Pike County Family Law Guide

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026

Gavvl Law helps Pike County, Ohio families with divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and more. Find the right Pike County court, filing fees, and parenting resources below, or book a $25 first consultation to talk through your options with a local-focused attorney.

How we can help in Pike County

Ending a Marriage

  • Divorce

    Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: You and your spouse do not agree on all terms, or your spouse will not cooperate.

    View guide
  • Dissolution

    Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: You and your spouse agree on property, debt, support, and parenting.

    View guide
  • Legal Separation

    Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: You want court-ordered division of property and support but not a divorce.

    View guide
  • Annulment

    Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: Your marriage may meet a specific R.C. 3105.31 ground (bigamy, underage, fraud, etc.).

    View guide

Parents & Children

  • Custody

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: You need a court order setting where the children live and how decisions are made.

    View guide
  • Child Support

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court the Juvenile Court charges a $128 deposit for a support complaint or motion

    Best for: You need to establish a first child-support order.

    View guide
  • Paternity

    Juvenile Court a Juvenile Court parentage complaint deposit is $128

    Best for: The parents were not married when the child was born.

    View guide
  • Shared Parenting

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: Both parents want to be residential parents and legal custodians.

    View guide
  • Grandparent Custody

    Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: A grandparent or relative is caring for, or needs to care for, a child.

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Changing or Enforcing Orders

  • Modifications

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: You already have a final custody, parenting-time, or support order.

    View guide
  • Contempt

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: There is a clear, final order in place.

    View guide

Emergency & Safety

  • Emergency Custody

    Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: A child faces immediate risk of harm or neglect.

    View guide
  • Protection Orders

    Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk

    Best for: You have been harmed or threatened by a family or household member.

    View guide

The Pike County family-law guide

Verified June 21, 2026

Download our free Pike 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 Pike County family-law guide (PDF)

Talk to a Pike County family-law attorney

Sources we checked

  • Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General Division — Domestic Relations filings
  • Pike County Clerk of Courts — Filing Fees
  • Pike County Juvenile & Probate Court — Filing Costs & Forms
  • Ohio Supreme Court — Standard Domestic Relations forms

What we confirmed for 2026

  • The General Division of the Common Pleas Court hears every domestic relations matter — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment — because Pike County has no separate Domestic Relations court.
  • The General Division's filing-fee deposits are not published online; call the Clerk of Courts at (740) 947-2212 to confirm the current deposit and accepted payment methods before filing.
  • Never-married parents file parentage, custody, parenting time, and support in the Juvenile Court at 230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 600, where the custody/support filing deposit is $128.00.
  • The Honorable Paul Price serves as Judge and Clerk of both the Juvenile and Probate divisions, and stepparent or kinship adoptions are handled by the Probate side at (740) 947-2560.
  • Pike County does not publish its parenting-class provider, cost, or deadline — ask the General Division Clerk (divorce/dissolution) or Juvenile Court (unmarried parents) which provider is approved before registering.

Pike County family-law courts

Domestic Relations Court

Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and spousal support for married spouses

Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General Division
100 East Second Street, Waverly, OH 45690
Waverly, OH 45690
Phone: (740) 947-2212
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the Clerk of Courts at (740) 947-2212 to confirm current hours)

Visit the Domestic Relations Court website

Juvenile Court

Custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity for unmarried parents

Pike County Juvenile Court (Common Pleas, Juvenile Division)
230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 600, Waverly, OH 45690
Waverly, OH 45690
Phone: (740) 947-5914
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch and on legal holidays)

Visit the Juvenile Court website

Court divisions, filing fees, and local requirements can change. Confirm the correct court, current fees, and required forms with the Pike County Clerk of Courts before you file.

