Establishing Paternity in Belmont County

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

Belmont County, Ohio · St. Clairsville

When parents are not married, parentage, custody, child support, and parenting time are decided in the combined Probate & Juvenile Court (Hon. Albert E. Davies, 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, (740) 699-2141). Establishing paternity is the legal foundation for a father's custody and parenting-time rights and for a child-support order. Until a court orders otherwise, an unmarried mother is the sole residential parent under R.C. 3109.042.

How do I establish paternity in Belmont County, Ohio?

File a parentage action in the Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court, 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, (740) 699-2141, using the Juvenile Court's local forms with a UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and an Ohio child-support worksheet, then serve the other parent. The court can order genetic testing where parentage is disputed and can allocate custody, parenting time, and support in the same case. Paternity can also be established administratively through the Belmont County CSEA, (740) 695-1075 option 8. Confirm the current juvenile filing deposit with the Court.

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: 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.

Paternity is the right path if…

You are an unmarried parent and need a legal finding of who the father is.
You want custody, parenting time, or child support that depends on parentage being established.
Paternity is disputed and you need genetic testing ordered.
You're an unmarried father seeking enforceable parenting rights.

Filing Fees

Parentage filed in the Probate & Juvenile Court (deposit set by that court) · administrative paternity through the CSEA · confirm the current juvenile deposit with the Juvenile Court at (740) 699-2141

Forms & Filing Packets

Establish parentage in the Probate & Juvenile Court

File a parentage action with the Juvenile Court's local forms, a UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, and a child-support worksheet. The court can order genetic testing where parentage is disputed.

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.
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.

Add custody, parenting time, and support

Once parentage is established, the same Juvenile case can allocate custody and parenting time and set child support using the Ohio worksheet and Health Insurance Affidavit.

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.
Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 23) — Asks the Juvenile Branch to name a residential parent and legal custodian and set a parenting-time schedule when the parents were never married.
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.

Administrative paternity through the CSEA

Open a case with the Belmont County CSEA, (740) 695-1075 option 8, which can establish paternity administratively and open a IV-D support case.

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.
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.

How to File Paternity in Belmont County

Confirm where to file. Unmarried-parent parentage is filed in the Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court, (740) 699-2141, or opened administratively through the CSEA.
Prepare the parentage paperwork. Use the Juvenile Court's local forms with a UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and a child-support worksheet.
Ask for genetic testing if disputed. If parentage is disputed, the court can order genetic testing to determine the father.
Add custody and support. In the same case, ask the court to allocate custody and parenting time and to set child support; an unmarried mother is the sole residential parent until the court orders otherwise (R.C. 3109.042).

Belmont County Practice Notes

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.
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.
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).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I establish paternity in Belmont County?: Parentage for unmarried parents is established in the Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court, (740) 699-2141, or administratively through the Belmont County CSEA, (740) 695-1075 option 8. File a parentage action using the Juvenile Court's local forms with a UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and a child-support worksheet; the court can order genetic testing where parentage is disputed. Establishing paternity is the legal foundation for an unmarried father's custody and parenting-time rights and for a support order.
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.
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.
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.

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 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.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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