Filing for Dissolution in Marion County, Ohio

Flat-fee dissolution for Marion County families

Traditional firms bill dissolution by the hour, and the final total is anyone's guess. We do it differently for Marion County families: one flat fee, quoted up front, with financing available and full representation on the table when it's warranted. This page also covers the local side for Marion County: court contacts in Marion, forms, and fee details.

• One flat fee, agreed up front. You approve the flat fee before any work starts — no hourly meter, and no surprise invoices later.
• Payments that fit your budget. Spread the cost with a payment plan, or use financing — so the flat fee works with your budget.
• Why Marion County families choose us. Because it's a flat fee, we're paid to resolve your dissolution case — not to run up hours — so nothing drags for the sake of billing. Licensed Ohio family-law attorneys serve Marion County and all 88 counties.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we prepare your full dissolution petition and separation agreement for an agreed, no-court split.

• Dissolution: $2,015
• Dissolution with children: $2,645
• Review & advise (your own paperwork): $805
• Review & advise with children: $1,610

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

On limited-scope services of $2,000 or more, Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan with no interest and no credit check — takes 60% down to start, then the balance in three monthly payments, the first due 28 days after your initial payment. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your dissolution case or see payment plans & financing.

Real people — with direct lines

• Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
• Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
• Niva Elgin — Director of Attorney Relations · Licensed New Mexico Attorney
• Richard Furnish — Of Counsel Attorney

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — Niva Elgin, our Director of Attorney Relations and a licensed New Mexico attorney — or Richard Furnish, an Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorney. They've heard hundreds of situations like yours and will tell you plainly what you need, and what you don't. Meet the firm.

Your attorney

One of our Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorneys is your attorney for the case — from the first strategy call to the final order in Marion County. You have their name and a direct line the day your file opens. Our attorneys.

Your case team

Niva Elgin keeps your case moving as Director of Attorney Relations. Madeline Wampler, Certified Paralegal, handles documents and scheduling. Erin Schultz, Finance Manager, handles billing and payment plans. Real people who answer when you call.

• 95+ five-star Google reviews
• 60+ years of combined Ohio family-law experience
• Super Lawyers Rising Stars honorees on the team: Elizabeth Warren (2021–2023) and Samantha Berkhofer (2019–2021)
• Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained — and every step after

1. Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, Niva Elgin, or Richard Furnish about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
2. Choose — Pick the level of help. Pay, or set up financing. Limited-scope flat fee or full representation — you choose, with real numbers in front of you. Pay online, or secure a Gavvl Direct payment plan or third-party financing in a few minutes. Nothing is billed until you decide.
3. Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
4. Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

• Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
• Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
• Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
• Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
• Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
• 24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Can I do this without an attorney?

sometimes, yes. Ohio lets you represent yourself, and for a genuinely agreed dissolution or a simple motion, some people do. The Marion County forms and local rules are linked in the questions below, and our free tools will draft a parenting plan or estimate child support before you spend anything.

Here's what the online-divorce platforms leave out: most Ohio counties require their own forms and language on top of the statewide ones, and a rejected filing is the most common reason people call us after trying it alone. A $25, 30-minute call tells you whether you can do this yourself — and if you can, we'll say so.

• Free parenting plan builder
• Free child support estimate
• Attorney-written guides
• See the Marion County forms & local rules

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

Marion County Family Court (Court of Common Pleas, Family Division)

222 West Center Street, Marion, OH 43302 • (740) 223-4060 • Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Filing fee: Set by the Clerk of Courts — confirm the current filing fee before filing. Fee waiver available.

