New Cases

Actions for Divorce, Dissolution, Legal Separation, Annulment, Custody, Support, & Foreign Order Registration

Below are the types of new cases that be can filed in the Domestic Relations Court.  A brief description, as well as the required paperwork, is provided.
The forms on this website do not provide legal advice regarding your rights, responsibilities, or options.  These forms are provided for information purposes only.  For legal assistance, please contact an attorney of your choosing or the Greene County Bar Association for a referral.

The use of Court-provided forms is intended for use by pro se parties only.
Divorce With Children

A divorce with children is a legal action taken to end a marriage when the parties share minor children from their marriage or relationship.  Divorce actions are filed when there is not a full agreement on all issues, or if one spouse is unavailable to attend the Final Hearing.

The documents required to file for divorce are below.  You can choose to print the entire divorce packet by clicking on Packet, or you can print individual documents by clicking on the link to the document.
  1. Packet - Divorce With Children (PDF)
  2. Pro Se Guide to Divorce With Children (PDF)
  3. Complaint for Divorce With Children (PDF)
  4. Affidavit of Financial Disclosure (PDF)
  5. Divorce & Dissolution Questionnaire (PDF)
  6. Mutual Restraining Orders (PDF)
  1. Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (PDF)
  2. Parenting Seminar Order (PDF)
  3. Obligee Information Sheet (PDF)
  4. Obligor Information Sheet (PDF)
  5. Instructions to the Clerk - Divorce With Children (PDF)
  6. IV-D Application (PDF)

Divorce Without Children

A divorce without children is a legal action taken to end a marriage where parties do not share minor children from their marriage or relationship.  Divorce actions are filed when there is not a full agreement on all issues or if one spouse is unavailable for the Final Hearing.

 

The documents required to file for divorce are below.  You can choose to print the entire divorce packet by clicking on Packet, or you can print individual documents by clicking on the link to the document.
  1. Packet - Divorce Without Children (PDF)
  2. Pro Se Guide to Divorce Without Children (PDF)
  3. Complaint for Divorce Without Children (PDF)
  4. Affidavit of Financial Disclosure (PDF)
  1. Divorce & Dissolution Questionnaire (PDF)
  2. Mutual Restraining Orders (PDF)
  3. Instructions to the Clerk - Divorce Without Children (PDF)

Dissolution With Children

A dissolution with children is a legal action taken to end a marriage when both parties who share minor children are in agreement on all issues.  Both parties MUST appear at the Final Hearing.

 

The documents required to file for dissolution are below.  You can choose to print the entire dissolution packet by clicking on Packet, or you can print individual documents by clicking on the link to the document. 
  1. Packet - Dissolution With Children (PDF)
  2. Pro Se Guide to Dissolution With Children (PDF)
  3. Petition for Dissolution of Marriage With Children (PDF)
  4. Separation Agreement (PDF)
  5. Affidavit of Financial Disclosure (PDF)
  6. Divorce & Dissolution Questionnaire (PDF)
  7. Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (PDF)
  8. Parenting Seminar Order (PDF)
  1. Parenting Plan (PDF)
  2. Shared Parenting Plan (PDF)
  3. Parenting Judgment Entry (PDF)
  4. Judgment Entry of Dissolution of Marriage, With Kids (PDF)
  5. Obligee Information Sheet (PDF)
  6. Obligor Information Sheet (PDF)
  7. Notice of Hearing - Dissolution (PDF)
  8. IV-D Application (PDF)

Dissolution Without Children

A dissolution without children is a legal action taken to end a marriage when both parties with no minor children in common are in agreement on all issues.  Both parties MUST appear at the Final Hearing.  

