Dissolution of Marriage in Noble County, Ohio

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

Noble County, Ohio · Caldwell · General Division

A dissolution is the fully agreed way to end a marriage. You and your spouse settle everything first, write it into a Separation Agreement, and file jointly as petitioners in the General Division through the Clerk of Courts at 350 Court House, Caldwell.

How does a dissolution work in Noble County, Ohio?

Reach a complete agreement and put it in an Ohio Supreme Court standardized Separation Agreement (plus a Parenting Plan and Child Support Worksheet if you have children). File the joint Petition for Dissolution with the agreement, the county Information Sheet (DR-1, Local Rule 21.03), and the UCCJEA affidavit if there are children, with the Clerk of Courts at 350 Court House, Caldwell, and pay the $200 deposit. The Assignment Commissioner sets a hearing 30–90 days out; both spouses must appear, and the court grants the dissolution if the agreement is fair and you still agree.

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: Noble County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Clerk of Courts)

350 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724
Phone: (740) 732-4408
Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Thu 8:00 AM–12:00 PM (no Thursday afternoon court session)
Website: noblecommonpleas.org/
e-Filing: https://efile.henschen.com

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Noble County Court of Common Pleas — Juvenile Division
280 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724
Phone: (740) 732-5047
Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Thu 8:00 AM–12:00 PM

Dissolution is the right path if…

Dissolution is the right path in Noble County if…

You and your spouse agree on all terms — property, debts, spousal support, and (if you have children) custody, parenting time, and child support.
You want the fastest, least adversarial path (a 30–90 day hearing window).
Both of you are willing to appear together at the final hearing.
At least one spouse meets Ohio's residency requirement.
You don't need the court to decide any contested issue for you.

Disagree on even one issue? File a divorce instead — you can still settle later. Compare divorce

Filing Fees

$200 deposit · poverty affidavit under Local Rule 7.03 if you can't afford it

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution without minor children — $200 deposit

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Ohio SC Form 17) — Both spouses file jointly, telling the court they have a complete agreement and want the marriage dissolved.
Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) — The contract that settles property, debt, support, and parenting. Both spouses must sign in front of a notary.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Noble County Information Sheet (DR-1, Local Rule 21.03) — Local Rule 21.03 requires this background and financial Information Sheet at the filing of any dissolution petition; any divorce, legal-separation, or annulment complaint or counterclaim; or any motion to modify support. It is part of the court's local-rules packet — request the blank sheet from the Clerk of Courts if it is not bundled with your forms. Tip: If you cannot locate the blank sheet, call the Clerk at (740) 732-4408 before you file.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.

Dissolution with minor children — $200 deposit

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Ohio SC Form 17) — Both spouses file jointly, telling the court they have a complete agreement and want the marriage dissolved.
Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19) — The contract that settles property, debt, support, and parenting. Both spouses must sign in front of a notary.
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.
Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
Noble County Information Sheet (DR-1, Local Rule 21.03) — Local Rule 21.03 requires this background and financial Information Sheet at the filing of any dissolution petition; any divorce, legal-separation, or annulment complaint or counterclaim; or any motion to modify support. It is part of the court's local-rules packet — request the blank sheet from the Clerk of Courts if it is not bundled with your forms. Tip: If you cannot locate the blank sheet, call the Clerk at (740) 732-4408 before you file.
Noble County Standard Order of Parenting Time — The court's default parenting-time schedule (alternate weekends, a midweek visit, eight alternating holidays, split winter break, and two two-week summer periods) plus a long-distance schedule for parents 150+ miles apart. It applies by default in BOTH Domestic Relations and Juvenile cases unless the parties agree otherwise or show good cause to deviate.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.

