Legal Separation in Trumbull County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green, Esq. · Managing Partner, Gavvl Law · Last updated June 8, 2026

Trumbull County, Ohio · Warren

A legal separation lets a court divide finances and set custody and support without legally ending the marriage — useful for religious, insurance, or financial reasons. In Trumbull County, it's filed in the Domestic Relations Division of the Trumbull County Family Court at 220 Main Avenue SW in Warren, much like a divorce.

How do I file for legal separation in Trumbull County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Legal Separation (using the Ohio uniform divorce complaint forms — Form 6 without children, Form 7 with children — captioned for legal separation) with the Trumbull County Family Court, Domestic Relations Division, 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, and pay the $301 deposit. A mutual restraining order is required with the complaint (Local Rule 33.01(B)(2)). The same residency rules as divorce apply (Ohio 6 months, Trumbull County 90 days). The court can divide property and debts and order custody and support, but you remain legally married and cannot remarry.

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)

Where to File: Trumbull County Family Court — Domestic Relations Division

220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44482, Warren, OH 44482
Phone: (330) 675-2627
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: www.co.trumbull.oh.us/family-court/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Trumbull County Family Court — Juvenile Division
220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44482, Warren, OH 44482
Phone: (330) 675-2375
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Legal Separation is the right path if…

You want court-ordered financial and parenting terms but not to end the marriage (yet).
Religious, insurance, or immigration reasons make divorce undesirable right now.
You and your spouse don't fully agree, so you need the court to decide.
You meet the same residency rules as a divorce (Ohio 6 months, Trumbull County 90 days).

Filing Fees

$301 deposit (effective May 1, 2025) · Mutual restraining order required at filing (Local Rule 33.01(B)(2)) · Same residency as divorce · Filed in person or by mail — no DR e-filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Legal separation packet (no children) — $301 deposit (effective May 1, 2025)

Complaint for Divorce without Children (Ohio uniform Form 6) — The Ohio Supreme Court uniform Complaint for Divorce without Children — the core pleading filed with the Trumbull County Family Court, Domestic Relations Division.
Affidavit of Basic Information, Income, and Expenses (Affidavit 1) — Your income and monthly expenses. Filed with a recent pay statement and kept in the court's confidential file.
Affidavit of Property and Debt (Affidavit 2) — Lists what you own and owe — house, vehicles, accounts, retirement, and debts.

Legal separation packet (with minor children) — $301 deposit (effective May 1, 2025)

Complaint for Divorce with Children (Ohio uniform Form 7) — The Ohio Supreme Court uniform Complaint for Divorce with Children, used in Trumbull County when you have minor children together.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom. Confirms Ohio's jurisdiction over custody.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet — Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you're asking the court to set support.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
Affidavit of Basic Information, Income, and Expenses (Affidavit 1) — Your income and monthly expenses. Filed with a recent pay statement and kept in the court's confidential file.
Affidavit of Property and Debt (Affidavit 2) — Lists what you own and owe — house, vehicles, accounts, retirement, and debts.

How to File Legal Separation in Trumbull County

Confirm residency. Ohio 6+ months and Trumbull County 90+ days — the same as a divorce.
Prepare the complaint and restraining order. Use the Ohio uniform complaint forms captioned for legal separation, the income and property affidavits, and the required mutual restraining order; add the parenting affidavit and worksheet with children.
File and pay the deposit. File in person or by mail with the DR Clerk and pay the $301 deposit, or file a Poverty Affidavit if you cannot afford it.
Resolve terms or go to hearing. The court can divide property and set custody and support; if you later want to end the marriage, you can pursue a divorce or dissolution.

Trumbull County Practice Notes

You stay married. A legal separation divides property, debts, custody, and support but does not end the marriage — you cannot remarry. Either spouse can later convert to or file a divorce if they decide to end the marriage.
Mutual restraining order required. Like a divorce, a legal separation requires a mutual restraining order filed with the complaint under Local Rule 33.01(B)(2) to protect the financial status quo while the case is pending.
No mandatory parenting seminar. Trumbull County does not require a parenting-education class for a legal separation with children; the court applies its Parenting and Companionship Guidelines when parents don't agree on a schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Trumbull County?: For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months before filing and a Trumbull County resident for at least 90 days. For dissolution, only the 6-month Ohio residency applies. For Juvenile Division cases (paternity, never-married custody, child support), Ohio must be the children's 'home state' under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127), which generally means the children have lived in Ohio for the last 6 months. Both the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Divisions sit in the combined Trumbull County Family Court at 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren.
How much does it cost to file in Trumbull County?: Effective May 1, 2025, the Trumbull County Family Court charges a $301 deposit for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment complaint, and $105 for a post-decree motion in a divorce case. On the Juvenile side, a new action (parentage, custody, or support) is $186 and a post-decree juvenile motion is $131. A domestic-violence civil protection order is filed with no deposit. If you cannot afford the deposit, file a Poverty Affidavit (Affidavit of Indigency) asking the court to waive it. Confirm current amounts with the DR Clerk at (330) 675-2627 or the Juvenile Clerk at (330) 675-2375.
Can I file by e-filing, mail, fax, or email in Trumbull County?: It depends on the division. Domestic Relations filings (divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree motions) are made in person or by mail — there is NO DR e-filing, fax, or email filing. On the Juvenile side, e-filing is mandatory as of June 1, 2026 (register with the Juvenile Clerk at (330) 675-2375), except domestic-violence CPO petitions, which are still accepted on paper at no cost. Court staff cannot give legal advice or help complete forms.
Is a parenting class required in Trumbull County?: No. Unlike some Ohio counties, the Trumbull County Family Court does not impose a mandatory parenting-education seminar. Its Local Rules (effective June 1, 2026), Rule 36.04, reference 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.
How long does a Trumbull County case usually take?: A dissolution is heard 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64). An uncontested (default) divorce, where the other spouse won't respond, typically finishes in a few months — the defendant has 28 days to file an Answer after being served. A contested divorce usually runs 8–18 months depending on temporary-orders activity, discovery, and the assigned judge's calendar. Judges Samuel F. Bluedorn and David L. Engler hear the Family Court docket.

Free Local Resources in Trumbull County

Trumbull County Family Court. Local forms, local rules, the Parenting and Companionship Guidelines, and filing information for divorce, dissolution, custody, support, and protection orders 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). Trumbull County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders at 159 E. Market St., Suite 200, Warren, OH 44482, (330) 675-2732. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. The state's official 2024 Income Shares worksheet at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. Run it, print, and sign it before any hearing that sets or changes support.
Someplace Safe — Domestic Violence Services. Trumbull County's domestic-violence program runs a 24-hour crisis hotline at (330) 393-3005 with emergency shelter, safety planning, and court advocacy for civil protection orders.

Related to your legal separation case

Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after 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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Legal Separation guide — Statewide overview of legal separation in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.