Filing for Divorce with Children in Stark County

Stark County Family Court — Domestic Relations Division

File with the Clerk's Domestic Relations Division, 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 690 (6th floor), Canton, (330) 451-7792. The main Clerk's office is at 115 Central Plaza North, Suite 101, (330) 451-7801. Checks payable to 'Stark County Clerk of Courts'.

Filing Fees

$391 divorce with or without children

Stark County Procedure Quirks

• Combined Family Court — the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Divisions share 110 Central Plaza South in Canton, one main number, and a pool of six magistrates.
• Stark distributes its own assembled filing packets (with or without children) rather than itemized Ohio uniform forms.
• The Clerk issues the court's standard mutual restraining order when a divorce or legal-separation complaint, counterclaim, or answer is filed (Rule 12.07).
• Filing deposits increased effective March 17, 2025; a divorce or annulment deposit is $391 whether or not there are children.

Parenting Class

Court-approved parent-education program / Working Together for Kids — Stark County Family Court (https://www.starkcountyohio.gov/government/legal___judicial/family_court/resources/court_filing_forms.php)
A court-approved parent-education program is required for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and custody actions involving minor children (Rule 12.04). Unmarried parents filing an initial parental-rights action must complete the online 'Working Together for Kids' seminar before the initial hearing (Rule 16.06).

Judges

• Judge Michelle L. Cordova (DR Administrative Judge)
• Judge Matthew P. Kreitzer

Stark County Family Court — Juvenile Division

Combined with the Domestic Relations Division in one Family Court. Handles paternity and custody for never-married parents, grandparent / third-party custody, and abuse/neglect/dependency.

Domestic Relations vs. Juvenile

Stark County's Domestic Relations and Juvenile Divisions share one Family Court building at 110 Central Plaza South in Canton. The DR Division handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody and support that travel with them for married parents; the Juvenile Division handles paternity and custody for never-married parents, plus grandparent / third-party custody.

Free Local Resources in Stark County

• Family Court Help Desk. Free help for self-represented parties completing and reviewing divorce and custody forms, plus court-procedure questions and notary services. Mondays 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., first come first served, (330) 451-7415.
• Court Filing Forms & Brochures. The court's assembled filing packets for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, custody, support, contempt, and protection orders, hosted in the county Document Center at starkcountyohio.gov.
• Stark County Law Library. Public legal-research help at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 401, Canton, (330) 451-7380, Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Related to your 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.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.