Filing for Divorce in Perry County

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

Perry County, Ohio · New Lexington

A Perry County divorce is filed with the Clerk of Courts at the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. Cases are heard by Judge Tina M. Boyer (with Magistrate Jamie Farmer). The filing deposit is $285, a IV-D/CSEA application accompanies any support filing, and parents of minor children complete the co-parenting class offered by OSU Extension.

How do I file for divorce in Perry County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Divorce with the Perry County Clerk of Courts, 105 N. Main St. / P.O. Box 67, New Lexington, using the General Division's posted Form 6.0 (without children) or Form 7.0 (with children), the financial affidavits (Forms 1.0 and 2.0), and — with children — the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Form 3.0), the Health Insurance Affidavit, a parenting plan, and the Ohio child-support worksheet. Pay the $285 deposit and include a IV-D/CSEA Application for Child Support Services if support is involved (Local Rule 17). You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio at least 6 months. Parents of minor children complete OSU Extension's "Successful Co-Parenting" class.

What divorce costs in Perry County — one clear flat fee

Skip the hourly-billing guesswork. Our Ohio family-law team handles divorce for Perry County families at a transparent flat fee — you approve the price before we start, with payment plans and full representation available when a case needs it. Everything local — the court in New Lexington, required forms, and Perry County fee details — is laid out on this page.

One flat fee, agreed up front. Your divorce fee is quoted in full before we lift a finger — one number, approved by you, with no hourly clock behind it.
Payments that fit your budget. Can't pay it all at once? Payment plans and financing let you get started now and pay over time.
Why Perry County families choose us. Perry County families pick us because the flat fee removes the billing pressure — we work to close out your divorce case, not to log more hours. Ohio-licensed attorneys, all 88 counties.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the correct complaint packet for your situation; you appear at any hearings yourself.

Complaint for Divorce: $1,250
With temporary orders: $1,750
With minor children: $1,750
With children + temporary orders: $2,000

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

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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: Perry County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

105 N. Main Street, New Lexington, OH 43764
Phone: (740) 342-1022
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (Local Rule 2)
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Perry County Probate & Juvenile Court
105 N. Main Street / P.O. Box 167, New Lexington, OH 43764
Phone: (740) 342-1118
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Divorce is the right path if…

You and your spouse don't agree on everything (custody, parenting time, property, debt, or support).
Your spouse won't sign paperwork, won't communicate, or can't be located.
You need temporary or final court orders your spouse won't agree to.
You or your spouse have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months before filing.

If you and your spouse already agree on everything in writing, a dissolution is usually faster and lower-conflict. Compare dissolution.

Filing Fees

$285 divorce deposit · post-decree $130 · GAL $400 per party · indigency affidavit reduces the deposit to $25 · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 342-1022

Forms & Filing Packets

Core divorce filing packet (no minor children) — $285 deposit (plus per-filing add-ons)

File the Complaint for Divorce Without Children (Form 6.0) with the financial affidavits (Forms 1.0 and 2.0) and the $285 deposit.

Complaint for Divorce Without Children (Perry General Division Form 6.0) — Opens your divorce case and tells the court what you're asking for. Use the court's posted copy when you and your spouse have no minor children together.
Affidavit of Basic Information, Income & Expenses (Perry Form 1.0) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Support income claims with the prior-year W-2 and the last six months of paystubs (Local Rule 18).
Affidavit of Property & Debt (Perry Form 2.0) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Request for Service (Perry Form 31.0) — Tells the Clerk how to serve your spouse (certified mail, personal service, etc.).
General Division Forms Page (Perry County Common Pleas) — The General Division's central forms page. The General Division of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court.

Core divorce filing packet (with minor children) — $285 deposit (plus per-filing add-ons)

Use the Complaint for Divorce With Children (Form 7.0), add the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Form 3.0), the Health Insurance Affidavit, a parenting plan, and the support worksheet, and register for the co-parenting class.

