Filing for Divorce with Children in Trumbull County

Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Trumbull County 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 44481, (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; request it by filing a Motion for Mediation, or call the Family Court at (330) 675-2600.

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 Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Department (Trumbull County 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 www.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 44481, (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.

Required divorce-with-children packet (6 forms)

• Complaint for Divorce with Children — The main document that starts your case. Ohio Supreme Court uniform Form 7.
• Parenting Proceeding Affidavit — The children's past 5-year address history. Required with any case involving minor children (UCCJEA, R.C. 3127.23).
• Affidavit of Basic Information, Income, and Expenses — Your income and monthly bills; file with a recent pay statement. Kept in the court's confidential file.
• Affidavit of Property and Debt — Lists what you own and owe — house, vehicles, accounts, retirement, debts.
• Health Insurance Affidavit — Confirms who provides the children's insurance and the cost. Required with minor children.
• Child Support Computation Worksheet — Ohio's statutory 2024 Income Shares worksheet. Complete it at the state calculator and file the signed worksheet with your support pleadings.

Temporary orders while your case is pending

Temporary orders in a Trumbull County divorce or legal separation are requested by motion and Affidavit 5 under Civ.R. 75(N). They cover the living situation, bills and debts, spousal support, and the children while the case is pending. For an emergency, Family Court Local Rule 33.02 allows a same-day in-person ex parte hearing when the affidavit shows immediate harm, with a full hearing set within about 10 days. Accurate facts and supporting statements are the most important part of a temporary-orders request.

• Motion and Affidavit for Temporary Orders Without Oral Hearing — Requests temporary parenting time, child or spousal support, and other orders while the case is pending. File only if you need temporary orders.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on divorce, custody, 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.

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.