Union County Dissolution Of Marriage Search
Union County dissolution of marriage records are kept at the Clerk of Courts office in Marysville, Ohio. The Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division handles all dissolution filings. The county offers an online public records search for cases from 1990 onward, making it one of the more accessible smaller counties in Ohio for digital record lookups. Whether you need to search for a case, get a copy of a decree, or check case status, the Clerk's office at the Union County Courthouse is the primary resource for dissolution of marriage records.
Union County Dissolution Of Marriage Overview
Union County Dissolution Records Office
The Union County Clerk of Courts maintains all dissolution of marriage records for the county. The office is at the Union County Courthouse, 215 W 5th Street, Marysville, OH 43040. Call (937) 645-3010. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Domestic Relations Court handles all dissolution petitions, and the Clerk stores every document filed in these cases.
Certified copies cost $1.50 to $2.00 per page. Contact the office for the complete current fee schedule. The Union County public records search covers records from January 1, 1990 to the present. You can search by party name, case number, date range, or case type. Results show case caption, case number, filing date, status, and last action. Some records may offer PDF downloads directly through the search tool.
Filing Dissolution Of Marriage in Union County
Under ORC Section 3105.63, dissolution of marriage requires both spouses to file a joint petition. A complete separation agreement must accompany the petition. The agreement has to address property division, debts, spousal support, and a parenting plan if there are children. Both people sign everything before the petition goes to the Union County Clerk of Courts in Marysville.
At least one spouse needs to have lived in Ohio for six continuous months before filing. No extra Union County residency period applies. After the petition is filed, the court sets a hearing between 30 and 90 days out. Both spouses must attend and confirm under oath that the agreement was voluntary. If the judge finds the terms fair, the dissolution is granted at the hearing. The process can take as little as 30 days, which is much faster than most contested divorces.
Note: Union County's online records search covers cases from January 1, 1990 forward; older records require an in-office visit or contact with the Records Center.
Union County Older Records and Archives
Dissolution records filed before 2005 are stored at the Union County Records Center and Archives at 128 South Main Street, Marysville, OH 43040. Marriage records from 1820 to 1951 are also kept there. For dissolution cases from 2005 to the present, the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse has the files. If you need an older case, contact the Records Center first to confirm availability.
Online records go back to 1990 through the Clerk's public records search. Cases from before 1990 require an in-person visit or a phone call to the office. The Ohio Bureau of Vital Statistics keeps an abstract index of divorces and dissolutions from 1954 forward. The Ohio History Connection may hold some older Union County records as well.
Dissolution vs. Divorce in Union County
Dissolution and divorce are two different legal processes in Ohio. Dissolution requires both spouses to agree on all issues before filing. No blame is involved. Divorce can be filed by one spouse alone under ORC Section 3105.01, which lists 11 grounds. Incompatibility is the most commonly used ground, but if one spouse objects, a fault basis must be proven.
For Union County couples who can work together on the terms, dissolution is faster and less costly. Most cases can be done in 30 to 90 days. Divorce cases, especially contested ones, take longer and cost more. Both types go through the Union County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division in Marysville.
Property and Support Rules
Ohio is an equitable distribution state under ORC Section 3105.171. In a dissolution, the couple decides the property split in their separation agreement. The court reviews it but does not typically change the terms. Marital property includes most assets acquired during the marriage. Separate property belongs to one spouse individually.
Spousal support is governed by ORC Section 3105.18 with 14 factors the court considers. These include income, earning ability, age, health, and the length of the marriage. Child support follows Ohio's income shares model under ORC Chapter 3119. Both parents' incomes are combined to determine the total support obligation, which is then split proportionally.
Legal Resources for Union County
The Ohio State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service for all Ohio counties. Legal Aid serves qualifying Union County residents with family law help. The Supreme Court of Ohio publishes standardized dissolution forms that are accepted in Union County. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association maintains a directory of all 88 county clerk offices in Ohio.
The Clerk's office in Marysville can explain the filing steps and point you to the right forms. They cannot provide legal advice. If your case involves complex property issues or custody arrangements, consulting a family law attorney is a good idea.
Union County provides one of the better online search tools among Ohio's smaller counties for dissolution records.
Union County residents can search dissolution records online for cases from 1990 onward through the Clerk of Courts.
Nearby Counties
Dissolution records are filed in the county where the petition was submitted. These neighboring counties may have the records you need.