Scioto County Divorce Attorneys

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

Scioto County, Ohio · Portsmouth

A Scioto County divorce is filed in the standalone Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas at 602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth, before Judge Jerry L. Buckler and Magistrate Robert M. Johnson. The filing deposit is $250, an automatic Mutual Restraining Order issues at filing, and parents of minor children complete the "Successful Co-Parenting" seminar within 60 days. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio at least 6 months before filing.

Hire Gavvl for your Scioto County divorce case

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

File a Complaint for Divorce in the Scioto County Domestic Relations Division, 602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth, with the local Financial Disclosure Affidavit (DR Form 5). With minor children, add the UCCJEA / Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, the Ohio child-support worksheet, a IV-D application, a parenting plan, and complete Successful Co-Parenting within 60 days (DR Rule 6.02). The deposit is $250 (eff. 1/1/2024), and a Mutual Restraining Order is automatically issued at filing (DR Rule 2.02). You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio at least 6 months and in the county before filing (R.C. 3105.03; Civ.R. 3). Confirm whether the DR Court supplies its own packet or accepts the Ohio Supreme Court uniform forms.

Put Gavvl Law on your Scioto County divorce

A Scioto County divorce runs through the standalone Domestic Relations Division in Portsmouth before Judge Jerry L. Buckler and Magistrate Robert M. Johnson, where a $250 deposit opens the case, an automatic Mutual Restraining Order takes effect the moment you file, and parents of minor children owe both a co-parenting seminar and a full financial disclosure on fixed deadlines. Gavvl Law files a clean complaint, tracks every DR Rule deadline, and offers a flat fee for uncomplicated divorces or full representation when the case is fought.

The automatic restraining order explained before it trips you up. Under DR Rule 2.02 a Mutual Restraining Order issues automatically at filing and freezes assets and bars harassment for both spouses. We walk you through exactly what you can and cannot do while it is in force, so a routine account move or transfer never becomes a contempt problem mid-case.
The 60-day disclosure and seminar deadlines kept on calendar. Scioto requires the Financial Disclosure Affidavit exchanged within 60 days (DR Rule 2.01) and the Successful Co-Parenting seminar completed online within 60 days of service (DR Rule 6.02). We prepare the disclosure and register you promptly so neither deadline stalls your final hearing.
Mediation and GAL costs planned in advance. The DR Division can send parenting disputes to ASAP Mediation Services free through the Mediation Fund, and a contested case can draw a Guardian ad Litem on an $800 deposit under DR Rule 1.06(E). We tell you which path is likely and budget the GAL cost early rather than as a surprise.

The filing math in Scioto is specific — a $250 deposit plus a $40 Mediation Fund charge at filing, with a Poverty Affidavit (DR Form 12) to waive it if money is tight. We also coordinate with the Scioto County CSEA on Court Street so any support order is set up for wage withholding from the start, not after the decree.

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: Scioto County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth, OH 45662
Phone: (740) 355-8316
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM)
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Scioto County Juvenile Court
602 7th St #201, Portsmouth, OH 45662
Phone: (740) 355-8306
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM)

Divorce is the right path if…

You want to end the marriage and at least one issue (property, debt, support, or parenting) is contested.
You or your spouse has lived in Ohio for at least 6 months before filing.
You need the court's automatic Mutual Restraining Order to protect assets while the case is pending.
You can complete the Successful Co-Parenting seminar within 60 days if you have minor children.

If you and your spouse agree on everything, a dissolution is faster and cheaper. Compare dissolution.

Filing Fees

DR filing deposit $250 (eff. 1/1/2024) · Mediation Fund $40 at filing · GAL deposit $800 in contested cases · Poverty Affidavit (DR Form 12) waives the deposit · confirm amounts with the Clerk's Legal Division.

Forms & Filing Packets

Divorce without minor children — $250 DR deposit (plus $40 Mediation Fund)

Filed in the Domestic Relations Division. A Mutual Restraining Order issues automatically at filing (DR Rule 2.02).

Complaint for Divorce Without Children (Ohio SC Form 6) — Opens your divorce case and tells the court what you're asking for. Use when you and your spouse have no minor children together.
Financial Disclosure Affidavit (Scioto County DR Form 5) — Scioto County's local financial-disclosure affidavit listing income, expenses, assets, and debts. Mandatory disclosure is due within 60 days under DR Rule 2.01. Obtain the current form from the DR Court and confirm requirements with the Clerk.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.
Mutual Restraining Order (Scioto County DR Form 6) — Under DR Rule 2.02 a mutual restraining order is automatically issued at filing in a divorce, legal separation, or annulment — it freezes assets and bars harassment while the case is pending. The DR Court generates this order; confirm its current terms with the Clerk.

Divorce with minor children — $250 DR deposit (plus $40 Mediation Fund)

Add the parenting and support paperwork. Both parents complete Successful Co-Parenting within 60 days and file the certificate before the final hearing.

Complaint for Divorce With Children (Ohio SC Form 7) — The divorce Complaint used when you and your spouse have minor children together. Pleads custody, parenting time, and child-support allegations.
Financial Disclosure Affidavit (Scioto County DR Form 5) — Scioto County's local financial-disclosure affidavit listing income, expenses, assets, and debts. Mandatory disclosure is due within 60 days under DR Rule 2.01. Obtain the current form from the DR Court and confirm requirements with the Clerk.
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.
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.
IV-D Application for Child Support Services (Scioto County DR Form 4) — Opens a IV-D case with the Scioto County Child Support Enforcement Agency so it can calculate, collect, and enforce support. File whenever a support order is requested. Confirm the current form with the DR Court or CSEA.
Successful Co-Parenting Registration (Scioto County DR Form 11) — Registers you for the court-approved "Successful Co-Parenting" seminar (OSU Extension), required in any DR case with minor children. Complete the 3-hour online program within 60 days and file the certificate before the final hearing (DR Rule 6.02).

