Medina Family Law Attorneys

Medina County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

Filing Fees in Medina County

• Divorce, annulment, or legal separation — with children: $400
• Divorce, annulment, or legal separation — without children: $350
• Dissolution — with children: $350
• Dissolution — without children: $325
• Post-decree motion: ~$200

Medina County divorce filing fees are paid as a deposit to the Clerk of Courts (effective January 1, 2024) and are subject to court cost adjustments and statewide surcharges, including the mandatory $32 Ohio domestic violence shelter fee. Service costs are billed separately, and an extra $10 is charged for each defendant named beyond five. Fee waivers (poverty affidavits) and payment-plan arrangements are available for qualifying filers.

How Medina County Handles Family Law Cases

• Medina County provides the FOCUS parenting program for parents with minor children, and the cost is built into the filing deposit for cases involving children.
• Family Court Resources (FCR) offers free mediation and co-parent coaching, plus parenting and financial neutral evaluations, to help resolve disputes without a trial.
• Domestic-relations e-filing is available under the court's local rules, and represented parties move significantly faster through the docket than self-represented filers.
• Most Medina County dissolutions are finalized in 30–90 days once both spouses sign the separation agreement and petition.
• Contested Medina County divorces typically run 9–15 months from filing to trial, depending on custody and asset-division complexity.

Parenting Class Requirement

Medina County uses the court-provided FOCUS parenting program for parents with minor children, with the cost covered by the filing deposit. A separate "What About Me?" children's seminar is also available. We help every Medina client get registered the same week as filing so it never delays the final decree.

Medina County Probate & Juvenile Court (Never-Married Parents)

225 East Washington Street, 4th Floor, Medina, OH 44256
Phone: (330) 725-9709
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Hears custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity for unmarried parents — plus delinquency, unruly, juvenile traffic, and abuse/neglect/dependency. The Probate & Juvenile Court is a separate court on the 4th floor of the courthouse and also handles adoptions and guardianships.

Medina County's family courts share the same courthouse but are separate courts: the Domestic Relations Division (1st-floor case services) handles divorce, dissolution, and legal separation for married couples, while the Probate & Juvenile Court on the 4th floor handles custody, parenting time, and child support for never-married parents — plus adoptions, juvenile delinquency, and abuse, neglect, and dependency cases.

About Medina

• Medina County: ~185,000 residents
• Cleveland–Akron combined region: ~3.6 million
• Median age: ~42

Serving Downtown Medina, Medina Square, Brunswick, Wadsworth, Hinckley, Seville, Lodi, Spencer, Chippewa Lake, Montville Township, Granger Township, Sharon Township, Litchfield, Westfield Center, Creston.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file for divorce in Medina?

Medina divorce, dissolution, and legal separation cases are filed at the Medina County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, at 225 East Washington Street on the square in downtown Medina. We e-file documents on behalf of our clients under the court's local rules.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Medina County?

Medina County's filing deposit is $400 for a divorce with minor children and $350 without; a dissolution is $350 with children and $325 without. A mandatory $32 Ohio domestic violence shelter surcharge and service costs are added. Fee waivers and payment-plan arrangements are available for qualifying filers.

How long does a Medina divorce or dissolution take?

A Medina County dissolution is typically finalized 30–90 days after filing once both spouses sign the separation agreement. A contested Medina County divorce usually takes 9 to 15 months, depending on custody issues and how complex property division is.

Is a parenting class required in Medina County?

Yes. Parents with minor children complete the court-provided FOCUS parenting program, the cost of which is built into the filing deposit. A "What About Me?" seminar for children is also available. We help every Medina client register the same week they file.

Does Medina County offer free mediation?

Yes. The court's Family Court Resources (FCR) department provides free mediation and co-parent coaching, along with parenting and financial neutral evaluations. Mediation often resolves custody and parenting-time disputes without the cost and delay of a trial.

Do you handle cases in Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain, and Wayne counties?

Yes. We regularly file across Medina and the surrounding Northeast Ohio counties, including Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Summit (Akron), Lorain (Elyria), and Wayne (Wooster) — each with its own Domestic Relations Court and local rules we know well.

Medina Divorce Guide

Focused specifically on divorce in Medina County? See our in-depth guide: Medina Divorce Lawyers — Medina County divorce guide.

Medina Family Law Practice Areas

• Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable dissolution.
• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Serving All of Greater Medina

We represent clients across the Medina metro area and surrounding counties.

• Medina County divorce & family law — Medina, Brunswick, Wadsworth, Hinckley, Seville, Lodi
• Cuyahoga County divorce & family law — Cleveland, Strongsville, Parma, Brecksville, North Royalton
• Summit County divorce & family law — Akron, Barberton, Norton, Copley, Wadsworth (partial)
• Lorain County divorce & family law — Elyria, Lorain, Wellington, Grafton, LaGrange
• Wayne County divorce & family law — Wooster, Orrville, Rittman, Doylestown

Transparent Pricing & Payment Options in Medina

Medina families shouldn't have to guess what legal help will cost. Gavvl Law uses transparent pricing — flat fees for many uncontested and limited-scope matters, so you know the full cost before you commit, and clearly-scoped retainers for complex or contested cases. We offer several ways to pay so you can get help now and choose what fits your budget: pay in full by card through Confido Legal, finance through third-party providers like Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later, or spread a flat fee over time with a Gavvl Direct in-house payment plan that requires no credit check. Not sure which service or payment path fits your situation? Take our Find My Divorce Service quiz for a personalized recommendation, or review all of our payment options and financing details.

Attorneys Serving Medina

Meet the Gavvl Law attorneys who represent Medina and Medina County families.

• Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner & Co-Founder
• David Thomas — Of Counsel Attorney
• Ari Goldstein — Of Counsel Attorney

Meet the full Gavvl Law team.

Legal Disclaimer

This page is for general information about Ohio family law and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney–client relationship. Every case is different; outcomes, timelines, and costs depend on your specific facts and the county where your case is filed. An attorney–client relationship with Gavvl Law begins only after a written representation agreement is signed by both you and the firm. Financing through Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later is subject to separate third-party terms and approval, and Gavvl Direct payment plans carry 19% interest compounded monthly on the financed amount. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page may be considered attorney advertising under Ohio law.