Filing for Divorce in Warren County

How do I file for divorce in Warren County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Divorce (Form 6 without children, Form 7 with children) with the Warren County Domestic Relations Court at 500 Justice Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036, with the Motion/Affidavit for Temporary Orders, Income/Expense/Property Affidavit (DR Form 1), Personal History (DR Form 2), and the Mutual Restraining Order (DR Form 7). The deposit is $400 with children and $300 without children (self-represented filers email DRFILINGS@warrencountyohio.gov for pre-approval). You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio 6+ months and in Warren County 90+ days.

Where to File: Warren County Domestic Relations Court

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Warren County Juvenile Court (Probate/Juvenile Division)
900 Memorial Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036, Lebanon, OH 45036
Phone: (513) 695-1160
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Divorce is the right path if…

• You and your spouse don't agree on everything (custody, money, property, debt, or support).
• Your spouse won't sign paperwork, won't communicate, or you can't safely reach an agreement.
• You need temporary orders now (support, exclusive use of the home, or parenting time).
• You or your spouse have lived in Ohio 6+ months and in Warren County 90+ days.

If you and your spouse already agree on every term in writing, a dissolution is usually faster and cheaper. See Warren dissolution options.

Filing Fees

$400 with children · $300 without children · $500 by publication · Personal service by Sheriff $50/party · Affidavit of Indigency reduces deposit to $15

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Divorce in Warren County

1. Confirm Ohio residency and Warren County venue. You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for 6+ months and in Warren County for 90+ days before filing.
2. Choose the right complaint and assemble the packet. Form 6 (no children) or Form 7 (with children), plus the Income/Expense/Property Affidavit (DR Form 1), Personal History (DR Form 2), Mutual Restraining Order (DR Form 7), and the children's add-on forms when applicable.
3. File for DR Office pre-approval. Email the one-sided packet to DRFILINGS@warrencountyohio.gov or fax (513) 695-1884. The deposit is $400 with children or $300 without; an Affidavit of Indigency reduces it to $15.
4. Exchange financial disclosures within 45 days. The Mandatory Disclosure Order (DR Form 6) requires both spouses to exchange financial documents within 45 days after service.
5. Complete the H.O.P.E. seminar if you have children. Both parents of children under 16 register within 30 days of filing/service and complete the 3-hour seminar before the final hearing.

Warren County Practice Notes

• Warren issues an automatic Mutual Restraining Order at filing. Unlike some Ohio counties, Warren County DR includes the Mutual Restraining Order (DR Form 7) with the complaint. It binds the Plaintiff at filing and the Defendant at service. It is not a no-contact order — for that, file a Civil Protection Order.
• Every filing needs DR Office pre-approval. Under Local Rule 1.3, all filings go to the DR Office for pre-approval before the Clerk time-stamps them, and a document is filed only when approved. Print everything one-sided, and since 11/1/2023 the court rejects initial and final documents that omit the required child-support language.
• Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Warren County?

For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months immediately before filing and in Warren County for at least 90 days. For dissolution, only the 6-month Ohio residency applies. For Juvenile Court cases (never-married custody, paternity, child support), Ohio must be the children's 'home state' under the UCCJEA — generally, they've lived in Ohio for the last 6 months.

How much does it cost to file in Warren County?

Domestic Relations deposits (Clerk Breighton Smith, eff. 7/1/2025): a divorce or dissolution case is $400 with children and $300 without children; a case served by publication is $500; a married-living-apart custody/support complaint is $350; a post-decree motion is $75; and personal service by the Sheriff is $50 per party. An Affidavit of Indigency reduces the deposit to $15. Juvenile Court complaints (custody, parentage, support, visitation, shared parenting) are $160 plus $50 per additional child, and Juvenile motions are $75. Civil Protection Orders have no filing fee.

How long does a Warren County case usually take?

Dissolution: the hearing is set 31–90 days after filing. Uncontested (non-contested) divorce or legal separation: the hearing is set 65 or more days after filing. Contested divorce: the Supreme Court guideline is 12 months without children and 18 months with children. Post-decree motions are heard in about 4–6 weeks. Civil Protection Orders: an ex parte order can issue the same day, with a full hearing held shortly after.

