Portage County Legal Separation Attorneys
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026
Portage County, Ohio · Ravenna
A legal separation divides property and debt and sets support and parenting orders while you remain legally married. People choose it for religious reasons, to keep health insurance, or while deciding whether to divorce. In Portage County it is filed in the Domestic Relations Court on the same track as a divorce — it does not end the marriage.
Hire Gavvl for your Portage County legal separation 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 legal separation in Portage County, Ohio?
File a Complaint for Legal Separation with the Portage County Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations using the same track and forms as a divorce, with the same affidavits. A legal separation under R.C. 3105.17 divides property and debt and sets spousal support and, with children, custody, parenting time, and child support — but you stay legally married. To end the marriage later, you must file a separate divorce; the separation case does not convert into a divorce. Confirm the current deposit with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475.
Hire Gavvl Law for your Portage County legal separation
A legal separation under R.C. 3105.17 divides property and debt and sets support and parenting orders while you stay legally married, and in Portage County it is filed in the Ravenna Domestic Relations Court on the same track and forms as a divorce. Gavvl Law prepares the complaint packet the Clerk expects, explains what staying married does and does not do, and quotes a flat fee approved up front with payment plans available.
- The same track as divorce, a different result. Legal separation uses the same complaint, affidavits, and deposit and moves through the same pretrial and hearing track as a divorce; the difference is the decree keeps you legally married. We build the packet accordingly so the case is not confused for a divorce filing.
- Clear on what separation does not do. Neither spouse can remarry while only legally separated, and the case does not automatically convert into a divorce, so ending the marriage later requires a separate divorce action. We make sure the reason you chose separation, whether insurance, religious, or personal, is actually served.
- Children handled the same as a divorce. With minor children the court sets custody, parenting time, and support just as in a divorce, and the free 'Children Are Forever' class is required. We complete the parenting and support paperwork and register you early so the class never holds up the hearing.
You or your spouse must meet Ohio's 6-month residency rule (R.C. 3105.03) with Portage County venue and no extra county period, and because the Court sets no fixed deposit we confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475 and can file the Affidavit of Indigency if cost is a hardship.
Flat-fee options
Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file your legal separation complaint so you can divide finances while staying legally married. You appear at any hearings yourself.
- Legal separation (no children): $1,750
- Legal separation with children: $2,300
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 legal separation case or see payment plans & financing.
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: Portage County Domestic Relations Court
203 W. Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266Phone: (330) 297-3475
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: Court website
Legal Separation is the right path if…
- You want court orders on property, support, and parenting but do not want to end the marriage yet.
- You have a religious, insurance, or personal reason to remain legally married.
- You (or your spouse) meet the 6-month Ohio residency requirement (R.C. 3105.03).
- You understand you must file a separate divorce later if you decide to end the marriage.
Ready to end the marriage instead? File a divorce. See Portage County divorce.
Filing Fees
Filed on the divorce track 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. 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
Legal separation without minor children — Deposit set by the Court — confirm with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475
File the Complaint for Legal Separation with the income and property affidavits on the same track as a divorce.
- 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.
Legal separation with minor children — Deposit set by the Court — confirm with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475
Add the parenting and support paperwork; the court sets custody, parenting time, and child support the same way it would in a divorce. The free 'Children Are Forever' 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.
- 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 Legal Separation 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.
- Complete the complaint packet. Use the Domestic Relations Court's complaint and the income, expense, and property affidavits — the same forms as a divorce.
- File and pay or waive the deposit. File with the Clerk and pay the deposit set by the Court, or file the Affidavit of Indigency.
- Attend the hearing. The court enters a decree of legal separation dividing property and setting support and parenting orders while you remain married.
Portage County Practice Notes
- You stay married. A legal separation under R.C. 3105.17 settles property, debt, support, and parenting but does not dissolve the marriage. Neither spouse is free to remarry while only legally separated.
- Same track as a divorce. Legal separation is filed in the Domestic Relations Court using the same complaint, affidavits, and deposit as a divorce. To end the marriage later, a separate divorce action is required — the separation does not automatically convert.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does a legal separation end my marriage in Portage County?
- No. A legal separation under R.C. 3105.17 divides property and sets support and parenting orders while you remain legally married. To end the marriage later you must file a separate divorce action — the separation case does not convert into a divorce.
- Is the legal-separation process different from divorce in Portage County?
- No. It is filed in the Domestic Relations Court on the same track as a divorce — the same complaint, affidavits, and deposit, and the same pretrial/hearing track. The only difference is the result: a decree of legal separation that keeps you legally married instead of a divorce decree.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Other Family-Law Topics in Portage County
- Portage County Divorce — Full filing guide with the Court's checklist, deposit, and deadlines.
- Portage County Custody — Why both married and never-married custody go to the Domestic Relations Court.
- Ohio Child Support Calculator — Run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself.
- Ohio family-law resources — 88-county directory of courts and legal aid.
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 Portage County family law
- Ohio Legal Separation guide — Statewide overview of legal separation 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.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
