Montgomery County Divorce & Family Law Attorneys
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026
Gavvl Law represents Dayton and Montgomery County families in divorce, dissolution, custody and shared parenting, child support, paternity, and civil protection orders. Choose flat-fee, limited-scope help or full representation, and start with a $25 consultation — backed by our verified Montgomery County court guide.
How we can help in Montgomery County
Ending a Marriage
- Divorce
Domestic Relations Court ~$375 without children · ~$475 with children
Best for: You and your spouse don't agree on everything — custody, money, property, debt, or support.
View guide - Dissolution
Domestic Relations Court ~$300 without children · ~$400 with children
Best for: You and your spouse agree on every issue — property, debts, support, and parenting — before filing.
View guide - Legal Separation
Domestic Relations Court ~$300 without children · ~$400 with children
Best for: You want to divide finances and set parenting terms but stay legally married.
View guide - Annulment
Domestic Relations Court ~$300 deposit plus Mont. D.R. Rule 2 surcharges
Best for: Your marriage qualifies under an R.C. 3105.31 ground (bigamy, fraud, underage, incapacity, or never consummated).
View guide
Parents & Children
- Custody
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court DR custody (inside divorce): included in $375/$475 divorce deposit · Family Relations custody investigation $1,000
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 cash medical support $510.21/child/year
Best for: You need a first child-support order, or a IV-D case opened with the county CSEA for your child support matters.
View guide - Paternity
Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: The parents were never married and legal fatherhood has not been established.
View guide - Shared Parenting
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
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 deposit at DR
Best for: An existing order no longer fits because of a real change in circumstances.
View guide - Contempt
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court ~$200 post-decree deposit at DR
Best for: The other party is violating a court order for parenting time, custody, or support.
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 - Protection Orders
Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: You've been threatened, harmed, or stalked by a family or household member.
View guide
The Montgomery County family-law guide
Verified June 20, 2026
Download our free Montgomery 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 Montgomery County family-law guide (PDF)
Talk to a Montgomery County family-law attorney
Sources we checked
- Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court — Local Rules & Parent Education (drcourt.mcohio.org)
- Montgomery County Clerk of Courts — Filing Costs & Fees (montgomerycountyclerkoh.gov)
- Montgomery County Juvenile Court — Filing Fees & Forms
- Ohio Supreme Court — Standard Domestic Relations forms
What we confirmed for 2026
- 2026 Domestic Relations deposits confirmed: divorce $375 without minor children and $475 with children; dissolution $300 without children and $400 with children; legal separation $300/$400.
- Most post-decree motions cost $200, and a 3% convenience fee applies to e-filing and credit-card payments.
- Attorneys must e-file; self-represented filers cannot e-file and instead submit every document to the court's Compliance Office, which reviews each self-represented filing before it reaches the Clerk.
- Both parents must complete the mandatory "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" class, offered through Sinclair Community College.
- Never-married parents file custody, parenting time, and support in the Juvenile Court — confirm its current filing fee with that court, as the amount isn't published in a fixed schedule.
Montgomery County family-law courts
Domestic Relations Court
Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and spousal support for married spouses
Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division
301 West Third Street, 2nd & 3rd Floor, Dayton, OH 45422
Dayton, OH 45422
Phone: (937) 225-4063
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–1:15 p.m.)
Juvenile Court
Custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity for unmarried parents
Montgomery County Juvenile Court
380 West Second Street, Dayton, OH 45422
Dayton, OH 45422
Phone: (937) 496-7908
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Court divisions, filing fees, and local requirements can change. Confirm the correct court, current fees, and required forms with the Montgomery County Clerk of Courts before you file.
Why Montgomery County is different
Self-filers go through the Compliance Office
Attorneys must e-file in Montgomery County, but self-represented people cannot. Instead you take every document to the Domestic Relations Compliance Office, which reviews each self-represented filing before it is filed with the Clerk (Local Rule 1.3). Build in time for that review when you plan your filing. (Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court)
Plan for the 3% e-file and card fee
A 3% convenience fee is added to e-filing and credit-card payments on top of the filing deposit, so your actual out-of-pocket cost is a little higher than the deposit amount alone. (Montgomery County Clerk of Courts)
Updated standard parenting-time order in 2026
The court's Standard Order of Parenting Time (about 90 overnights) applies to orders effective January 1, 2026 (Local Rule 5.8). Ask the court whether the updated schedule applies to your case. (Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court)
Who you'll work with in Montgomery County
Montgomery County filings are handled by Gavvl Law's Dayton team. We serve all 88 Ohio counties, consultations run by phone or video so you never have to leave work early, and flat-fee pricing is set out before you sign anything.
- Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder. Co-founded Gavvl Law and leads the team covering Dayton and Greater Cincinnati family-law matters, including Montgomery County filings.
- Samantha Berkhofer — Of Counsel Attorney. Handles Dayton-area divorce, dissolution, and custody matters for Montgomery County families.
- Eric Sommer — Of Counsel Attorney. Works with Dayton-area clients on family-law filings, from support modifications to contested divorce.
Ohio families rate Gavvl Law 4.8/5 across 90+ Google reviews.
Free local resources in Montgomery County
- Montgomery County DR Court — Ohio Legal Help Self-Help Portal — Free step-by-step interviews and fillable forms for Montgomery County divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, custody, support, and protection-order cases at mcdrc.ohiolegalhelp.org.
- Montgomery County DR Court Navigator & Legal Clinic — The Court Navigator (Room 222, (937) 496-7766) and the free virtual Legal Clinic with the Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project (2nd Tuesday and 3rd Thursday monthly) help self-represented parties understand procedures and complete forms.
- Montgomery County Juvenile Court Citizen Services — Free pro se assistance for custody, parenting time, child support, paternity, contempt, and grandparent filings at (937) 224-3977, citizen.services@mcjcohio.org — walk-in Monday/Tuesday, by appointment Wednesday–Friday.
- Montgomery County CSEA — The county IV-D child-support agency at (937) 225-4600, 1111 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., opens cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gavvl Law serve Montgomery County, Ohio?
Yes. Gavvl Law represents families across all 88 Ohio counties, including Montgomery County and Dayton. We handle divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and other family law matters for Montgomery County residents.
Which Montgomery County court handles my family law case?
Montgomery County uses different courts for different family matters. Married spouses file for divorce, dissolution, or legal separation at Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division. Unmarried parents handle custody, parenting time, and child support at Montgomery County Juvenile Court. Filing in the wrong court can delay your case, so confirm where your matter belongs with the Montgomery County Clerk of Courts before you start.
How much does it cost to file a family law case in Montgomery County?
Court filing fees in Montgomery County are deposits that vary by case type. These deposits can change and do not include attorney fees. Confirm the current schedule with the Montgomery 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 Montgomery County?
Most Ohio courts require divorcing or separating parents to complete a short parenting or co-parenting class before a judge will finalize the case. Confirm Montgomery County's current requirement and approved providers with the Clerk of Courts.
Can I file Montgomery County family law forms online?
Yes. Montgomery County accepts electronic filing through its court e-filing portal, and self-represented (pro se) registration is typically available. Not every case type is eligible, so confirm what you can e-file — and any convenience fees — with the Montgomery County Clerk of Courts.
How long does a divorce or dissolution take in Montgomery 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. Montgomery County's docket affects timing, so ask about current wait times at your consultation.
What family law services does Gavvl Law offer in Montgomery County?
Gavvl Law offers divorce, dissolution, legal separation, custody, shared parenting, child support, paternity, post-decree modifications, and more for Montgomery County families. Choose a service below to see the local process and forms.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
