Putnam County Family Law Guide
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026
Gavvl Law helps Putnam County, Ohio families with divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and more. Find the right Putnam County court, filing fees, and parenting resources below, or book a $25 first consultation to talk through your options with a local-focused attorney.
How we can help in Putnam County
Ending a Marriage
- Divorce
Domestic Relations Court $300 divorce deposit (with or without children) · $50 special-project fee may apply
Best for: You want to end the marriage and the plaintiff meets Ohio's six-month residency.
View guide - Dissolution
Domestic Relations Court $300 dissolution deposit · $50 special-project fee may apply
Best for: You both agree the marriage should end.
View guide - Legal Separation
Domestic Relations Court $50 special-project fee may apply
Best for: You want court-ordered support, property, and parenting terms but want to stay married.
View guide - Annulment
Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: You have a specific statutory ground (bigamy, underage, fraud, force, incapacity, or non-consummation).
View guide
Parents & Children
- Custody
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Custody inside a divorce/dissolution is part of the $300 deposit
Best for: You need a custody and parenting-time order for your child.
View guide - Child Support
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: You need to establish a first-time child-support order.
View guide - Paternity
Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: The parents were never married and need a legal father established.
View guide - Shared Parenting
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Shared parenting inside a divorce/dissolution is part of the $300 deposit
Best for: Both parents want to remain residential parents and share decision-making.
View guide - Non-Parent Custody
Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: A grandparent or relative is raising or needs to care for the child.
View guide
Changing or Enforcing Orders
- Modifications
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: There has been a real change in circumstances since the last order.
View guide - Contempt
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: The other party is clearly violating a written court order.
View guide
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency Custody
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: You have a divorce, dissolution, or custody case pending (or are filing one now).
View guide - Protection Orders
Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: You've been threatened, harmed, or stalked and need legal protection.
View guide
The Putnam County family-law guide
Verified June 21, 2026
Download our free Putnam County family-law guide (PDF) — a plain-language walkthrough of which court hears each matter, the current filing fees, the required parenting class, and e-filing — checked against the county's own court rules and fee schedules.
Download the Putnam County family-law guide (PDF)
Talk to a Putnam County family-law attorney
Sources we checked
- Putnam County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division Forms & Filing Instructions
- Putnam County Clerk of Courts — Filing Fees
- Putnam County Juvenile & Probate Court — Forms & Filing Fees
- Ohio Supreme Court — Standard Domestic Relations forms
What we confirmed for 2026
- Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are filed with the Domestic Relations Division of the Common Pleas Court at 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa; confirm the current filing fees with the Clerk of Courts at (419) 523-3110 before filing.
- The Clerk accepts filings in person, by mail, or by fax/email (20 pages or fewer) at $3 per transmission plus $1 per page, to (419) 523-5284 or cpefile@putnamcountyohio.gov.
- Never-married parents file custody, parentage, and parenting time — plus non-parent custody and adoption — in the Juvenile & Probate Court ((419) 523-3012); confirm its local forms and filing fees with the court.
- The Putnam County CSEA establishes paternity with free genetic testing, sets and reviews support, and enforces orders by wage withholding, with payments routed through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (2% processing fee); call (567) 376-3780.
- A free Pro Se Clinic, offered with Legal Aid of Western Ohio, explains divorce, dissolution, and custody — it is educational only, not legal representation; schedule it at (419) 523-6200.
Putnam County family-law courts
Domestic Relations Court
Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and spousal support for married spouses
Putnam County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division
245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875
Ottawa, OH 45875
Phone: (419) 523-3110
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Juvenile Court
Custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity for unmarried parents
Putnam County Juvenile & Probate Court
245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875
Ottawa, OH 45875
Phone: (419) 523-3012
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Court divisions, filing fees, and local requirements can change. Confirm the correct court, current fees, and required forms with the Putnam County Clerk of Courts before you file.
