Annulment in Summit County

Summit County, Ohio · Akron

An annulment declares that a marriage was never legally valid — based on grounds like bigamy, fraud, being underage, or incapacity — rather than ending a valid marriage like a divorce. In Summit County you file a Complaint for Annulment at the Domestic Relations Court, 205 South High Street, Akron. Grounds and time limits are strict under Ohio law, so the facts matter.

How do I get an annulment in Summit County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Annulment at the Summit DR Court, 205 South High Street, Akron, with the financial affidavits (Affidavit 1 and Affidavit 2) and the New Case Designation (Local Form 130). You must allege a recognized Ohio ground under R.C. 3105.31 — a spouse was underage, a prior marriage still exists (bigamy), mental incapacity, fraud, force or duress, or the marriage was never consummated — and file within the time limit for that ground. The deposit is $420 with children or $370 without. If children are involved, the court still allocates custody and support, and the parenting class applies. Build the packet from the Summit forms library, since annulments use a complaint adapted from the court's forms.

Where to File: Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

205 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308, Akron, OH 44308
Phone: (330) 643-2365
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: drcourt.org
e-Filing: https://drcourt.org/wp/forms/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Summit County Juvenile Court
650 Dan Street, Akron, OH 44310, Akron, OH 44310
Phone: (330) 643-2900
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Annulment is the right path if…

  • Your marriage may be legally invalid (bigamy, fraud, underage, or incapacity).
  • You can act within the time limit for your specific ground.
  • At least one spouse meets Ohio's residency requirement.
  • You understand annulment treats the marriage as if it never legally existed.

Most marriages don't qualify for annulment. If yours was legally valid, a divorce or dissolution is the right path. See divorce in Summit County.

Filing Fees

Summit County annulment deposit: $420 with children · $370 without · Grounds and time limits are strict under R.C. 3105.31 · Children are still protected with custody and support orders · Mutual restraining order issues on filing

Forms & Filing Packets

Annulment without minor children — $370 deposit

File the Complaint for Annulment with the income and property affidavits and the new case designation, alleging a recognized ground within its time limit.

Annulment with minor children — $420 deposit

Adds the parenting and support paperwork. Even if the marriage is annulled, the court still allocates custody and child support and the parenting class applies.

How to File Annulment in Summit County

  1. Confirm you have a valid ground. Identify a recognized Ohio annulment ground under R.C. 3105.31 (bigamy, underage, incapacity, fraud, force, or non-consummation) and confirm you're within its time limit.
  2. Prepare the complaint and affidavits. Assemble the Complaint for Annulment from the Summit forms library, plus Affidavit 1, Affidavit 2, and the New Case Designation (Local Form 130).
  3. Add the children's forms if applicable. With minor children, include the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, Health Insurance Affidavit, and child-support worksheet, and complete "Remember the Children."
  4. File and pay the deposit. File at the Summit DR Court, 205 South High Street, Akron, and pay $370 or $420. Confirm Ohio residency before filing.
  5. Prove the ground at the hearing. At the hearing, prove the ground for annulment; the court can declare the marriage void and address any children's issues.

Summit County Practice Notes

  • Annulment requires a recognized ground. Ohio recognizes specific grounds under R.C. 3105.31 — bigamy, being underage, mental incapacity, fraud, force, or a marriage never consummated. Each has its own time limit. If none applies, the marriage is valid and you need a divorce or dissolution instead.
  • Children are still protected. Even if a marriage is annulled, children of the relationship are treated as the children of the parties. The court still allocates custody and child support, and the parenting class applies when minor children are involved.
  • Build the packet from the forms library. Summit hosts its forms on drcourt.org. Because annulments are less common, assemble the complaint and supporting affidavits from the forms library and consult the court's "I Don't Have An Attorney" guide.
  • Best-interest standard governs the children. Any custody decision in an annulment uses the R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) best-interest factors — the same standard applied in divorce and legal-separation cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the grounds for an annulment in Summit County?
An annulment declares a marriage was never legally valid, rather than ending a valid one. Under R.C. 3105.31, Ohio recognizes specific grounds: a spouse was underage, a prior marriage still exists (bigamy), mental incapacity, fraud, force or duress, or the marriage was never consummated. Each ground has its own time limit, and you must file within it. If no ground applies, the marriage is valid and you need a divorce or dissolution instead. Annulments are filed at the DR Court, 205 South High Street, Akron.
Where do I file a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in Summit County?
All of these are filed at the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, 205 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308. The Clerk of Courts handles filing — in person, or by e-filing 24/7 at clerkefile.summitoh.net. Summit hosts its own versions of the Ohio forms on drcourt.org, so use the Summit-hosted form rather than the generic Supreme Court PDF, and remember to flatten any fillable PDF before you file.
What are the residency requirements to file in Summit County?
Under R.C. 3105.03, at least one spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least six months before filing for divorce, legal separation, or annulment. You then file in the county where you or your spouse resides — Summit County, for Akron-area families. A dissolution has the same six-month Ohio requirement. If you don't yet meet Ohio residency, a legal separation can sometimes be filed sooner and later converted.
What are the Summit County Domestic Relations filing fees?
Summit's Clerk fee schedule: divorce $420 with children / $370 without; dissolution $400 with children / $370 without; legal separation and annulment $420 with children / $370 without; a private parenting (unmarried) complaint or a complaint for legal custody $420; all post-decree motions and contempt actions $240; and a counterclaim $50. CPO petitions and CSEA filings are exempt from the deposit. If you can't afford the deposit, file Local Form 124 to proceed in forma pauperis.
Is there an automatic restraining order when I file in Summit County?
Yes. Under Local Rule 2.04, filing a divorce, legal separation, or annulment in Summit County automatically issues a Mutual Restraining Order against both spouses. It restrains harassment, hiding or wasting assets, running up debt, removing household goods, changing insurance, and moving a child's residence out of the area — and tells both parties to keep filing taxes as they have. It takes effect for each party on service.

Free Local Resources in Summit County

  • Summit Free Legal Clinic at Open M. Court-hosted community clinic in Akron offering free legal advice for self-represented parties.
  • Summit County DR Court. drcourt.org — CPO forms, Local Rules, judge bios, and the parenting-class LMS. Clerk's Office (1st floor) opens at 7:30 a.m.
  • Summit County Juvenile Court. juvenilecourt.summitoh.net · (330) 643-2900. Custody, visitation, support, and Grandparent Power of Attorney forms at 650 Dan Street.
  • Summit County CSEA (Child Support Enforcement Agency). Opens IV-D cases and collects/distributes child support through wage withholding once a support order is in place.
  • Victim Assistance Program of Summit County. Free advocates who help domestic-violence survivors complete CPO petitions and prepare for hearings.

Other Family-Law Topics in Summit County

Related to your annulment case

  • Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.
  • Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
  • Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.

Keep exploring

Call +1-844-694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.