Filing for Annulment in Medina County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 8, 2026

Medina County, Ohio · Medina

An annulment treats a marriage as if it never legally existed, available only on specific Ohio grounds such as bigamy, underage marriage, fraud, force, or incapacity. The Medina County Domestic Relations Court at 225 East Washington Street handles annulments, which are rarer and more fact-specific than divorce.

How do I get an annulment in Medina County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Annulment with the Medina County Domestic Relations Court at 225 East Washington Street, Medina, OH 44256, stating the specific statutory ground — bigamy, marriage under age 18 without consent, mental incapacity, fraud, force, or an unconsummated marriage. Pull the current packet from the court's Forms page at medinadr.org/forms.html and confirm whether a local annulment complaint form is posted. Deposits are $350 without minor children and $400 with. You or your spouse must meet the 6-month Ohio and 90-day Medina County residency requirements, and an annulment must be sought promptly after discovering the ground. If granted, the marriage is declared void; if denied, you may pursue a divorce or dissolution instead.

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

PathEnds the marriage?Agreement required?Best when
DissolutionYesYes — on every term before filingBoth spouses agree on everything and want the fastest, lowest-cost path
Divorce (contested)YesNoSpouses disagree on property, support, or parenting and need a judge to decide
Divorce (uncontested / default)YesNoOne spouse will not respond or cannot be located
Legal separationNo — you stay marriedOptionalYou need court orders but must stay married (religion, insurance, or benefits)
AnnulmentTreated as never validNoThe marriage was never legally valid (fraud, bigamy, underage, or incapacity)

Where to File: 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.
Website: medinadr.org/

Annulment is the right path if…

  • Your marriage may be voidable on a specific Ohio ground (bigamy, underage, fraud, force, incapacity, or non-consummation).
  • You acted promptly after discovering the ground.
  • You want the marriage declared void rather than ended by divorce.
  • You or your spouse meet the 6-month Ohio and 90-day Medina County residency requirements.

Most marriages don't qualify for annulment. If yours doesn't, a divorce or dissolution is the right path. See Medina divorce options.

Filing Fees

$350 deposit without minor children · $400 with minor children (eff. 1/1/2024) · Granted only on specific statutory grounds

Forms & Filing Packets

Annulment complaint

Filed at the Medina County Domestic Relations Court, 225 East Washington Street. The complaint must state a specific statutory ground and be brought promptly after the ground is discovered.

Annulment with minor children — $400 deposit

How to File Annulment in Medina County

  1. Identify the statutory ground. Confirm your situation fits an Ohio annulment ground and that you are acting promptly after discovering it.
  2. Prepare the complaint. Draft a Complaint for Annulment stating the facts of the ground, using the current packet from the Medina DR Forms page.
  3. File and pay the deposit. File with the Domestic Relations Court at 225 East Washington Street (or by email) and pay the Clerk's deposit — $350 without children, $400 with. Arrange service on your spouse.
  4. Attend the hearing. Prove the ground at the hearing. If the annulment is denied, you can pursue a divorce or dissolution.

Medina County Practice Notes

  • Annulment requires a statutory ground. Ohio annulments are limited to bigamy, marriage under age 18 without consent, mental incapacity, fraud, force, or an unconsummated marriage. Without one of these grounds, the court cannot annul — you would need a divorce or dissolution.
  • Children of an annulled marriage are still legitimate. Even if a marriage is annulled, children born during it remain legitimate, and the court still allocates custody and sets support. The FOCUS parenting class applies when there are minor children.
  • Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Medina County?
For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months before filing and a Medina County resident for at least 90 days. For dissolution, only the 6-month Ohio residency applies. For custody or parentage cases, Ohio must be the children's 'home state' under the UCCJEA, which generally means they have lived in Ohio for the last 6 months. All of these are filed in the Domestic Relations Court at 225 East Washington Street, Medina.
How much does it cost to file in Medina County?
Filing deposits at the Medina County Domestic Relations Court (effective 1/1/2024) are $400 for a divorce with minor children and $350 without; $350 for a dissolution with children and $325 without; and $200 for a parentage or post-decree filing. The deposit for cases with children covers the court's FOCUS parenting program. Clerk questions go to (330) 725-9722. If you cannot afford the deposit, ask about a payment plan when you file or submit a Poverty Affidavit asking the court to waive it.
How long does a Medina County case usually take?
A dissolution is heard 30–90 days after filing. An uncontested (default) divorce, where the other spouse won't respond, typically finishes in a few months. A contested divorce usually runs 8–18 months depending on temporary-orders activity, discovery, and the magistrate's calendar. The defendant has 28 days to file an Answer after being served. Docket questions go to (330) 764-8298.
Can I e-file in Medina County Domestic Relations Court?
Yes. The Medina County Domestic Relations Court accepts email filings at mccc-drefiling@medinacounty.gov — include the case number in the subject line. Court forms and local rules are posted at medinadr.org, and the court's Forms page is at medinadr.org/forms.html. Online payment of deposits is available through the Clerk.

Free Local Resources in Medina County

  • Medina County Domestic Relations Court. Local forms, local rules, email-filing instructions, 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.

Other Family-Law Topics in Medina County

Related to your annulment case

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

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on annulment and related Ohio family law topics.

Keep exploring

Call (216) 868-8005 or email support@gavvl.com.