How to File Dissolution in Noble County

Reach full agreement. Settle property, debts, spousal support, and (if you have children) custody, parenting time, and child support, and write it into the Separation Agreement. Prepare a Parenting Plan / Shared Parenting Plan and Child Support Worksheet if children are involved.
File jointly. File the Petition for Dissolution with the Separation Agreement, the county Information Sheet (DR-1), and the UCCJEA affidavit and Title IV-D application if applicable, with the Clerk of Courts. Pay the $200 deposit.
Get a hearing date. Obtain a hearing date from the Assignment Commissioner (Local Rule 21.01). Ohio law sets the hearing 30–90 days after filing.
Both spouses appear. Both spouses must attend the final hearing and confirm they still agree. If anything is unresolved, the matter should proceed as a divorce instead.
Decree. If the agreement is fair and you still agree, the court grants the dissolution. Support entries run through the Noble County CSEA with the mandatory language (Local Rule 21.06).

Noble County Practice Notes

One judge, three divisions. Judge Kelly A. Riddle presides over the General (Domestic Relations), Juvenile, and Probate Divisions of the Noble County Court of Common Pleas. Per Local Rule 1.01 there is no separate Domestic Relations court — divorce and related matters are heard in the General Division and filed through the Clerk of Courts at 350 Court House, Caldwell.
Court is closed Thursday afternoons. The Clerk of Courts keeps reduced hours — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, and Thursday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM only (no Thursday afternoon court session). Plan in-person filings, calls, and deadlines around the Thursday half day.
Both spouses must appear. A dissolution cannot be finalized on the papers alone — Ohio law requires both spouses to attend the final hearing 30–90 days after filing and confirm the agreement still stands.
Support runs through the Noble County CSEA. Child support is administered by the Noble County Child Support Enforcement Agency (46049 Marietta Rd., P.O. Box 250, Caldwell). The Clerk transmits copies of support-related filings to the CSEA under Local Rule 21.09, and support orders carry the mandatory language required by Local Rule 21.06.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a dissolution take in Noble County?: Ohio law sets the dissolution hearing between 30 and 90 days after filing. Both spouses must appear at the final hearing — a dissolution cannot be finalized on the papers alone.
Do both spouses have to attend the dissolution hearing?: Yes. Both spouses must appear and confirm they still agree to all terms. If anything is unresolved before the hearing, the matter should proceed as a divorce instead.
How much does a dissolution cost in Noble County?: The General Division deposit for a dissolution is $200 (Local Rule 7). Confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (740) 732-4408, or file a poverty affidavit under Local Rule 7.03 if you cannot afford it.
Is an uncontested divorce the same as a dissolution in Noble County?: No. A dissolution requires that you and your spouse agree on everything up front and file jointly as petitioners. An uncontested divorce is still a divorce — it simply isn't disputed. If even one issue is unresolved, file a divorce; you can still settle later.
Where do I file for divorce in Noble County?: With the Clerk of Courts in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas at 350 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724, (740) 732-4408. Per Local Rule 1.01 there is no separate Domestic Relations court — Judge Kelly A. Riddle hears divorce in the General Division. You can e-file at https://efile.henschen.com.

Free Local Resources in Noble County

Noble County Clerk of Courts (General Division / Domestic Relations). 350 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724; (740) 732-4408; fax (740) 732-5604; email areiter@noblecountyohio.gov; website https://noblecommonpleas.org/. Accepts divorce, dissolution, legal-separation, annulment, civil-protection-order, and DR post-decree filings, and confirms current deposits. E-filing is available at https://efile.henschen.com. Court staff cannot give legal advice.
Noble County Juvenile Division. 280 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724; (740) 732-5047 (Judge Kelly A. Riddle). Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents and non-parent (relative) custody. The same Standard Order of Parenting Time used in divorces applies here by default.
Noble County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 46049 Marietta Rd., P.O. Box 250, Caldwell, OH 43724. The CSEA establishes, modifies, collects, and enforces child support and can establish paternity administratively (sometimes with genetic testing). Confirm the agency's current direct line with the Clerk or the county before relying on it.
Parenting / coparenting education. Noble County does not publish a standing parenting-education requirement or an approved program. Because a judge may order a class case-by-case, confirm with the Clerk of Courts at (740) 732-4408 (divorce/dissolution/legal separation) or the Juvenile Court at (740) 732-5047 (unmarried parents) whether a class is required, which program the court accepts, and the deadline to file any certificate.
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. Southeastern Ohio Legal Services serves Noble County for income-eligible residents — confirm the current intake line.

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.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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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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