Scioto County Family Law Guide
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026
Gavvl Law helps Scioto County, Ohio families with divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and more. Find the right Scioto 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 Scioto County
Ending a Marriage
- Divorce
Domestic Relations Court DR filing deposit $250 (eff. 1/1/2024) · Mediation Fund $40 at filing
Best for: You want to end the marriage and at least one issue (property, debt, support, or parenting) is contested.
View guide - Dissolution
Domestic Relations Court DR filing deposit $250 · Mediation Fund $40 at filing
Best for: You and your spouse agree on every issue — property, debt, support, and parenting.
View guide - Legal Separation
Domestic Relations Court DR filing deposit $250 · Mediation Fund $40 at filing
Best for: You want to resolve property, support, and parenting issues but stay legally married.
View guide - Annulment
Domestic Relations Court DR filing deposit $250
Best for: Your marriage fits a specific R.C. 3105.31 ground (underage, bigamy, fraud, force, incompetence, or non-consummation).
View guide
Parents & Children
- Custody
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Custody inside a divorce/dissolution: part of the $250 DR case deposit · Reopened DR case / post-decree motion: $130
Best for: You need a court order setting who the children live with and how parenting time and decision-making are divided.
View guide - Child Support
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court DR modification deposit $130 · Juvenile reopen $125 per child plus a $25 drug/alcohol screen
Best for: You need a new child-support order, or your current order no longer matches the parents' incomes.
View guide - Paternity
Juvenile Court Parentage case in Domestic Relations $250 · in Juvenile $275 first child / $125 each additional plus a $25 drug/alcohol screen
Best for: The parents were not married when the child was born.
View guide - Shared Parenting
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filed inside a divorce/dissolution ($250 DR) or post-decree ($130) · never-married parentage $275 first child plus $25 screen
Best for: Both parents want to be residential parents and legal custodians under a written plan.
View guide - Non-Parent Custody
Juvenile Court Juvenile custody $275 first child / $125 each additional plus a $25 drug/alcohol screen (Juv. Local Rule 2.1) · $5 pro-se packet
Best for: You're a grandparent, relative, or other suitable adult seeking custody of a child.
View guide
Changing or Enforcing Orders
- Modifications
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court DR reopened/post-decree deposit $130 · Juvenile reopen $125 per child plus a $25 drug/alcohol screen
Best for: You already have a Scioto County (or transferred-in) order you need to change.
View guide - Contempt
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court DR reopened/post-decree deposit $130 · Juvenile reopen $125 per child plus a $25 screen
Best for: The other parent is violating a current court order.
View guide
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency Custody
Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: A child faces an immediate, serious risk of harm right now.
View guide - Protection Orders
Domestic Relations Court Filing fees vary — confirm with the Clerk
Best for: A family or household member has physically harmed, attempted to harm, or threatened you.
View guide
The Scioto County family-law guide
Verified June 21, 2026
Download our free Scioto 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 Scioto County family-law guide (PDF)
Talk to a Scioto County family-law attorney
Sources we checked
- Scioto County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division (sciotocountydrcourt.com)
- Scioto County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division Fee Schedule
- Scioto County Juvenile Court — Forms & Filing
- Ohio Supreme Court — Standard Domestic Relations forms
What we confirmed for 2026
- Scioto County has a standalone Domestic Relations court (Judge Jerry L. Buckler; Magistrate Robert M. Johnson) at 602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth ((740) 355-8316), which hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, parentage, custody, and support.
- Confirm current filing deposits against the Clerk of Courts Legal Division fee schedule (rev. 1/1/2024) at sciotoclerk.com/legal-division before filing.
- The court-approved parenting class is "Successful Co-Parenting," the OSU Extension 3-hour seminar taken online at scponline.osu.edu and registered via DR Form 11.
- Parents with minor children must complete the parenting class within 60 days and file the Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing (DR Rule 6.02).
- The DR Court is open Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM and closes for lunch from 12:00–1:00 PM, so plan in-person filings around the midday closure.
