division contempt $400 · Juvenile contempt $100
Best for: The other parent is violating a current court order.
View guide
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency Custody
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court $200 Juvenile deposit for a new emergency-custody case
Best for: A child faces an immediate risk of harm or neglect.
View guide - Protection Orders
Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: You have been threatened, harmed, or stalked and need legal protection.
View guide
The Madison County family-law guide
Verified June 25, 2026
Download our free Madison 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 Madison County family-law guide (PDF)
Talk to a Madison County family-law attorney
Sources we checked
- Madison County Common Pleas Clerk 2026 filing-fee schedule (court_fees_2026_updated.pdf)
- Madison County Common Pleas Rules of Practice (2026), Rule 4 (C.P. Loc.R. 4.1 / 4.5)
- Madison County Juvenile Court Local Rules (eff. 2026-04-23), Appendix A
- Madison County Probate Court Local Rules (eff. 2025-11-13), Appendix A
What we confirmed for 2026
- Verified DR deposits: divorce $450; dissolution $300; post-decree motion $400; contempt $400 (Clerk 2026 schedule / C.P. Loc.R. 4.1).
- Verified Juvenile deposits: custody complaint/modification $200; contempt motion $100.
- Verified Probate minor-adoption deposit $300; DVCPO/CSPO petition $0.
- Documented that Madison runs no named mandatory parenting seminar — classes are ordered case-by-case at the court's discretion.
Madison County family-law courts
Domestic Relations Court
Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and spousal support for married spouses
Madison County Court of Common Pleas, General Division
1 N. Main Street, London, OH 43140
London, OH 43140
Phone: (740) 852-9776
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current public-counter hours with the Clerk)
Court divisions, filing fees, and local requirements can change. Confirm the correct court, current fees, and required forms with the Madison County Clerk of Courts before you file.
Why Madison County is different
No separate DR court; combined Probate & Juvenile Court
Madison County (seat: London) has no separate Domestic Relations court. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the Common Pleas Court, General Division (referred to a magistrate; Judge Eamon P. Costello) and filed with the Clerk of Courts. A combined Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Christopher J. Brown) handles unmarried-parent custody/support/parentage and adoptions. (Madison County Courts skill — SKILL.md / court-structure.md)
Parenting class is case-by-case, not a fixed seminar
Madison's DR Rules of Practice and Juvenile Local Rules do not establish a named mandatory parenting seminar. A judge or magistrate may order a parenting class, counseling, or co-parenting program in a particular case. Confirm whether a class is required (and the approved provider/cost/deadline) with the assigned magistrate or the Clerk. (Madison County Courts skill — parenting-education.md)
Common Pleas e-filing available since 1/1/2026
The Common Pleas Court offers e-filing at https://efile.henschen.com/ (available, not mandatory). Confirm accepted payment methods with the Clerk before filing. (Madison County Courts skill — SKILL.md / fees.md)
Court filing fees in Madison County
Domestic Relations Court
- Divorce: $450
- Dissolution: $300
- Post-decree motion: $400
- Contempt: $400
- DVCPO / civil stalking protection order petition: $0 — No filing fee to the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31 / 2903.214). Confirm current amounts with the Clerk before filing.
Juvenile Court
- Juvenile custody complaint / modification (parental rights, support, custody, visitation): $200
- Juvenile motion for contempt: $100
Probate Court
- Adoption of a minor (Probate): $300
These are court deposits and can change. Confirm current amounts with the Madison County Clerk of Courts before you file.
Parent education in Madison County
- Court-ordered parenting class (case-by-case)
Madison County does not run a named mandatory parenting seminar; a judge or magistrate may order a parenting class, counseling, or co-parenting program in a particular case as part of temporary or final orders. Confirm any requirement, approved provider, cost, and deadline with the assigned magistrate or the Clerk.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gavvl Law serve Madison County, Ohio?
Yes. Gavvl Law represents families across all 88 Ohio counties, including Madison County and London. We handle divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and other family law matters for Madison County residents.
Which Madison County court handles my family law case?
Most Madison County family law cases are heard at Madison County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. The right division depends on your case type — for example, custody and support for unmarried parents is often handled in a separate juvenile division from divorce. Confirm where to file and any local requirements with the Madison County Clerk of Courts before you start.
How much does it cost to file a family law case in Madison County?
Court filing fees in Madison County are deposits that vary by case type — for example, the deposit for Divorce is about $450. These deposits can change and do not include attorney fees. Confirm the current schedule with the Madison 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 Madison County?
Yes. Madison County requires parents in divorce, dissolution, and most custody cases to complete a parenting class — Court-ordered parenting class (case-by-case). Madison County does not run a named mandatory parenting seminar; a judge or magistrate may order a parenting class, counseling, or co-parenting program in a particular case as part of temporary or final orders. Confirm any requirement, approved provider, cost, and deadline with the assigned magistrate or the Clerk.
Can I file Madison County family law forms online?
It depends on the court. Some Ohio courts accept e-filing while others require paper filing in person or by mail. Check the Madison County Clerk of Courts website for the current options before you prepare your documents.
How long does a divorce or dissolution take in Madison 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. Madison County's docket affects timing, so ask about current wait times at your consultation.
What family law services does Gavvl Law offer in Madison County?
Gavvl Law offers divorce, dissolution, legal separation, custody, shared parenting, child support, paternity, post-decree modifications, and more for Madison County families. Choose a service below to see the local process and forms.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
