Filing for Divorce with Children in Trumbull County
Reviewed by Stephanie Green, Esq. · Managing Partner, Gavvl Law · Last updated May 27, 2026
File for divorce with minor children in the Trumbull County Family Court — Domestic Relations Division. Step-by-step guidance, 6 required forms, $301 filing fee, parenting class requirements, and Ohio attorney help.
Trumbull County handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment in the Domestic Relations Division of the combined Trumbull County Family Court at 220 Main Avenue SW in Warren, with Judges Samuel F. Bluedorn and David L. Engler presiding over both the Domestic Relations and Juvenile sides. Two practical realities shape every Trumbull DR filing: there is no DR e-filing — divorce papers are filed in person or by mail with the DR Clerk at (330) 675-2627 — and a mutual restraining order must be filed with the complaint under Local Rule 33.01(B)(2). The filing deposit is $301 for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment, with or without children (effective May 1, 2025), and a Poverty Affidavit can request a waiver. Unlike some Ohio counties, Trumbull does NOT require a mandatory parenting seminar; the court instead applies its Parenting and Companionship Guidelines (eff. 1/1/2022) when parents don't agree on a schedule, and offers court mediation at $100 per party for the first four hours.
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) |
Trumbull County Family Court — Domestic Relations Division
220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44482Phone: (330) 675-2627
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed on government holidays)
Website: co.trumbull.oh.us/family-court
File divorce, dissolution, legal-separation, and annulment papers in person or by mail with the Trumbull County Family Court, Attn: Clerk of Courts, Domestic Relations Division, 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44482, (330) 675-2627. Pay the $301 deposit (effective May 1, 2025) at filing, or submit a Poverty Affidavit to request a waiver. There is no DR e-filing.
Filing Fees
$301 divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment (with or without children); $105 post-decree motion
Payment methods: Pay the deposit with the DR Clerk's Office at (330) 675-2627. A Poverty Affidavit (Affidavit of Indigency) can request a fee waiver. Fees shown are effective May 1, 2025 — confirm the current amount before filing.
Trumbull County Procedure Quirks
- Trumbull runs ONE combined Trumbull County Family Court at 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, with the same judges hearing both the Domestic Relations and Juvenile sides — only the clerk's office and filing rules differ between divisions.
- Domestic Relations filings are made in person or by mail — there is NO DR e-filing, fax, or email filing. By contrast, the Juvenile Division's e-filing is mandatory as of June 1, 2026 (DV civil protection order petitions are still accepted on paper at no cost).
- A mutual restraining order must be filed with the divorce, legal-separation, or annulment complaint (Family Court Local Rule 33.01(B)(2)) to freeze asset transfers and protect the status quo while the case is pending.
- There is no mandatory parenting-education seminar; the court applies the Trumbull County Parenting and Companionship Guidelines (eff. 1/1/2022) when parents don't agree on a schedule (Local Rule 36.04).
- Emergency (ex parte) custody requests are heard in person the same day they are filed when the supporting affidavit shows immediate harm, with a full hearing set within about 10 days (Local Rule 33.02).
- Court mediation is available at $100 per party for the first four hours and $50 per party per additional hour; ask for mediator Christy Turner at (330) 675-7862.
Parenting Class
No mandatory parenting seminar
Trumbull County does NOT impose a mandatory parenting-education seminar of the kind some Ohio counties require. Family Court Local Rule 36.04 references only the Trumbull County Parenting and Companionship Guidelines (effective January 1, 2022), which set the default parenting-time schedule the court applies when parents do not agree. A judge can still order a parenting class in a specific case; if one is ordered, confirm the approved provider with the Family Court at (330) 675-2600.
Judges
- Hon. Samuel F. Bluedorn
- Hon. David L. Engler
Trumbull County Family Court — Juvenile Division
220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44482Phone: (330) 675-2375
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: co.trumbull.oh.us/family-court
Same building and judges as the Domestic Relations Division. Handles paternity and custody for never-married parents, grandparent / non-parent custody, child support outside a marriage, and abuse, neglect, and dependency. Juvenile e-filing is mandatory as of June 1, 2026, except DV civil protection order petitions, which remain on paper at no cost. No personal checks for Juvenile costs and fees.
Domestic Relations vs. Juvenile
Trumbull County runs ONE combined Trumbull County Family Court at 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, with the same judges on both sides. The Domestic Relations Division (Clerk (330) 675-2627) handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody and support that travel with them for married parents — filed in person or by mail with no e-filing. The Juvenile Division (Clerk (330) 675-2375) handles paternity and custody for never-married parents, grandparent / non-parent custody, and child support outside a marriage — with mandatory e-filing as of June 1, 2026.
Free Local Resources in Trumbull County
- Trumbull County Family Court. Local forms, the Local Rules (eff. 6/1/2026), and the Parenting and Companionship Guidelines at co.trumbull.oh.us/family-court. DR Clerk (330) 675-2627; Juvenile Clerk (330) 675-2375. Court staff cannot give legal advice or help complete forms.
- Trumbull County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Opens IV-D cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, and collects and enforces support by wage withholding at 159 E. Market St., Suite 200, Warren, OH 44482, (330) 675-2732 (alternate (800) 720-2732).
- Someplace Safe — Domestic Violence Services. 24-hour crisis hotline at (330) 393-3005 with emergency shelter, safety planning, and court advocacy for civil protection orders.
- Ohio Child Support Calculator. The state's official 2024 Income Shares worksheet at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run, print, and sign it before any hearing that sets or changes support.
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.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
