Find out if you and your circumstances are eligible for our easy divorce process.
2
Complete the questionnaire
Our questionnaire guides you through filling out divorce paperwork.
3
Review your forms
Review your personalized legal documents before final submission.
4
File for divorce
Take the final step towards your new beginning with detailed filing instructions.
Over 500,000 people have used OnlineDivorce
For over 24 years, we’ve empowered individuals to get quick and stress-free divorces while saving money in the process.
I started my divorce on my own, spending loads of money on lawyer visits in the beginning.
So I decided to google for other ways and using this site was so much more simple!
Wesley H.Missouri
I had a very successful business at the time. So, making sure I had the right forms was
very very important during my divorce. I was so surprised at how easy and smooth this process was.
James V.Texas
After years of a tumultuous marriage, I finally decided that I needed to reclaim my life.
I was looking for how to go about it and came across this site and they simplified and made
the process of divorce easy for me. I never thought it would’ve been possible.
Chloe J.Florida
Stress-free and easy! I was initially gonna hire a lawyer but I found online divorce the
next best option. No muss, no fuss divorce. No big legal words that I’d have to have read
10 times to understand!
Will S.Colorado
California is expensive and divorce can be even more expensive in the end but I can say
that this site payed everything out for me to follow, from child support to alimony.
My ex agreed to go this way as well so it was a much less expensive option for us.
Marco P.California
Because of the whole dissolution of the marriage, I was struggling with two children and
just in limbo with my husband at the time because of child support and alimony. I was a
stay-at-home mom for 10 years. I just want to say that this site helped me sort it out.
Thank you.
Tamara B.Nevada
I live in upstate NY and unfortunately one day I found myself in a situation for divorce.
I was all out of whack, needed answers to take action. Enough was enough so I did it on this
site. Everything was clear to understand, all forms and what to put in which box.
Theresa S.New York
Onlinedivorce.com is the bomb! I mean, using it was so easy to follow. So, if you find
yourself in this situation do your divorce here if possible. Documents for all stages,
alimony, child support and all!
Livy B.Illinois
It's less expensive
Contested divorces can cost on average $11,000 in lawyer fees. OnlineDivorce is fast, affordable, and simple.
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An easy and quick method to prepare for uncontested divorce online and get high-quality divorce papers
A complete packet of divorce documents at a low cost
Fast preparation of all court forms within 2 business days
Thorough instructions explaining how to start a divorce
Convenient to use from any device at any time
Responsive customer email, chat, and phone support
Divorce with a Lawyer
>$11,000On average
Divorce with a lawyer can be adversarial, lengthy, inconvenient and
costly
Litigated divorces are extremely expensive - $11,000 on average
They take longer to get finalized - up to a few years
Little or no control over the divorce outcome
Litigation ignites more conflicts between the parties
Prolonged court trials negatively affect children
Support for all types of divorces
Every divorce is different, but with Onlinedivorce you
can personalize your assistance for every aspect of your online divorce.
Divorce with Kids
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Filing Service
Online Divorce in Ohio
For those seeking an inexpensive divorce in the state of Ohio, online divorce is an easy, affordable, and fast solution to prepare legal forms. Online divorce may be appropriate for couples who have an uncontested case.
The step-by-step process of preparing divorce documents at Onlinedivorce.com makes it easy for you. We help organize all of the necessary divorce forms and provide detailed written instructions on filing your divorce in Ohio.
Our divorce documents preparation service can be a perfect solution for those who want to have their divorce papers completed quickly and without stress. Even though Ohio has unique divorce forms and filing requirements, our online system provides the exact forms necessary along with instructions on how to file. We have helped thousands of people prepare their divorce documents for filing.
If you and your spouse agree on the terms of the divorce and want an amicable dissolution to your marriage, why should the process get drawn out, and why should you spend money on lawyers? Online divorce is often cheaper, quicker, and easier.
Online divorce can be a perfect option if you want to save money or hope to have your divorce finalized quickly to get on with your life. Preparing documents for divorce online in Ohio is fast becoming very popular because you can complete the documents in the comfort of your home.
Even if you think your case is too complex because you have children, own your own home, or have other assets, you may still be able to prepare your documents online. Just start with our simple questionnaire, and we’ll provide you instructions for each step of the way.
The process at OnlineDivorce.com is 100% secure. We protect your information, and nothing is filed until you submit the divorce papers to the courthouse yourself. Filing for divorce in Ohio with the Onlinedivorce.com system can be a simple solution to a difficult situation.
Filing:
When you use OnlineDivorce.com, we help you fill out your divorce paperwork using a simple online questionnaire. You can fill it out alone or with the assistance of your spouse.