Important things to know about Marion County

• Marion County's Family Court (created 2003) handles domestic relations, juvenile, AND probate matters under one division — uncommon in Ohio.
• Proposed Decree of Dissolution must be submitted to the court at LEAST 3 days before the final hearing.
• 30-day journalization deadline — if the judgment isn't prepared and submitted within 30 days of the hearing, the court may dismiss your case on its own motion.
• If you're dividing a pension/retirement plan, the QDRO must be submitted AT the final hearing with the Decree — not later.
• Marion uses its own lettered local forms (Form A through Form K) alongside Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms.
• Formatting rule: all documents must be typewritten or printed, double-spaced, single-sided, on 8½ x 11 paper with a 2-inch top margin and 1-inch bottom margin.
• Online payments accepted through the court's BridgePayment portal; e-filing available through the eServices portal.
• The Parenting Addendum (Form K) contains extensive mandatory language about child support, medical support, notification, and enforcement — it becomes part of your court order, so read it carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file for dissolution in Marion County? Which forms do I need?

Direct links to every form pulled from the Marion County court's published packet.

Required forms (all cases)

• Form A — Affidavit of Basic Information, Income & Expenses (one per party) — Marion County local version of the income/expenses affidavit. Each spouse files their own.
• Form B — Affidavit of Property and Debt (one per party) — Marion County local version of the property/debt affidavit. Each spouse files their own.
• Form F — Case Designation — Local intake form designating the type of case for the Clerk.
• Form G — Duty to Advise Court of Address Changes — Local form confirming each party's duty to keep the court informed of any address change.
• Form H — Request to Issue Wage Assessment — Local form requesting wage withholding for any support order.
• Petition for Dissolution and Waiver of Service (Form 17) — The main joint petition — both spouses sign together and waive formal service.
• Separation Agreement (Form 19) — Your full settlement on property, debt, and support. Both spouses must sign.
• Decree of Dissolution (Form 18) — Final court order ending the marriage. Must be submitted to the court at least 3 days BEFORE the final hearing.
• Civil Fee Waiver (if needed) — Marion County's fee waiver form for filers who can't afford the filing fee.
• Motion to Appear by Zoom (optional) — File this motion if you want to attend any hearing by Zoom; the Judge or Magistrate decides whether to grant it.

Additional forms with minor children

• Form C — Parenting Proceeding Affidavit — Marion's local version of the parenting affidavit — 5-year address history and any other court cases involving the children.
• Form D — Health Insurance Affidavit — Marion's local version of the health insurance affidavit. Documents each parent's ability to insure the children.
• Form I — Parenting Education — Marion's parenting education form — explains the required parenting course and registration.
• Form K — Parenting Addendum — Contains extensive mandatory language about child support, medical support, notifications, and enforcement. Becomes part of your court order — read it carefully.
• Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) — Option A — Use if both parents will share legal custody and significant parenting time. Both parents must sign.
• Parenting Plan (Form 21) — Option B, sole custody — Use if one parent will be residential — outlines the parenting time schedule. Pair with the Parenting Judgment Entry.
• Parenting Judgment Entry (Form 22) — Option B, sole custody — Sole-custody court order naming the residential parent.
• Rule 32B — Marion County Parenting Time Schedule (reference) — Marion's standard parenting time schedule — review to understand the court's expectations before drafting your own.
• Ohio Child Support Worksheet — Run the numbers in the Ohio Child Support Calculator, print the worksheet, and file it with your packet.
• IV-D Application for Child Support Services — Required when child support orders are issued. Contact Marion County CSEA directly for the application.

Related to your 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 dissolution, divorce, 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 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.
• What Happens If I Move Out Before the Divorce? (Ohio Myths vs. Reality) — Moving out of the marital home does not forfeit your share of the house, your retirement, or your right to parent your children. It can affect the date the court uses to divide property, and it can affect custody indirectly if you become less involved. This guide separates the myths from what Ohio law actually does, and explains why temporary orders solve most of it.
• Dividing Property in an Ohio Divorce — Ohio divides marital property equitably — meaning fairly, not always equally. The first step is classifying every asset and debt. Here's how the process works.
• 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.
• Who Gets the House in an Ohio Divorce? — The marital home is often a couple's biggest asset and most emotional decision. Ohio divides its equity equitably — through a buyout, a sale, or a deferred sale. Here's how.

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.