Portage County Divorce Attorneys

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

Portage County, Ohio · Ravenna

A divorce ends your marriage and lets the court divide property and debt and set support and parenting orders. In Portage County, divorces are filed in the Domestic Relations Court in Ravenna (Judge Paula Giulitto) — a standalone court that handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, protection orders, and all parenting matters. The Clerk's divorce checklist tells you exactly which forms to file.

Hire Gavvl for your Portage County divorce case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Portage County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

How do I file for divorce in Portage County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Divorce with the Portage County Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations at 203 W. Main Street, Ravenna, using the Domestic Relations Court's Checklist for Divorce so you include the right forms. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio at least 6 months before filing (R.C. 3105.03) — Portage County adds no separate county-residency period. With minor children you add the parenting affidavit, a child-support worksheet, and the free 'Children Are Forever' parenting class. Your spouse has 28 days to answer. Portage County offers e-filing, and a fee waiver is available with the Affidavit of Indigency. The Court does not publish a fixed deposit, so confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475.

Retain Gavvl Law for your Portage County divorce

Portage County runs one standalone Domestic Relations Court in Ravenna (Judge Paula Giulitto) that decides your divorce and every parenting, support, and protection question that rides with it, and the Court works its own Checklist for Divorce rather than a fixed published deposit. Gavvl Law assembles the packet exactly as that checklist expects, confirms the current deposit with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475, and quotes a flat fee for straightforward filings or full representation when the case is contested.

One docket for the whole family case. Because Ravenna's Domestic Relations Court keeps custody, parenting time, and child support inside the divorce instead of sending them to a Juvenile Court, we manage every issue on a single docket and calendar, so nothing falls between two courthouses while your case moves.
The checklist and the free parenting class handled up front. The Court publishes a Checklist for Divorce so the packet is complete on the first pass, and cases with minor children require the free 'Children Are Forever' class. We complete the checklist and get you registered early so an unfinished class never pushes back your hearing.
Temporary orders built for Local Rule 11(G). In Portage County the Court will not grant temporary custody or child support without a filed Uniform DR Affidavit 5 and an evidentiary hearing. We prepare that affidavit and your supporting proof so an interim request is heard on the merits rather than bounced for a missing filing.

If the deposit is a hardship, Portage accepts the Affidavit of Indigency for a waiver, and it also allows fax or email filing at $1 per transmission plus $1 per page when in-person filing is hard. We know the Clerk's payment quirks — including the $2 or 4% card fee — so your filing is accepted without a costly do-over.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the correct complaint packet for your situation; you appear at any hearings yourself.

Complaint for Divorce: $1,250
With temporary orders: $1,750
With minor children: $1,750
With children + temporary orders: $2,000

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your divorce case or see payment plans & financing.

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: Court website

Divorce is the right path if…

You want to legally end your marriage and have the court divide property and debt.
You and your spouse may not agree on everything (if you fully agree, a dissolution may fit better).
You or your spouse have lived in Ohio at least 6 months (R.C. 3105.03).
You are ready to complete the Clerk's divorce checklist and, if you have children, take the free parenting class.

Filing Fees

Portage County does not publish a fixed Domestic Relations deposit — confirm the current amount with the Clerk · a fee waiver is available with the Affidavit of Indigency · e-filing is available, and fax/email filing is $1 per transmission plus $1 per page · credit-card payments add a $2 fee up to $50, or 4% above $50. 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

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

File the Complaint for Divorce with the income and property affidavits. Use the Court's Checklist for Divorce to confirm the packet is complete before filing with the Clerk.

Complaint for Divorce Without Children (Ohio SC Form 6) — Opens your divorce case and tells the court what you're asking for. Use when you and your spouse have no minor children together.
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.
Checklist for Divorce (Portage County Domestic Relations Court) — The Domestic Relations Court's step-by-step checklist of the forms and documents required to file a divorce, so nothing is missing when you file with the Clerk.
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.

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

Add the parenting affidavit, the health-insurance affidavit, and a child-support worksheet; the court sets custody, parenting time, and child support. The free 'Children Are Forever' parenting class is required.

Complaint for Divorce With Children (Ohio SC Form 7) — The divorce Complaint used when you and your spouse have minor children together. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child-support allegations.
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.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
Checklist for Divorce (Portage County Domestic Relations Court) — The Domestic Relations Court's step-by-step checklist of the forms and documents required to file a divorce, so nothing is missing when you file with the Clerk.

How to File Divorce in Portage County

Confirm residency. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio at least 6 months before filing (R.C. 3105.03), with Portage County venue. There is no extra county-residency period.
Build the packet from the checklist. Use the Domestic Relations Court's Checklist for Divorce to gather the complaint, income and property affidavits, and (with children) the parenting and support forms.
File and pay or waive the deposit. File with the Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations (in person, by mail, by e-filing, or by fax/email). Pay the deposit set by the Court or file the Affidavit of Indigency.
Serve and take the class. Serve your spouse (they have 28 days to answer) and, if you have children, complete the free 'Children Are Forever' parenting class.
Attend the hearing. The court holds a pretrial and, if the case does not settle, a final hearing where it divides property and sets support and parenting orders.

Portage County Practice Notes

One court for the whole family case. Portage County's Domestic Relations Court (Judge Paula Giulitto) hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, protection orders, and all parenting matters in one place. You will not be sent to a separate Juvenile Court for the custody or support parts of a divorce.
Use the Clerk's checklist and take the class. The Court publishes a Checklist for Divorce so your packet is complete the first time. If you have minor children, the free 'Children Are Forever' parenting class is required in an initial custody or parenting-time case — sign up early so it does not delay your hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Portage County?: Portage County's Domestic Relations Court does not publish a fixed deposit amount, so confirm the current deposit with the Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations at (330) 297-3475 before filing. A fee waiver is available with the Affidavit of Indigency. The Clerk also offers e-filing and fax/email filing ($1 per transmission plus $1 per page); credit-card payments add a $2 fee up to $50, or 4% above $50.
Can I e-file and how do I pay in Portage County?: Yes — Portage County offers e-filing for Domestic Relations cases, and the Clerk also accepts fax/email filing at $1 per transmission plus $1 per page. Credit-card payments add a $2 fee for charges up to $50, or 4% for charges above $50. Confirm the current options and any deposit with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475.
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.
What if I can't find my spouse in Portage County?: You can still proceed. After diligent search, you can serve by posting or publication under the civil rules, and the case proceeds to a decree on your evidence once service is complete. Your spouse normally has 28 days to answer after being served.

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 divorce case

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

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on divorce and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
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.

Keep exploring Portage County family law

Ohio Divorce guide — Statewide overview of divorce in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
Portage County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Portage County guide.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder 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.
Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce in Ohio — What each path means for your timeline and total cost.

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