Preble County Divorce Attorneys

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

Preble County, Ohio · Eaton

A divorce ends a marriage when the spouses don't already agree on everything. It is filed by one spouse against the other in the Preble County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Domestic Relations docket), 3rd Floor, 101 East Main Street, Eaton, before Judge Stephen R. Bruns. The county uses the Ohio uniform complaint (Form 6 without children / Form 7 with children) plus the statewide affidavits, e-filing is required (pro se filers may file on paper), and the court's Model Parenting Time Schedule guides companionship time.

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Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Preble 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 Preble County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Divorce — Form 6 (no children) or Form 7 (with children) — with the Ohio uniform affidavits (Affidavit 1 income, Affidavit 2 property, and, with children, Affidavit 3 parenting proceeding and Affidavit 4 health insurance) with the Preble County Clerk of Courts, 101 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Eaton, (937) 456-8160. E-filing is required; pro se filers bring the original plus 4 copies and the deposit. You or your spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least six months (R.C. 3105.03). The deposit is $400 without minor children or $500 with minor children. If your spouse won't participate or can't be found, the case is uncontested unless an answer is filed within 28 days, and you can serve by posting or publication. If you have minor children under 16, both parents must complete the Seminar for Separating Parents.

Hire Gavvl Law for your Preble County divorce

A Preble County divorce is e-filed with the Clerk of Courts on the Ohio uniform complaint — Form 6 without minor children or Form 7 with them — backed by a $400 or $500 deposit, and it lands on Judge Stephen R. Bruns's Common Pleas docket on the 3rd floor at 101 East Main Street in Eaton. Gavvl Law assembles the complaint and affidavits the e-Filing system will accept, tracks the Seminar for Separating Parents deadline when children are under 16, and offers one flat fee approved up front for straightforward cases or full representation when the divorce is contested.

E-filed complaints the Eaton clerk accepts. Preble County requires civil and divorce filings through its e-Filing system, and proposed entries must be uploaded as Word documents with a two-inch signature space at the end. We prepare the Form 6 or Form 7 complaint, the income and property affidavits, and a compliant proposed decree so your case number issues without a bounce-back from the Clerk at (937) 456-8160.
Seminar for Separating Parents handled on schedule. Under Local Rule DR 26, parents with a child under sixteen must complete the Court-sponsored Seminar for Separating Parents within 60 days of filing, registering at least a week ahead, and no divorce reaches a final hearing until both parents comply. We flag the $25-per-person seminar the day your case opens so the requirement never stalls your decree.
A flat fee, or a poverty affidavit if money is tight. The deposit is $400 without minor children and $500 with, and a party who cannot advance it may file a poverty affidavit instead. We quote one flat fee approved before we start, offer payment plans and financing, and prepare the affidavit of indigence when the deposit is out of reach — so cost never keeps you out of court.

Because Preble County runs two family-law courts in the same Eaton courthouse — Judge Bruns's Common Pleas division on the 3rd floor and the separate Juvenile & Probate Court on the 2nd — we make sure your divorce, and every custody and support issue that travels with it, stays in the Common Pleas case at (937) 456-8160 instead of being split across dockets.

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: Preble County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Domestic Relations)

101 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Eaton, OH 45320
Phone: (937) 456-8160
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: Court website
e-Filing: Online e-filing portal

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Preble County Juvenile & Probate Court
101 East Main Street, 2nd Floor, Eaton, OH 45320
Phone: (937) 456-8136
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed national holidays)

Divorce is the right path if…

You want to end the marriage and you or your spouse meets Ohio's six-month residency (R.C. 3105.03).
You and your spouse don't have a complete written agreement (otherwise a dissolution may fit).
Your spouse can't be located or won't participate, so you need an uncontested (default-style) divorce.
You need the court to divide property and debt and set support and parenting orders.
You want the court's Model Parenting Time Schedule to guide companionship time if you have minor children.

If you and your spouse fully agree on everything and both will sign and appear, a dissolution is usually faster and cheaper. Compare dissolution.

Filing Fees

$400 deposit without minor children · $500 deposit with minor children · $500 counterclaim · $25/person Seminar for Separating Parents (paid from the cost deposit) when children are under 16 · re-opening $220 · QDRO $65 · poverty affidavit (fee waiver) available · these are deposits — confirm the exact amount with the Clerk at (937) 456-8160

Forms & Filing Packets

Divorce with no minor children — $400 deposit (without minor children)

E-file the Form 6 complaint with Affidavit 1 (income & expenses) and Affidavit 2 (property & debt), plus a request for service. Pay the $400 deposit (pro se filers bring the original plus 4 copies).