Scioto County family-law courts
Domestic Relations Court
Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and spousal support for married spouses
Scioto County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division
602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth, OH 45662
Portsmouth, OH 45662
Phone: (740) 355-8316
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM)
Juvenile Court
Custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity for unmarried parents
Scioto County Juvenile Court
602 7th St #201, Portsmouth, OH 45662
Portsmouth, OH 45662
Phone: (740) 355-8306
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM)
Court divisions, filing fees, and local requirements can change. Confirm the correct court, current fees, and required forms with the Scioto County Clerk of Courts before you file.
Why Scioto County is different
A standalone Domestic Relations court
Unlike many smaller Ohio counties, Scioto County has a dedicated Domestic Relations court (Judge Jerry L. Buckler; Magistrate Robert M. Johnson) at 602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth ((740) 355-8316, fax (740) 355-8205). It hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, parentage, custody, and support, and distributes the DR packets and local forms. (Scioto County Domestic Relations Division)
Take "Successful Co-Parenting" online within 60 days
Parents with minor children must complete the court-approved "Successful Co-Parenting" seminar — a 3-hour OSU Extension class taken online at scponline.osu.edu and registered with DR Form 11. Finish it within 60 days and file your Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing (DR Rule 6.02). (Scioto County Domestic Relations Division — DR Rule 6.02)
Mind the midday lunch closure
The Scioto County DR Court keeps hours of Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM but closes for lunch from 12:00–1:00 PM. Time any in-person filings or questions around that midday closure, and verify current deposits against the Clerk's Legal Division fee schedule (rev. 1/1/2024) at sciotoclerk.com/legal-division first. (Scioto County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division)
Free local resources in Scioto County
- Scioto County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division — Provides the current Clerk fee schedule (rev. 1/1/2024), local forms, and filing instructions for divorce, dissolution, and custody cases. Visit https://sciotoclerk.com/legal-division/ before filing to confirm deposits and accepted payment methods.
- Scioto County Domestic Relations Division — The standalone DR court (Judge Jerry L. Buckler; Magistrate Robert M. Johnson) at 602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth, (740) 355-8316 (fax (740) 355-8205). Hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, parentage, custody, and support, and distributes the DR packets and local forms. Hours Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM). https://sciotocountydrcourt.com
- Scioto County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) — Scioto County's IV-D agency at 710 Court Street, Portsmouth, opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Confirm the agency's current direct phone. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.
- "Successful Co-Parenting" Parenting Class — OSU Extension — The court-approved 3-hour parenting-education seminar for parents with minor children, taken online at https://scponline.osu.edu (registered via DR Form 11). Complete it within 60 days and file the Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing (DR Rule 6.02).
Frequently asked questions
Does Gavvl Law serve Scioto County, Ohio?
Yes. Gavvl Law represents families across all 88 Ohio counties, including Scioto County and Portsmouth. We handle divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and other family law matters for Scioto County residents.
Which Scioto County court handles my family law case?
Scioto County uses different courts for different family matters. Married spouses file for divorce, dissolution, or legal separation at Scioto County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division. Unmarried parents handle custody, parenting time, and child support at Scioto County Juvenile Court. Filing in the wrong court can delay your case, so confirm where your matter belongs with the Scioto County Clerk of Courts before you start.
How much does it cost to file a family law case in Scioto County?
Court filing fees in Scioto County are deposits that vary by case type. These deposits can change and do not include attorney fees. Confirm the current schedule with the Scioto 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 Scioto 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 Scioto County's current requirement and approved providers with the Clerk of Courts.
Can I file Scioto 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 Scioto County Clerk of Courts website for the current options before you prepare your documents.
How long does a divorce or dissolution take in Scioto 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. Scioto County's docket affects timing, so ask about current wait times at your consultation.
What family law services does Gavvl Law offer in Scioto County?
Gavvl Law offers divorce, dissolution, legal separation, custody, shared parenting, child support, paternity, post-decree modifications, and more for Scioto County families. Choose a service below to see the local process and forms.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
