Dissolution of Marriage in Paulding County

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

Paulding County, Ohio · Paulding

A dissolution is a no-fault, fully agreed termination that both spouses file jointly after signing a complete separation agreement (and, with children, a parenting plan and support worksheet). It is not an 'uncontested divorce' — full agreement is required up front. In Paulding County it's filed at the Common Pleas General Division, and the final hearing is set 30 to 90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64).

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

Both spouses sign a complete separation agreement, then jointly file the Petition for Dissolution (Ohio Form 17), the Separation Agreement (Form 19), and the Decree of Dissolution (Form 18) with Affidavit 1 and Affidavit 2 — adding a parenting plan, the Parenting Proceeding and Health Insurance affidavits, and a child-support worksheet where there are children — at the Paulding County Clerk of Courts, (419) 399-8210. The deposit is $400 (a motion with a consent judgment entry is $225). The final hearing is set 30 to 90 days after filing, and with minor children both parents complete the A-OK parenting class within 75 days first.

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: Paulding County Court of Common Pleas - General Division (Domestic Relations)

115 N. Williams Street, Suite 201, Paulding, OH 45879
Phone: (419) 399-8220
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00–4:30 p.m.
Website: www.pauldingcommonpleas.com/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Paulding County Juvenile & Probate Court
115 N. Williams Street, Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879
Phone: (419) 399-8255
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Dissolution is the right path if…

You and your spouse agree on everything — property, debt, support, and parenting.
You can both sign a complete separation agreement up front.
You want a faster, lower-conflict path than a contested divorce.
You can complete the A-OK parenting class if you have minor children.

If you can't agree on every issue yet, a divorce lets the court decide the open questions. Compare divorce.

Filing Fees

$400 dissolution deposit · $225 motion with a consent judgment entry · final hearing 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64) · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (419) 399-8210

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution with no minor children — $400 dissolution deposit

File the joint Petition for Dissolution with a signed Separation Agreement and the income and property affidavits.

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.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.
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.

Dissolution with minor children — $400 dissolution deposit

File the joint dissolution packet; add a parenting plan, the Parenting Proceeding and Health Insurance affidavits, and a child-support worksheet. The A-OK parenting class applies within 75 days.

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.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.
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.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
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.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
Assisting Our Kids (A-OK) Parenting Program (Paulding County) — The required parenting class for parents of minor children, completed within 75 days of filing (Local Rule 19.08). Take it online at assistingourkids.com for $30; the certificate is good for three years and is delivered to the court or emailed to the Court Administrator at lvance@pauldingcounty-oh.com.

How to File Dissolution in Paulding County

Reach a complete agreement. Agree on property, debt, support, and (with children) a parenting plan; you must sign a full separation agreement before filing.
Prepare the petition packet. Use the Petition for Dissolution (Form 17), Separation Agreement (Form 19), and Decree (Form 18) with Affidavit 1 and Affidavit 2; with children add the parenting plan, the children's affidavits, and a child-support worksheet.
File jointly with the $400 deposit. Both spouses file together at the Paulding County Clerk of Courts; a motion with a consent judgment entry is $225.
Complete the A-OK parenting class (if children). Both parents finish the Assisting Our Kids program within 75 days of filing before the final hearing (Local Rule 19.08).
Attend the 30–90 day hearing. Both spouses appear and confirm the agreement; the court enters the decree of dissolution.