Complaint for Divorce With Children (Perry General Division Form 7.0) — The divorce Complaint used when you and your spouse have minor children together. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child-support allegations.
Affidavit of Basic Information, Income & Expenses (Perry Form 1.0) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Support income claims with the prior-year W-2 and the last six months of paystubs (Local Rule 18).
Affidavit of Property & Debt (Perry Form 2.0) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Perry Form 3.0) — 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 (Perry General Division) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
Parenting Plan (Perry Form 21.0) — Used where one parent will be designated the sole residential parent and legal custodian.
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.

Temporary orders add-on

Request temporary support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home with the Motion and Affidavit for Temporary Orders (Form 5.0); the court rules on the papers without an oral hearing (Local Rules 12 and 18).

Motion & Affidavit for Temporary Orders Without Oral Hearing (Perry Form 5.0) — Asks the court, under Civ.R. 75(N), for temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Decided non-orally on the affidavits (Local Rules 12 and 18).
Affidavit of Basic Information, Income & Expenses (Perry Form 1.0) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Support income claims with the prior-year W-2 and the last six months of paystubs (Local Rule 18).
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.

How to File Divorce in Perry County

Confirm Ohio residency. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months before filing for divorce.
Prepare the complaint and affidavits. Use the General Division's posted Form 6.0 (no children) or Form 7.0 (with children) with the financial affidavits (Forms 1.0 and 2.0); with children, add the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Form 3.0), the Health Insurance Affidavit, a parenting plan, and the support worksheet.
File with the $285 deposit. File at the Clerk of Courts, 105 N. Main St. / P.O. Box 67, New Lexington, (740) 342-1022, and pay the $285 deposit (or file an indigency affidavit to reduce it to $25). Include the IV-D/CSEA application if support is involved.
Serve your spouse. Arrange service with a Request for Service (Form 31.0); if your spouse agrees, they can sign a Waiver of Service (Form 30.0).
Complete the co-parenting class (if children). Both parents complete OSU Extension's "Successful Co-Parenting" class ($25 cash); in a divorce you attend after the answer date.
Temporary orders and decree. Request temporary orders by affidavit if needed (decided on the papers, targeted by about week 3); the case ends with a Decree of Divorce.

Perry County Practice Notes

No separate Domestic Relations court. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the General Division of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas — there is no separate Domestic Relations division. Judge Tina M. Boyer presides, with Magistrate / Court Administrator Jamie Farmer. File through the Clerk of Courts, 105 N. Main St. / P.O. Box 67, New Lexington 43764, (740) 342-1022.
Co-parenting class required with minor children (Local Rule 17). In any divorce or dissolution with minor children, both parents complete "Successful Co-Parenting: Helping Children Cope With Divorce," offered by OSU Extension Perry County, 104 S. Columbus St., Somerset, (740) 743-1602. The fee is $25 cash and you must pre-register about a week ahead (Local Rule 17(4)). In a divorce you attend after the answer date; in a dissolution you complete it before the final hearing. OSU Extension sends the completion verification directly to the court.
CSEA (IV-D) application required at filing (Local Rule 17). A IV-D Application for Child Support Services must accompany every new Domestic Relations filing involving support (Local Rule 17). There is no online form — obtain it from the Perry County Child Support Division, (740) 342-2278, or from Job & Family Services, (740) 342-3551.
Temporary orders are decided on the affidavits, not in a hearing. Perry decides temporary custody, parenting-time, and support requests non-orally on the Motion and Affidavit for Temporary Orders (Form 5.0) under Civ.R. 75(N) and Local Rules 12 and 18 — no in-person hearing is held unless oral argument is requested and allowed. Support income claims with the prior-year W-2 and the last six months of paystubs. On the standard track, temporary orders are targeted by about week 3 (Local Rule 30).
Fee waiver if you can't afford the deposit. File an indigency (poverty) affidavit with your case. In the General Division the deposit is then reduced to $25; the Juvenile Court waives its deposit on a poverty affidavit. Confirm the current procedure with the Clerk at (740) 342-1022 (General Division) or (740) 342-1118 (Juvenile).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to file for divorce in Perry County?: The General Division divorce deposit is $285 per the Clerk's cost schedule, plus standard per-filing add-ons (computerization $13 under Local Rule 25, ADR $5 under Local Rule 26, special projects $15 under Local Rule 27). This is an advance cost deposit, not a flat fee — the Clerk applies it to actual costs and refunds or bills the balance. If you cannot afford the deposit, file an indigency (poverty) affidavit, which lowers the deposit to $25. Confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (740) 342-1022.
Which court handles family-law cases in Perry County?: The General Division of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas (105 N. Main St., New Lexington) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The Probate & Juvenile Court (also 105 N. Main St.) handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, under R.C. 2151.23) and adoptions (Probate). Domestic-relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts at (740) 342-1022.
Do I have to take a parenting class in Perry County?: Yes, in any divorce or dissolution involving minor children. Both parents complete "Successful Co-Parenting: Helping Children Cope With Divorce," offered by OSU Extension Perry County, 104 S. Columbus St., Somerset ((740) 743-1602), under Local Rule 17(4). The fee is $25 cash and you must pre-register about a week ahead. In a divorce you attend after the answer date; in a dissolution you complete it before the final hearing. OSU Extension sends your completion verification directly to the court.
Can I get temporary support or parenting orders while my Perry County divorce is pending?: Yes. Under Ohio Civ.R. 75(N) file the Motion and Affidavit for Temporary Orders Without Oral Hearing (Form 5.0). Perry decides temporary orders non-orally on the motion and affidavits (Local Rules 12 and 18) — there is usually no in-person hearing. Support your income claims with the prior-year W-2 and the last six months of paystubs. On the standard 12-month track, temporary orders are targeted by about week 3 (Local Rule 30).
Can I file in Perry County without paying the full deposit?: Yes, if you cannot afford it. File an indigency (poverty) affidavit with your case; the General Division deposit is then reduced to $25, and the Juvenile Court waives its deposit on a poverty affidavit. Confirm the current procedure with the Clerk at (740) 342-1022 (General Division) or (740) 342-1118 (Juvenile).