Add temporary orders (optional) — Included in the case deposit

Ask the court for temporary support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home while the divorce is pending.

Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Asks the court for temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Tip: Attach a current Financial Affidavit (Affidavit 1) and Affidavit 2 (Property).
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.

How to File Divorce in Scioto County

Confirm residency. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio at least 6 months before filing (R.C. 3105.03), with county venue under Civ. R. 3.
Assemble the packet. Use a Complaint for Divorce (no children: Form 6; with children: Form 7) plus the local Financial Disclosure Affidavit (DR Form 5). With children, add the UCCJEA affidavit, the child-support worksheet, a parenting plan, and a IV-D application. Confirm whether the DR Court wants its own packet or the SCOO uniform forms.
File and pay the deposit. File in the Domestic Relations Division, 602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth, and pay the $250 deposit. A Mutual Restraining Order is issued automatically at filing (DR Rule 2.02). Ask about a fee waiver (DR Form 12) if you can't afford it.
Serve your spouse. Arrange service through the Clerk. If your spouse can't be found, ask the Clerk about service by publication.
Complete the parenting class (if children). Both parents finish Successful Co-Parenting online within 60 days and file the certificate before the final hearing (DR Rule 6.02).
Exchange disclosures and finalize. Exchange the mandatory financial disclosure within 60 days (DR Rule 2.01), attend any mediation or pretrial, and present your case at the final hearing for the judge to sign the decree.

Scioto County Practice Notes

DR filing deposit is $250 (post-decree $130). The Scioto County Domestic Relations Division deposit for a new divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment is $250, paid to the Clerk at filing (schedule eff. 1/1/2024). A reopened case or post-decree motion is $130. The Mediation Fund adds $40 at filing ($50 on a modification) under DR Rule 8.13. A Poverty Affidavit (DR Form 12) waives the deposit if you can't afford it. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk's Legal Division.
Automatic Mutual Restraining Order at filing. Under DR Rule 2.02 a Mutual Restraining Order (DR Form 6) issues automatically when you file a divorce, legal separation, or annulment. It bars both spouses from hiding, transferring, or wasting assets and from harassing each other while the case is pending. It is not a domestic-violence order — if you need physical protection, file a Civil Protection Order (R.C. 3113.31).
"Successful Co-Parenting" is required with minor children. Each parent in a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or custody case with minor children completes the "Successful Co-Parenting" seminar through OSU Extension — a 3-hour research-based program taken online at scponline.osu.edu — within 60 days of service of the complaint or filing of the petition, and files the certificate before the final hearing (DR Rule 6.02). The provider charges a minimal fee; confirm the current cost when you register.
Mandatory financial disclosure within 60 days. DR Rule 2.01 requires each party in a divorce, legal separation, or annulment to exchange the Financial Disclosure Affidavit (DR Form 5) and supporting documents within 60 days. Failing to disclose can delay the case or expose you to sanctions. Use "Est." for unknown values and "None" where something doesn't apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to file in the Scioto County Domestic Relations Division?: The deposit for a new divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment is $250, paid to the Clerk of Courts at filing (Clerk fee schedule, rev. 1/1/2024). A reopened case or post-decree motion is $130. The Mediation Fund adds $40 at filing for divorce/dissolution/legal separation/paternity ($50 for a modification) under DR Rule 8.13, and a Guardian ad Litem deposit, when one is appointed, is $800 (DR Rules 1.06(E)/3.07(B)). A Poverty Affidavit (DR Form 12) or Affidavit of Indigency waives the deposit if you can't afford it. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk's Legal Division (https://sciotoclerk.com/legal-division/) or the DR Division at (740) 355-8316 before filing.
What are the residency requirements to file for custody in Scioto County?: For custody decided inside a divorce, dissolution, or annulment, Ohio law generally requires a spouse to have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months before filing (R.C. 3105.03), with county venue where the plaintiff has resided (commonly about 90 days, Civ.R. 3). A legal separation has no 6-month residency requirement. For never-married parents, Ohio must be the children's "home state" under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127) — generally, the children have lived in Ohio for the last 6 consecutive months.
Is a restraining order automatically issued when I file for divorce in Scioto County?: Yes. Under DR Rule 2.02, a Mutual Restraining Order (DR Form 6) is automatically issued at filing in a Scioto County divorce, legal separation, or annulment. It restrains both spouses from hiding, selling, or wasting assets and from harassing each other while the case is pending. It is not a domestic-violence order — if you need physical protection, file a Civil Protection Order under R.C. 3113.31, which carries no filing fee.
Is a parenting class required for custody cases in Scioto County?: Yes, for cases with minor children. The Domestic Relations Division requires both parents in a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation involving minor children to complete "Successful Co-Parenting," a 3-hour research-based seminar offered through Ohio State University Extension and taken online at https://scponline.osu.edu (registered via DR Form 11). It must be completed within 60 days after service of the divorce complaint or filing of the dissolution petition, and the Certificate of Attendance is furnished to the court at the final pretrial or dissolution hearing (DR Rule 6.02). The cost is minimal, paid to the provider. The Juvenile Local Rules do not establish a separate stand-alone parenting class — confirm with the Juvenile Court whether one is required in a custody case.

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).

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.

Continue your Scioto County research

Ohio Divorce guide — Statewide overview of divorce in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
Scioto County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Scioto County guide.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.

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.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.