Paulding County Practice Notes

Full agreement up front — and a 30–90 day window. A dissolution requires a complete, signed separation agreement before filing; it is not an uncontested divorce. The final hearing is set no sooner than 30 and no later than 90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64), and both spouses appear to confirm the agreement. The Clerk still requires Affidavit 1 and Affidavit 2 (plus the children's affidavits) under Local Rule 19.01.
"A-OK" parenting class is required and can delay the final hearing. Under Local Rule 19.08, all parents of minor children in a divorce, dissolution, or any case allocating parental rights must complete the Assisting Our Kids (A-OK) program within 75 days of filing. Take it online at assistingourkids.com for $30 (or a live class), then deliver the certificate to the court or email it to the Court Administrator at lvance@pauldingcounty-oh.com. The certificate is good for three years, and the court can delay concluding the case or your parenting time until it is on file.
Pro se filers file on paper; e-filing is attorneys-only. In the General Division, e-filing is by email to clerk@pauldingcountyoh.com and is currently limited to attorneys (Local Rule 23). Documents up to 30 pages may be faxed to (419) 399-8248 or emailed as a PDF, but an original complaint or initial pleading may not be filed by fax or email — pro se parties file on paper at the Clerk's office, Room 104. Filings after 4:30 p.m. or on weekends are filed the next business day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a dissolution take in Paulding County?: A dissolution's final hearing is held no sooner than 30 days and no later than 90 days after the petition is filed (R.C. 3105.64). Both spouses appear and confirm the separation agreement, and with minor children the A-OK parenting class must be completed within 75 days of filing first.
How much does it cost to file a Domestic Relations case in Paulding County?: Under the General Division cost-deposit schedule (effective April 1, 2025): $400 to file a divorce or dissolution (with or without children), and the same $400 for a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim; $300 for a post-judgment motion; $225 for a motion with a consent judgment entry; $50 for a Notice to Relocate or a foreign judgment; and $135 for a QDRO or DPRO. Add $50 if you request personal service. A DVCPO petition has no filing fee (R.C. 3113.31(K)). If you can't afford the deposit, file a motion to proceed without prepayment of costs with the required affidavit/attorney statement (Local Rule 4). Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (419) 399-8210.
Is a parenting class required in Paulding County, and when must it be done?: Yes. Under Local Rule 19.08, all parents of minor children in a divorce, dissolution, or any case allocating parental rights must complete the Assisting Our Kids (A-OK) parenting program within 75 days of filing. Take it online at assistingourkids.com for $30 (or a live class), then deliver the certificate to the Common Pleas Court or email it to the Court Administrator at lvance@pauldingcounty-oh.com. The certificate is good for three years, and the court may delay the final hearing or parenting time until the class is completed.
Do I have to live in Ohio to file for divorce in Paulding County?: Yes. To file for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment, a party must have been an Ohio resident for at least six months before filing, and the case is filed in Paulding County by venue. For never-married parents filing custody in the Paulding County Juvenile Court, Ohio must be the children's home state under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127) — generally, the children have lived in Ohio for the last six consecutive months.
Which court handles my family case in Paulding County?: Married parents — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody, parenting time, and support decided inside those cases, plus civil protection orders — go to the Common Pleas Court, General Division (Domestic Relations docket), Judge Tiffany R. Beckman, 115 N. Williams St., Suite 201, Paulding, filed through the Clerk of Courts at (419) 399-8210. Unmarried parents (parentage, custody, parenting time, support), abuse/neglect/dependency, and delinquency go to the Paulding County Juvenile Court, and adoptions and name changes go to the Probate Court — Juvenile and Probate are a combined court under Judge Harvey D. Hyman in Suite 202 ((419) 399-8255 Juvenile / (419) 399-8256 Probate).

Free Local Resources in Paulding County

Paulding County Clerk of Courts. Clerk Sarah Jo Harpel files all divorce, dissolution, and Domestic Relations documents. 115 N. Williams St., Room 104, Paulding, OH 45879 · (419) 399-8210 · fax (419) 399-8248 · clerk@pauldingcountyoh.com. E-filing is by email and currently available to attorneys only (Local Rule 23); an original complaint or initial pleading may not be filed by fax or email. Confirm current deposits and packet requirements before filing.
Paulding County Common Pleas Court - General Division. Domestic Relations cases are heard by Judge Tiffany R. Beckman; contact Court Administrator Lynn Vance at (419) 399-8220 or lvance@pauldingcounty-oh.com. Local forms and Local Rules: http://www.pauldingcommonpleas.com/local-rules.html · eServices records search: http://www.pauldingcommonpleas.com/eservices/
Assisting Our Kids ("A-OK") Parenting Program. Local Rule 19.08 requires all parties in a divorce/dissolution with minor children — and any case allocating parental rights — to complete the A-OK parenting class within 75 days of filing. Take it online at https://www.assistingourkids.com/ for $30.00; the certificate is valid for three years. Print and deliver the certificate to the court or email it to lvance@pauldingcounty-oh.com.
Paulding County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Paulding County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders; child-support orders are forwarded by the Clerk to the CSEA (Local Rules 19.02, 19.09). Confirm the current direct line with the county. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.
Paulding County Juvenile & Probate Court. Judge Harvey D. Hyman hears never-married custody, paternity, and juvenile matters (Juvenile (419) 399-8255; Probate/adoption (419) 399-8256). 115 N. Williams St., Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879 · https://www.pauldingjuvenilecourt.com/

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.
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Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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Understand the cost

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