Columbus Family Law Attorneys Serving Franklin County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026

All Franklin County services

Tap a service to open its Franklin County guide — filing steps, local forms, fees, and what to expect.

  • Divorce — Ending a marriage when you and your spouse don't agree on everything.
  • Dissolution — Ending a marriage when you both agree on all the terms.
  • Custody — Deciding legal custody and parenting time for your child.
  • Child Support — Setting up, calculating, or collecting child support.
  • Post-Decree Contempt — Enforcing a court order the other side is ignoring.
  • Legal Separation — Living apart with court-ordered terms while staying married.
  • Annulment — Treating a marriage as if it never legally happened.

Two ways to be represented

Match the cost to the complexity of your Franklin County case. Hire an attorney for your whole case, or for just the specific tasks you need.

Full representation

Your attorney manages the entire case from the first consultation through final orders — strategy, every filing, all court appearances, and negotiation. You have ongoing access the whole way through. Best for contested or complex cases, high-conflict situations, and anything that may go to trial. Billed as a retainer plus hourly fees. Learn about full representation.

Limited-scope (flat fee)

You hire us for specific tasks at a flat fee per service — document drafting and filing, a single hearing, legal advice, or document review. Predictable cost, focused on the task you need. Best for uncontested matters, simple modifications, and tighter budgets. Not recommended for high-conflict cases that need ongoing advocacy. Learn about limited scope.

Find my service

Columbus family law cases are filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations and Juvenile Branch. We represent clients throughout Central Ohio — from downtown Columbus and the University District to Dublin, Westerville, Worthington, Powell, New Albany, Grove City, Hilliard, and Reynoldsburg. Franklin County is one of Ohio's busiest domestic relations courts, and we know its local rules, magistrates, and pretrial procedures inside and out.

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas — Division of Domestic Relations

373 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3628
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Clerk's office)
Website: Court website

Inside a Franklin County Domestic Relations Case

  • Franklin County requires both parents in cases involving minor children to complete the court's TAPP – Putting the Children First parenting seminar before final decree.
  • Local Rule 27 mandates good-faith mediation in most contested custody and parenting time cases before a trial date is assigned.
  • Most Franklin County dissolutions are finalized in 30–90 days after filing if all paperwork is properly prepared.
  • Contested divorces follow a structured pretrial → final pretrial → trial calendar, typically 9–15 months from filing.

Parenting Class Requirement

The court-approved parenting class for Franklin County is administered through Franklin County Children Services partners and several online providers. We help every Columbus client register and complete the class on schedule.

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations & Juvenile Division (Never-Married Parents)

373 South High Street, 4th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3600
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Franklin County combines Domestic Relations and Juvenile under one Division at the same downtown address. Juvenile cases involve minors, so case information is not publicly available — only authorized parties may access it.

Franklin County is one of the few Ohio counties where Domestic Relations and Juvenile are combined into a single Division at 373 South High Street. Married couples file divorce, dissolution, and related custody/support there; never-married parents file paternity, custody, parenting time, and child support in the same building's Juvenile Branch.

Who We Help Across Columbus

  • Franklin County: ~1.32 million residents (largest in Ohio)
  • Greater Columbus metro: ~2.18 million
  • Median age: ~34 (one of Ohio's youngest metros)

Serving Short North, German Village, Clintonville, Bexley, Upper Arlington, Dublin, Westerville, Powell, New Albany, Worthington, Grandview Heights, Hilliard, Gahanna, Grove City, Reynoldsburg.

Columbus Family Law Questions, Answered

Where do I file for divorce in Columbus?
Columbus divorce, dissolution, and custody cases are filed at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas — Division of Domestic Relations, located at 373 South High Street, Floor 4, Columbus, OH 43215. We e-file all documents on behalf of our clients.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Franklin County?
The Clerk of Courts sets the filing-fee deposit, and a statewide domestic-violence shelter surcharge and service costs are added on top. Confirm the current amounts with the Clerk before filing. Service of process and court reporter fees are additional.
How long does a Franklin County divorce take?
A Franklin County dissolution is typically finalized 30–90 days after filing. A contested Franklin County divorce usually takes 9 to 15 months, depending on how complex property division and custody issues are.
Do I have to go to mediation in a Columbus custody case?
Under Franklin County Local Rule 27, the court requires good-faith mediation in most contested custody and parenting time cases before scheduling a trial. Mediators are court-appointed or privately retained.
Is the parenting class required in Franklin County?
Yes. The Franklin County Court of Domestic Relations requires both parents in any case involving minor children to complete the TAPP – Putting the Children First seminar before final decree. The class is offered both in person and online.
Do you handle Delaware, Fairfield, and Licking County cases?
Yes. We file in all of Central Ohio's surrounding counties — Delaware (Delaware), Fairfield (Lancaster), Licking (Newark), Madison, Pickaway, and Union — each with their own local rules and judges that we know well.

Columbus Divorce Guide

Focused specifically on divorce in Franklin County? See our in-depth guide: Columbus Divorce Lawyers — Franklin County divorce guide.

Columbus Custody Guide

Custody or parenting time in Franklin County? Our custody guide covers both courts, the best-interest factors, and flat fees: Columbus Child Custody Lawyers — Franklin County custody guide.

