Madison County Divorce Attorneys

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

Madison County, Ohio · London

A Madison County divorce is filed with the Clerk of Courts at the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. Judge Eamon P. Costello presides, and domestic matters are referred to a magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.1). The filing deposit is $450, plus a $100 Special Projects Fund fee from the cost deposit.

Hire Gavvl for your Madison County divorce case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Madison 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 Madison County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Divorce with the Madison County Clerk of Courts, 1 N. Main St., London, using Ohio Supreme Court Form 6 (without children) or Form 7 (with children), the financial affidavits (Affidavits 1 and 2), and — with children — the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3), Health Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit 4), a parenting plan, and the Ohio child-support worksheet. Pay the $450 deposit (plus a $100 Special Projects Fund fee) or file an Affidavit of Indigency. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio at least 6 months. The case is referred to a magistrate, who hears it and issues a decision that Judge Costello finalizes.

Hire Gavvl Law for your Madison County divorce

A Madison County divorce runs through the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas in London — there is no separate Domestic Relations court — with Judge Eamon P. Costello presiding and the matter referred to a magistrate under C.P. Loc.R. 6.1. The Clerk's deposit is $450 plus a $100 Special Projects Fund fee, and the packet is the Ohio Supreme Court complaint (Form 6 without children or Form 7 with children) backed by the financial affidavits. Gavvl Law builds the filing the clerk at 1 N. Main St. will accept, carries the case through the magistrate track, and sets one flat fee up front for a straightforward divorce, with payment plans and full representation when it turns contested.

The Ohio complaint with the affidavits it actually needs. A Madison filing lives or dies on the attachments — Form 6 or Form 7, Affidavits 1 and 2, and, with children, the Parenting Proceeding and Health Insurance affidavits, a parenting plan, and the child-support worksheet. We prepare the full set so the case is complete when the $450 deposit is paid.
Ready for the magistrate-and-objections path. Because domestic matters here are referred to a magistrate under C.P. Loc.R. 6.1, the decision you receive is a magistrate's decision that either side can challenge by objections under Civ.R. 53 before Judge Costello enters the final decree. We build the record for that hearing and preserve your objection rights.
A $450 deposit, with a route around it. If the deposit is out of reach, an Affidavit of Indigency waives it, and in an in-forma-pauperis divorce service can be made by posting and mail under C.P. Loc.R. 2.3(B). We file the waiver with your complaint so a filing fee never stalls the case.

E-filing opened in the Common Pleas Court on January 1, 2026 under C.P. Loc.R. 3.5 through the Henschen portal, but it is not mandatory and represented parties cannot e-file on their own behalf — so we handle it for you. We also plan for the county's other real costs, including a $450 Answer and Counterclaim and a $400-per-party GAL or home-investigation deposit in a contested custody fight.

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: Madison County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

1 N. Main Street, London, OH 43140
Phone: (740) 852-9776
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current public-counter hours with the Clerk)
Website: Court website

Divorce is the right path if…

You and your spouse don't agree on everything (custody, parenting time, property, debt, or support).
Your spouse won't sign paperwork, won't communicate, or can't be located.
You need temporary or final court orders your spouse won't agree to.
You or your spouse have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months before filing.

If you and your spouse already agree on everything in writing, a dissolution is usually faster and lower-conflict. Compare dissolution.

Filing Fees

$450 divorce deposit (plus $100 Special Projects Fund fee) · Answer & Counterclaim $450 · GAL / home investigation $400 per party · fee waiver by Affidavit of Indigency · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776

Forms & Filing Packets

Core divorce filing packet (no minor children) — $450 deposit (plus $100 Special Projects Fund fee)

File the Complaint for Divorce without Children (Ohio SC Form 6) with the financial affidavits and the $450 deposit (plus the $100 Special Projects Fund fee).

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.
Common Pleas Clerk 2026 Filing-Fee Schedule (Madison County) — The Clerk's 2026 deposit schedule: divorce $450, dissolution $300, counterclaim $450, post-decree motion $400, contempt $400, jury demand $100. A $100 Special Projects Fund fee is collected from the cost deposit on each civil action.

Core divorce filing packet (with minor children) — $450 deposit (plus $100 Special Projects Fund fee)

Use the Complaint for Divorce with Children (Ohio SC Form 7), add the parenting and health-insurance affidavits, a parenting plan, and the support worksheet.

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.
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.
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.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.

Temporary orders add-on

Request temporary support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home by affidavit under Civ.R. 75(N); attach a current financial affidavit and, where support is sought, the support worksheet.

Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Asks the court for temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Tip: Attach a current Financial Affidavit (Affidavit 1) and Affidavit 2 (Property).
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
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.

