Dissolution of Marriage in Pickaway County

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

Pickaway County, Ohio · Circleville

Dissolution is Ohio's agreed, no-fault way to end a marriage. Both spouses are co-petitioners and sign a complete Separation Agreement before filing, then ask the Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas, General & Domestic Relations Division to approve it. There is no fault to prove and no contested hearing — but you must agree on everything first.

How does a dissolution work in Pickaway County, Ohio?

You and your spouse first agree on all terms and sign a Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19). You then jointly file a Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) with the Clerk of Courts for the General & Domestic Relations Division, 207 South Court Street, 2nd Floor, Circleville; (740) 474-5231, with Affidavit 1 and Affidavit 2 from each spouse. With minor children, add a Shared Parenting Plan or Parenting Plan, Affidavits 3–4, an Ohio Child Support Worksheet, and a IV-D application. The deposit is $250.00 (no personal checks). Ohio law (R.C. 3105.64) requires the final hearing 30–90 days after filing, and both spouses must appear and confirm the agreement.

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: Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas, General and Domestic Relations Division

207 South Court Street, Circleville, OH 43113
Phone: (740) 474-6026
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: pickawaycountyohio.gov/offices/common-pleas/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Pickaway County Probate & Juvenile Court
207 South Court Street, Circleville, OH 43113
Phone: (740) 474-3117
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Dissolution is the right path if…

You and your spouse agree on property, debt, support, and parenting.
You both will sign a complete Separation Agreement before filing.
You both can attend the final hearing 30–90 days after filing.
You want a faster, lower-conflict alternative to a contested divorce.

Filing Fees

The Clerk's published deposit for a dissolution is $250.00 (cash, money order, attorney/business check, debit, or credit — no personal checks). A later Agreed Entry is $125.00. The final hearing is held 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64). Confirm current figures with the Clerk at (740) 474-5231; ask about the Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit (Local Rule 5.03) if you cannot afford the deposit.

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution with no minor children — $250.00 deposit — confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (740) 474-5231

Sign the Separation Agreement, then jointly file the Petition for Dissolution with the Clerk. Bring 3 copies of the Separation Agreement. Both spouses appear at the hearing 30–90 days later.

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.
Divorce / Dissolution Initiation Checklist — The Clerk's checklist of exactly which documents and how many copies to bring when starting a divorce or dissolution in Pickaway County.

Dissolution with minor children — $250.00 deposit — confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (740) 474-5231

Add a Shared Parenting Plan or Parenting Plan (with 3 copies), Affidavits 3–4, an Ohio Child Support Worksheet, and the IV-D application. The Separation Agreement must include child-support and cash-medical provisions (4 copies).

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 Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
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.

How to File Dissolution in Pickaway County

Reach a full agreement. Settle property, debt, support, and (if you have children) parenting before filing. A dissolution requires complete agreement up front.
Sign the Separation Agreement. Both spouses sign Form 19 in front of a notary. With children it must include child-support and cash-medical-support provisions.
Assemble the packet. Use the Clerk's Initiation Checklist for the exact copy counts — 3 copies of the Separation Agreement without children, 4 copies with children plus 3 copies of the parenting plan.
File and pay. File the joint Petition for Dissolution with the Clerk and pay the $250.00 deposit (no personal checks). The original petition cannot be e-filed (Local Rule 4.02(B)(4)).
Attend the final hearing. Both spouses appear 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64) and confirm they still agree; the judge signs the Decree of Dissolution.

