Questions & Resources

To file for Dissolution, you and your spouse must be able to following:

1.    Agree to all terms necessary to terminate your marriage, AND
2.    Sign all required paperwork, AND
3.    Appear at final hearing at the same time. 

Instructions for completing the paperwork and filing for Dissolution can be found here.  The forms required for a Dissolution can be found at Ohio Supreme Court and in our Forms.  The forms from the Ohio Supreme Court may require additional information pursuant to Local Rules (See Instructions). More information about this can found on General Procedure Overview page. 

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

If you and your spouse are initially unable to agree on all terms necessary to terminate your marriage, then you must file for Divorce. You can review the instructions for filing a Divorce here. This will address how to file with and without children.  The forms required for a Divorce can be found at the Ohio Supreme Court and in our Forms.  The forms from the Ohio Supreme Court may require additional information pursuant to Local Rules (See Instructions). More information about this can found on General Procedure Overview page. 

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

A Legal Separation will be processed the same as a Divorce. This will be the same paperwork for a Divorce as well.  The forms required for a Legal Separation can be found at Ohio Supreme Court and in our Forms.  The forms from the Ohio Supreme Court may require additional information pursuant to Local Rules (See Instructions). More information about this can found on General Procedure Overview page. 

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

An annulment will be processed the same as a Divorce. This will be the same paperwork for a Divorce as well.   You can review the instructions for filing an Annulment here. The forms required for an Annulmnent can be found at Ohio Supreme Court and in our Forms.  The forms from the Ohio Supreme Court may require additional information pursuant to Local Rules (See Instructions). More information about this can found on General Procedure Overview page. 

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

Parties who are currently married, but living separately and apart, can file a Complaint for Custody and/or Support. You can review the instructions for filing a Complaint for Custody and/or Support here. All of these forms can be found in our Forms section.   More information about this can found on General Procedure Overview page.

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

If there is something you would like the Court to order a party to do and the Court has not previously addressed the issue, you can file a Motion on your case. You can review the instructions for filing a motion here. The necessary paperwork depends upon the issues in the motion.  You will need to review the DR722 Motion Code List to obtain the motion code(s) needed and the Court’s DR726 form could be used to complete this action. If you disagree with an Order that has been issued, see "How do I..." regarding File an Objection below.

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

Objections to Magistrate’s Decisions may be filed if you feel that a Magistrate was in error in issuing a decision. The Assigned Judge will review the Objection and make a ruling. You can review the instruction for filing an objection here. The Court provides an Objection form in our Forms section.

*NOTE*  Any issues related to a Judge’s Decision must be appealed. See the 12th District Court of Appeals website for information, specifically App. R. 3.

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

You can file an Agreed Entry to resolve pending motion(s) or to modify a current Shared Parenting Plan. There are 2 types of Agreed Entries. One requires a hearing date and one does not require a hearing date. You can find the Agreed Entry-Hearing Required under our Forms section. You can find the instructions and form for the Agreed Entry-No Hearing Required under our Forms section.

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

An Answer is used to respond to the claims and orders in a Divorce that your spouse may be requesting. An Answer and Counterclaim is used to countersue your spouse. There are specific time frames for filing an answer.  The forms required for Answer/Counterclaim can be found at Ohio Supreme Court and in our Forms.  The forms from the Ohio Supreme Court may require additional information pursuant to Local Rules (See Instructions). More information about this can found on General Procedure Overview page. 

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

A motion must be filed and a hearing attended to modify or dismiss a prior issued order. A DR726 form must be completed in accordance with Local Rules (See Instructions). DR722 Motion Code List to obtain the motion code(s) needed. Please review instructions for filing a Motion here.  Both the DR726 form and DR722 Motion Code List can be found under our Forms section.

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

Parties may request a continuance of their hearing by completing in full and submitting a Motion and Entry for Continuance (Form DR 629) to the Case Management Office.  The motion for a continuance should be filed at least seven (7) days prior to a hearing or three (3) days for domestic violence hearings.  If you are using your own motion, then please may sure that your motion includes the following:

                                     -Reason for the continuance request
                                     -Lists the Judge or Magistrate assigned to the matter
                                    - Date(month, day and year), time, and place of the hearing
                                    -Number of continuances previously granted,
                                     -Whether the opposing party objects or agrees to the continuance.   
                                     -A certificate of service indicating that the party requesting the continuance has received a copy of the motion for continuance and has served the other party. 

 Motions for Continuance are granted at the discretion of the hearing officer.  For more information regarding continuances please see our Local Rules

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

If you have a case within our court, you can follow the instructions and forms in our Forms section to change your address.  You will complete either the DR25 Notice of Change of Address, DR26 Notice of Change of Address (for previously granted Confidential Addresses), C13 Notice of Intent to Relocate (within Butler County) or a C13A Notice of Intent to Relocate (Outside of Butler County) based upon your specific situation.  