Columbus Family Law Practice Areas

  • Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable dissolution.
  • Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
  • Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
  • Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Columbus Divorce & Custody Attorneys Serving Franklin, Delaware & Licking Counties

We represent clients across the Columbus metro area and surrounding counties.

Transparent Pricing & Payment Options in Columbus

Columbus families shouldn't have to guess what legal help will cost. Gavvl Law uses transparent pricing — flat fees for many uncontested and limited-scope matters, so you know the full cost before you commit, and clearly-scoped retainers for complex or contested cases. We offer several ways to pay so you can get help now and choose what fits your budget: pay in full by card on our secure payment page, finance through third-party providers like Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later, or, on services of $2,000 or more, spread a flat fee over time with a Gavvl Direct in-house plan that requires no credit check. Not sure which service or payment path fits your situation? Take our Find My Divorce Service quiz for a personalized recommendation, or review all of our payment options and financing details.

Flat-fee options for Columbus families

These are the real flat fees for limited-scope help — the attorney drafts and files your paperwork, and you appear at any hearings yourself. The same prices apply in every Ohio county, including Franklin County.

Divorce

Dissolution

Child Custody

Child Support

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

On limited-scope services of $2,000 or more, Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan with no interest and no credit check — takes 60% down to start, then the balance in three monthly payments, the first due 28 days after your initial payment. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your case · See payment plans & financing

What Divorce & Dissolution Really Cost in Columbus

Before you decide on a path, see the real filing fees, court costs, and timelines for Columbus — and how the different ways to end a marriage compare.

Attorneys Serving Columbus

Meet the Gavvl Law attorneys who represent Columbus and Franklin County families. Consultations happen by phone — no trip to a downtown office — and flat-fee pricing is quoted up front before you commit to anything.

Ohio families have given Gavvl Law 95+ five-star Google reviews across its Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland offices.

Meet the full Gavvl Law team or talk to a Columbus family-law attorney.

From first call to retained, — and every step after

  1. Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, or Niva Elgin about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
  2. Choose — Pick the level of help. Pay, or set up financing. Limited-scope flat fee or full representation — you choose, with real numbers in front of you. Pay online, or secure a Gavvl Direct payment plan or third-party financing in a few minutes. Nothing is billed until you decide.
  3. Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
  4. Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

  • Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
  • Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
  • Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
  • Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
  • Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
  • 24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Can I do this without an attorney?

sometimes, yes. Ohio lets you represent yourself, and for a genuinely agreed dissolution or a simple motion, some people do. Every Ohio county's forms and local rules are linked from our county pages, and our free tools will draft a parenting plan or estimate child support before you spend anything.

Here's what the online-divorce platforms leave out: most Ohio counties require their own forms and language on top of the statewide ones, and a rejected filing is the most common reason people call us after trying it alone. A $25, 30-minute call tells you whether you can do this yourself — and if you can, we'll say so.

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

Related guides

Attorney-written guides covering the Ohio family law issues Columbus clients ask about most.

  • How to File for Divorce in Ohio: A Step-by-Step Guide — Filing for divorce in Ohio follows a defined path: confirm residency, choose your grounds, file the complaint, serve your spouse, and work toward temporary orders and a final decree. Here is how each step works.
  • Divorce vs. Dissolution in Ohio: Which Path Is Right for You? — Divorce and dissolution both end an Ohio marriage, but they work very differently. Dissolution is a no-fault, agreed process; divorce is a lawsuit for couples who can't agree. Here's how to choose.
  • What Happens If I Move Out Before the Divorce? (Ohio Myths vs. Reality) — Moving out of the marital home does not forfeit your share of the house, your retirement, or your right to parent your children. It can affect the date the court uses to divide property, and it can affect custody indirectly if you become less involved. This guide separates the myths from what Ohio law actually does, and explains why temporary orders solve most of it.
  • How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Ohio? — The cost of an Ohio divorce ranges widely depending on conflict and complexity. Here's what drives the price — court fees, attorney fees, experts — and how to keep it manageable.
  • Dividing Property in an Ohio Divorce — Ohio divides marital property equitably — meaning fairly, not always equally. The first step is classifying every asset and debt. Here's how the process works.
  • Who Gets the House in an Ohio Divorce? — The marital home is often a couple's biggest asset and most emotional decision. Ohio divides its equity equitably — through a buyout, a sale, or a deferred sale. Here's how.

Legal Disclaimer

This page is for general information about Ohio family law and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney–client relationship. Every case is different; outcomes, timelines, and costs depend on your specific facts and the county where your case is filed. An attorney–client relationship with Gavvl Law begins only after a written representation agreement is signed by both you and the firm. Financing through Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later is subject to separate third-party terms and approval. Gavvl Direct is a contractual payment arrangement available on limited-scope services of $2,000 or more: 60% down, the remaining balance in three monthly payments beginning 28 days after the initial payment, no interest, a $50 late fee on any payment not brought current within 5 days of its due date, and a signed payment plan agreement before enrollment; it is not available for hearings scheduled within 14 days. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page may be considered attorney advertising under Ohio law.

Call (380) 205-3899 or email support@gavvl.com.