Putnam County Divorce Attorneys

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

Putnam County, Ohio · Ottawa

A divorce is the path to ending a marriage when you and your spouse don't have a complete written agreement, or when your spouse won't participate. In Putnam County, divorce is heard by Judge Schierloh's Domestic Relations Division and filed through the Clerk of Courts at 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa. The county uses its own fillable complaint, and a Temporary Standard Order restrains both spouses the moment the case is filed and served.

Hire Gavvl for your Putnam County divorce case

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

Confirm the plaintiff has been an Ohio resident for at least six months (R.C. 3105.03). File the Putnam County Complaint for Divorce with the income and property affidavits — and, with minor children, the Parenting Affidavit (UCCJEA), the health-insurance affidavit, the child-support worksheet, and a parenting plan — at the Clerk of Courts, 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875, (419) 523-3110. Pay the $300 deposit (or file a poverty affidavit for a waiver). On filing and service, the Local Rule 16 Temporary Standard Order takes effect. Your spouse has 28 days to answer, and Putnam targets a final hearing within 90 days. With children, both parents must complete the A-OK parenting class within 60 days (Local Rule 41).

Hire Gavvl Law for your Putnam County divorce

A Putnam County divorce starts with the county's own fillable Complaint for Divorce, filed with the Clerk at 245 E. Main Street in Ottawa alongside the income and property affidavits and a $300 deposit — and there is no online portal, so every page has to be right for in-person, mail, or fax filing. The moment the case is filed and served, the Local Rule 16 Temporary Standard Order restrains both spouses. Gavvl Law assembles the packet Judge Schierloh's Domestic Relations Division expects, quotes one flat fee approved up front for a clean or default-style case, and shifts to full representation when the divorce turns contested.

The county's own complaint, not a generic one. Putnam posts its own Complaint for Divorce and an Answer-and-Counterclaim version rather than relying solely on the statewide forms. We file the local complaint with the income and property affidavits — and, with children, the Parenting Affidavit, health-insurance affidavit, support worksheet, and a parenting plan — so nothing bounces back from the Clerk.
Built around Putnam's clocks. Your spouse has 28 days to answer and the court targets a final hearing within 90 days, while the Local Rule 16 temporary-orders affidavit gets an interim support or parenting hearing within 14 days. With minor children, we calendar the A-OK parenting class so it is finished inside the 60-day Local Rule 41 window instead of derailing the decree.
A flat fee, and a plan if you can't advance $300. We set one flat fee up front for an uncontested or default-style divorce and offer payment plans and financing; contested property or custody moves to full representation. If the $300 deposit is out of reach, we file a poverty affidavit for a fee waiver so the case still moves.

Because Putnam County has no e-filing portal, filings go in person or by mail to the Clerk at 245 E. Main Street in Ottawa, or by fax to (419) 523-5284 (20 pages or fewer, $3 per transmission plus $1 per page). We know that workflow and the split between Judge Schierloh's Domestic Relations Division and Judge Borer's Juvenile/Probate Court, so your paperwork lands in the right place the first time.

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: 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: Court website

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.

Divorce is the right path if…

You want to end the marriage and the plaintiff meets Ohio's six-month residency.
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 temporary support or a parenting schedule decided before the final decree.

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

$300 divorce deposit (with or without children) · $50 special-project fee may apply · GAL deposit $800 attorney / $400 CASA · poverty-affidavit fee waiver available · confirm current amounts and payment methods with the Clerk at (419) 523-3110

Forms & Filing Packets

Divorce with no minor children — $300 deposit

File the Putnam County Complaint for Divorce with the income & expenses affidavit and the property affidavit, plus a request for service. Pay the $300 deposit (or a poverty affidavit). The Temporary Standard Order takes effect on filing and service.

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.
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 — $300 deposit

File the Putnam County Complaint for Divorce and add the Parenting Affidavit (UCCJEA), the health-insurance affidavit, the child-support worksheet, and a parenting plan. Both parents must finish the A-OK parenting class within 60 days (Local Rule 41). Rule 28 sets parenting time unless you agree otherwise. Pay the $300 deposit.

