Establishing Paternity in Adams County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Adams County, Ohio · West Union

When parents were never married, parentage (paternity) is handled by the Adams County Juvenile Court under R.C. 2151.23, before Judge Brett M. Spencer and Magistrate David M. Hunter. Paternity must be established before the court can order custody, parenting time, or child support. Two Adams County rules matter: a separate case is filed for each child, and you file a complaint to open a new case (or a motion if a case already exists). Beyond the pleading, the court requires the AC-007 background-search authorization plus Sheriff-run FBI and Ohio BCI checks for each household member over 18, and a certified copy of the child's birth certificate.

How do I establish paternity in Adams County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities and Parenting Time (Juvenile SC Form 23) in the Adams County Juvenile Court — a separate case for each child. Include AC-001, AC-002 (if unrepresented), an AC-007 Authorization for Background Search for each household member over 18 (with Sheriff-run FBI and Ohio BCI checks), a certified copy of the child's birth certificate, SC Affidavit 3 (Parenting Proceeding), SC Affidavit 1 (Income & Expenses), SC Affidavit 4 (Health Insurance), an AC-202 CSEA setup, the AC-203/AC-204 parenting seminar, and AC-005 Praecipe. The Juvenile filing runs about $125 plus a $105 parentage cost and a $50 mediation fee. Paternity must be established before custody or support is ordered.

Ohio Custody by the Numbers

Best interest The single standard that governs every Ohio custody decision Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04
No set age There is no age a child can choose a parent — the judge weighs a mature child's wishes Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(B)
Change in circumstances Required, plus a best-interest finding, before the residential parent can be changed Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(E)(1)
Shared parenting Either parent may ask the court for a joint parenting plan Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(G)

Compare Types of Custody in Ohio

Custody type	Who makes major decisions	Where the child lives	Best when
Shared parenting	Both parents jointly, under a written plan	Time is split per the plan (not always 50/50)	Parents can communicate and cooperate on decisions
Sole legal & residential	One parent	Primarily with that parent	One parent is unable or unwilling to co-parent
Split custody	Each parent for the child in their care	Siblings are divided between the two homes	Rare — only when it serves each child's best interest
Legal custody to a non-parent	The relative or caregiver granted custody	With the non-parent caregiver	Neither parent can safely care for the child

Where to File: Adams County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

110 West Main Street, West Union, OH 45693, West Union, OH 45693
Phone: (937) 544-2921
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed legal holidays)
Website: www.adamscountycourts.com/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Adams County Juvenile Court
110 West Main Street, West Union, OH 45693, West Union, OH 45693
Phone: (937) 544-2921
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed legal holidays)

Paternity is the right path if…

You and the other parent were never married and need legal parentage established.
You want a custody, parenting-time, or child-support order that depends on establishing paternity first.
You can provide a certified copy of the child's birth certificate and complete background-search authorizations.
Ohio is the child's home state under the UCCJEA (the child has lived in Ohio for the last 6 months).

Filing Fees

Juvenile new filing ~$125 + ~$105 Custody/Visitation/Parentage cost + $50 Mediation Fund fee · Unmarried-Mother Custody Order ~$50 · Sheriff may charge for background checks · Pay by cash, money order, or card (no personal checks) — confirm with the Clerk.

Forms & Filing Packets

New parentage case (no existing case for the child) — ~$125 new filing + ~$105 parentage cost + $50 Mediation Fund fee

Opens a Juvenile parentage case and asks the court to allocate custody, parenting time, and support. A separate case is filed for each child.

Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities and Parenting Time (Juvenile SC Form 23) — Opens a new Juvenile case for never-married parents — establishing parentage and asking the court to allocate custody, parenting time, and support. A separate case is filed for each child.
Notice of Appearance (AC-001) — Filed by attorneys and any unrepresented spouse/party to enter the case. Required on every Adams County family-law filing.
Waiver of Counsel (AC-002) — Signed by any unrepresented party, acknowledging they are proceeding without an attorney.
Authorization for Background Search (AC-007) — Required for each household resident over 18 in a Juvenile parentage/custody case. Paired with Sheriff-run FBI and Ohio BCI background checks submitted to the court.
Certified copy of the child's birth certificate — Required in a Juvenile parentage/custody case. The court copies and returns the original.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction over custody under the UCCJEA. Required in any case involving minor children.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
Adams County CSEA Account Setup Sheet (AC-202) — Opens the support account with the Adams County Child Support Enforcement Agency. Required in every case involving children — even if no child support is requested.
Notice of "Helping Children Cope With Family Separation" Seminar (AC-203) — The notice for Adams County's mandatory online parenting seminar (Local Rule 213), administered through Beech Acres.
"Helping Children Cope With Family Separation" Registration Packet (AC-204) — One per parent. Registration materials are submitted directly to Beech Acres, not filed with the court.
Praecipe (Request) for Service (AC-005) — Tells the Clerk how to serve the other party (certified mail, Sheriff, or publication). Required when service is needed.

Change in an existing Juvenile case (motion) — Lower Juvenile schedule — confirm with the Clerk

If a case already exists, file a motion with the correct caption to change the allocation of parental rights.

Motion for Change of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (SC Form 27) — Post-decree motion to change the residential parent / legal custodian. When custody changes, the court must also address child support.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction over custody under the UCCJEA. Required in any case involving minor children.
Authorization for Background Search (AC-007) — Required for each household resident over 18 in a Juvenile parentage/custody case. Paired with Sheriff-run FBI and Ohio BCI background checks submitted to the court.
Notice of Appearance (AC-001) — Filed by attorneys and any unrepresented spouse/party to enter the case. Required on every Adams County family-law filing.
Praecipe (Request) for Service (AC-005) — Tells the Clerk how to serve the other party (certified mail, Sheriff, or publication). Required when service is needed.