Pickaway County Practice Notes

One division hears every divorce — General & Domestic Relations. Pickaway County's Court of Common Pleas has a combined General and Domestic Relations Division (Hon. P. Randall Knece, (740) 474-6026; Domestic Relations Magistrate Rick Noble, (740) 477-3840) that hears divorces, dissolutions, legal separations, annulments, and adult civil protection orders. All of these are filed with the Clerk of Courts at 207 South Court Street, 2nd Floor, Circleville; (740) 474-5231. The Local Rules (eff. 2/5/24) still carry former Judge Matthew H. Chafin — confirm the sitting judge with the Court.
Published DR deposits — verify the current amount. From the Clerk's fee schedule, the deposit is $250.00 for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment; $125.00 to file an Agreed Entry; $150.00 for a post-decree motion; $100.00 to execute on a foreign judgment; and $25.00 for a miscellaneous filing. Pay by cash, money order, attorney/business check, debit, or credit card — personal checks are not accepted. Costs over the deposit are the parties' responsibility (Local Rule 5.02). Confirm the current figures with the Clerk at (740) 474-5231 before filing.
The original complaint cannot be e-filed. The Clerk strongly prefers in-person or mailed filings, and the original complaint that starts a case cannot be filed by e-mail (Local Rule 4.02(B)(4)). E-mail filings are permitted for later documents, but time-stamped copies will not be returned for e-mail filings. Bring service copies to the Clerk at the time of filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to file a dissolution or divorce in Pickaway County?: The Clerk's published deposit is $250.00 for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment. Pay by cash, money order, attorney/business check, debit, or credit card — personal checks are not accepted. Any costs over the deposit are the parties' responsibility. Fees change, so confirm the current amount with the Clerk of Courts at (740) 474-5231 before filing.
How long does a dissolution take in Pickaway County?: Once both spouses sign and file the joint Petition for Dissolution with a complete Separation Agreement, Ohio law (R.C. 3105.64) requires the court to hold the final hearing between 30 and 90 days after filing. Both spouses must appear at that hearing and confirm they still agree and want the dissolution.
Which Pickaway County court handles my family-law case?: If you are or were married to the other parent, file your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, or protection order with the Clerk of Courts for the Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas, General & Domestic Relations Division (Hon. P. Randall Knece), 207 South Court Street, 2nd Floor, Circleville; (740) 474-5231. If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support are handled by the combined Pickaway County Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Shelly R. Harsha), 207 South Court Street; Juvenile Division (740) 474-3117.
How can I pay filing fees in Pickaway County?: The Clerk of Courts accepts cash, money order, attorney/business check, debit, and credit card for domestic filings — personal checks are not accepted. The Probate & Juvenile Court accepts credit, debit, cash, or money order, and only counsel may use business checks. Confirm current methods with the Clerk at (740) 474-5231 or the Juvenile Division at (740) 474-3117.
What if I can't afford the filing deposit in Pickaway County?: Ask for a fee waiver. File the Supreme Court of Ohio Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit (poverty affidavit) with your case under Local Rule 5.03; the Clerk files the case without a deposit, though the judge may review first. No deposit is required for cases brought by the county, a municipality, or a Child Support Enforcement Agency (Local Rule 5.04).

Free Local Resources in Pickaway County

Pickaway County Clerk of Courts (General & Domestic Relations Division). Clerk Grant L. Davis, 207 South Court Street, 2nd Floor, P.O. Box 280, Circleville, OH 43113; (740) 474-5231. Files all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and adult protection-order cases. Confirm current filing deposits and procedures at https://www.pickawaycountyclerk.com/Filing-Fee-Costs.html. The original complaint that starts a case cannot be filed by e-mail (Local Rule 4.02(B)(4)); in-person or mailed filing is strongly preferred.
Pickaway County Probate & Juvenile Court. Judge Shelly R. Harsha; Magistrate Carrie L. Charles. 207 South Court Street, Circleville, OH 43113; Juvenile Division (740) 474-3117 (https://www.pickawaypjcourt.com/). Hears never-married parentage, custody, parenting time, and support, and publishes its own juvenile forms at https://www.pickawaypjcourt.com/formsJU.php. The filing/reactivation fee is $135.
Pickaway County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Pickaway County Job & Family Services, Child Support Division, 110 Island Road, P.O. Box 610, Circleville, OH 43113. Opens IV-D cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Confirm the current direct phone with the office before filing.
Ohio Legal Help. https://www.ohiolegalhelp.org/ — free, plain-English explanations and statewide court forms for divorce, custody, child support, and protection orders.

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.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus 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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