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.
Decree of Divorce Without Children (Ohio SC Form 14) — Proposed final order ending the marriage. Prepare in advance; the Judge signs it at the final hearing.

Divorce with minor children — $500 deposit (with minor children)

E-file the Form 7 complaint and add Affidavit 3 (parenting proceeding / UCCJEA), Affidavit 4 (health insurance), the child-support worksheet, and a parenting plan. The county's Model Parenting Time Schedule guides companionship time, and parents of children under 16 complete the Seminar for Separating Parents. Pay the $500 deposit.

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.
Preble County Model Parenting Time Schedule (effective Nov. 1, 2019) — The Domestic Relations Court's detailed, age-banded guideline parenting-time schedule. Posted under download forms at preblecountyohio.net; it guides companionship time when parents do not file their own agreed plan.
Decree of Divorce With Children (Ohio SC Form 15) — Proposed final order for a divorce with minor children.

How to File Divorce in Preble County

Confirm residency and pick the complaint. Make sure you or your spouse meets Ohio's six-month residency, then choose Form 6 (no children) or Form 7 (with children).
Complete the forms. Fill in the complaint, Affidavit 1 (income), and Affidavit 2 (property); with children add Affidavit 3 (parenting proceeding), Affidavit 4 (health insurance), the support worksheet, and a parenting plan.
File with the deposit. E-file through the Preble County e-Filing system with the $400/$500 deposit; pro se filers bring the original plus 4 copies and the deposit to the Clerk's Office. If you can't afford it, file a poverty affidavit.
Serve your spouse. Arrange certified-mail service through the Clerk; if your spouse can't be found, ask for service by posting or publication, and the case proceeds as uncontested.
Complete the seminar and finalize. If you have minor children under 16, complete the Seminar for Separating Parents within 60 days; use temporary orders if needed; the judge resolves contested issues by agreement or trial and signs the Decree of Divorce.