 

The documents required to file for dissolution are below.  You can choose to print the entire dissolution packet by clicking on Packet, or you can print individual documents by clicking on the link to the document. 
  1. Packet - Dissolution Without Children (PDF)
  2. Pro Se Guide to Dissolution Without Children (PDF)
  3. Petition for Dissolution of Marriage Without Children (PDF)
  4. Separation Agreement (PDF)
  1. Affidavit of Financial Disclosure (PDF)
  2. Divorce & Dissolution Questionnaire (PDF)
  3. Judgment Entry of Dissolution of Marriage, No Kids (PDF)
  4. Notice of Hearing - Dissolution (PDF)

Legal Separation With Children

A legal separation with children is a court action that divides property between spouses, allocates parental rights and responsibilities, and may award child and/or spousal support.  A legal separation does not terminate a marriage.  You cannot remarry if you are legally separated.

 

The documents required to file for legal separation are below.  You can choose to print the entire legal separation packet by clicking on Packet, or you can print individual documents by clicking on the link to the document. 
  1. Packet - Legal Separation With Children (PDF)
  2. Pro Se Guide to Legal Separation With Children (PDF)
  3. Complaint for Legal Separation With Children (PDF)
  4. Affidavit of Financial Disclosure (PDF)
  5. Divorce & Dissolution Questionnaire (PDF)
  6. Mutual Restraining Orders (PDF)
  1. Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (PDF)
  2. Parenting Seminar Order (PDF)
  3. Obligee Information Sheet (PDF)
  4. Obligor Information Sheet (PDF)
  5. Instructions to the Clerk - Legal Separation With Children (PDF)
  6. IV-D Application (PDF)

Legal Separation Without Children

A legal separation without children is a court action that divides property between spouses and may award spousal support.  A legal separation does not terminate a marriage.  You cannot remarry if you are legally separated.

The documents required to file for legal separation are below.  You can choose to print the entire legal separation packet by clicking on Packet, or you can print individual documents by clicking on the link to the document. 
  1. Packet - Legal Separation Without Children (PDF)
  2. Pro Se Guide to Legal Separation Without Children (PDF)
  3. Complaint for Legal Separation Without Children (PDF)
  4. Affidavit of Financial Disclosure (PDF)
  1. Divorce & Dissolution Questionnaire (PDF)
  2. Mutual Restraining Orders (PDF)
  3. Instructions to the Clerk - Legal Separation Without Children (PDF)

Annulment

An annulment is a legal action that terminates a marriage.  Annulment differs from divorce in that annulment terminates a marriage and treats it like it never existed.  In divorce, the marriage is recognized as having occurred.  An action for annulment must be filed within a specific timeline set forth by the Ohio Revised Code.  Below are the grounds for annulment and the deadline by which to file:

 

1) A party was underage at the time of marriage (within 2 years after arriving at such age; or by a parent, guardian, or other person having charge of such party ay any time before such party has arrived at such age);

2) A party was already married to another person at the time of marriage (during the life of the married spouse or the life of such former husband or wife);

3) A party was adjudicated mentally incompetent (at any time before the death of either party);

4) Consent to marriage was obtained by fraud (within 2 years after the discovery of the facts constituting fraud);

5) Consent to marriage was obtained by force (within 2 years from the date of said marriage); or

6) The marriage was never consummated (within 2 years from the date of said marriage).  

 

 

The documents required to file for annulment are below.  You can choose to print the entire annulment packet by clicking on Packet, or you can print individual documents by clicking on the link to the document. 
  1. Packet - Annulment (PDF)
  2. Pro Se Guide to Annulment (PDF)
  3. Complaint for Annulment (PDF)
  4. Affidavit of Financial Disclosure (PDF)
  1. Divorce & Dissolution Questionnaire (PDF)
  2. Mutual Restraining Orders (PDF)
  3. Instructions to the Clerk - Annulment (PDF)

Answer 

An Answer is a defendant’s response to a Complaint for Divorce or Legal Separation. The Answer contains the defendant’s version of the events leading to the Complaint and may be based on the contents of the Complaint.  The filing of the Answer is one option that the defendant has in deciding how to respond to the complaint.

