Legal Separation in Ross County

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

Ross County, Ohio · Chillicothe

A legal separation divides property and debt and can order support and allocate parental rights — without ending the marriage. It is heard in the General Division of the Ross County Court of Common Pleas and follows the same practice rules as a divorce.

How do I file for legal separation in Ross County, Ohio?

File a complaint for legal separation in the General Division through the Ross County Clerk of Courts, 2 N. Paint St., Suite B, Chillicothe, (740) 702-3010, with the standard financial affidavits (Affidavits 1 and 2), parenting affidavits where children are involved (Affidavits 3 and 4), and the Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers Form. The deposit is $400. A legal separation resolves finances and parenting while the parties stay legally married. Parents of minor children complete the Families in Transition class within 60 days, and the same one-corroborating-witness rule and SCOJFS support routing apply as in a divorce.

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: Ross County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

2 N. Paint Street, Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: (740) 702-3032
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
Website: www.rosscountycommonpleas.org/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Ross County Court of Common Pleas, Probate/Juvenile Division
2 N. Paint Street, Suite A, Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: (740) 774-1177
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)

Legal Separation is the right path if…

You want to divide finances and set parenting terms but not end the marriage.
You have religious, insurance, or personal reasons to stay legally married.
You need enforceable support or parenting orders now.
You or your spouse meet Ohio's residency requirement.

If you want to end the marriage, file for divorce or, if you fully agree, a dissolution. Compare divorce.

Filing Fees

$400 legal-separation deposit · investigation $100 where a child is involved · fee waiver by affidavit · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 702-3010

Forms & Filing Packets

Legal-separation filing packet — $400 deposit

File the legal-separation complaint with the financial affidavits and the Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers Form; the deposit is $400.

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.
Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers Form (Local Rule 20.07) — Required with every Domestic Relations pleading under General Division Local Rule 20.07. Lists protected personal identifiers (SSNs, account numbers) and is filed under seal. Obtain it from the Clerk of Courts.
General Division Forms Page (Ross County Common Pleas) — The General Division's central forms page. The General Division of the Ross County Court of Common Pleas hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court.

Legal separation with minor children — $400 deposit

Add the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, the Health Insurance Affidavit, a parenting plan, and the support worksheet, and register for the Families in Transition class.

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.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
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.

How to File Legal Separation in Ross County

Confirm residency. Meet Ohio's residency requirement before filing for legal separation in the General Division.
Prepare the complaint and affidavits. Draft the legal-separation complaint with the financial affidavits (Affidavits 1 and 2) and, with children, Affidavits 3 and 4 and a parenting plan; include the Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers Form.
File with the $400 deposit. File at the Clerk of Courts, 2 N. Paint St., Suite B, Chillicothe, and pay the $400 deposit (or file a Fee Waiver Affidavit).
Complete Families in Transition (if children). Both parents complete the FiT class within 60 days where minor children are involved.
Resolve finances and parenting. The court divides property and debt and can order support and allocate parental rights — without ending the marriage.

Ross County Practice Notes

No separate Domestic Relations court. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the General Division of the Ross County Court of Common Pleas — there is no separate Domestic Relations division. Two courtrooms preside: Courtroom 1 (Judge Michael M. Ater) and Courtroom 2 (Judge Matthew S. Schmidt), with Magistrates John DiCesare and Jennifer L. Ater. File through the Clerk of Courts, 2 N. Paint St., Suite B, Chillicothe, (740) 702-3010.
Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers required (Local Rule 20.07). Every Domestic Relations pleading must include a completed Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers Form under General Division Local Rule 20.07; it is filed under seal. Obtain the form from the Clerk of Courts' legal-forms page.
Families in Transition (FiT) class required with minor children. In any divorce, dissolution, change-of-custody, or companionship-modification case with minor children, both parents complete the Families in Transition (FiT) class within 60 days of filing (General Division Local Rule 20.12; Juvenile County Rule 13). It is held at The Child Protection Center, 138 Marietta Road, Suite E, Chillicothe, (740) 779-7431; the fee is $25 (exact cash or PayPal) and the certificate is valid for one year. Confirm current class dates when registering.
One corroborating witness; investigation for children. Under General Division Local Rule 20.04, only one corroborating witness with personal knowledge is required at a divorce hearing. Where a child under 18 is involved, the court may order an investigation (Local Rule 20.05), which carries a $100 deposit on the Clerk's schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a legal separation or annulment cost to file in Ross County?: Both a legal separation and an annulment carry a $400 General Division deposit per the Clerk's schedule. A fee waiver is available by affidavit (Local Rule 4.04). Confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (740) 702-3010.
Which court handles family-law cases in Ross County?: The General Division of the Ross County Court of Common Pleas (2 N. Paint St., Chillicothe) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The combined Probate/Juvenile Court (2 N. Paint St., Suite A) handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, under R.C. 2151.23) and adoptions (Probate). Cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts at (740) 702-3010.
Do I have to take a parenting class in Ross County?: Yes, in any divorce or dissolution involving minor children, and in any change-of-custody or companionship-modification motion — both parents must complete the class within 60 days of filing (General Division Local Rule 20.12; Juvenile County Rule 13). The court-ordered class is Families in Transition (FiT) at The Child Protection Center, 138 Marietta Road, Suite E, Chillicothe ((740) 779-7431). The fee is $25, paid by exact cash at the CPC office or by PayPal. The certificate is valid for one year.
Can I file in Ross County without paying the deposit?: Yes, if you cannot afford it. File a Financial Disclosure / Fee Waiver Affidavit with the Clerk. Under General Division Local Rule 4.04 the Clerk accepts your filing without a deposit; if the court later denies the waiver, you have 30 days to pay the deposit.

Free Local Resources in Ross County

Ross County Clerk of Courts (General Division / Domestic Relations). 2 N. Paint St., Suite B, Chillicothe, OH 45601; (740) 702-3010. Files all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases, posts the legal forms and the Divorce/Dissolution checklist, and confirms current deposits. Online payment via nCourt; records via eAccess. The General Division hears all DR matters — there is no separate Domestic Relations court.
LegalAtoms — free guided divorce & dissolution prep. https://legalatoms.com/ross/ — the Clerk's free, guided tool (English and Spanish) that prepares Ross County divorce and dissolution paperwork to print and file. It does not give legal advice.
Families in Transition (FiT) parenting class. The Child Protection Center, 138 Marietta Road, Suite E, Chillicothe; (740) 779-7431. Required within 60 days in any divorce/dissolution or custody/companionship-modification with minor children (Local Rule 20.12; Juvenile County Rule 13). Fee $25 (exact cash or PayPal); certificate valid one year. Confirm current class dates when registering.
Ross County Probate/Juvenile Court. 2 N. Paint St., Suite A, Chillicothe; (740) 774-1177 or (740) 774-1179 (https://www.rossprobatejuvenile.com/). Judge J. Jeffrey Benson. Hears unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile) and adoptions (Probate), using local Forms 11 and 20–31.
Ross County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 475 Western Ave, Ste. B, Chillicothe, OH 45601; (740) 773-2651 (https://jfs.ohio.gov/about/local-agencies-directory/csea-ross). Administrator Rick Reynolds. Establishes, calculates, collects, and enforces support; payments are routed through South Central Ohio Job & Family Services (SCOJFS).

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

Ohio Legal Separation guide — Statewide overview of legal separation in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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