Medina County Family Law Guide

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026

Gavvl Law helps Medina County, Ohio families with divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and more. Find the right Medina 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 Medina County

Ending a Marriage

  • Divorce

    Domestic Relations Court $350 deposit without minor children · $400 with minor children (eff. 1/1/2024)

    Best for: You and your spouse don't agree on everything (custody, money, property, debt, or support).

    View guide
  • Dissolution

    Domestic Relations Court $325 deposit without minor children · $350 with minor children (eff. 1/1/2024)

    Best for: You and your spouse agree on every term — property, debts, support, and parenting — in writing before filing.

    View guide
  • Legal Separation

    Domestic Relations Court $350 deposit without minor children · $400 with minor children (eff. 1/1/2024)

    Best for: You want court-ordered support, property division, and parenting but aren't ready to divorce.

    View guide
  • Annulment

    Domestic Relations Court $350 deposit without minor children · $400 with minor children (eff. 1/1/2024)

    Best for: Your marriage may be voidable on a specific Ohio ground (bigamy, underage, fraud, force, incapacity, or non-consummation).

    View guide

Parents & Children

  • Custody

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Unmarried: $200 DR parentage filing or $180 Juvenile Court custody case after parentage

    Best for: You need a court order saying who the children live with and how parenting time is divided.

    View guide
  • Child Support

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Modify: Ohio Form 28, $200 post-decree filing

    Best for: You need a first child-support order, or your current order no longer fits your incomes or parenting time.

    View guide
  • Paternity

    Juvenile Court $200 parentage filing in the Domestic Relations Court

    Best for: The parents were not married when the child was born and no father is legally established.

    View guide
  • Shared Parenting

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court $200 parentage filing for never-married parents

    Best for: Both parents want to be named residential parent and legal custodian.

    View guide
  • Non-Parent Custody

    Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: You are a grandparent, relative, or caregiver seeking legal custody of a child.

    View guide

Changing or Enforcing Orders

  • Modifications

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court $200 post-decree filing (support/parenting/show cause) · Foreign Order Registration $200

    Best for: There's a real change of circumstances since the last order (move, job change, schedule, child's needs).

    View guide
  • Contempt

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court $200 show-cause filing

    Best for: There is a clear court order and the other party is violating it.

    View guide

Emergency & Safety

  • Emergency Custody

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: A child is in immediate danger or at risk of imminent harm.

    View guide
  • CPO

    Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: You and the respondent are family or household members — spouse, ex, co-parent, intimate partner, blood relative, or current/former cohabitant — OR you are (or were within 12 months) in a dating relationship.

    View guide

The Medina County family-law guide

Verified June 25, 2026

Download our free Medina 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 Medina County family-law guide (PDF)

Talk to a Medina County family-law attorney

Sources we checked

  • Medina County Clerk of Courts — Domestic Relations Division fee schedule (effective 1/1/2024)
  • Medina County Juvenile Court fee schedule (Med Juv L R 10, eff. 2/24/2023); Probate Court Cost Deposit Schedule (eff. 2/24/2023)
  • Medina County Domestic Relations Court — FOCUS Seminar for Divorcing and Separating Parents

What we confirmed for 2026

  • Added rich county-hub enrichment for Medina: keyFees (divorce/annulment/legal separation $350/$400, dissolution $325/$350, parentage $200, juvenile new custody/visitation $180, stepparent adoption $400/child, DVCPO no charge) and the FOCUS parenting seminar (prepaid by filing deposit).
  • All amounts grounded in the Medina County court skill (DR fees eff. 1/1/2024; Juvenile/Probate schedules eff. 2/24/2023).
  • Verified 2026-06-25 against the Medina County court skill references.

Medina County family-law courts

Domestic Relations Court

Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and spousal support for married spouses

Medina County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division
225 East Washington Street, Medina, OH 44256
Medina, OH 44256
Phone: (330) 725-9740
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Visit the Domestic Relations Court website

Court divisions, filing fees, and local requirements can change. Confirm the correct court, current fees, and required forms with the Medina County Clerk of Courts before you file.