How do I file my paperwork in Warren County?

Domestic Relations does not use a public e-filing portal — self-represented parties email completed forms to DRFILINGS@warrencountyohio.gov or fax them to (513) 695-1884, and every filing first goes to the DR Office for pre-approval before the Clerk time-stamps it (Local Rule 1.3). E-filings are processed Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Print all documents one-sided. The Juvenile Court at 900 Memorial Drive accepts filings in person, by fax to (513) 695-2948, by email to Juvenilecomplaints@warrencountyohio.gov, or in the 24/7 drop box at the front of the building.

How do temporary orders, the restraining order, and disclosure work in Warren County?

When you file a divorce, Warren County DR includes a Mutual Restraining Order (DR Form 7) effective against the Plaintiff at filing and the Defendant at service, plus a Mandatory Disclosure Order (DR Form 6) that requires both sides to exchange financial documents within 45 days after service. File the Motion and Affidavit for Temporary Orders (Affidavit 5) for temporary support, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home. The temporary residential parent is the person who had actual physical custody before filing (Local Rule 2.1).

Is the parenting class (H.O.P.E. seminar) required in Warren County?

Yes. Warren County requires both parents in a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation with children under 16 to complete the H.O.P.E. for Families in Divorce seminar (3 hours). Register online through the DR Court website within 30 days of filing or service. The custodial parent must complete it before the final hearing — both parties must complete it in a dissolution. A non-residential parent who fails to attend can have parenting time suspended. A 50-mile exception lets you take another court's class with pre-approval.

What does the Warren County CSEA do?

The Warren County Child Support Enforcement Agency at 500 Justice Drive, P.O. Box 440, Lebanon, OH 45036-0440, phone (513) 695-1580, opens IV-D cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support by wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Warren adds a 2% processing charge on all support, plus 20% of the current order on arrearages. File the IV-D Application (DR Form 12 or WCJC Form 11) whenever a support order is set.

Does Warren County offer mediation or other ways to settle?

Yes. Court-connected mediation is free and addresses parenting issues (it is not used for domestic-violence prosecution or CPO terms, and DV screening is required). Warren County also offers Cooperative Dispute Resolution (CDR) — a confidential ~3-hour session where a Court Assessor (Chief Magistrate Renee Crist or Magistrate Kyra Raimey) gives an advisory opinion on the probable trial outcome. Briefs are due 2 weeks before the session. Parenting Coordination and the Collaborative Process are also available.

Free Local Resources in Warren County

• Warren County DR Help Center & Document Center. The DR Help Center at 500 Justice Drive helps self-represented parties fill out printed Document Center forms on Tuesdays 1–3 p.m. and Thursdays 9–11 a.m. All Domestic Relations forms and case-type filing packets are posted at warrencountyohio.gov/Domestic_Relations_Court/Forms.
• Warren County Probate/Juvenile Legal Help Center. Walk-in help at 900 Memorial Drive on Thursdays 8 a.m.–noon, where an attorney answers legal questions and provides filing packets regardless of financial situation (no attorney-client relationship is formed).
• Warren County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Warren County's IV-D agency at (513) 695-1580, csea.warrencountyohio.gov, opens and enforces support cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, and processes payments through OCSPC.
• Warren County CASA Program. More than 50 trained CASA volunteers, directed by Melissa Perduk, advocate for abused and neglected children in the child-welfare system. Details at warrencountyohio.gov/Probate_Juvenile/CASA/CASA/Index.

Other Family-Law Topics in Warren County

• Warren County Divorce — Contested divorce filing guide for the DR Court at 500 Justice Drive.
• Warren County Dissolution — The agreed, both-spouses-sign track with a hearing 31–90 days after filing.
• Warren County Custody — Married parents file in DR; never-married parents file at the Juvenile Court.

Related to your divorce case

• Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable 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.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Divorce guide — Statewide overview of divorce in Ohio.
• Cincinnati family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cincinnati 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.