Why Putnam County is different
You can file by fax or email
The Putnam County Clerk accepts Domestic Relations filings in person, by mail, or by fax/email for documents of 20 pages or fewer. The cost is $3 per transmission plus $1 per page, sent to (419) 523-5284 or cpefile@putnamcountyohio.gov. Call (419) 523-3110 to confirm current filing fees before you submit. (Putnam County Clerk of Courts)
Free Pro Se Clinic with Legal Aid
Putnam County offers a free Pro Se Clinic in partnership with Legal Aid of Western Ohio — an instructional session on divorce, dissolution, and custody. It is educational, not legal representation, and you schedule it at (419) 523-6200. It's a useful first stop if you're filing without an attorney. (Putnam County Pro Se Clinic / Legal Aid of Western Ohio)
Free genetic testing through CSEA
If paternity is in question, the Putnam County Child Support Enforcement Agency establishes paternity with free genetic testing and can set and review support administratively. Payments run through Ohio Child Support Payment Central with a 2% processing fee. Call the CSEA at (567) 376-3780 to open a case. (Putnam County Child Support Enforcement Agency)
Free local resources in Putnam County
- Putnam County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations) — Provides current filing fees, the county's Domestic Relations forms, and filing instructions for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment. File in person or by mail at 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875, or by fax/email (20 pages or fewer; $3 per transmission plus $1 per page) to (419) 523-5284 / cpefile@putnamcountyohio.gov. Call (419) 523-3110.
- Putnam County Juvenile & Probate Court — Handles custody, parentage, and parenting time for never-married parents, non-parent custody, children-services cases, and adoption. Confirm its local forms and filing fees at (419) 523-3012.
- Putnam County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) — Establishes paternity with free genetic testing, sets and reviews support administratively, and enforces orders by wage withholding. Payments run through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (2% processing fee). Call 567-376-3780.
- Putnam County Pro Se Clinic (with Legal Aid of Western Ohio) — A free instructional session on divorce, dissolution, and custody — educational, not legal representation. Schedule it at (419) 523-6200.
- Putnam County Job & Family Services — Report concerns about a child's safety at 567-376-3777. In an immediate emergency, call 911.
- Ohio Child Support Calculator — Run the official 2024 Income Shares worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gavvl Law serve Putnam County, Ohio?
Yes. Gavvl Law represents families across all 88 Ohio counties, including Putnam County and Ottawa. We handle divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and other family law matters for Putnam County residents.
Which Putnam County court handles my family law case?
Putnam County uses different courts for different family matters. Married spouses file for divorce, dissolution, or legal separation at Putnam County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division. Unmarried parents handle custody, parenting time, and child support at Putnam County Juvenile & Probate Court. Filing in the wrong court can delay your case, so confirm where your matter belongs with the Putnam County Clerk of Courts before you start.
How much does it cost to file a family law case in Putnam County?
Court filing fees in Putnam County are deposits that vary by case type. These deposits can change and do not include attorney fees. Confirm the current schedule with the Putnam County Clerk of Courts, and ask Gavvl Law about flat fees and payment plans for representation.
Do I have to take a parenting class in Putnam County?
Most Ohio courts require divorcing or separating parents to complete a short parenting or co-parenting class before a judge will finalize the case. Confirm Putnam County's current requirement and approved providers with the Clerk of Courts.
Can I file Putnam County family law forms online?
It depends on the court. Some Ohio courts accept e-filing while others require paper filing in person or by mail. Check the Putnam County Clerk of Courts website for the current options before you prepare your documents.
How long does a divorce or dissolution take in Putnam County?
It depends on the path. An Ohio dissolution — used when both spouses agree on every issue — is generally finalized within about 30 to 90 days of filing, because the law sets the final hearing in that window. A contested divorce takes longer, often several months to more than a year, depending on the issues and the court's schedule. Putnam County's docket affects timing, so ask about current wait times at your consultation.
What family law services does Gavvl Law offer in Putnam County?
Gavvl Law offers divorce, dissolution, legal separation, custody, shared parenting, child support, paternity, post-decree modifications, and more for Putnam County families. Choose a service below to see the local process and forms.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