Then, after getting the other spouse’s signature, the divorce forms may be filed at the local court. If you and your spouse live in different counties, you can choose which county you file.
The actual filing process is explained in our detailed court-filing instructions that we provide, along with your completed divorce forms. You can also obtain assistance from your local courthouse by calling or stopping by.
After the initial filing, you may need to follow up if there are any issues with your documents. When you use OnlineDivorce.com, we allow you to make minor adjustments to your forms as requested by the court at no additional charge.
Our goal is to help you obtain your divorce with as little hassle and stress as possible using our online divorce documents preparation service.
Residency:
Every state has specific requirements where divorcing couples must establish residency before filing for divorce. Ohio is no exception.
To file for divorce in Ohio, you must have been a resident of the state for at least six months before filing. Additionally, you must have been a resident of the particular county in which you plan to file for at least ninety days preceding the divorce filing.
The court of common pleas shall hear and determine the case, whether the marriage took place, or the cause of divorce or annulment occurred, within or without the state. [Ohio Revised Code; Title 31, Section 3105.03]
Valid grounds to get divorce in Ohio
Grounds for an online divorce using OnlineDivorce.com are the same as they would be for any divorce within the State of Ohio. Grounds are merely the reason for divorce, and the state must approve them.
Ohio Revised Code provides both fault and no-fault grounds for divorce.
No-fault grounds for divorce in Ohio include:
Living separate and apart without any cohabitation and interruption for a minimum of one year;
Incompatibility of a couple, unless denied by the other spouse.
Fault-based grounds for divorce mean that the plaintiff can file for divorce based on spousal misconduct, including:
Adultery;
Bigamy;
Extreme cruelty;
Imprisonment of the adverse party at the time of filing the divorce petition;
Willful desertion or abandonment for one year;
Habitual drunkenness;
Fraudulent contract;
Gross neglect of duty;
Procurement of a divorce outside Ohio, by either spouse, under which the party who procured it is released from the obligations of the marriage, while those obligations remain binding upon the other party. [Ohio Revised Code; Title 31, Section 3105.01]
Divorce in Ohio
Custody of the child in Ohio
Ohio courts encourage divorcing parents to resolve all the child custody issues and make their own parenting plan out of court.
If the spouses cannot reach an agreement, the court shall determine what custody arrangement is in the child's best interests by considering the specifics of the custody dispute.
In determining the best interest of a child, the judge shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to:
The preference of the child, if the child is of sufficient age and capacity;
The child’s adjustment to his or her home, school, and community;
The mental and physical wellness of all individuals involved;
The relationship of the child with other family members;
Whether one parent has denied visitation to the other parent;
Whether either parent has failed to pay child support to any child;
Whether either parent lives or intends to live in or out of the state of Ohio;
The ability of the parents to work together and make joint decisions;
The ability of each parent to encourage and share the love, affection, and contact between the child and the other parent;
Any history of domestic abuse or violence by a parent or anyone who is or will be a member of a household where a child would reside or any instance of parental kidnapping;
The location of the parents to each other as it relates to shared parenting;
The children’s and parent’s available time. [Ohio Revised Code; Title 31, Section 3109.04]
Divorce in Ohio
Rules for child support in Ohio
Ohio has adopted specific state-mandated child support guidelines which apply in almost every case, barring extraordinary circumstances.
With this, parents' combined gross income, the number of children in the family, and certain child-related expenses are considered when calculating the child support obligation.
The exact amount can be determined with the help of the Ohio Child Support Calculator. [Ohio Revised Code; Title 31, Section 3119.021]
In the great majority of cases, child support payments continue until the child reaches eighteen years of age but can extend until the completion of secondary education.
Either or both parents may pay child support. Health care insurance may be ordered for the child. Child support payments may be paid through the state child support agency.
There are official guidelines, which are presumed to be correct unless the support award amount would be unjust or inappropriate given the circumstances.
Factors that may be considered in adjusting a child support amount are:
Special or unusual needs of a child;
Obligations for other minor or disabled children;
Other court-ordered payments;
Extended visitation or extraordinary costs for visitation;
Mandatory wage deductions [including union dues];
Disparity in income between the parents’ households;
Benefits that either parent receives from remarriage or sharing living expenses with others;
The amount of taxes paid by a parent;
Significant contributions from a parent [including lessons, sports equipment, or clothing];
The financial resources and earning capacity of the child;
The standard of living and circumstances of the parents and the standard of living the child would have had if the marriage had not ended in divorce;
The physical and emotional conditions that a child may have;
The medical and educational requirements of the child;
The relative fiscal resources, other assets and resources, needs, and obligations of both the noncustodial and the custodial parent;
The need and capacity of the child for educational opportunities;
The current age of the child;
The earning ability of each parent;
The responsibility that each parent has for the support of others;
The perceived value of services contributed by the custodial parent; and
Any other factor deemed relevant. [Ohio Revised Code; Title 31, Section 3119.22]
Divorce in Ohio
Property division in Ohio
When a couple chooses to divorce in Ohio, they must distribute property in a fair and agreeable manner. Ohio is an equitable distribution state, and the judge will have full discretion to divide any jointly-owned real estate or personal property in a fair and equal manner.