Free Local Resources in Perry County

Perry County Clerk of Courts (General Division / Domestic Relations). Clerk Wes Harlan, 105 N. Main Street / P.O. Box 67, New Lexington, OH 43764; (740) 342-1022, fax (740) 342-5527. Files all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases. Forms at https://pccommonpleas.com/forms.php; e-file through the Henschen portal at https://efile.henschen.com/. The General Division (Judge Tina M. Boyer) hears all domestic-relations matters — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The Clerk cannot give legal advice or fill out forms. Confirm current deposits before filing.
“Successful Co-Parenting” parenting class (OSU Extension, Perry County). 104 S. Columbus Street, Somerset, OH 43783; (740) 743-1602 (https://perry.osu.edu/). Required under Local Rule 17(4) for any divorce or dissolution with children under 18. Fee $25 cash, pre-register at least one week ahead. Attend after the answer date in a divorce, or before the final hearing in a dissolution. OSU Extension sends proof of completion directly to the court. Confirm the current schedule and fee when registering.
Perry County Probate & Juvenile Court. Judge Luann Cooperrider, 105 N. Main Street / P.O. Box 167, New Lexington, OH 43764 (https://perrycountyohio.gov/law-courts/perry-county-ohio-probate-and-juvenile-court/). Juvenile (740) 342-1118; Paternity/Custody Division (740) 342-5520; Probate (740) 342-1493. Hears unmarried-parent paternity, custody, parenting time, and non-parent custody (Juvenile) and adoptions (Probate), using the Supreme Court of Ohio standardized forms.
Perry County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). (740) 342-2278. Perry County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs automatic wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders through license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals. File a IV-D Application whenever support is established or modified.
Perry County Job & Family Services / Children Services. (740) 342-3551. Investigates abuse, neglect, and dependency referrals and can file complaints in Juvenile Court. Statewide child-abuse hotline: 1-855-O-H-CHILD (1-855-642-4453).

Related to your divorce case

Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable dissolution.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on divorce and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
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.

Continue your Perry County research

Ohio Divorce guide — Statewide overview of divorce in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
Perry County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Perry County guide.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder 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.
Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce in Ohio — What each path means for your timeline and total cost.

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