Dissolution of Marriage in Pike County

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

Pike County, Ohio · Waverly

Dissolution is Ohio's agreed, no-fault way to end a marriage. Both spouses sign a complete Separation Agreement before filing and ask the Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General 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 Pike County, Ohio?

You and your spouse first agree on all terms and sign a Separation Agreement (Ohio SC Form 19). You then file a joint Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) in the Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, 100 East Second Street, Waverly; (740) 947-2212. With minor children, attach a Parenting Plan (or Shared Parenting Plan), the UCCJEA affidavit, and a child-support worksheet. Ohio law (R.C. 3105.64) requires the final hearing to be held between 30 and 90 days after filing, and both spouses must appear and confirm the agreement. Confirm the deposit with the Clerk at (740) 947-2212.

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: Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

100 East Second Street, Waverly, OH 45690
Phone: (740) 947-2212
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the Clerk of Courts at (740) 947-2212 to confirm current hours)
Website: commonpleascourt.pikecounty.oh.gov/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Pike County Juvenile Court (Common Pleas, Juvenile Division)
230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 600, 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)

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 General Division does not post a dissolution fee schedule online — the Clerk sets the deposit. Confirm the current amount and payment methods with the Pike County Clerk of Courts at (740) 947-2212. The final hearing is held 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64).

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution with no minor children — Deposit set by the Clerk — confirm with the Pike County Clerk at (740) 947-2212

Sign the Separation Agreement, then jointly file the Petition for Dissolution with the General Division. 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.
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 — Deposit set by the Clerk — confirm with the Pike County Clerk at (740) 947-2212

Add a Parenting Plan (or Shared Parenting Plan), the UCCJEA affidavit, and an Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet, and complete the parenting class before the hearing.

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.
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 Pike 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. It becomes the heart of your case.
File the joint petition. File the Petition for Dissolution (Form 17) with the General Division and confirm the deposit with the Clerk at (740) 947-2212.
Add parenting paperwork if needed. With minor children, attach a Parenting Plan, the UCCJEA affidavit, and a support worksheet, and complete the parenting class.
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.

Pike County Practice Notes

One court hears every divorce — the General Division. Pike County has no separate Domestic Relations Division. Divorces, dissolutions, legal separations, annulments, and adult civil protection orders are all heard in the Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Hon. Rob Junk), 100 East Second Street, Waverly; (740) 947-2212. The Domestic Assignment Commissioner, Gayle Johnson, handles domestic scheduling at the same number.
Filing deposits are set by the Clerk — call before you file. The General Division does not post a divorce or dissolution fee schedule online. Confirm the current filing deposit, accepted payment methods, and the number of copies with the Pike County Clerk of Courts at (740) 947-2212 before filing. If you cannot afford the deposit, ask for an Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) under Ohio Civil Rule 3(E).
Parenting class for cases with minor children. Under R.C. 3109.053, parents in a case involving minor children may be required to complete a parenting-education program. Pike County does not publish a specific provider online — confirm with the General Division's Domestic Assignment Commissioner at (740) 947-2212 (or the Juvenile Court at (740) 947-5914) which court-approved class to take, then file the certificate of completion before the final hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a dissolution cost in Pike County?: Like divorce, the General Division does not post a dissolution fee schedule online. The Clerk of Courts sets the deposit. Confirm the current amount and payment methods with the Clerk at (740) 947-2212 before filing your joint petition and Separation Agreement.
How long does a dissolution take in Pike County?: Once both spouses sign and file the joint Petition for Dissolution and 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 want the dissolution and agree to the terms.
Which Pike 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 in the Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Hon. Rob Junk), 100 East Second Street, Waverly; (740) 947-2212. Pike County has no separate Domestic Relations Division. If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support are handled by the combined Pike County Juvenile & Probate Court (Hon. Paul Price), 230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 600; (740) 947-5914.
Is a parenting class required in Pike County?: It can be. Under R.C. 3109.053, courts may require parents in a case with minor children to complete a parenting-education program and file the certificate of completion before the final hearing. Pike County does not publish a specific provider online — confirm the court-approved class with the General Division's Domestic Assignment Commissioner at (740) 947-2212 or the Juvenile Court at (740) 947-5914.
What if I can't afford the filing deposit in Pike County?: Ask for a fee waiver. File an Affidavit of Indigency (Poverty Affidavit) under Ohio Civil Rule 3(E) and ask the court to waive the deposit. In the General Division, request the form from the Clerk at (740) 947-2212; in the Juvenile Court, use the court's Financial Disclosure / Indigency forms. The court reviews your income and decides whether to waive the deposit.

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.

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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