Annulment in Mercer County, Ohio

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

Mercer County, Ohio · Celina · General Division

An annulment declares that a marriage was never legally valid — different from a divorce, which ends a valid marriage. Annulments are rare and fact-specific, with narrow grounds and strict time limits, and are filed in the General Division.

How do I file for annulment in Mercer County, Ohio?

An annulment declares a marriage void or voidable on narrow R.C. 3105.31 grounds (for example, bigamy, under-age without consent, fraud, or incapacity) with strict time limits. There is no separate annulment packet — under Mercer Co. Loc.R. 15.01 you file on the same complaint forms as a divorce/legal separation (UDRF 6 without children or UDRF 7 with children), with the supporting affidavits and the SO 1 restraint order, with the Clerk of Courts in the General Division. The Clerk's published fee schedule has no separate 'annulment' line, so confirm the exact deposit with the Clerk at 419-586-6461. Most people who want to end a valid marriage file 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

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: Mercer County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Clerk of Courts, Legal Division)

101 N Main St, Room 205, PO Box 28, Celina, OH 45822
Phone: (419) 586-6461
Hours: Monday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
Website: www.mercercountyoh.gov/elected-officials/clerk-of-courts/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Mercer County Court of Common Pleas — Probate/Juvenile Division
101 N Main St, Suite 307, Celina, OH 45822
Phone: (419) 586-1249
Hours: Monday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM

Annulment is the right path if…

An annulment may fit in Mercer County if…

You believe your marriage was never legally valid on a recognized R.C. 3105.31 ground.
Your situation involves bigamy, under-age without consent, fraud, incapacity, or a similar ground.
You can act within the strict statutory time limits for annulment.
You understand annulment is narrow and fact-specific — not an 'easier divorce.'
You're prepared to file in the General Division on the divorce complaint forms.

Filing Fees

Filed under the Domestic Relations schedule (no separate 'annulment' line on the Clerk's schedule) — confirm the exact deposit with the Clerk at 419-586-6461. Fee waiver under Loc.R. 2.05 (CM 31).

Forms & Filing Packets

Annulment without minor children — Filed under the DR schedule — confirm with the Clerk

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.
Domestic Relations Restraint Order (Mercer SO 1) — Mercer County's mutual restraining order, filed with the divorce, legal-separation, or annulment complaint to preserve the status quo — restraining both spouses regarding marital assets, debts, insurance, and the children for the duration of the case.

Annulment with minor children — Filed under the DR schedule — confirm with the Clerk

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.
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.
Domestic Relations Restraint Order (Mercer SO 1) — Mercer County's mutual restraining order, filed with the divorce, legal-separation, or annulment complaint to preserve the status quo — restraining both spouses regarding marital assets, debts, insurance, and the children for the duration of the case.

How to File Annulment in Mercer County

Confirm you have a valid ground. Annulment requires a narrow R.C. 3105.31 ground (bigamy, under-age without consent, fraud, incapacity, etc.) and is subject to strict time limits. Talk to a lawyer about whether your facts qualify — most people end a valid marriage by divorce or dissolution instead.
Prepare the complaint forms. There is no separate annulment packet. File on the same complaint forms as a divorce/legal separation — UDRF 6 (no children) or UDRF 7 (with children) — with the supporting affidavits and the SO 1 restraint order (Loc.R. 15.01).
File and confirm the fee. File with the Clerk of Courts in the General Division (Room 205). The Clerk's schedule has no separate annulment line, so confirm the exact deposit at 419-586-6461, or file a CM 31 fee waiver.
Attend the hearing. The General Division judge decides whether the marriage was void or voidable on the alleged ground. If granted, the court treats the marriage as never legally valid.

