Ohio DIY Divorce: A Complete Guide

Ohio offers two distinct paths to end a marriage without an attorney: dissolution (by mutual agreement) and divorce (when one spouse initiates). Both options use Supreme Court-approved forms and county-specific filing procedures. This guide covers Ohio's residency requirements, the dissolution vs. divorce choice, filing fees, e-filing options, and key differences between these approaches.

Dissolution of Marriage (Mutual Agreement)

Ohio's dissolution process under ORC § 3105.63 is the faster DIY option when both spouses agree on all issues. You file a joint petition with a complete separation agreement, and the court schedules a hearing within 30-90 days.

Requirements for dissolution:

• Both spouses agree the marriage is irretrievably broken
• Complete agreement on property division, debt allocation, spousal support, and (if applicable) parenting arrangements
• Both spouses file together and attend the final hearing
• At least one spouse meets residency requirements

Dissolution hearings typically occur 30-90 days after filing. Both spouses must appear, testify that the separation agreement is fair, and confirm they entered it voluntarily.

Divorce (One Spouse Initiates)

If you cannot agree on all terms, or your spouse won't cooperate, you can file for divorce under ORC § 3105.01. One spouse files as plaintiff, serves the other, and the respondent has 28 days to answer.

Ohio recognizes both no-fault and fault-based grounds. For DIY cases, "incompatibility" is the most common no-fault ground unless both spouses agree to "living separate and apart for one year without cohabitation."

Even divorce cases can proceed uncontested if the respondent agrees to the proposed terms or doesn't respond within the deadline.

Supreme Court UDR Forms

The Supreme Court of Ohio provides free Uniform Domestic Relations (UDR) forms for both dissolution and divorce. These standardized forms are accepted statewide, though individual counties may have local supplemental requirements.

Key forms include:

• Petition for Dissolution (with or without children)
• Complaint for Divorce (with or without children)
• Separation Agreement
• Shared Parenting Plan (if children)
• Child Support Computation Worksheet
• Judgment Entry/Decree

County E-Filing Options

Ohio has no single statewide e-filing portal for domestic relations cases. Each county's Domestic Relations Court or Clerk of Courts sets its own e-filing procedures. Major counties with e-filing systems include:

• Cuyahoga County: Clerk of Courts portal
• Franklin County: Franklin County Clerk
• Hamilton County: Hamilton County Clerk

Check your county's Domestic Relations Court website for specific e-filing availability and instructions before filing.

Residency Requirements

Under ORC § 3105.03, the filing spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least six months immediately before filing. Additionally, you must file in the county where you've resided for at least 90 days.

For military personnel, active-duty members stationed in Ohio can satisfy residency by being stationed in the state for the required periods.

Filing Fees

Filing fees vary significantly by county:

• Cuyahoga County: $200-$300 (dissolution/divorce)
• Hamilton County: $325-$375 (dissolution/divorce)
• Summit County: $370-$420 (dissolution/divorce)
• Franklin County: $250-$350 (dissolution/divorce)

Additional costs may include service of process fees, mediation fees (if required), and certified copy fees. If you cannot afford filing fees, you may apply for a fee waiver through your county's court.

No Waiting Period for Divorce

Unlike many states, Ohio has no mandatory waiting period after filing for divorce. For more details on the complete process, see our Ohio divorce timeline.

For dissolution cases, the hearing must occur between 30 and 90 days after filing under ORC § 3105.64. This built-in window allows time for paperwork review while still providing a relatively fast resolution.

Uncontested divorce cases can often finalize within 60-120 days depending on court scheduling and paperwork accuracy.

Estimate Your Ohio Divorce Costs

Use our calculator to estimate your total Ohio divorce costs. For a complete document checklist, see our Ohio divorce filing checklist.