See the Types of Protection Orders. These are heard on a walk-in basis any day the Court is open.   The process can take several hours and will require you to testify at hearing. Every effort is made to hear all requests the same day.  Those hearings are held between at 8:30 am and no later than 10:30 am; AND 1:00 pm – no later than 3:00 pm.  Come early! If you arrive at 10:30am or 3:00pm, then there is a chance you will have to come back the next day.  Please try to make arrangements for any minor children that cannot be left unattended; the court does not provide childcare.  There are packets available at the court or the packets can be printed here.  Please bring a photo ID.

See below for the difference between a mutual restraining order and a civil protection order,

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

A motion must be filed and a hearing attended to modify or dismiss an active Domestic/Dating Violence Civil Protection Order (DVCPO). A DR726 form must be completed in accordance with Local Rules (See Instructions). DR722 Motion Code List to obtain the motion code(s) needed. Please review instructions for  filing a Motion here.  Both the DR726 form and DR722 Motion Code List can be found under our Forms section.

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

See the “How Do I...” section regarding Change the Date of my Hearing.
You may also complete and submit the DR21A form requesting remote appearances.

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

See the Local Rules regarding final hearing dates. It can differ depending on many factors. You may also call the Case Management at any time to check on the status of your final hearing date. That number is (513) 887-3100 opt 2.

See the Local Rules or check the “How Do I....” section above, regarding Filing a Objection.

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

See the Local Rules or check the “How Do I....” section above, regarding Filing a Motion.

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

All court staff are prohibited by law from giving legal advice of any kind.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

Court staff can answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. 

Please review the General Procedure overview or the Court’s Local Rules.

Please review the General Procedure overview or the Court’s Local Rules.

A Mutual Restraining Order issued by the Domestic Relations Court is attached (by the Clerk of Courts) to a Divorce Complaint at the time of filing. Mutual Restraining Orders remain in effect throughout the pendency of the case. A Civil Protection order is an order that may be issued to protect a Petitioner and/or family members if there is a finding of Domestic Violence as defined by Ohio Law. You can read more about a CPO here.

See current court costs here.

Contact Butler County Clerk of Courts (513) 887-3278 or visit the website here.

For a Civil Protection Order, you can also contact the Butler County Sheriff’s office (513) 785-1000.

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

You can contact Case Management. You can use the Contact Us page or call (513) 887-3100, select opt 2.

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

A Final Appealable Order is a Decision of the Court regarding a specific issue that needs no further action by Court.  View the Rules of Civil Procedure, found here on the Supreme Court of Ohio's Rules site, specifically Ohio Civ. R. 54 

A party that disagrees with a Final Appealable Order may view the How Do I... section above, under "File an Objection". 

If a party finds a Final Appealable Order unclear view the How Do I... section above, under "File a Motion".

Court staff is available to answer questions concerning local court procedures and most general questions pertaining to your individual case. You can submit questions to the Court on our Contact Us page.  COURT STAFF IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE AND/OR ADVISING PARTIES ON WHAT TO FILE.  If you have any questions about the law, or your legal rights, please contact an attorney or the Butler County Bar Association at (513) 896-6671 for attorney referral information.

Refer to our interpreter page.

Requests for transcripts or CD recordings of hearings are submitted in writing to the Administration Office of the Court.  The Court approved Transcript Request form may be found here.  It contains all required information for transcripts to be prepared.  No transcript will be prepared without the submission of a completed Transcript Request form. Please provide a frequently checked e-mail address with your request; the Court will primarily use e-mail to communicate the progress of the submitted request.

There are two methods by which the Court will process transcript requests.  A request may be assigned to an in-house Court staff member or to a dedicated outside service agency.    The Court will determine which method will be selected based upon current transcript workload.

Method One:  In-house Transcript Preparation.  The Administration Office will accept a completed Transcript Request form from the requesting party and provide an estimated cost for the transcript.  A deposit of one half of the estimated cost must be paid to the Clerk of Courts.  Once the deposit is paid and the requesting party has provided the Transcript Coordinator with proof of deposit, the transcript will be prepared.  Once the transcript is completed, the Transcript Coordinator will inform the requesting party and inform them of any unpaid balance owed on the transcript.  The unpaid balance must be paid to the Clerk of Courts and proof of payment provided to the Transcript Coordinator prior to the transcript being released.  Parties are encouraged to make their transcript requests and pay their deposits in a timely manner to avoid being charged an expedited rate for the transcript. 

Method Two:  Outside Service Agency Transcript Preparation.  The Administration Office will accept a completed Transcript Request form from the requesting party. The Court will inform the requesting party that an outside service agency has been assigned to prepare the request and the agency will require an advance deposit of 100% of the estimated cost.  The agency will contact the party to establish the estimated cost and make financial arrangements. The cost must be paid to the service agency before the transcript will be prepared.   

How much does a written transcript or audio download cost?

            Original Transcript-$4.00 per page

            Expedited Transcript-$7.00 per page

            Copy of Transcript-$0.05 per page

            Copy of exhibits-$0.05 per page

            File Share Site Link to Download Audio Recording-No charge