Shared Parenting in Adams County

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

Adams County, Ohio · West Union

Shared parenting in Ohio designates both parents as residential parents and legal custodians under a written plan that meets the R.C. 3109.04(G) factors. The most important Adams County quirk: the court will NOT accept the Ohio Supreme Court shared-parenting plan because it does not comply with local rules — you must use the county's AC-216 Shared Parenting Plan instead, filed with AC-206 Standard Parenting Orders, AC-207 Standard Parenting Schedule, and AC-208 Standard Child Support & Medical Support Order (required even if support is deviated to zero). Married parents file inside their divorce or dissolution; never-married parents file in the Juvenile Court.

How does shared parenting work in Adams County, Ohio?

Both parents must submit a written shared parenting plan addressing every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor — living arrangements, holidays and vacations, decision-making, transportation, school and health care, support, and dispute resolution. In Adams County you must use the local AC-216 Shared Parenting Plan (the Supreme Court plan is not accepted), filed with AC-205 Motion for Shared Parenting, AC-206, AC-207, and AC-208 plus a signed support worksheet, AC-202, and JFS 07076. Married or divorcing parents file inside the Domestic Relations case; never-married parents file with the parentage/custody complaint in the Adams County Juvenile Court. The court approves the plan only if it serves the children's best interest.

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)

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to be designated residential parents and legal custodians.
You can cooperate enough to follow a detailed written plan covering decisions, schedules, and transportation.
You're prepared to use Adams County's AC-216 plan rather than the Supreme Court form.
You can complete the parenting seminar and a signed Ohio child-support worksheet.

Filing Fees

No separate shared-parenting fee — included in the underlying divorce/dissolution ($350 with children) or Juvenile case (~$125 + ~$105 + $50 mediation) · GAL deposit $750 in contested cases · confirm current amounts with the Clerk.

Forms & Filing Packets

Shared parenting inside a divorce or dissolution (married parents) — Part of the divorce/dissolution deposit ($350 with children)

File the AC-216 plan and supporting orders with your Domestic Relations case. AC-208 is required even if support is deviated to zero.

Adams County Shared Parenting Plan (AC-216) — Adams County's local shared parenting plan. The court will NOT accept the Ohio Supreme Court shared-parenting plan — it does not comply with Adams County local rules. Must address every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor.
Miscellaneous Motion (AC-205) — Adams County's catch-all motion — used for a Motion for Shared Parenting, Motion for Guardian ad Litem, or Motion for a parenting/custody investigation.
Standard Parenting Orders (AC-206) — Adams County's standard parenting-order terms, filed with the parenting plan/shared parenting plan.
Standard Parenting Schedule (AC-207) — The county's default parenting-time schedule, filed alongside AC-206.
Standard Child Support & Medical Support Order (AC-208) — Required with a shared parenting plan or parenting plan — even if support is deviated to zero.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time the court sets or changes 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.
Application for Child Support Services (JFS 07076) — The Ohio child-support services application that opens a IV-D case with the Adams County CSEA. Brought to the final hearing in a dissolution; filed with the packet in contested cases.

Shared parenting for never-married parents (Juvenile Court) — ~$125 + ~$105 parentage cost + $50 Mediation Fund fee

File the AC-216 plan with the parentage/custody complaint in the Juvenile Court (a separate case per child), after paternity is established.

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.
Adams County Shared Parenting Plan (AC-216) — Adams County's local shared parenting plan. The court will NOT accept the Ohio Supreme Court shared-parenting plan — it does not comply with Adams County local rules. Must address every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor.
Miscellaneous Motion (AC-205) — Adams County's catch-all motion — used for a Motion for Shared Parenting, Motion for Guardian ad Litem, or Motion for a parenting/custody investigation.
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.
Standard Parenting Orders (AC-206) — Adams County's standard parenting-order terms, filed with the parenting plan/shared parenting plan.
Standard Parenting Schedule (AC-207) — The county's default parenting-time schedule, filed alongside AC-206.
Standard Child Support & Medical Support Order (AC-208) — Required with a shared parenting plan or parenting plan — even if support is deviated to zero.
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.

How to File Shared Parenting in Adams County

Confirm both parents want shared parenting. Shared parenting names both parents as residential parents and legal custodians. If only one parent will be residential, use the AC-217 parenting plan instead.
Draft the AC-216 plan. Complete the county's AC-216 Shared Parenting Plan addressing every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor — living arrangements, holidays, decisions, transportation, school, health care, support, and dispute resolution.
Add the standard orders and support paperwork. Include AC-205 Motion for Shared Parenting, AC-206, AC-207, AC-208, a signed Ohio support worksheet, AC-202, and JFS 07076.
File in the right court. Married/divorcing parents file inside the Domestic Relations case; never-married parents file with the Juvenile parentage/custody complaint after paternity is established.
Complete the parenting seminar. Both parents complete "Helping Children Cope With Family Separation" (AC-203/AC-204) before the final hearing.

Adams County Practice Notes

Use AC-216 — the Supreme Court plan is rejected. Adams County specifically states the Ohio Supreme Court shared-parenting and parenting plans do not comply with its local rules. File the county's AC-216 Shared Parenting Plan (or AC-217 for a non-shared plan) or the filing will be sent back.
AC-208 is required even at zero support. The AC-208 Standard Child Support & Medical Support Order must be filed with the shared parenting plan even when support is deviated to zero, along with AC-206 Standard Parenting Orders and AC-207 Standard Parenting Schedule.
Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.
Guardian ad Litem in contested cases. In a contested custody case, the court can appoint a Guardian ad Litem — a court-appointed attorney — to investigate and recommend a parenting plan in the child's best interest. The GAL does not represent the child's wishes; the GAL represents what is best for the child. GAL fees are typically allocated between the parents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Ohio Supreme Court shared parenting plan in Adams County?: No. Adams County specifically states the Supreme Court shared-parenting plan and parenting plan do not comply with its local rules. Use the county's AC-216 Shared Parenting Plan (or AC-217 Parenting Plan for a non-shared arrangement) instead, filed with AC-206 Standard Parenting Orders, AC-207 Standard Parenting Schedule, and AC-208 Standard Child Support & Medical Support Order. The plan must address every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor.
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.
When does Adams County appoint a Guardian ad Litem?: In a contested custody case the court can appoint a Guardian ad Litem or a CASA volunteer to investigate and recommend what is in the child's best interest (Local Rule 224). Request one through the AC-205 Miscellaneous Motion or the dedicated AC-218 GAL Complaint Form. A $750 GAL deposit is due when the Motion & Entry for appointment is filed; fees can exceed the deposit and are allocated between the parties at the court's discretion. The Adams County CASA program line is (937) 618-0189.
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 shared parenting case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.

Related guides

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

Shared Parenting in Ohio: How Joint Custody Really Works — Shared parenting is Ohio's version of joint custody — both parents stay legal custodians and share major decisions. Here's what a plan must cover and how courts decide.
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.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Shared Parenting guide — Statewide overview of shared parenting in Ohio.
Cincinnati family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cincinnati metro.
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