However, the court does not have the authority to award the wife’s separate property to the husband (whether or not the wife’s separate property was obtained before or after the marriage). Gifts and inheritances are always considered separate property and will not be subject to division unless they have been used for the common benefit of both spouses. The property division is not necessarily exactly equal, but it must be equitable.
In dividing marital property and in determining whether to make and the amount of any distributive award, Ohio courts shall consider the following factors:
The duration of the marriage;
The assets and liabilities of the spouses;
The liquidity of the property;
The tax consequences of the property division;
The costs of sale, if any asset must be sold to ensure an equitable distribution of property;
Terms of a prenuptial agreement if any;
Any other factors that the court finds to be relevant. [Ohio Revised Code; Title 31, Section 3105.171]
Divorce in Ohio
Rules for spousal support in Ohio
Alimony, also known as spousal support, is sometimes ordered by the court to help one spouse live in a manner established during the marriage after the divorce.
Support may be decided upon by the couple together before filing or awarded by the court in a contested case. Ohio courts may award temporary, short-term, or long-term alimony, depending on the circumstances of a particular divorce case.
Thus, either spouse may be awarded reasonable spousal support, based on:
Whether the spouse seeking support is the custodian of a child whose condition or circumstances make it appropriate for that spouse not to seek outside employment;
The earning ability of both spouses;
The income of both spouses, including marital property, apportioned to each spouse and each spouse’s ability to meet his or her needs independently;
The contribution of each spouse to the education, earning ability, and career-building of the other spouse, including the spouse’s contribution to the earning of a professional degree by the other spouse;
The current age of the spouses;
The physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the spouses;
The relative assets and liabilities of the spouses, including any court-ordered payments;
The educational level of each spouse at the time of the marriage and at the time the action for support is commenced;
The standard of living during the marriage;
Any pension or retirement benefits of either spouse;
The length of the marriage;
The tax consequences of the award;
The time and expense which was for the spouse who seeks support to earn his or her education, training, or job experience to obtain appropriate employment;
The lost income-producing capacity of either spouse resulting from marital responsibilities and any other relevant factor. [Ohio Revised Code; Title 31, Section 3105.18]
Divorce in Ohio
Mediation support in Ohio
By the request of the spouse or at the court’s initiative, the court can and will order the spouses to undergo reconciliation mediation for a period of up to 90 days. The court can assign the procedures and name the mediator. Additionally, the court can require that parents attend mediation sessions on child custody and visitation matters for the betterment of the family environment.
For those seeking to prepare their divorce papers using OnlineDivorce.com, utilizing divorce mediation can be a great tool to smooth out disagreements and prevent the case from going to court. It can be the simplest way to assure a fast, easy and affordable online divorce.
Divorce in Ohio
Divorce Forms in Ohio
Ohio forms produced by OnlineDivorce.com are court-approved divorce forms. We have automated the process of filling them out to simplify matters and avoid any difficulties that may occur with filling out paperwork alone. By utilizing OnlineDivorce.com, you can streamline the process of preparing divorce documents and help both parties move forward with their lives.
Divorce in Ohio
Filing fees for divorce in Ohio
When you file your divorce papers, the court will charge filing fees that may vary by county. These costs are in addition to the cost of using OnlineDivorce.com. Please check with your local courthouse to determine the exact amount.
How long will it take?
Using the OnlineDivorce.com service usually takes between 30 minutes and two hours or more, depending on the complexity of your case. Start by filling out the questionnaire. You can do it in one sitting or save your progress and complete it at a later date. Whatever is most convenient for you.
Once you’ve received the completed documents, you will need to file them and get your spouse’s signature. More information regarding the finalization of the divorce case is provided once the paperwork has been completed and submitted to the court.
Divorce in Ohio
Here is how OnlineDivorce.com makes completing divorce papers easier:
We provide the full divorce packet required by the local court - clients do not need to drive to their local courthouse to get the blank forms or search for the right divorce forms online. In rare cases, local county forms can vary in color, paper material, size, or bar code, so they may need to be obtained directly from the county clerk's office.
We complete the necessary forms for clients based on their answers given in a simple guided online interview - clients do not need to understand family law or read through complicated instructions to figure out how to fill out the forms themselves.
