Child Support in Belmont County

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

Belmont County, Ohio · St. Clairsville

Belmont County child support is calculated under Ohio's 2024 Income Shares model and paid through Ohio Child Support Payment Central, which adds a 2% processing charge (Local Rule 12.3). Establishing, reviewing, and enforcing support runs through the Belmont County CSEA at Belmont County DJFS, (740) 695-1075 option 8, and through the General Division or the Probate & Juvenile Court depending on whether the parents were married.

How do I get or change child support in Belmont County, Ohio?

Married or divorcing parents set support inside the General Division divorce or dissolution using the Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet, with a IV-D Application under Local Rule 12.29; never-married parents set it in the Probate & Juvenile Court alongside parentage and custody, or by opening a case with the Belmont County CSEA, (740) 695-1075 option 8. To change an existing order, request a CSEA administrative review or file a Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio SC Form 28) on a substantial change — often a 10% or greater change in the guideline amount (R.C. 3119.79). Support is paid through Ohio Child Support Payment Central.

Ohio Child Support by the Numbers

2024 Year Ohio's updated Income Shares support schedule took effect Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.021
10% Change in the calculated amount that justifies a modification Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.79
3 years How often either parent can request an administrative review Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.60
Age 18 When support normally ends — or high-school graduation, whichever is later Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.86

What Counts in an Ohio Child Support Calculation

What the worksheet counts	Counts toward support?	Notes
Both parents' gross income	Yes	Wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, and self-employment earnings
Health insurance for the children	Yes	Credited to the parent who pays the premium
Work-related childcare	Yes	Daycare and after-school costs are added in
Parenting time	Yes	Adjustments apply for substantial or equal parenting time
Imputed income	Sometimes	Added when a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed
A new spouse's income	No	Only the two parents' incomes are counted

Where to File: Belmont County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Phone: (740) 699-2169
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: belmontcountycoc.org/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court
101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Phone: (740) 699-2141
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Child Support is the right path if…

You need a first child-support order, or a change to an existing one.
Your income, the other parent's income, parenting time, or health-coverage costs have changed.
The guideline amount would change by about 10% or more.
You need the CSEA to enforce an order through wage withholding or other tools.

Filing Fees

Support set inside a divorce/dissolution is part of that case deposit ($251 divorce) · never-married support via the Probate & Juvenile Court (deposit set by that court) or the CSEA · CSPC adds a 2% processing charge (Local Rule 12.3) · confirm current amounts with the Clerk (740) 699-2169 or the Juvenile Court (740) 699-2141

Forms & Filing Packets

Establish support (never-married parents)

Set support in the Probate & Juvenile Court alongside parentage and custody, or open a CSEA case. File the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, the Health Insurance Affidavit, and the Ohio child-support worksheet with the Juvenile Court's local forms.

Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court Forms — The combined Probate & Juvenile Court's local forms for unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time — and the Belmont Grandparent Power of Attorney. Obtain the current packet from the Juvenile Court, (740) 699-2141.
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.
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.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you ask the court to set or change support.
Child Support (IV-D) Application — Belmont County CSEA — Opens a child-support case with the Belmont County CSEA, Belmont County DJFS, 68145 Hammond Road, St. Clairsville, (740) 695-1075 option 8. Required in any minor-children divorce under Local Rule 12.29 so support can be collected and enforced.

Modify an existing order

Request a CSEA administrative review or file a Motion for Change of Child Support (Form 28) with an updated worksheet in the division that issued the order. A substantial change — often 10%+ — is required (R.C. 3119.79).

Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio SC Form 28) — The Ohio uniform motion to change child support, medical support, or the tax exemption after a change of circumstances. File in the division that issued the order.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you ask the court to set or change support.
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.

Set support inside a divorce (married parents)

Married or divorcing parents set support inside the General Division divorce or dissolution with the Ohio worksheet and a IV-D Application (Local Rule 12.29).

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.
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.
Child Support (IV-D) Application — Belmont County CSEA — Opens a child-support case with the Belmont County CSEA, Belmont County DJFS, 68145 Hammond Road, St. Clairsville, (740) 695-1075 option 8. Required in any minor-children divorce under Local Rule 12.29 so support can be collected and enforced.