Why Pike County is different

One court hears every divorce

Pike County has no separate Domestic Relations court — the General Division of the Common Pleas Court hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases. File with the Clerk of Courts at the Pike County Courthouse, 100 East Second Street, Waverly, and call (740) 947-2212 first to confirm the current deposit, since the General Division does not publish its filing fees online. (Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General Division)

Never-married parents go to Juvenile Court

If you were never married to the other parent, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are filed in the Juvenile Court at 230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 600, Waverly ((740) 947-5914), not the General Division. The custody/support filing deposit is $128.00, and the same judge, the Hon. Paul Price, serves as Judge and Clerk of both the Juvenile and Probate divisions. (Pike County Juvenile & Probate Court)

Confirm the parenting class before you register

Ohio law lets the court order a parenting class when a case involves minor children, but Pike County's approved program, provider, cost, and deadline are not published online. Ask the General Division Clerk at (740) 947-2212 for divorce/dissolution cases, or Juvenile Court at (740) 947-5914 for unmarried parents, which provider is approved before you pay for any course. (Pike County Court of Common Pleas)

Free local resources in Pike County

  • Pike County Clerk of Courts (General Division / Domestic Relations) — Pike County Courthouse, 100 East Second Street, Waverly, OH 45690; (740) 947-2212. Accepts all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and DV civil protection order filings — the General Division hears every domestic relations matter (there is no separate Domestic Relations court). The General Division's filing-fee deposits are not published online; call (740) 947-2212 to confirm the current deposit, accepted payment methods, and any local cover-sheet requirement before filing.
  • Pike County Juvenile & Probate Court — Pike County Government Center, 230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 600, Waverly, OH 45690. Juvenile (unmarried-parent custody, parentage, support, parenting time): (740) 947-5914, http://www.pikecountypjcourt.com/juvMain.php — the custody/support filing deposit is $128.00 (http://www.pikecountypjcourt.com/juvCosts.php). Probate (stepparent and kinship adoption): (740) 947-2560, http://www.pikecountypjcourt.com/prbMain.php. The Honorable Paul Price serves as Judge and Clerk of both divisions.
  • Parenting education (confirm before relying on it) — Ohio law (R.C. 3109.053) lets the court order a parenting class when a case involves minor children. Pike County's program, provider, cost, and deadline are not published online — ask the General Division Clerk at (740) 947-2212 (divorce/dissolution) or Juvenile Court at (740) 947-5914 (unmarried parents) which provider is approved and the current cost before you register for any course.
  • Pike County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) — Pike County child-support services are administered through Pike County Job & Family Services. The Juvenile Court does not run child-support enforcement — confirm the current CSEA phone and address with the agency before relying on a number. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.
  • Child abuse / neglect reporting — Statewide hotline 1-855-O-H-CHILD (1-855-642-4453), which routes to the county Children Services agency. Confirm the direct Pike County Children Services intake line locally.

Frequently asked questions

Does Gavvl Law serve Pike County, Ohio?

Yes. Gavvl Law represents families across all 88 Ohio counties, including Pike County and Waverly. We handle divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and other family law matters for Pike County residents.

Which Pike County court handles my family law case?

Pike County uses different courts for different family matters. Married spouses file for divorce, dissolution, or legal separation at Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. Unmarried parents handle custody, parenting time, and child support at Pike County Juvenile Court (Common Pleas, Juvenile Division). Filing in the wrong court can delay your case, so confirm where your matter belongs with the Pike County Clerk of Courts before you start.

How much does it cost to file a family law case in Pike County?

Court filing fees in Pike County are deposits that vary by case type. These deposits can change and do not include attorney fees. Confirm the current schedule with the Pike 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 Pike 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 Pike County's current requirement and approved providers with the Clerk of Courts.

Can I file Pike County family law forms online?

It depends on the court. Some Ohio courts accept e-filing while others require paper filing in person or by mail. Check the Pike County Clerk of Courts website for the current options before you prepare your documents.

How long does a divorce or dissolution take in Pike 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. Pike County's docket affects timing, so ask about current wait times at your consultation.

What family law services does Gavvl Law offer in Pike County?

Gavvl Law offers divorce, dissolution, legal separation, custody, shared parenting, child support, paternity, post-decree modifications, and more for Pike County families. Choose a service below to see the local process and forms.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.