We give detailed, easy to follow step-by-step instructions for filing a divorce with the court - so the client knows exactly what to do to get his/her divorce finalized.
We provide unlimited technical support - if a client needs assistance through the online process, he/she can always reach out to us via phone, email, or live chat, and we'll do our best to help.
We save our clients time and money - if divorcing spouses agree regarding the terms of their divorce, they typically don’t have to pay thousands to a lawyer to handle their divorce forms and don't need to spend hours trying to do it all by themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ohio laws allow filing for divorce as pro se litigant, i.e., without a lawyer in the courts of the state. This option is just as legitimate as any legally assisted proceeding. The main stages of a divorce procedure and filing rules, requirements, and deadlines are the same for pro se parties who represent themselves before the court as they are for the spouses hiring a divorce lawyer.
Along with that, it should be noted that an average divorce process involves much more than just some simple paperwork, so the spouses should understand their capacities and abilities before deciding on a do-it-yourself divorce.
Thus, such a DIY divorce is not typically recommended for contested divorces due to their complexity and higher risks, and, for example, in cases with property or child custody disputes.
In contrast, if the spouses do not have minor children, marital property, or they both are ready to negotiate and resolve their disputes out-of-court, they may do so without an attorney. For that, they should be well-aware of Ohio family laws and the local court requirements and take responsibility for the implications of divorce.
As a middle ground between the legally-assisted process and a DIY divorce, the dissolution of marriage in Ohio may be arranged with limited assistance. Such alternative options like counseling, mediation, online divorce, etc. can make an uncontested divorce more straightforward and calm.
First, the spouses have to meet the Ohio residency requirements to apply for divorce within the state.
The spouse who initiates the case (the plaintiff) shall prepare the required legal forms, complete them, and file the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (for an uncontested case) with the Circuit Court. The Settlement Agreement and Parenting Plan should also be attached to these initial documents, respectively. Also, at the moment of filing, the plaintiff shall pay the court filing fee, and the divorce procedure officially starts.
The next step is serving the second spouse with copies of the initial divorce forms, following civil procedures. In Ohio, the serving procedure can be accomplished via certified mail, registered mail, private process service, or sheriff's service.
The cost of any divorce in Ohio starts with paying a filing fee, which is mandatory for almost all plaintiffs. All the other expenses are hard to predict since the spouses have broad discretion concerning how to arrange the process and manage costs.
For example, they may hire an attorney even for their uncontested case, resort to divorce mediation or counseling, pay for parenting programs, etc., or pay only for OnlineDivorce.com services to draft their papers.
Some couples may even get free legal advice or refuse any assistance and take all the steps by themselves.
For Ohio Domestic Relations Courts to have jurisdiction over a particular case, the parties must meet the state's residency requirements.
The Ohio Code states that in cases of a dissolution of marriage, either spouse must be a resident of the state for at least six months before filing for divorce and a resident of the county of filing for ninety days.
A defendant served with copies of divorce papers has a limited amount of time to file a response.
In Ohio, the defendant has 28 days from the certificate of service to file an answer and/or disagree with the petition's provisions.
If the defendant fails to respond within this term, the court may enter a 'default judgment' without considering the defendant's preferences and claims.
In theory, free divorce in Ohio is available for those plaintiffs qualified for a court filing fee waiver due to financial hardship.
To request a fee waiver, they have to disclose their financial information and file a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and an Affidavit to Proceed In Forma Pauperis with the court.
In all other cases, the court filing fee (about $250 in Ohio) is mandatory. Thus, the cheapest a divorce can be is limited to this cost, but only if the spouses arrange a DIY divorce and do not seek any paid assistance.
In Ohio, the initial divorce forms are Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (for uncontested case) or Complaint for Divorce (for contested case), and Summons.
Other divorce forms may include Answer and Counterclaim, Motion for Conversion and Petition for Dissolution and Order, Motion for Conversion and Complaint for Divorce and Order, Separation Agreement, Financial Disclosure Affidavit, Waiver of Legal Representation, Waiver of Service of Summons, Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, Judgment Entry Decree of Divorce.
Child support case
Sample Documents by State
Please note that your final forms, documents and
filings may be different depending on your state.
Coming soon! If you want to have a look at sample forms for your state and
you cannot find them here, please just give us a call or send us an email.
You are Qualified
You qualify to use OnlineDivorce.com to start your divorce online.
Please note that although you are currently not in agreement with your spouse regarding your divorce,
you will need to agree before you get your divorce paperwork. Our guided process is designed
to walk you through all the important issues in a divorce so you can come to terms.
To begin the process to complete your official divorce forms online, please press the “Continue”
button below.