How to File Child Support in Belmont County

Pick the route. Married/divorcing parents set support in the General Division; never-married parents use the Probate & Juvenile Court or the Belmont County CSEA, (740) 695-1075 option 8.
Run the Ohio worksheet. Use the official Ohio Child Support Calculator (2024 Income Shares), print, and sign — required any time support is set or changed.
File or apply. File the support paperwork with the correct court, or open a CSEA case for an administrative establishment or review, and complete a IV-D Application.
Enforce if needed. If the other parent falls behind, the CSEA can enforce through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals; payments run through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (2% charge).

Belmont County Practice Notes

Support routed through the CSEA and CSPC (2% charge). The Belmont County CSEA (Belmont County DJFS, 68145 Hammond Road, (740) 695-1075 option 8) establishes, reviews, and enforces support. Payments run through Ohio Child Support Payment Central, which adds a 2% processing charge (Local Rule 12.3).
Confirm juvenile / probate deposits with the Court. Probate & Juvenile Court filing deposits were not published in the materials reviewed and are set by that court. A fee waiver is available for indigent filers. Confirm the current deposit with the Belmont County Juvenile Court (Hon. Albert E. Davies), (740) 699-2141, before filing.
Unmarried-parent cases use the Juvenile Court's forms. Parentage, custody, support, and parenting-time cases for never-married parents are filed in the combined Probate & Juvenile Court, 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, (740) 699-2141, using its local forms at belmontcountyohiocourts.com/forms/. Under R.C. 3109.042 an unmarried mother is the sole residential parent until a court orders otherwise.
Minor-children filing add-ons (Local Rule 12.29). In a minor-children divorce, file a IV-D Application with the Belmont County CSEA and a Child Support Guideline with your complaint, and complete the mandatory parenting class before the final hearing. Missing these items delays the hearing date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is child support paid and enforced in Belmont County?: Support is paid through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (CSPC), which adds a 2% processing charge (Local Rule 12.3). Child-support services — establishing, reviewing, and enforcing orders — run through the Belmont County CSEA at Belmont County DJFS, 68145 Hammond Road, St. Clairsville, (740) 695-1075 option 8. The CSEA can enforce orders through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals.
Do unmarried parents file custody in the General Division or Juvenile Court in Belmont County?: If you are married to (or were married to) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce or dissolution in the General Division. If you were never married, parentage and custody are handled by the Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court, (740) 699-2141. Under R.C. 3109.042 an unmarried mother is the sole residential parent until a court orders otherwise. Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are filed in the Juvenile Court.
What does it cost to file a custody or parentage case in the Belmont County Juvenile Court?: Probate & Juvenile Court filing deposits were not published in the materials reviewed and are set by that court. A fee waiver is available for indigent filers. Confirm the current deposit with the Belmont County Juvenile Court at (740) 699-2141 before filing.
What does it cost to file a post-decree motion in Belmont County?: A post-judgment motion in the original General Division case carries a $150 deposit per the Clerk's schedule, and post-judgment motions are heard by the Magistrate (Local Rule 12.5). Registering a foreign (out-of-state) judgment carries a $225 deposit. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 699-2169.

Free Local Resources in Belmont County

Belmont County Clerk of Courts (General Division). Current filing deposits, the Local Rule 12 divorce forms (101, 103/104, 105), and filing instructions for divorce, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matters. File with the Legal Division on the 3rd floor, 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville; (740) 699-2169. Local rules at https://belmontcountycoc.org/local-rules and the cost schedule at https://belmontcountycoc.org/costs-and-fees.
Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court. Handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time, plus the Belmont Grandparent Power of Attorney. Forms at https://www.belmontcountyohiocourts.com/forms/; Juvenile (740) 699-2141, Probate (740) 699-2144.
Belmont County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Belmont County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Belmont County DJFS, 68145 Hammond Road, St. Clairsville; (740) 695-1075 option 8; https://belmontcdjfs.com/.
Belmont County Children Services. Investigates child abuse and neglect and supports kinship caregivers. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or Children Services at (740) 695-3813.
Representing Yourself in Belmont County. The Clerk's self-represented-litigant resources and filing guidance for the General Division at https://belmontcountycoc.org/representing-yourself. The Clerk cannot give legal advice but can explain what a complete filing requires.

Related to your child support case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Related guides

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

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.
How to Modify Child Support in Ohio — Child support orders aren't permanent. When income or circumstances change substantially, Ohio lets you modify support — through a CSEA review or a court motion. Here's how.

Keep exploring

Ohio Child Support guide — Statewide overview of child support in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron 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.