How to File Divorce in Madison County

Confirm Ohio residency. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months before filing for divorce.
Prepare the complaint and affidavits. Use Ohio Supreme Court Form 6 (no children) or Form 7 (with children) with Affidavits 1 and 2; with children, add Affidavits 3 and 4, a parenting plan, and the support worksheet.
File with the $450 deposit. File at the Clerk of Courts, 1 N. Main St., London, (740) 852-9776, and pay the $450 deposit (plus the $100 Special Projects Fund fee), or file an Affidavit of Indigency.
Serve your spouse. Arrange service through the Clerk; in an in-forma-pauperis case, service may be by posting and mail (C.P. Loc.R. 2.3(B)).
Magistrate hearing. The case is referred to a magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.1) who hears it and issues a decision; a party may file objections under Civ.R. 53.
Final decree. Judge Costello rules on any objections and enters the Decree of Divorce ending the marriage.

Madison County Practice Notes

No separate Domestic Relations court. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the General Division of the Madison County Court of Common Pleas (Judge Eamon P. Costello) — there is no separate Domestic Relations division. File through the Clerk of Courts (Erin Bauer), 1 N. Main St., P.O. Box 557, London 43140-0557, (740) 852-9776.
Domestic cases are referred to a magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.1). Under C.P. Loc.R. 6.1, domestic-relations matters in the General Division are referred to a magistrate who hears the case and issues a decision. A party may file objections under Civ.R. 53, and Judge Costello then rules on the objections and enters the final order.
Parenting education may be ordered (confirm with the court). The Madison County skill does not name a single mandatory parenting seminar. A magistrate or judge may order parenting education in a divorce, dissolution, or custody case, so plan for it and confirm whether a class is required in your case. The standard parenting-time schedule (when parents do not agree otherwise) is C.P. Loc.R. 6.17.
$100 Special Projects Fund fee on each civil action (C.P. Loc.R. 4.5). On top of the case deposit, the Clerk collects a $100 Special Projects Fund fee from the cost deposit on each civil action or proceeding (C.P. Loc.R. 4.5). Copies are $0.25 per page. These are advance cost deposits, not flat fees — confirm the total with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776.
E-filing available but not mandatory (since 1/1/2026). E-filing became available January 1, 2026 under C.P. Loc.R. 3.5. It is available but not mandatory; once implemented for a case type, fax and email filings are not accepted for that case type. Represented parties may not e-file on their own behalf — register in the Henschen portal (efile.henschen.com).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to file for divorce in Madison County?: The General Division divorce deposit is $450 per the Clerk's 2026 schedule, and an Answer & Counterclaim is also $450. A $100 Special Projects Fund fee is collected from the cost deposit on each civil action (C.P. Loc.R. 4.5). These are advance cost deposits, not flat fees — the Clerk applies them to actual costs and refunds or bills the balance. If you cannot afford the deposit, file an Affidavit of Indigency / Poverty Affidavit. Confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776.
Which court handles family-law cases in Madison County?: The General Division of the Madison County Court of Common Pleas (Judge Eamon P. Costello, 1 N. Main St., London) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court, and most domestic matters are referred to a magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.1). The combined Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Christopher J. Brown, 1 N. Main St., London) handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, R.C. 2151.23) and adoptions (Probate). Domestic-relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts at (740) 852-9776.
Will a judge or a magistrate hear my Madison County divorce?: Domestic-relations matters in the General Division are referred to a magistrate under C.P. Loc.R. 6.1. The magistrate hears the case and issues a decision; a party may file objections to the magistrate's decision within the time set by Civ.R. 53, and Judge Eamon P. Costello then rules on the objections and enters the final order. Confirm the current objection deadline with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776.
Do I have to take a parenting class in Madison County?: The Madison County skill does not name a single mandatory parenting seminar. A magistrate or judge may order parenting education in a divorce, dissolution, or custody case, so plan for the possibility and confirm whether a class is required in your case with the court. The standard parenting-time schedule that applies when parents do not agree otherwise is set by C.P. Loc.R. 6.17.
Can I get temporary support or parenting orders while my Madison County divorce is pending?: Yes. Under Ohio Civ.R. 75(N) you can request temporary spousal support, child support, and a temporary allocation of parental rights while the case is pending, supported by a financial affidavit (and a support worksheet where support is sought). The magistrate can grant temporary orders, and the other party may seek a hearing. Confirm the current temporary-orders procedure with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776.
Can I file in Madison County without paying the deposit?: Yes, if you cannot afford it. File an Affidavit of Indigency / Poverty Affidavit (the Supreme Court of Ohio uniform affidavit) with your case. In a divorce, annulment, or legal separation filed in forma pauperis, service is made by posting and mail (C.P. Loc.R. 2.3(B)). Confirm the current procedure with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776.

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.

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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