If you are filing an Answer, you must complete a Certificate of Service in addition to your Answer form. 
  1. Answer to Complaint for Divorce With Children (PDF)
  2. Answer to Complaint for Divorce Without Children (PDF)
  3. Answer to Complaint for Legal Separation With Children (PDF)
  1. Answer to Complaint for Legal Separation Without Children (PDF)
  2. Certificate of Service (PDF)
​Counterclaim

A Counterclaim is a claim brought by a defendant against a plaintiff in a legal action.  The Counterclaim can be thought of as the defendant's Complaint or Petition for Divorce.  A Counterclaim differs from an Answer because it allows the defendant to ask for relief, such as custody or support.  An Answer merely allows a defendant to respond to the plaintiff's requests; it does not allow the defendant to make their own.  An Answer and Counterclaim are often filed together.

If you are filing a Counterclaim, you must also complete a set of Instructions in addition to your Counterclaim form (or in addition to your Answer and Counterclaim forms if you are filing both).
  1. Counterclaim for Divorce (PDF)
  2. Instructions- Answer and Counterclaim (PDF)

Complaint for Custody

A Complaint for Custody is a legal action to obtain custody of a minor child when the minor child's parents are married, but have no plans to end the marriage.  This type of action can also be filed by a 3rd party who wants custody of a minor child, and the child's parents are still married.  This type of case used to be filed in the juvenile courts but recent changes in the law gave the domestic relations courts jurisdiction.

The documents required to file for legal custody are below. You can choose to print the entire legal custody packet by clicking on Packet, or you can print individual documents by clicking on the link to the document.

  1. Packet - Legal Custody (PDF)
  2. Complaint for Custody (PDF)
  3. Affidavit of Financial Disclosure (PDF)
  1. Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (PDF)
  2. Instructions to the Clerk - Motion for Legal Custody, Married Person Cases (PDF)

Complaint for Parenting Time

A Complaint for Support is a legal action to obtain parenting time with a minor child when the minor child's parents are married, but have no plans to end the marriage. 

The documents required to file for parenting time are below. You can choose to print the entire parenting time packet by clicking on Packet, or you can print individual documents by clicking on the link to the document.

  1. Complaint for Parenting Time - PDF 1.1.21
  2. Affidavit of Financial Disclosure (PDF)
  3. Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (PDF)
  1. Notice of Hearing, Motion (PDF)
  2. Instructions to the Clerk - Complaint for Parenting Time, Married Person Cases (PDF)

Petition to Register Foreign Order

If you have relocated to Greene County, Ohio but were divorced in another state, you may be able to transfer your divorce case to Ohio for modification of support, enforcement of your Court Orders, or to address issues related to any child custody or parenting time.

Under Ohio law, a divorce Decree entered by a court in another state can be transferred to Ohio when a number of conditions are met. 

Transferring your case to Ohio begins with filing a Petition to Register Foreign Order. If you decide to file a Petition, be sure to choose the appropriate Petition. Petitions are available for registering foreign support Orders as well as Petitions for registering foreign parenting Orders. Original and certified court documentation from your divorce case must be provided to this Court with your Petition.

NOTE: Filing your Petition also requires you to demonstrate to the Ohio Court that you have properly served the other party, given them the appropriate Notice of Registration, and are advancing the most current Orders regarding your case to the Ohio Court. Any failure on your part to serve the other party properly and in a timely manner can compromise your Petition. Failing to provide the appropriate documentation may also compromise your Petition.

  1. Packet - Registration of Foreign Parenting Order (PDF)
  2. Foreign Decree - Petition to Register, Parenting Order (PDF)
  3. Foreign Decree - Notice of Registration, Parenting Order (PDF)
  4. Instructions to the Clerk - Petition to Register Foreign Parenting Order (PDF)
  1. Packet - Registration of Foreign Support Order (PDF)
  2. Foreign Decree - Petition to Register, Support (PDF)
  3. Foreign Decree - Notice of Registration, Support Order (PDF)
  4. Instructions to the Clerk - Petition to Register Foreign Support Order (PDF)