Filing for Dissolution in Summit County, Ohio
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 26, 2026
Summit County hosts its own dissolution forms on drcourt.org rather than using the generic Supreme Court PDFs — use the Summit-numbered forms and flatten them before filing. The Separation Agreement (and any Shared Parenting Plan) must be notarized and filed with the joint petition, the property-and-income affidavit (Affidavit 6) must be signed by both spouses, and parents of minor children must finish the "Remember the Children" program (Local Rule 32.01) before the court will set the 30-to-90-day hearing required by Local Rule 7. One quirk trips up almost every self-represented filer: after you file Form 17 and receive a case number, the court does not automatically schedule your hearing — it is your responsibility to call the assigned judge's bailiff to set it (Judge Cook's cases (330) 643-2357, Judge Hightower's cases (330) 643-2080). Summit's two-judge bench also handles hearings differently: Judge Cook holds dissolution hearings by Zoom, while Judge Hightower hears them in person unless the court approves a remote appearance. The court communicates primarily by email, so give the Clerk a working email address; bring neatly printed final documents and money for copies on hearing day, because the court does not make copies for you.
What dissolution costs in Summit County — one clear flat fee
A flat fee means no clock running on every call or email. Our attorneys handle dissolution for Summit County families for one agreed price, with payment plans and the option to step up to full representation at any time. This page also covers the local side for Summit County: court contacts in Akron, forms, and fee details.
- One flat fee, agreed up front. We put the entire dissolution price in writing first. Once you approve it, that's the fee — no meters running and nothing tacked on later.
- Payments that fit your budget. Pay in full, split it into a plan, or finance it — three ways to fit the same transparent flat fee into your budget.
- Why Summit County families choose us. Because it's a flat fee, we're paid to resolve your dissolution case — not to run up hours — so nothing drags for the sake of billing. Licensed Ohio family-law attorneys serve Summit County and all 88 counties.
Flat-fee options
Flat-fee limited scope: we prepare your full dissolution petition and separation agreement for an agreed, no-court split.
- Dissolution: $1,750
- Dissolution with children: $2,300
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 dissolution 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) |
Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division
205 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308 • (330) 643-2365 • DR Court: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. · Clerk/Legal Division: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (e-filing 24/7)
Filing fee: $370–$400. Fee waiver available.
Important things to know about Summit County
- Both spouses must sign a notarized Separation Agreement (and a notarized Shared Parenting Plan if you have children) and file it with the petition, plus 3 copies.
- The Dissolution Affidavit of Property and Income (Affidavit 6) must be signed by both parties.
- Under Local Rule 7, the hearing is held 30 to 90 days after filing — both spouses must attend and confirm they still agree.
- After you file Form 17 and get a case number, it is YOUR responsibility to call the assigned judge's bailiff to schedule the hearing inside that 30-to-90-day window — Judge Cook's cases call (330) 643-2357, Judge Hightower's cases call (330) 643-2080.
- Hearing format depends on which judge you draw: Judge Cook holds dissolution hearings by Zoom, while Judge Hightower hears them in person unless the court approves a Zoom appearance (her final documents are due at least 7 days in advance).
- With minor children, both parents must complete the "Remember the Children" program (Local Rule 32.01) before the court will set a hearing date.
- Flatten your completed PDFs before filing — fill the form, choose Print, save to a PDF printer, and file that copy. Summit may reject fillable forms with live fields.
- Submit the proposed Decree of Dissolution at least 2 business days before the hearing (Local Rule 2.02). One copy must be signed by BOTH spouses and emailed to your assigned judge's bailiff, or dropped with the Security Bailiff on the 4th floor.
- Summit communicates primarily by email — give the Clerk an email address and check it regularly; self-represented filers are held to the same standard as attorneys.
- If either spouse has a pending bankruptcy, the judge will not sign your decree until you show the case is closed or that a Relief from Stay was granted.
- Bring neatly printed original final documents and money for copies to the hearing — the court does NOT make copies of final documents. Check in with the Security Bailiff on the 4th floor and arrive at least 15 minutes early (Local Rule 1.11).
- Every new case requires the New Case Designation (Local Form 130).
Required forms (all cases)
- Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and Waiver of Service (Summit Form 17) — The joint petition both spouses file together; it waives formal service of summons.
- Separation Agreement (Summit Form 19) — The notarized contract dividing property and debt and setting spousal support. Required, plus 3 copies.
- Dissolution Affidavit of Property and Income (Summit Affidavit 6) — Combined property and income affidavit; must be signed by both spouses and filed together with the petition.
- New Case Designation Form (Summit Local Form 130) — Required with every new case so the Clerk can route and assign it.
- Judgment Entry – Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (Summit Form 18) — The final order granting the dissolution. One copy must be signed by both spouses and delivered to your assigned judge's bailiff before the hearing — email it or drop it with the Security Bailiff on the 4th floor.
Additional forms with minor children
- Shared Parenting Plan (Summit Form 20) — Use if both parents will be residential parents and legal custodians. Must be notarized for a dissolution.
- Parenting Plan (Summit Form 21) — Use if one parent will be the residential parent and legal custodian.
- Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Summit Affidavit 3) — Each child's 5-year address history, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction.
- Health Insurance Affidavit (Summit Affidavit 4) — Documents what health coverage is available for the children and at what cost.
- Application for Child Support Services (Summit Local Form 115) — Opens a CSEA (IV-D) child support case so support is collected by wage withholding. Summit's CSEA is administered through the Prosecuting Attorney's Office at (330) 643-2765.
- Ohio Child Support Worksheet — Run the Ohio Child Support Calculator and attach the printed, signed worksheet.
Related to your 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 dissolution, divorce, 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 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.
- Dividing Property in an Ohio Divorce — Ohio divides marital property equitably — meaning fairly, not always equally. The first step is classifying every asset and debt. Here's how the process works.
Understand the cost
- Cost of Dissolution in Summit County — Real filing fees, court costs, timeline, and flat-fee options for a dissolution in Summit County.
- 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.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
