Online Divorce
in Ohio

If a couple has an uncontested divorce in Ohio and is unsure of the process, this problem is solvable. You can turn to an online divorce platform for help. OnlineOhioDivorce.com offers its services for selecting and filling your divorce forms.

How does it work? A spouse (or spouses together) who wants to file for divorce completes a special questionnaire. Based on the information provided, the system selects the forms for your specific case and fills them out. It's fast, efficient, and much cheaper than the most budget-friendly lawyer in Ohio.

Here are the main advantages of an online divorce service:

We have created a convenient and transparent platform so that spouses will never again experience stress associated with selecting a set of documents for divorce.

To file for divorce in Ohio, spouses can find and download all the necessary blank forms on the Ohio Supreme Court website.

There are two types of divorce forms — initial and additional.

To start the divorce process in Ohio, the couple needs to fill out these initial forms:

If spouses have children together, they need to complete and submit the following additional forms:

1. The applicant decides whether they file for divorce or separation.

Ohio distinguishes between such concepts as "divorce" and "dissolution." The difference is that divorce implies fault as the reason for ending the marriage, while there is no guilt in dissolution. Dissolution is often referred to as a no-fault divorce.

If a claimant is filing for dissolution, they will also need to file a Separation Agreement along with the initial forms — Complaint for Dissolution, Statement of Basic Information, Income, and Expenses; Statement of Property and Debt.

2. The petitioner completes the initial and additional forms to start the divorce proceedings.

To decide what additional forms are needed, it is advisable to learn more about them:

3. The petitioner submits all required paperwork to the correct county court.

To file for divorce or dissolution in Ohio, the petitioner must file in the Court of Common Pleas in the county where either spouse has lived for at least 90 days. If they both live in the same county, they must apply in that county.

4. The couple pays court filing fees.

Each county in Ohio has different court fees. Ex-partners should contact the court clerk for more information. The filing fee for divorce and dissolution of marriage in most counties is between $300 and $400. In addition, the registration fee may be higher in some courts if the couple has minor children.

Filing Requirements for Online Divorce in Ohio

Before the couple files for divorce in Ohio, the spouses must meet residency requirements. These requirements are slightly different for divorce (fault-based) and dissolution (no-fault).

For example, to file for divorce in Ohio, the petitioner must have resided in the state for at least six months immediately before filing for divorce. If the couple wants to get a dissolution, one of the spouses must have lived in the state for at least six months immediately before filing the complaint.

If the couple files for dissolution, the spouses need to sign a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and include a Proposed Separation Agreement in a Petition. The court will later have it in the final decree.

In the Separation Agreement, the ex-partners stipulate all the key points: the division of all property and debts, spousal support (alimony), custody and visitation of the child if they have children in common, the appointment of a "residential parent" and "legal custodian" of minor children, as well as child support.

Here are the options to file for divorce and dissolution in Ohio:

When filing for divorce in Ohio, the spouses need to pay court filing fees, $200 for divorce without children, and $300 for the divorce procedure with them. The dissolution costs $200 with kids and $150 without them.

In Ohio, the spouses need to follow a few steps to have a successful do-it-yourself divorce. So, what should a couple do if they want to complete a DIY divorce?

1. Meet the residency requirements.

One or both spouses must have lived in Ohio a minimum of 6 months before filing for divorce. Also, at least one spouse must reside in the county where the claimant wishes to divorce for a minimum of 90 days.

2. Define legal grounds for divorce.

Ohio marriage law adopts 11 grounds for divorce:

The plaintiff may claim that the marriage ended for one or more of these reasons, but they will only need to provide proof for one of them. However, listing two or more grounds on the petition may be helpful if the claimant cannot prove one of them.

3. Prepare and fill out necessary forms.

The applicant must complete the required documents (initial and additional forms) to file for divorce, including those detailing income, expenses, property, debts, etc.

4. Request for "temporary orders."

Since divorce is often a lengthy process (especially fault-based), the petitioner can file "requests for temporary orders." The couple does this to determine the critical points while waiting for the final divorce. For example, these "temporary orders" will specify who will be responsible for child custody or debt payments until the ex-partners are officially divorced.

5. File forms and serve the spouse.

When spouses have completed all required documents, they submit them electronically online or in-person to the clerk's office in the couple's county. Also, the filing spouse must serve the divorce papers to the defendant. Usually, the clerk's office does this for an additional fee.

6. Participate in the court hearing.

The court will ask the spouses to attend a "pre-trial hearing" to discuss the divorce terms. If the couple agrees on all issues, the judge will read the written agreement and confirm it is acceptable under Ohio marriage law. The divorce is considered complete when a signed "Judgment Entry for Divorce" is filed with the court. It is usually filed automatically after the judge approves the divorce.

If a couple has children together, they need to understand the types of custody available.

In sole physical custody, one parent is responsible for the child's day-to-day care, the same parent is the child's primary caretaker, and the child lives with them for more than 50% of the time. The second parent does not have the right to make essential decisions in the child's life and can only see the child according to a particular schedule.

In joint physical custody, both parents act as primary guardians. The child lives in both households, though time spent with both ex-spouses is often not divided in half. Each parent spends as much time with the child as the court determines best for the child.

In joint legal custody, both parents are actively involved in the child's life, for example, in everything related to education, health care, and religious beliefs. Therefore, joint legal custody is considered the most favorable since both parents are actively involved in the child's upbringing.