Preble County Practice Notes

Two separate courts: Common Pleas (Domestic Relations) and Juvenile. Preble County runs two separate family-law courts in the Preble County Courthouse, 101 East Main Street, Eaton. The Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Domestic Relations) on the 3rd floor (Hon. Stephen R. Bruns, Magistrate Erica J. Gordon, Clerk of Courts Shonda Haynes, (937) 456-8160) handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment — plus the custody, parenting time, and support that travel with them for married or divorcing parents. The separate Juvenile & Probate Court on the 2nd floor (Hon. Jenifer K. Overmyer, Magistrate K. Brent Copeland, Juvenile (937) 456-8136) handles paternity, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents, and non-parent custody.
E-filing is required; some filings are paper exceptions. E-filing is required for all civil, criminal, dissolution, and divorce filings through the Preble County Clerk of Courts e-Filing system (https://pa.preblecountyohio.net/eservices/). Paper filings are accepted only for pro se (self-represented) filers, garnishments, Court of Appeals filings, and civil protection orders. Pro se filers bring the original plus 4 copies of each document and the deposit to the Clerk's Office, 101 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Eaton. Proposed orders are uploaded as Word documents with a 2-inch signature space at the end. Court staff give procedural information but cannot give legal advice or complete forms. Confirm accepted payment methods with the Clerk at (937) 456-8160.
Seminar for Separating Parents (Local Rule DR 26). All parents in a divorce, legal separation, or dissolution in which there are any minor children under sixteen (16) must attend the Court-sponsored educational Seminar for Separating Parents, within 60 days after filing or service. Each parent registers at least one week ahead. The $25.00-per-person seminar fee is paid from the deposit for court costs filed with the initial complaint. No action proceeds to a final hearing until the parents have complied (a parent who never appears does not delay the hearing by not attending). The requirement may be waived by the Court for good cause, and the Court may also order it with post-decree custody or parenting-time motions. Confirm the current schedule and proof-of-completion procedure with the Clerk at (937) 456-8160.
Filing deposits and fee waivers (poverty affidavit). Court filing fees are deposits; the final cost can be higher or lower, and the Clerk may require additional deposits as a case proceeds. The current Domestic Relations deposit is $400 without minor children and $500 with minor children, and a counterclaim is $500 (confirm the exact amount at the time of filing). A party who cannot afford the deposit may file a poverty affidavit (affidavit of indigence) in place of the filing fee — ask the Clerk for the current form and procedure. There is no filing fee for a domestic-violence Civil Protection Order petitioner.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file for divorce in Preble County?: For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least six months before filing (R.C. 3105.03), with proper Preble County venue under Civ.R. 3. For dissolution, only the six-month Ohio residency applies. There is no separate county-residency rule. For Juvenile Court cases (parentage, never-married custody, support), Ohio must be the child's 'home state' under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127) — generally the child has lived in Ohio for the last six consecutive months. Confirm any specific venue question with the Clerk at (937) 456-8160.
How much does it cost to file for divorce or dissolution in Preble County?: Per the Clerk's current pro se filing information, the Domestic Relations deposit is $400.00 without minor children and $500.00 with minor children; a counterclaim is $500.00. A separate $25.00-per-person Seminar for Separating Parents fee is paid from the cost deposit when there are minor children under 16. Other deposit items under Local Rule DR 34 include re-opening a case $220.00, a QDRO filing $65.00, a subpoena $20.00, a garnishment $115.00, and a Court of Appeals filing $225.00. These are deposits and the final cost can differ — confirm the exact amount at the time of filing with the Clerk at (937) 456-8160. If you cannot afford the deposit, file a poverty affidavit.
Is an uncontested divorce the same as a dissolution in Preble County?: No. A dissolution is a joint filing used only when you and your spouse already agree on everything and sign a Separation Agreement first; there is no party being sued. An uncontested (default-style) divorce is still a lawsuit — a divorce is uncontested unless the defendant files an answer within 28 days of service — used when your spouse won't participate, won't sign, or can't be found (served by posting or publication), and the court grants the divorce on your evidence.
Is a parenting class required in Preble County?: Yes, when minor children under sixteen (16) are involved. Under Local Rule DR 26, all parents in a divorce, legal separation, or dissolution with minor children under 16 must attend the Court-sponsored Seminar for Separating Parents within 60 days after filing or service. Each parent registers at least one week ahead, and the $25.00-per-person fee is paid from the cost deposit. No case proceeds to a final hearing until the parents comply, though the Court may waive it for good cause. Confirm the current schedule and proof-of-completion procedure with the Clerk at (937) 456-8160.
Can I file by mail or fax in Preble County?: E-filing is required for all civil, criminal, dissolution, and divorce filings through the Preble County Clerk of Courts e-Filing system (https://pa.preblecountyohio.net/eservices/). Paper filings are accepted only for pro se (self-represented) filers, garnishments, Court of Appeals filings, and civil protection orders. Pro se filers bring the original plus 4 copies of each document and the deposit to the Clerk's Office at 101 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Eaton. Proposed orders must be uploaded as Word documents with a 2-inch signature space. Confirm details with the Clerk at (937) 456-8160.

Free Local Resources in Preble County

Preble County Court of Common Pleas (Domestic Relations). Local forms, the Model Parenting Time Schedule, the Standard Parenting Time Order, and filing information for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, custody, support, and protection orders at https://preblecountyohio.net. E-filing is required (pro se filers may file on paper); the Clerk of Courts (Shonda Haynes, (937) 456-8160) handles intake at 101 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Eaton. Court staff cannot give legal advice or complete forms.
Preble County Juvenile & Probate Court. Handles never-married-parent parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support, plus non-parent custody, at 101 East Main Street, 2nd Floor, Eaton (Hon. Jenifer K. Overmyer; Magistrate K. Brent Copeland). Juvenile Court (937) 456-8136; Probate Court (937) 456-8137. Website https://prebleohiojuvenileprobate.org. Confirm current deposits and genetic-testing costs with the court.
Preble County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Opens IV-D cases, establishes paternity administratively, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support by wage withholding, and enforces orders. Located at 1500 Park Avenue, Eaton, OH 45320; phone (937) 456-1499. Support payments run through the Ohio Child Support Payment Central.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.
Child abuse / neglect hotline. Report suspected child abuse or neglect to Preble County Job & Family Services — Children Services at 1500 Park Avenue, Eaton: 24-hour hotline (937) 456-1135, Option 1. Statewide hotline 1-855-642-4453 (1-855-O-H-CHILD), 24/7. In an emergency, call 911.

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.

Continue your Preble County research

Ohio Divorce guide — Statewide overview of divorce in Ohio.
Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
Preble County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Preble 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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