OHIO DIVORCE PAPERS WITH EXPLANATIONS

The documents listed below are the primary documents for a Ohio uncontested divorce. You will notice that some of the documents apply to children. If you do not have minor children, these documents are typically not required.

• Domestic Case Designation Form: This form is filed at the onset of an action. It identifies the parties in the dissolution and may list their children and their dates of birth, the case number, the judge, date and place of marriage, and the method of service.
• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage: The petition is filed jointly by the spouses and asks the court to dissolve their marriage. The husband and wife request the same relief, namely, that their marriage be terminated and that their attached Martial Separation Agreement be reviewed and approved by the court. The Petition waives the Summons, and may be used for people with or without children.
• Waiver of Legal Representation: When the couple files pro se and jointly, they make a declaration waiving legal representation.
• Waiver of Service of Summons: When the couple files pro se and jointly, they waive service of a Summons since they are a party to the action.
• Marital Settlement Agreement: The MSA is signed when the husband and wife agree to the division of property, assets and debts, and alimony and the terms and conditions of child support and visitation, if applicable. It is signed in front of a notary public and becomes a binding legal document.
• Standard Order of Parenting Time: Parents are encouraged to agree on a fair written parenting time schedule that fits their circumstances and their children's lives. The standard schedule is typically used when the parents cannot agree on a visitation routine. The parents may change the schedule by agreement.
• Financial Affidavit: Both spouses, individually or jointly, must complete a financial affidavit, which details and profiles their assets and liabilities as individuals and as a couple.
• Child Support Worksheet (Sole Custody): This worksheet is used when one parent has sole custody of a child.
• Child Support Worksheet (Split Custody): This worksheet is used when parents share custody of a child.
• Child Support Guidelines: Courts use a basic child support schedule which shall be used by all courts and child support enforcement agencies when calculating the amount of child support to be paid pursuant to a child support order, unless the combined gross income of the parents is less than $6,600 or more than $100,000.
• Affidavit in Compliance With (ORC 3109.27): This affidavit provides the Court with information regarding the past and present residences of the children, any other child custody actions and whether the party knows of any person who is not a party to the proceeding but has physical custody of the child or claims to be a parent of the child or to have parenting time rights with respect to the child or to be a person other than a parent of the child who has custody or visitation rights with respect to the child. Each party has a continuing duty to inform the court of any child custody proceeding concerning the child in this or any other state that could affect the current proceeding.
• Information for Parenting Proceeding (ORC 3109.27): An affidavit must be filed and served with the first pleading filed by each party in every parenting (custody/visitation) proceeding in the Court.
• Health Insurance Disclosure Affidavit: This affidavit details the health insurance coverage available for children involved in the dissolution. It can also be used to help determine child support. It must be filed if there are minor children of the relationship.
• Health Care Order: This is the standard order for health insurance coverage for minor children named in the child support order. The party required to provide coverage must show proof within 30 days after the issuance of this order by providing the following: information regarding the benefits, limitations, and exclusions of the coverage, copies of any insurance forms necessary to receive reimbursement, payment, or other benefits under the coverage, and a copy of any necessary insurance.
• Decree for Dissolution of Marriage: This is the court order that dissolves the marriage and it includes the MSA and a parenting plan which are often attached and incorporated by reference.