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 Parenting Affidavit — The county's parenting/UCCJEA affidavit listing where each child has lived and with whom. Filed with the complaint in any case involving minor children.
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.
Decree of Divorce With Children (Ohio SC Form 15) — Proposed final order for a divorce with minor children.

How to File Divorce in Putnam County

Confirm residency and gather forms. Make sure the plaintiff meets Ohio's six-month residency (R.C. 3105.03), then download the Putnam County Complaint for Divorce and the income and property affidavits; with children add the Parenting Affidavit, health-insurance affidavit, support worksheet, and a parenting plan.
File with the $300 deposit. File in person or by mail at the Clerk of Courts, 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875, with the $300 deposit (or a poverty affidavit for a waiver). There is no online portal; fax/email filing of 20 pages or fewer is available for $3 plus $1 per page.
Serve your spouse. Serve by certified mail through the Clerk, then by sheriff or process server; if your spouse can't be found, ask for service by posting or publication, and the case proceeds as a default-style divorce. The Temporary Standard Order takes effect on filing and service (Local Rule 16).
Use temporary orders and finish the parenting class. If you need interim support or a parenting schedule, file the Rule 16 temporary-orders affidavit; the court sets the hearing within 14 days. With children, complete the A-OK parenting class within 60 days of filing (Local Rule 41).
Finalize within 90 days. The judge resolves contested issues by agreement or trial and signs the Decree of Divorce. Putnam targets a final hearing within 90 days of filing.

Putnam County Practice Notes

Married goes to one judge; never-married usually goes to the other. Judge Schierloh's Domestic Relations Division hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody and support that ride along with them. Judge Borer's combined Juvenile/Probate Court hears custody for never-married parents, children-services cases, and adoption. Because the DR Division also advertises "child-custody disputes," confirm the division for a never-married case at (419) 523-3110 (DR) or (419) 523-3012 (Juvenile/Probate) before filing.
Filing a divorce automatically restrains both spouses. Under Local Rule 16, a Temporary Standard Order takes effect the moment a divorce is filed and served: neither spouse may remove the children from the court's jurisdiction, harass the other, or dissipate property. The Clerk attaches it to the summons. It lasts until the final decree replaces it.
The A-OK parenting class has a 60-day clock. In any case with minor children, both parents must complete the A-OK parenting class within 60 days of filing. Miss it and you cannot be granted an allocation of parental rights; if no party completes it, the case is dismissed (Local Rule 41). There is an in-person option and a court-accepted online provider — confirm registration details with the Clerk at (419) 523-3110.
How to get paperwork to the Putnam Clerk. There is no online e-filing portal. File in person or by mail at the Clerk of Courts, 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), or fax filings (20 pages or fewer) to (419) 523-5284 or email cpefile@putnamcountyohio.gov — fax/email filing costs $3 per transmission plus $1 per page. Confirm current methods and fees with the Clerk at (419) 523-3110.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
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.
How long does a divorce take in Putnam County?: A defendant has 28 days to answer after being served. Putnam targets a final hearing within 90 days of filing. If you need temporary support or a parenting schedule in the meantime, the court sets that request for hearing within 14 days of filing, with only one 7-day continuance allowed (Local Rule 16). With minor children, both parents must finish the A-OK parenting class within 60 days of filing or the case can be dismissed (Local Rule 41).
What is the Putnam County Temporary Standard Order in a divorce?: Under Local Rule 16, filing and serving a divorce automatically puts a Temporary Standard Order in place: neither spouse may remove the children from the court's jurisdiction, harass the other, or dissipate marital property. The Clerk attaches it to the summons, and it lasts until the final decree replaces it. It applies on its own — you do not have to ask for it.
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.
Can I file family-law paperwork online in Putnam County?: There is no online e-filing portal. File in person or by mail at the Clerk of Courts, 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), or fax filings of 20 pages or fewer to (419) 523-5284, or email cpefile@putnamcountyohio.gov — fax/email filing costs $3 per transmission plus $1 per page. Confirm current methods and fees with the Clerk at (419) 523-3110.

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 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.

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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