Annulment in Putnam County

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

Putnam County, Ohio · Ottawa

An annulment treats a marriage as never validly formed — different from a divorce, which ends a valid marriage. Ohio allows annulment only on specific grounds, and the proof is technical, so these cases are usually attorney-drafted. In Putnam County an annulment is filed in Judge Schierloh's Domestic Relations Division as a civil complaint.

When can I get an annulment in Putnam County, Ohio?

An annulment (R.C. 3105.31) requires a specific ground — such as bigamy, being underage, fraud, force, mental incapacity, or non-consummation. A short marriage is not, by itself, a ground. File a civil complaint for annulment in the Domestic Relations Division through the Clerk of Courts, 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, (419) 523-3110; the civil-complaint deposit is $250 — confirm the specific amount with the Clerk. Because the proof is technical, annulments are usually attorney-drafted. If you don't have a valid ground, a divorce or dissolution is the path to end the marriage.

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: Putnam County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875
Phone: (419) 523-3110
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Website: putnamcountyohio.gov/courts/common-pleas-court/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Putnam County Juvenile & Probate Court
245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875
Phone: (419) 523-3012
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Annulment is the right path if…

You have a specific statutory ground (bigamy, underage, fraud, force, incapacity, or non-consummation).
You want the marriage treated as never validly formed.
You can document the ground with evidence.
You understand a short marriage alone is not a ground.

Filing Fees

Civil-complaint deposit $250 — confirm the specific annulment amount with the Clerk, since the schedule lists divorce and dissolution at $300 · poverty-affidavit fee waiver available · confirm at (419) 523-3110

Forms & Filing Packets

File for annulment on a statutory ground — $250 civil-complaint deposit — confirm with the Clerk

File a civil complaint for annulment (R.C. 3105.31) in the Domestic Relations Division with the income and property affidavits, stating the specific ground. The civil-complaint deposit is $250 — confirm the amount with the Clerk.

Putnam County Complaint for Divorce — The county's fillable divorce Complaint, filed with the Clerk of Courts to open a Domestic Relations case before Judge Schierloh. (An Answer-and-Counterclaim version is also posted.)
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.
Putnam County Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Forms — The county's full Domestic Relations self-help form set (look for "Domestic Relations Forms"), including the Local Rule 16 Temporary-Orders affidavit and the Rule 28 standard parenting-time schedule.

No valid ground — consider divorce or dissolution — $300 divorce/dissolution deposit

If you don't have a statutory ground, an annulment won't apply. End the marriage by divorce (if you don't fully agree) or dissolution (if you do).

Putnam County Complaint for Divorce — The county's fillable divorce Complaint, filed with the Clerk of Courts to open a Domestic Relations case before Judge Schierloh. (An Answer-and-Counterclaim version is also posted.)
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.

How to File Annulment in Putnam County

Confirm a statutory ground. Check whether your situation fits an Ohio annulment ground (R.C. 3105.31). If not, plan for a divorce or dissolution instead.
Prepare the complaint. Draft a civil complaint for annulment stating the specific ground, with the income and property affidavits. Because the proof is technical, attorney drafting is recommended.
File with the deposit. File at the Clerk of Courts, 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, with the $250 civil-complaint deposit (confirm the amount) or a poverty affidavit for a waiver.
Prove the ground at hearing. Present evidence of the ground at the hearing. If the court grants the annulment, the marriage is treated as never validly formed.

Putnam County Practice Notes

Annulment needs a specific ground. Ohio annulment (R.C. 3105.31) requires a ground such as bigamy, being underage, fraud, force, mental incapacity, or non-consummation. A short marriage is not, by itself, a ground; annulments are usually attorney-drafted because the proof is technical.
If there's no ground, end the marriage another way. Without a valid annulment ground, the marriage is ended by divorce (when you don't fully agree) or dissolution (when you do). Both are filed in the Domestic Relations Division; the deposit is $300.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I get an annulment in Putnam County?: An annulment (R.C. 3105.31) treats a marriage as never validly formed and requires a specific ground — such as bigamy, being underage, fraud, force, mental incapacity, or non-consummation. A short marriage is not, by itself, a ground; annulments are usually attorney-drafted because the proof is technical. It is filed in the Domestic Relations Division as a civil complaint; the deposit is $250 — confirm the specific amount with the Clerk at (419) 523-3110.
How much does it cost to file for divorce or dissolution in Putnam County?: The Domestic Relations schedule lists a $300 deposit for divorce and for dissolution. Other civil complaints (which can include legal separation and annulment) carry a $250 deposit — confirm the specific legal-separation or annulment amount with the Clerk. A special-project fee of $50 may also apply, and a Guardian ad Litem deposit is $800 for an attorney GAL or $400 for a CASA. If you can't afford the deposit, file a poverty affidavit for a fee waiver. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (419) 523-3110.
What is the difference between an uncontested divorce and a dissolution in Putnam County?: A dissolution is Ohio's fully agreed, no-fault path: both spouses sign a complete Separation Agreement first, file a joint petition, and appear together at a short hearing — no one is served and there are no grounds to prove. An uncontested divorce is still a divorce: you file a Complaint and serve your spouse, but it resolves without a trial because your spouse agrees or doesn't respond. In Putnam County both are heard by Judge Schierloh's Domestic Relations Division.
What are the residency requirements to file for divorce in Putnam County?: Ohio requires the plaintiff to have been a state resident for at least six months before filing for divorce (R.C. 3105.03). Putnam County does not add a separate county-residency rule. For never-married custody filed in the Juvenile/Probate Court, Ohio must be the children's "home state" under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127) — generally, the children have lived in Ohio for the last six consecutive months.

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.

Related to your annulment case

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.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on annulment 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.

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Ohio Annulment guide — Statewide overview of annulment in Ohio.
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