How to File Paternity in Adams County

Confirm Juvenile jurisdiction. Never-married parentage is filed in the Adams County Juvenile Court. Ohio must be the child's home state under the UCCJEA.
Gather supporting documents. Obtain a certified copy of the child's birth certificate and complete an AC-007 authorization plus FBI/Ohio BCI checks for each household member over 18.
Complete the parentage complaint. File the Juvenile SC Form 23 complaint (one case per child) with SC Affidavits 3, 1, and 4, AC-202 CSEA setup, and AC-203/AC-204 seminar.
File and serve. File with the Clerk, pay the Juvenile deposit (cash, money order, or card), and use AC-005 to direct service on the other parent.
Resolve custody and support. Once paternity is established, the court allocates parental rights and sets support using the Ohio worksheet and the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors.

Adams County Practice Notes

A separate case per child. Adams County Juvenile Court requires a separate case for each child. File a complaint to open a new case, or a motion (with the full caption — case number, party names, child's name, motion title) if a case already exists.
Background checks and the birth certificate are required. Every household resident over 18 needs an AC-007 authorization and Sheriff-run FBI and Ohio BCI background checks submitted to the court. You also bring a certified copy of the child's birth certificate, which the court copies and returns.
Paternity comes before custody or support. The court cannot allocate custody or order support for a child of unmarried parents until parentage is established (by acknowledgment, prior judgment, or genetic testing). The Adams County CSEA can also help establish paternity. See the court's paternity-statutes page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is paternity established in Adams County?: Parentage for never-married parents is handled in the Adams County Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23). Paternity must be established before the court can order custody or support. To open a new case, file a Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities and Parenting Time (Juvenile SC Form 23), with the AC-007 background-search authorization and Sheriff-run FBI/Ohio BCI checks for each household member over 18, and a certified copy of the child's birth certificate. The Adams County CSEA can also help establish paternity. See the court's paternity-statutes page.
I was never married to my child's other parent — where do I file for custody or child support?: In the Adams County Juvenile Court. File a separate case for each child — a complaint if no case exists yet, or a motion if one does. Paternity must be established before custody or support can be ordered, and you'll need the AC-007 Authorization for Background Search plus FBI and Ohio BCI background checks for each household member over 18, and a certified copy of the child's birth certificate.
How much does a Juvenile (never-married) custody or support case cost in Adams County?: The Juvenile Court uses a separate, lower schedule than Domestic Relations: a new filing is about $125, with Custody/Visitation/Parentage court costs of about $105, and an Unmarried-Mother Custody Order about $50 — plus a $50 Mediation Fund fee on each filing. (The $350 "new custody/support/visitation" figure applies on the Common Pleas/Domestic Relations schedule, not in Juvenile Court.) Pay by cash, money order, or credit/debit — no personal checks. Deposits must be paid before pleadings are accepted; ask about a payment plan or fee waiver.
Is a parenting class required in Adams County?: Yes, in any divorce, legal separation, dissolution, or custody/visitation case involving minor children (Local Rule 213). Adams County uses the online program "Helping Children Cope With Family Separation," administered through Beech Acres — file the AC-203 notice and AC-204 registration (one per parent). In a divorce the moving party must complete it before the final hearing; in a dissolution both parties must. Failure to attend within 60 days triggers a notice, and non-completion within 90 days is reported to the court and can delay your hearing.
Do I file in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Adams County?: If you are (or were) married to the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce or dissolution in the Domestic Relations Division. If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are handled by the Adams County Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23) — a separate case is filed for each child. Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are always filed in Juvenile Court.

Free Local Resources in Adams County

Adams County Clerk of Courts (Larry Heller). Legal division on the top floor of the Courthouse, 110 West Main Street, Room 207, West Union, OH 45693. Accepts filings and provides current fees and instructions. Call (937) 544-2344 (lheller@adamscountycourts.com) before filing to confirm deposits and packet requirements.
Adams County Common Pleas forms & local rules portal. sites.google.com/view/adamscountycommonpleas/home — county AC-### forms, Ohio Supreme Court SC forms, checklists, the local rules (dated 2/3/2026), and pro-se/indigency pages.
Adams County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Director Angie Malott. 482 Rice Drive, P.O. Box 386, West Union, OH 45693. Phone (937) 544-5155 or toll-free (800) 840-5711 — establishes/modifies support, paternity, wage withholding, and payment distribution. Set up a court account with Form AC-202.
Adams County Children Services. 300 North Wilson Drive, West Union, OH 45693. Phone (937) 544-2511 for abuse/neglect concerns and emergency child-safety. Call 911 in an emergency.
Adams County CASA / GAL program. Volunteer and contact line (937) 618-0189. Court Appointed Special Advocates carry only 1–2 cases at a time and advocate for a child's best interest in contested and abuse/neglect matters.
Fee waiver (indigency). File the AC-012 Financial Disclosure / Fee-Waiver Affidavit & Order with a motion to waive the court-cost deposit if you meet federal poverty guidelines. See sites.google.com/view/adamscountycommonpleas/indigency.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet, print, and sign it for filing.

Related to your paternity case

Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Grandparents' Rights — Seek visitation or custody when it serves the child's best interest.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on paternity and related Ohio family law topics.

Fathers' Rights in Ohio: Custody, Paternity, and Parenting Time — Ohio law does not favor mothers over fathers — but unmarried fathers must establish paternity before they have any rights. Here's how fathers protect their relationship with their children.
Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
Child Support Calculation in Ohio: How the Formula Works — Ohio calculates child support with the income shares model, combining both parents' incomes to set a shared obligation. Here's how the formula works and what changes the bottom line.

Keep exploring

Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity in Ohio.
Cincinnati family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cincinnati metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.