Dissolution of Marriage in Portage County

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

Portage County, Ohio · Ravenna

A dissolution is the agreed, no-fault way to end a marriage. Both spouses sign a complete Separation Agreement first, then file a joint petition. In Portage County it is filed in the Domestic Relations Court in Ravenna, and by statute the hearing is held 30 to 90 days after filing. Because everything is already agreed, a dissolution is usually faster and less expensive than a contested divorce.

How does a dissolution work in Portage County, Ohio?

You and your spouse agree on everything — property, debt, support, and (if you have children) custody, parenting time, and child support — and put it in a written Separation Agreement. You then file a joint Petition for Dissolution with the Portage County Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations. By R.C. 3105.64 the hearing is held no sooner than 30 and no later than 90 days after filing; both spouses attend, confirm they still want the dissolution and that the agreement is fair, and the judge signs the Decree of Dissolution. The free 'Children Are Forever' class is required when there are minor children. Confirm the current deposit with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475.

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: Portage County Domestic Relations Court

203 W. Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266
Phone: (330) 297-3475
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: www.portagecounty-oh.gov/portage-county-domestic-relations-court

Dissolution is the right path if…

You and your spouse agree on all terms — property, debt, support, and any parenting issues.
You both are willing to sign a written Separation Agreement and attend one hearing together.
You want a faster, lower-conflict path than a contested divorce.
You or your spouse meet the 6-month Ohio residency requirement (R.C. 3105.03).

Can't agree on everything yet? A divorce lets the court decide. See Portage County divorce.

Filing Fees

Filed jointly in the Domestic Relations Court — the deposit is set by the Court, so confirm the current amount with the Clerk · a fee waiver is available with the Affidavit of Indigency · the hearing is held 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64). Portage County does not publish a fixed Domestic Relations deposit, so confirm the current amount with the Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations at (330) 297-3475 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Dissolution without minor children — Deposit set by the Court — confirm with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475

File the joint Petition for Dissolution with the signed Separation Agreement and the income and property affidavits.

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.
Decree of Dissolution (Ohio SC Form 18) — Proposed final order that ends the marriage and incorporates the Separation Agreement.
Affidavit of Indigency (Portage County Domestic Relations Court) — Sworn statement of income, assets, and expenses used to ask the court to waive or delay the filing deposit if you cannot afford it.

Dissolution with minor children — Deposit set by the Court — confirm with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475

Add the parenting affidavit, a child-support worksheet, and a parenting plan. The free 'Children Are Forever' parenting class is required.

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 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.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
Checklist for Parentage / Custody Actions (Portage County Domestic Relations Court) — The Domestic Relations Court's checklist for unmarried parents starting a parentage, custody, parenting-time, or support case. In Portage County these are filed in the DR Court, not the Juvenile Court.

How to File Dissolution in Portage County

Reach a full agreement. Work out every term — property, debt, support, and parenting — and put it in a written Separation Agreement that both spouses sign before a notary.
Prepare the joint petition. Complete the Petition for Dissolution, the affidavits, and (with children) the parenting and support forms from the Court's checklist.
File and pay or waive the deposit. File jointly with the Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations and pay the deposit set by the Court, or file the Affidavit of Indigency.
Attend the hearing. Both spouses attend the hearing 30–90 days after filing, confirm the agreement, and the judge signs the Decree of Dissolution.

Portage County Practice Notes

Agreement comes first. A dissolution cannot be filed until both spouses have signed a complete Separation Agreement covering property, debt, support, and any parenting terms. If you cannot agree on something, a divorce is the right path because the court decides the disputed issues.
The 30–90 day window. By R.C. 3105.64 the dissolution hearing is held no sooner than 30 and no later than 90 days after the joint petition is filed. Both spouses must attend, confirm they still want the dissolution, and confirm the agreement is fair before the judge signs the decree.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a dissolution take in Portage County?: By statute (R.C. 3105.64) the dissolution hearing is held no sooner than 30 and no later than 90 days after the joint petition is filed. Both spouses must attend the hearing, confirm they still want the dissolution, and confirm the Separation Agreement is fair, after which the judge signs the Decree of Dissolution.
Does Portage County have a separate divorce court?: Yes. Portage County has a standalone Domestic Relations Court in Ravenna (Judge Paula Giulitto) that hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and protection orders. Unusually, it also hears all unmarried-parent parentage, custody, parenting-time, and support cases — those do not go to the Juvenile Court the way they do in most Ohio counties. The Juvenile Court (part of the combined Juvenile/Probate Court) handles only abuse/neglect/dependency and delinquency; adoption is a Probate matter.
How long must I live in Ohio before filing for divorce in Portage County?: You (or your spouse) must have lived in Ohio at least 6 months before filing (R.C. 3105.03), with Portage County venue. Portage County does not add a separate county-residency period. For custody, Ohio must be the children's home state under the UCCJEA — generally, the children have lived in Ohio for the last 6 consecutive months.
Do we have to take a parenting class in Portage County?: Yes, when minor children are involved. The Portage County Domestic Relations Court requires the 'Children Are Forever' parenting class in an initial custody or parenting-time case, and the class is free for Portage County cases. Sign up early through the Court's forms page so it does not delay your hearing.

Free Local Resources in Portage County

Portage County Domestic Relations Court (Judge Paula Giulitto). 203 W. Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266; Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations (330) 297-3475, open 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, protection orders, and all unmarried-parent parentage, custody, parenting-time, and support cases. Hosts the Domestic Relations Forms page, the divorce and parentage checklists, and the free 'Children Are Forever' parenting class. Offers e-filing; fax/email filing is $1 per transmission plus $1 per page.
Portage County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA / PCJFS). Portage County Job & Family Services, (330) 297-3750. Opens IV-D cases, sets and collects support by wage withholding, can establish paternity and order genetic testing, and runs the Child & Adult Protective Services abuse hotline at 330-296-CARE (330-296-2273).
Portage County Juvenile/Probate Court. Part of the combined Juvenile/Probate Court in Ravenna. Handles abuse/neglect/dependency and delinquency (Juvenile) and adoptions (Probate). Note: in Portage County, routine parentage and custody for unmarried parents are heard in the Domestic Relations Court, not here.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself before filing so you know the likely support amount.

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