Ohio
Divorce, lawyers, and free legal help in Ohio — verified against official sources.
How divorce filing works in Ohio
The Supreme Court of Ohio publishes standardized divorce and dissolution forms for self-represented filers, and sponsors Ohio Legal Help as its public self-help portal. Start there before anything else.
Supreme Court of Ohio — Domestic Relations Forms
The official starting point: standardized divorce and dissolution forms, petitions, and separation agreements.
supremecourt.ohio.gov — domestic relations forms →Ohio Legal Help
Ohio's official statewide legal self-help portal (created on the Supreme Court's recommendation): lawyer-reviewed guides on divorce, dissolution, custody, and domestic violence.
ohiolegalhelp.org →Find a divorce lawyer
Ohio State Bar Association — Find a Lawyer
The OSBA's searchable attorney directory — look up lawyers by city and practice area, including Family Law and Domestic Relations.
ohiobar.org — find a lawyer →New to hiring a lawyer? Read Start Here first — it covers what to ask and what to bring.
Free or low-cost legal help
Ohio Legal Help
Free legal information, forms, and lawyer referrals from Ohio's official self-help portal.
ohiolegalhelp.org →Report Child Abuse or Neglect
Call 855-642-4453 (855-O-H-CHILD). The hotline routes you to your county child-welfare office; reports can be anonymous. Phone or in-person only.
Ohio — Foreclosure Mediation
The Supreme Court of Ohio's foreclosure mediation program: homeowner FAQ and county-level mediation contacts. Call 1-888-404-4674 (Save the Dream Ohio).
supremecourt.ohio.gov — foreclosure mediation →Call 211
Free, confidential referrals to local help. Dial 211 from any phone.
211.org →Unpaid wages in Ohio
Your boss owes you pay and won't hand it over? Here's where to file and how long you have in Ohio.
Where to go
Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage & Hour Administration
Time limit to file
unverified
What the floor is
$11.00 (2026)
Changing your name in Ohio
Whether it's marriage, divorce, or just time for a fresh start — here's the process in Ohio.
How it works
apply to the probate court in your county
Typical court fee
varies by county — check your local court
Newspaper notice required?
sometimes — only if the court orders a hearing
Small claims court in Ohio
Suing someone without a lawyer, for smaller amounts, in a simpler court. Here's how it works in Ohio.
Maximum claim
$6,000
Filing fee
varies by court, often around $50
Can you bring one?
yes — allowed, not required
Clearing your criminal record in Ohio
Expungement or sealing can hide eligible arrests and convictions from background checks. Here's where Ohio stands.
Can records be cleared?
yes — expungement and record sealing
What qualifies
dismissals and acquittals; misdemeanors; 4th/5th-degree and some 3rd-degree felonies
Waiting period
6 months–1 year for misdemeanors; 11–13 years for felonies
Child support in Ohio
How child support gets calculated — and when it ends — in Ohio.
How it's figured
income shares (both parents' gross incomes combined) official schedule in ORC Chapter 3119 (Basic Child Support Schedule), administered by county child support agencies
When it ends
age 18 or high school graduation, whichever is later, but no later than age 19
Lemon law in Ohio
Bought a new car that's constantly in the shop? Ohio's lemon law may get you a refund or a replacement.
Which vehicles qualify
new vehicles purchased or leased (transferees during the warranty term included)
When it's legally a lemon
3+ attempts on same defect, 30+ cumulative days out of service, 8+ total attempts, or 1 attempt for life-threatening defect — within first year or 18,000 miles
What you get
refund of full purchase price or replacement vehicle, at the consumer's option
Tenant rights in Ohio
Renting comes with rights most people never hear about until something goes wrong. Here are the key ones in Ohio.
Notice before eviction
3-day notice to vacate for nonpayment; 30 days to end month-to-month
Deposit limits & return
No maximum limit; return within 30 days with itemized written statement
When the landlord won't fix things
May deposit rent into court escrow after written notice to landlord; may terminate lease if repairs unmade
DUI / DWI in Ohio
Driving under the influence carries some of the stiffest penalties in everyday law. Here's how Ohio handles it.
Blood alcohol (BAC) limit
0.08; high-tier penalties at 0.17
Typical penalties
3 days-6 months jail; $375-$1,075 fine; 1-3 year license suspension
How far back DUIs count
10 years
Gun laws in Ohio
Gun laws vary a lot from state to state — what's perfectly legal in one state can be a crime in another. Here's the big picture for this state. Laws change often, so double-check anything before you act.
Carrying a concealed handgun
Permitless carry for qualifying adults 21+; shall-issue licenses still offered
Carrying openly
Generally allowed without a permit
Background checks & waiting periods
Private sales: Not required No waiting period.
Extreme risk protection
No red flag law on the books here.
Reciprocity
Honors all valid out-of-state concealed carry permits.
Filming the police: your rights in Ohio
Federal appeals courts across the country have recognized a First Amendment right to photograph and record police officers performing their official duties in public. The U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled on it directly. The right does not protect interfering with officers, trespassing, or breaking other laws while you record.
One-party consent
If you are part of a conversation, you may record it — including with police. (Ohio Rev. Code § 2933.52)
Buffer-zone law — in effect
15-foot law (H.B. 20, signed July 7, 2026) — in effect since Oct. 6, 2026
People may not approach or remain within 15 feet of a first responder after a verbal warning, but only when they also interfere with the responder's duties or threaten physical harm — simply observing or recording is not prohibited on its own. The 6th Circuit has no binding decision, but federal district courts in Ohio treat the right to openly film police as clearly established (Higginbotham v. City of Cleveland, N.D. Ohio 2015).
Drug & alcohol addiction help in Ohio
Addiction is a health issue, and help is out there — including court programs that can send people to treatment instead of jail. No insurance needed to call.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential referrals to treatment — call 1-800-662-4357 (English & Spanish).
Human trafficking victims in Ohio
If you or someone you know is being forced to work or forced into sex against their will, you are a victim of a crime and help is available — immigration status does not matter.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 — free, confidential, for victims and anyone who suspects trafficking.
Bullying in Ohio
Every state has an anti-bullying law, and every school must have a plan. If your child is being bullied, document what happens and report it in writing to the school — and know what your state’s law requires.
Homelessness help in Ohio
If you are homeless or at risk of losing your housing, help is close by. Shelters, food, health care, and long-term housing programs exist in every community.
211 homeless services
Dial 211 and press 6 for homeless services in your area.
VA homeless veterans
Homeless veterans: call the VA National Call Center at 1-877-424-3838 (877-4AID-VET), 24/7.
Deed fraud & squatters in Ohio
Thieves can forge a deed to steal your home’s title — many counties offer free recording alerts that notify you if anything is filed against your property. And if someone is living in your property without permission, your state has specific rules for removing them: you generally cannot just change the locks.
FBI: protect your property from deed fraud
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center alert on parcel-owner impersonation →