Filing for Dissolution in Miami County

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

Miami County, Ohio · Troy

A dissolution is a no-fault, fully agreed way to end a marriage. Both spouses sign a Separation Agreement (and, with children, a parenting plan) covering all property, debt, support, and parenting before filing a joint Petition for Dissolution. No one is "sued." The case is filed with the Clerk of Courts and heard in the General Division 30 to 90 days after filing.

How do I file for dissolution in Miami County, Ohio?

First reach full agreement and sign a Separation Agreement (Form 19) — and, with children, a parenting plan or Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20). Then both spouses jointly file a Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) with the Clerk of Courts, (937) 440-6046, with the Appendix A packet (income/expense and property affidavits, Form D.R. 01, and, with children, the parenting and health-insurance affidavits, the DR-16 support order, a child-support worksheet, and the IV-D application). E-filing is mandatory as of June 1, 2026. With minor children, both parents complete the parenting seminar before the decree is filed. The court holds the hearing 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64).

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: Miami County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

215 W. Main Street, Troy, OH 45373
Phone: (937) 440-3930
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk of Courts, (937) 440-6046)
Website: www.miamicountyohio.gov/common-pleas/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Miami County Juvenile Court
2040 North County Road 25-A, Troy, OH 45373
Phone: (937) 440-5970
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (Local Juv. R. 18.01)

Dissolution is the right path if…

You and your spouse agree on everything — property, debt, support, and parenting.
You can both sign a Separation Agreement (and a parenting plan, if you have children) before filing.
You are both willing to appear at the hearing 30–90 days after filing and confirm the agreement.
If you have minor children, you can complete the parenting seminar before the decree is filed.

Filing Fees

Deposit set by the Clerk and collected through the e-file system — confirm at (937) 440-6046 · hearing held 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64) · Affidavit of Indigency available · parenting seminar (with children) cost set by the provider.

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution with no minor children — Deposit set by the Clerk — confirm at (937) 440-6046; Affidavit of Indigency available

Both spouses sign the Separation Agreement, then jointly file the Petition with the Appendix A affidavits and the proposed decree.

Petition for Dissolution (Form 17, without children) — The joint petition both spouses sign to ask the court for a dissolution when there are no minor children.
Separation Agreement (Form 19, without children) — The signed, notarized contract dividing property and debt and setting any spousal support. Required before filing a dissolution.
Form D.R. 01 — Case Information Sheet (no minor children) — The Domestic Relations information sheet required with the complaint as part of the Appendix A packet.
Affidavit 1 — Income & Expenses (dissolution) — Each spouse's sworn income and expenses, filed as part of the Appendix A packet.
Affidavit 2 — Property (dissolution) — Lists all assets and debts. Required with the dissolution petition.
Judgment Entry / Decree of Dissolution (Form 18) — The proposed final order ending the marriage; the court signs it at the hearing.
Parties' Sworn Acknowledgements & Waiver of Magistrate's Decision — The acknowledgements and waiver many spouses sign in a dissolution so the magistrate's decision can be adopted promptly.

Dissolution with at least one minor child — Deposit set by the Clerk — confirm at (937) 440-6046; Affidavit of Indigency available

Both spouses sign the Separation Agreement and a parenting plan (or Shared Parenting Plan), then jointly file the Petition with the Appendix A affidavits, the DR-16 support order, a child-support worksheet, the IV-D application, and the proposed decree.

Petition for Dissolution (Form 17, with at least one minor child) — The joint petition both spouses sign to ask the court for a dissolution when they have minor children.
Separation Agreement (Form 19, with at least one minor child) — The signed, notarized agreement dividing property, debt, and support. Filed with the dissolution petition.
Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) — Filed when both parents will be designated residential parents and legal custodians under R.C. 3109.04(G).
Affidavit 1 — Income & Expenses (dissolution, with children) — Each parent's sworn income and expenses, filed with the dissolution petition.
Affidavit 2 — Property (dissolution, with children) — Lists all assets and debts. Required with the dissolution petition.
Affidavit 3 — Parenting Proceeding (dissolution, UCCJEA) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
Affidavit 4 — Health Insurance (dissolution) — Discloses available children's health insurance for the medical-support order.
DR-16 Support Order (Word) — The Domestic Relations child-support order worksheet/entry (Local R. 8.12), filed with the support computation.
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.
IV-D Application (dissolution) — Opens a CSEA child-support case so support can be collected and enforced. Filed with a dissolution involving children.
Judgment Entry / Decree of Dissolution (with children) — The proposed final order ending the marriage and incorporating the agreement and parenting plan.

How to File Dissolution in Miami County

Reach full agreement. Prepare and sign a Separation Agreement (Form 19) dividing property and debt and setting any spousal support — and, with children, a parenting plan or Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20).
Assemble the petition packet. File the joint Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) with the Appendix A affidavits, Form D.R. 01, and — with children — the support worksheet, DR-16 order, and IV-D application.
File with the Clerk. E-file with the Clerk of Courts (mandatory as of June 1, 2026). If only one spouse has a lawyer, the other files a Form DR 4 waiver of counsel (Local R. 8.11). Confirm the deposit at (937) 440-6046.
Complete the parenting seminar. With minor children, both parents complete "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" before the decree is filed (Local R. 8.06).
Attend the hearing. Between 30 and 90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64), both spouses appear, confirm they still agree, and the court issues the Decree of Dissolution (Form 18).

