Getting a Dissolution
To file for a dissolution in Cuyahoga County, you will need to sit down with your spouse to fill out a number of detailed forms. This page will help you understand what you should think through, provide the forms and explain the timeline of the dissolution process.
A dissolution is sometimes called an "uncontested" way to end your marriage and is faster than filing for a divorce. The whole process can be completed in 30 to 90 days.
You and your spouse will need to agree on all parts of what will happen after the marriage ends to get a dissolution. You will need to put all of the agreement in writing and file a detailed set of paperwork. If you find that you and your spouse can't agree on everything you need to include in the paperwork, you may want to consider filing for a divorce instead.
If you’re in an abusive relationship, consider speaking with a lawyer. Abuse can complicate a dissolution. Working with a lawyer can help keep you safe while ending your marriage.
Who can file for dissolution?
You must meet certain criteria to get a dissolution. To file in Cuyahoga County:
- You or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months, and in Cuyahoga County for at least 90 days. If you both have lived in Cuyahoga County for 90 days, you will need to file in Cuyahoga County. If one of you lives in Cuyahoga County and one of you lives in another county, you can choose to file in the other county.
- If you or your spouse are pregnant, you can't finalize a dissolution. You will need to wait until the baby is born.
You can find information about court procedures, including for dissolution, in the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court Local Rules.
Think through what you need
Before you file, you need to gather information and make some decisions.
- Understand your financials. You will need details on your incomes, debts and assets. Getting organized for your divorce or dissolution provides an overview of the information you will need.
- Define your parenting plan. If you have children, you will need to agree on exactly how you will raise them and if one of the parents will provide child support to the other. Learn more about custody and visitation and child support.
- Define how money, property and bills should be divided. The Court will expect you to fairly divide everything you bought and all the debts you took on in the marriage. Learn more about dividing up your property and debts. If you decide that one spouse will pay the other spousal support, you will also need to agree on the amount, length and other terms of the support. Learn more about spousal support.
Complete your paperwork
On this site, you can use the Dissolution without Children or Dissolution with Children Form Assistant to fill out the forms you need to file with the Court. The Form Assistant will ask you some questions, which you can answer on any phone or computer. It can take a few hours to complete all the necessary information. You will be able to save your progress and return to complete your forms if you need to.
Both you and your spouse will need to agree to all of the information in all of the forms.
Once you have completed the forms and are ready to file:
- Print your completed forms. You can print your forms at any Cleveland Public Library for .10 per page. On Wednesdays, you can also print your forms at the Law Library, which is located on the fourth floor of the Cuyahoga County Court House at 1 W. Lakeside Ave. You can print up to 25 pages for free at the Law Library. There is a fee of .20 per additional page. You should make at least one extra copy of your forms for your records.
- After you print your forms, you will need to sign your documents in front of a notary. The Law Library has staff who can notarize your forms for you. You also can find a notary by searching on your browser for “a notary near me.” The Help Center at the Domestic Relations Court also has staff who can notarize your forms for you.
- Bring your completed, signed and notarized forms to the Clerk of Court. The Domestic Relations Clerk of Court is located on the ground floor of the Cuyahoga County Court House at 1 W. Lakeside Ave.
- Give the clerk your forms to file. You also will need to pay the filing fee.
The cost to file for a dissolution in Cuyahoga County is $200 for a dissolution with children and $150 for a dissolution without children as of March 1st, 2024.
You also have the option to efile your forms. Learn more about efiling from the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts.
If you have a low income and can’t afford the filing fee, you can choose to add a Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit, or Poverty Affidavit, to create an additional form to file with your packet of documents. This form asks that you be allowed to file without paying a fee upfront. You may still be responsible for paying the fee at the end of the case.
If you have questions about the process of filing for a dissolution, you can contact the Help Center at (216) 443-8880.