Legal Separation in Pike County

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

Pike County, Ohio · Waverly

Legal separation lets the court divide property and debt and order custody, parenting time, and support — without legally ending the marriage. People choose it for religious reasons, to keep health insurance, or while deciding whether to divorce. It is filed in the Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General Division.

How do I file for legal separation in Pike County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Legal Separation in the Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, 100 East Second Street, Waverly; (740) 947-2212, with the Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Affidavit 1) and Affidavit of Property (Affidavit 2). With minor children, add the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3), the Health Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit 4), and an Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet. The court can divide property and order custody and support, but you remain legally married. Confirm the deposit with the Clerk at (740) 947-2212, and ask about an Affidavit of Indigency if you cannot afford it.

Ohio Legal Separation by the Numbers

Stay married A legal separation decree does not end the marriage — neither spouse may remarry Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.17
No residency rule Unlike a divorce, a legal separation has no 6-month Ohio residency requirement before filing Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.03
Full orders The court can divide property and order spousal support, custody, and child support Source: Ohio Revised Code §§ 3105.171, 3105.18
Can convert A legal separation does not stop either spouse from later filing for divorce Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.17

Legal Separation vs. Divorce in Ohio

Question	Legal separation	Divorce
Are you still legally married?	Yes — you stay married	No — the marriage ends
Can you remarry afterward?	No	Yes
Divides marital property and debts?	Yes	Yes
Can it order support, custody, and parenting time?	Yes	Yes
Ohio residency required to file?	Not required	6 months in Ohio
Can it later become a divorce?	Yes — either spouse can still file	It already ends the marriage

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)

Legal Separation is the right path if…

You want court-ordered division of property and support but not a divorce.
You have a religious, insurance, or personal reason to stay married.
You need orders for custody, parenting time, or support now.
You may convert to a divorce later if circumstances change.

Filing Fees

The General Division does not post a legal-separation 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; ask about an Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) under Civ. R. 3(E) if needed.

Forms & Filing Packets

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

File the Complaint for Legal Separation with the income and property affidavits in the General Division. Confirm the deposit with the Clerk before filing.

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.
Pike County Court of Common Pleas, General Division — The General Division (Hon. Rob Junk) hears all Pike County divorces, dissolutions, legal separations, annulments, and adult protection orders. Call the Clerk at (740) 947-2212 to confirm the current filing deposit, accepted payment methods, and number of copies before filing.

Legal separation with minor children — Deposit set by the Clerk — confirm with the Pike County Clerk at (740) 947-2212

Add the UCCJEA affidavit, the health-insurance affidavit, and an Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet, and complete the parenting class before the final hearing.

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.
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 Legal Separation in Pike County

Decide if separation fits. Choose legal separation when you want court orders on property, custody, and support but a religious, insurance, or personal reason to stay married.
Assemble your forms. File a Complaint for Legal Separation with the income and property affidavits, adding the UCCJEA, health-insurance, and support paperwork if you have minor children.
Confirm the deposit. Call the Pike County Clerk at (740) 947-2212 for the current deposit and payment methods, and ask about a fee waiver if needed.
File and serve your spouse. File with the Clerk and serve your spouse; the case proceeds much like a divorce but keeps the marriage intact.

Pike County Practice Notes

You stay married. Unlike a divorce or dissolution, a legal separation does not end the marriage. The court can still divide property and order custody and support, and you can later ask to convert the case to a divorce.
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).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a legal separation and how is it different from divorce in Pike County?: A legal separation lets the court divide property and debt and order custody, parenting time, and support without ending the marriage. You file in the General Division much like a divorce, but you stay legally married. People choose it for religious reasons, to keep health insurance, or while deciding whether to divorce. Confirm the filing deposit with the Clerk at (740) 947-2212.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Pike County?: The Pike County General Division does not post a divorce filing-fee schedule online. The Clerk of Courts sets the deposit, and it varies by case type. Confirm the current deposit, accepted payment methods, and number of copies with the Clerk 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).
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.
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 legal separation case

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

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on legal separation 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 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.
Spousal Support in Ohio: How Alimony Is Decided — Ohio has no fixed alimony formula. Courts weigh 14 statutory factors to decide whether spousal support is appropriate, how much, and for how long. Here's how it works.

Keep exploring

Ohio Legal Separation guide — Statewide overview of legal separation in Ohio.
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