Ohio Dissolution Forms — What You Need and Where to Get Them (2026)

Ohio dissolution requires more upfront paperwork than most states, but the process is well-supported by free resources. The best starting point is Ohio Legal Help (ohiolegalhelp.org), which offers a free guided interview that generates all the forms you need based on your specific answers.

This page gives you a complete overview of what each form does and who fills it out.

Tip: Ohio counties sometimes have local supplemental forms in addition to statewide forms. Always check your county court's website for any locally required forms.

Where to Get Free Ohio Dissolution Forms

Ohio Legal Help — ohiolegalhelp.org The most comprehensive free resource. Ohio Legal Help's guided interview walks you through your situation step by step and generates a complete packet of forms tailored to your circumstances — with or without children, with or without real estate, etc. Strongly recommended as your starting point.

Supreme Court of Ohio Self-Help — supremecourt.ohio.gov/JCS/CFC/ Forms approved by the Ohio Supreme Court's Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management.

Your County Court Website Many Ohio county courts have forms and self-help resources on their websites. Search for "[your county] Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations self-help."

Core Forms: Required for All Dissolutions

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage

What it is: The joint filing that formally starts the dissolution process. Both spouses sign it.

What it covers:

Names and addresses of both spouses
Date and place of marriage
Statement that the marriage is irretrievably broken (incompatibility)
Confirmation that the Separation Agreement is attached
Names and ages of any minor children of the marriage
Request for the dissolution

Who fills it out: Both spouses, together. Both must sign.

Notes: The Separation Agreement is attached to and incorporated into the Petition. Without a complete, signed Separation Agreement, you cannot file the Petition.

Separation Agreement

What it is: The heart of the dissolution — the legally binding contract that resolves all issues between the spouses. This document is what the judge reviews at the hearing.

What it must cover:

All marital property: real estate, vehicles, bank and investment accounts, retirement accounts, personal property, business interests
All marital debts: mortgage, car loans, credit cards, student loans, personal loans
Spousal support: whether it will be paid, amount, duration, and termination conditions (or a statement that neither party will receive spousal support)
If children: everything in the parenting section below

Who fills it out: Both spouses negotiate and draft together. Both must sign before a notary.

Critical notes:

This is the most important document in the dissolution. Take time to get it right.
Be specific: use full legal descriptions for real estate, VIN numbers for vehicles, account numbers for financial accounts
If spousal support is waived, the agreement should say so explicitly to avoid future claims

Financial Disclosure Affidavit

What it is: Each spouse's sworn disclosure of income, expenses, assets, and debts.

Who fills it out: Each spouse completes their own Financial Disclosure Affidavit separately. Both are filed.

Notes: This is a sworn statement — accuracy is required. Courts use this to confirm the Separation Agreement's property division is fair and that child support (if applicable) is correctly calculated.

Forms for Dissolutions With Children

Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA Affidavit)

What it is: A statement establishing where the children have lived during the past five years, which determines Ohio's jurisdiction over custody matters under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.

Who fills it out: Both spouses complete this form.

Parenting Plan / Parenting Order

What it is: The detailed parenting schedule incorporated into the dissolution. This document sets out the day-to-day logistics of co-parenting after the dissolution.

What it must include:

Which parent is the "residential parent" (primary physical custodian), or that parenting is shared
The regular parenting time schedule during the school year
Holiday schedule (list each holiday specifically, including which parent has the child in odd vs. even years)
Summer schedule
School break schedule
Pick-up and drop-off logistics
How parents communicate about children's health, education, and activities
Geographic limitations on relocation

Notes: "Reasonable parenting time" is not enforceable. Courts and parents interpret it differently. Write out a specific, detailed schedule.

Shared Parenting Plan

What it is: If both parents want to share decision-making authority and/or significant parenting time, Ohio requires a specific Shared Parenting Plan rather than a simple Parenting Plan.

When to use it: When both parents want shared legal custody (shared decision-making) or a near-equal parenting time arrangement.

What it covers: All of the items in the Parenting Plan above, plus how the parents will make major decisions jointly, how disagreements will be resolved, and how modifications will be handled.

Notes: Ohio courts generally favor shared parenting plans when both parents are fit and cooperative. You must specifically request shared parenting — the court does not default to it automatically.

Child Support Worksheet

What it is: The form used to calculate the guideline child support amount under Ohio's statutory formula.

How Ohio child support is calculated: Ohio uses a formula based on:

Both parents' combined gross income (adjusted for self-employment taxes, other child support obligations, etc.)
Number of children
Annual number of parenting time overnights
Additional expenses: health insurance premiums for the children, child care costs

Use the Ohio Child Support Calculator available through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (jfs.ohio.gov) to calculate the amount. Include the completed worksheet with your dissolution filing.

Notes: Courts will scrutinize support amounts that deviate significantly below the guideline. If you agree to below-guideline support, include specific written findings explaining why it is in the children's best interest.

Health Insurance Order

What it is: Specifies which parent must provide health insurance for the minor children.

Who fills it out: Both parties, as part of the dissolution package.

Notes: Ohio courts typically require health insurance coverage for minor children to be specified in every dissolution involving children. If health insurance coverage changes, the parties must update this with the court.

Income Withholding Order (Wage Garnishment)

What it is: Directs the paying parent's employer to deduct child support from each paycheck.

Notes: Ohio strongly favors income withholding orders for child support. The CSEA (Child Support Enforcement Agency) in your county administers child support payments and enforcement. Ask the Clerk of Courts about registering your support order with CSEA.

Post-Dissolution Forms

Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)

What it is: A separate court order directing a retirement plan administrator to divide the plan between the spouses, as specified in the Separation Agreement.

When you need it: Anytime an employer-sponsored retirement plan (401(k), 403(b), pension, profit-sharing plan) is being divided as part of the dissolution.

Who drafts it: You need a QDRO specialist or attorney — the plan administrator typically provides specific requirements that must be followed exactly. A generic template often doesn't work.

Process: The QDRO is drafted, submitted to the plan administrator for pre-approval, filed with the court for a judge's signature, and then submitted back to the plan administrator for implementation.

Cost: $400–$1,500 depending on plan complexity.

Note: IRAs don't require a QDRO — they require a "transfer incident to divorce" using specific documentation. Contact your IRA custodian for their required forms.

Deed

What it is: If real estate is being transferred from joint ownership to one spouse, a new deed must be prepared and recorded with the county Recorder's office.

Notes: The dissolution decree alone does not transfer title to real estate. A deed must be executed, notarized, and recorded with the county Recorder's office after the dissolution is final.

Last reviewed: March 2026 | Ohio Legal Help's free guided interview at ohiolegalhelp.org is the recommended starting point for generating your complete dissolution packet.

Last reviewed: March 2026 · Verify current fees and forms with your local court before filing.