Miami County Practice Notes

No separate Domestic Relations court. Miami County has no standalone Domestic Relations court. The General Division of the Common Pleas Court — Judges Jeannine Pratt and Stacy Wall, who also constitute the Domestic Relations Division — hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases, with domestic-relations magistrates handling much of the process. All DR documents are filed through the Clerk of Courts, (937) 440-6046.
Waiver of counsel when only one spouse has a lawyer. If only one spouse is represented, the unrepresented spouse must file a written Form DR 4 waiver of counsel (Local R. 8.11). The form is obtained from the Clerk.
Parenting seminar: "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce". Parents of children under 18 in a divorce, dissolution, or paternity case must complete the seminar (Local R. 8.06). Sessions are Wednesday mornings (~2.5 hours). Complete it before the dissolution decree is filed, or within 45 days of service in a divorce. To reschedule, contact the office of the Magistrate assigned to your case. Skipping it can delay the decree or lead to denial of court-ordered parenting time.
Confirm the deposit with the Clerk. Miami County does not publish a flat DR deposit schedule online; the exact deposit is set by the Clerk of Courts and collected through the e-file system. Confirm the current amount before filing at (937) 440-6046, or file an Affidavit of Indigency to ask the court to waive the deposit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a dissolution take in Miami County?: After both spouses file a joint Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) with a signed Separation Agreement, the court holds the hearing between 30 and 90 days later (R.C. 3105.64). Both spouses must appear and confirm they still agree, and the court then issues the Decree of Dissolution (Form 18). With minor children, both parents must complete the parenting seminar before the decree is filed.
What is the difference between divorce and dissolution in Miami County?: A dissolution is a no-fault, fully agreed end to a marriage: both spouses sign a Separation Agreement (and, with children, a parenting plan) before filing a joint Petition for Dissolution (Form 17), and the court holds a hearing 30–90 days later (R.C. 3105.64). A divorce is used when the spouses do not fully agree or one spouse files against the other; it can involve temporary orders, a pretrial, and a trial. If spouses stop agreeing during a dissolution, the case can convert to a divorce.
Is a parenting class required in Miami County?: Yes, when minor children are involved. Parents in an original divorce, dissolution, or paternity case must complete the county seminar "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" (Local R. 8.06). Sessions are held Wednesday mornings and last about 2.5 hours. Complete the seminar before the dissolution decree is filed, or within 45 days of service in a divorce. To reschedule, contact the office of the Magistrate assigned to your case. Failure to complete it can delay your decree or result in denial of court-ordered parenting time.
How much is the filing deposit in Miami County?: Miami County does not publish a flat divorce/dissolution/legal-separation deposit schedule online; the Clerk of Courts sets the deposit and collects it through the e-file system. Confirm the current amount before filing at (937) 440-6046. If you cannot afford it, file an Affidavit of Indigency to ask the court to waive the deposit.
How many copies and what packet do I need to file in Miami County?: File the original plus four copies when there are minor children, or the original plus three copies when there are none (Local R. 8.01(F)). Every DR complaint, petition, or post-decree motion must also include the full Appendix A required-filings packet (income/expense and property affidavits, and — with children — the parenting and health-insurance affidavits, a support order, the IV-D application, and the Form D.R. 01 information sheet) or the Clerk will reject the filing (Local R. 8.01(A)).
Do I have to e-file my case in Miami County?: Yes, for most Common Pleas (including Domestic Relations) cases. E-filing is mandatory effective June 1, 2026 under E-Filing Local Rule 22, and deposits and fees are paid through the e-file system. A few filings stay on paper: civil protection orders, garnishments, QDRO/DOPO division-of-property orders, and filings by vexatious litigators. Juvenile post-complaint documents under 26 pages that require no deposit may be emailed to juvenilefile@miamicountyohio.gov.

Free Local Resources in Miami County

Miami County Clerk of Courts (Common Pleas / Domestic Relations). 215 W. Main Street, Troy, OH 45373; (937) 440-6046. Files all Domestic Relations documents and collects deposits through the e-file system (mandatory as of June 1, 2026). Confirm the current divorce/dissolution/legal-separation deposit here, or file an Affidavit of Indigency to seek a waiver.
Miami County Domestic Relations Forms. https://www.miamicountyohio.gov/domestic-relations-forms/ — the county's DR forms, organized by case type, plus Appendix A (the required-filings checklist). Do not print forms double-sided.
Parenting seminar — "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce". https://www.miamicountyohio.gov/parenting-seminar/ — required for parents of children under 18 in a divorce, dissolution, or paternity case (Local R. 8.06). Sessions are Wednesday mornings (~2.5 hours); complete before the dissolution decree is filed or within 45 days of service. Reschedule through the assigned Magistrate's office.
Miami County Juvenile Court. 2040 North County Road 25-A, Troy, OH 45373; (937) 440-5970 (Clerk, option 2); juvenilefile@miamicountyohio.gov. Judge Scott Altenburger. Decides parentage, custody, support, and parenting time for unmarried parents and non-parent legal custody. Paternity/custody/visitation: $135.00 per child (no fee to CSEA or Children's Services).
Miami County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). https://www.miamicountyohio.gov/child-support-enforcement-agency-csea/ — opens IV-D cases, calculates support, collects by wage withholding through Ohio Child Support Payment Central, and enforces orders. No filing fee is charged to CSEA (Local Juv. R. 4.06).
Miami County Probate Court. 215 W. Main Street, Troy, OH 45373; (937) 440-6050. Judge Scott Altenburger. Handles adoptions, name changes, marriage licenses, and minor guardianships. Accepts the Supreme Court of Ohio Probate standardized forms plus local forms.

Related to your dissolution case

Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on dissolution 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.
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.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Dissolution guide — Statewide overview of dissolution in Ohio.
Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.

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.

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