Why Medina County is different

Parentage in DR vs. custody in Juvenile

In Medina, a Complaint for Parentage may be filed in the Domestic Relations Division ($200); the separate Juvenile Court then hears custody/visitation actions at the $180 new-case rate after parentage is established. (Medina skill: fees.md)

FOCUS seminar is prepaid by your filing deposit

All parents with minor children in a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation must complete the FOCUS seminar; there is no separate charge because it is prepaid by the filing deposit. Register with the Family Court Resources Department at (234) 802-0944. Deadlines: within 45 days after service (divorce/legal separation) or within 45 days of filing and before the final hearing (dissolution). (Medina skill: parenting-education.md)

Online alternatives at your own cost

Instead of FOCUS, a parent may take a pre-approved online program — Children in Between (Niños in Medio) or Two Families Now — at their own cost, then file the completion certificate with the Clerk. (Medina skill: parenting-education.md)

Court filing fees in Medina County

Domestic Relations Court

  • Divorce, annulment, or legal separation (no minor children): $350
  • Divorce, annulment, or legal separation (with minor children): $400
  • Dissolution (no minor children): $325
  • Dissolution (with minor children): $350
  • Parentage or paternity complaint: $200
  • Petition for DVCPO: No charge — No filing fee is charged to a DVCPO petitioner.

Juvenile Court

  • New custody and/or visitation case: $180

Probate Court

  • Stepparent adoption (per child): $400

These are court deposits and can change. Confirm current amounts with the Medina County Clerk of Courts before you file.

Parent education in Medina County

  • FOCUS — Seminar for Divorcing and Separating Parents — Prepaid by the filing deposit (no separate charge) · Zoom evening session or in-person daytime session at the courthouse · Required
    Required of all parents with minor children in a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation; register with the Family Court Resources Department at (234) 802-0944. Two pre-approved online alternatives (Children in Between, Two Families Now) may be taken instead at the parent's own cost.

Free local resources in Medina County

  • Medina County Domestic Relations Court — Local forms, local rules, and case information for divorce, dissolution, custody, support, and protection orders at medinadr.org. The Forms page is medinadr.org/forms.html. Court staff cannot give legal advice or help complete forms.
  • Ohio Child Support Calculator — The state's official 2024 Income Shares worksheet at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. Run it, print, and sign it before any hearing that sets or changes support.
  • FOCUS — Family Court Resources parenting program — The court-provided parenting class for parents of minor children, prepaid through the filing deposit and coordinated by Family Court Resources (234-802-0944). Approved online alternatives are Children in Between and Two Families Now.
  • Community Legal Aid Services — Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents of Medina County and northeast Ohio. Intake line 1-800-998-9454.

Frequently asked questions

Does Gavvl Law serve Medina County, Ohio?

Yes. Gavvl Law represents families across all 88 Ohio counties, including Medina County and Medina. We handle divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and other family law matters for Medina County residents.

Which Medina County court handles my family law case?

Most Medina County family law cases are heard at Medina County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations 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 Medina County Clerk of Courts before you start.

How much does it cost to file a family law case in Medina County?

Court filing fees in Medina County are deposits that vary by case type — for example, the deposit for Divorce, annulment, or legal separation (no minor children) is about $350. These deposits can change and do not include attorney fees. Confirm the current schedule with the Medina 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 Medina County?

Yes. Medina County requires parents in divorce, dissolution, and most custody cases to complete a parenting class — FOCUS — Seminar for Divorcing and Separating Parents (Prepaid by the filing deposit (no separate charge)). Required of all parents with minor children in a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation; register with the Family Court Resources Department at (234) 802-0944. Two pre-approved online alternatives (Children in Between, Two Families Now) may be taken instead at the parent's own cost.

Can I file Medina 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 Medina County Clerk of Courts website for the current options before you prepare your documents.

How long does a divorce or dissolution take in Medina 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. Medina County's docket affects timing, so ask about current wait times at your consultation.

What family law services does Gavvl Law offer in Medina County?

Gavvl Law offers divorce, dissolution, legal separation, custody, shared parenting, child support, paternity, post-decree modifications, and more for Medina County families. Choose a service below to see the local process and forms.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.