Mercer County Practice Notes

Annulment is not 'an easier divorce'. An annulment declares a marriage was never valid on narrow R.C. 3105.31 grounds with strict time limits — it is harder, not easier, than a divorce. Most people who want to end a valid marriage file a divorce or dissolution.
No separate annulment packet. Under Mercer Co. Loc.R. 15.01(A)/(B), an annulment is filed on the same complaint forms as a divorce/legal separation, with the supporting affidavits and SO 1. The Clerk's published fee schedule has no separate annulment line — confirm the exact deposit with the Clerk (419-586-6461).
Two courts, two judges named Matthew. Mercer County splits family law between two courts in the same building. The Court of Common Pleas General Division (Judge Matthew K. Fox, Room 301) hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, DR post-decree motions, and DVCPOs; cases are filed with the Clerk of Courts (Room 205). The combined Probate/Juvenile Division (Judge Matthew L. Gilmore, Suite 307) hears never-married parentage, custody, parenting time, and support. The same magistrate, Richard M. Delzeith, serves both courts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is an annulment different from a divorce in Mercer County?: An annulment declares that a marriage was never legally valid (for example, bigamy, under-age without consent, fraud, or incapacity) on narrow R.C. 3105.31 grounds with strict time limits. It is filed on the same complaint forms as a divorce/legal separation in the General Division. Annulments are rare and fact-specific — confirm the exact deposit with the Clerk (419-586-6461).
Is an uncontested divorce the same as a dissolution in Mercer County?: No. A dissolution is a joint filing used only when both spouses already agree on everything and sign a Separation Agreement first. An uncontested (default-style) divorce is still a lawsuit — used when a spouse won't participate or can't be found and is served by publication or posting (Civ.R. 4.4).
Which divorce forms does Mercer County use?: A mix: the statewide Uniform Domestic Relations Forms (Complaint 6 without children or 7 with children, plus Affidavits 1–4) together with Mercer's local forms — the SO 1 restraint order, the SO 2 parenting-time schedule, the DR 3/DR 4 child-support worksheet, the DR 7 A-OK parenting notice, and the DR 10 IV-D application.
Is a legal separation the same as a divorce in Mercer County?: No. A legal separation lets the court divide property and debt and order custody, parenting time, and support without ending the marriage — you stay legally married and cannot remarry. It is filed on the same complaint forms as a divorce (UDRF 6 or 7) in the General Division and can later be converted to a divorce.

Free Local Resources in Mercer County

Mercer County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division (divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, CPO). Clerk Calvin Freeman, 101 N. Main St., Room 205, PO Box 28, Celina, OH 45822; (419) 586-6461; fax (419) 586-5826; clerk@mercercountycourts.com. Files all Domestic Relations and civil cases and confirms current deposits (divorce, dissolution, and post-decree motions are each a $350 deposit eff. 4/1/2024). No personal checks — cash, money order, or cashier's check, or pay online via LexisNexis. Court staff cannot give legal advice. Confirm the current amount and any e-filing registration (Common Pleas Loc.R. 29) with the Clerk before filing.
Mercer County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (hears all Domestic Relations cases). Judge Matthew K. Fox, Magistrate Richard M. Delzeith, 101 N. Main St., Room 301, Celina, OH 45822; (419) 586-2122; cpc@mercercountycourts.com. Decides divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, DR post-decree, and domestic-violence civil protection orders. There is no separate Domestic Relations court.
Mercer County Probate/Juvenile Division (never-married parents, non-parent custody). Judge Matthew L. Gilmore, Suite 307 (3rd floor), 101 N. Main St., Celina, OH 45822; juvenile line (419) 586-1249 or (419) 586-2418; fax (419) 586-4506; https://mercercountycourts.com/index.php. Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents, plus grandparent and other non-parent custody. New custody/support/visitation/paternity cases carry a $200 deposit (plus a $25 stenographer's fee); confirm current amounts with the court.
Mercer County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 220 W. Livingston St., Room B181, PO Box 649, Celina, OH 45822-0649; (419) 586-7961; toll-free 800-207-3597; fax (419) 586-2151; hours M–F 8:30 AM–4:00 PM. Opens IV-D child-support cases, establishes paternity administratively, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders.
A-OK Parenting Program (required for divorce/dissolution with minor children). Mercer County requires each parent in a divorce or dissolution with minor children to attend the A-OK Parenting Program before the final hearing (Common Pleas Loc.R. 21.02). Cost is a one-time $30 per person, paid at the class; you are registered automatically when you file, and the court mails your assigned date. The program runs 6:00–9:00 PM on the 4th Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September, and November in Room 303 of the courthouse. Juvenile (never-married) cases are generally not ordered into A-OK. Call (419) 586-2122 to reschedule.
Ohio Legal Help & legal aid. Ohio Legal Help (https://www.ohiolegalhelp.org/) has plain-English guides and the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms for divorce, custody, support, and protection orders. Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO) serves Mercer County for income-eligible residents — confirm the current intake line.

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.

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 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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Annulment guide — Statewide overview of annulment in Ohio.
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