Champaign County Child Custody Attorneys

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

Champaign County, Ohio · Urbana

Ohio calls custody the "allocation of parental rights and responsibilities," and it is decided at the combined Champaign County Family Court in Urbana. Married (or divorcing) parents resolve custody inside a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation on the Domestic Relations side; never-married parents file on the Juvenile side using Ohio Uniform Form 23. The court chooses between sole custody and shared parenting based on the child's best interest, and applies its Standard Order of Parenting Time when parents can't agree on a schedule.

Hire Gavvl for your Champaign County custody case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Champaign County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

How do I get a custody order in Champaign County, Ohio?

Where you file depends on your relationship to the other parent. If you are or were married, custody, parenting time, and support are decided inside a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation on the Domestic Relations side using Champaign County's local forms. If you were never married, file on the Juvenile side using Ohio Uniform Form 23 (Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights and Responsibilities, and Parenting Time) with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit — a Complaint for Custody carries a $250 fee, and one fee covers all children of the same parents filed together. The court chooses between sole custody (one residential parent and legal custodian) and shared parenting (both, under an approved plan) based on the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04, and applies the Standard Order of Parenting Time if you can't agree.

Gavvl Law for Champaign County custody and parenting time

Ohio calls custody the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities, and where you file it in Champaign County depends entirely on whether you were married. Gavvl Law files on the correct side of the combined Family Court — Domestic Relations for married or divorcing parents, the Juvenile side on Ohio Uniform Form 23 for never-married parents — as a flat-fee first order or full representation when the other parent won't agree.

Married or never-married, filed in the right place. Married and divorcing parents resolve custody inside a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation using the county's local forms; never-married parents file Ohio Uniform Form 23 with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit on the Juvenile side. We put your case in the half of the court that has authority over it.
Sole custody versus shared parenting. Ohio doesn't use "primary" or "joint" custody — the choice is between sole custody, with one residential parent and legal custodian, and shared parenting, where both parents hold those roles under an approved plan. We advise which best fits your family under the R.C. 3109.04 best-interest standard.
One Juvenile fee for all your children. A Juvenile Complaint for Custody is a $250 deposit, and one deposit covers all children of the same parents when they're filed together. We file the complaint, the parenting affidavit, and an Application for Child Support Services so custody and support open in the same case.

When parents can't agree on a schedule, the county's Standard Order of Parenting Time (Local Rules, Exhibit B) becomes the fallback — alternating weekends, a weeknight on the off weeks, holidays split by odd and even year, a divided Christmas, and four weeks each summer. We push for a schedule that fits your child and lean on the Standard Order only where it genuinely works.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the custody complaint or motion; you appear at any hearing.

Establish custody: $1,250
Modify custody: $1,450

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

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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: Champaign County Family Court (Domestic Relations–Juvenile–Probate Division)

200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana, OH 43078
Phone: (937) 484-1027
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed holidays)
Website: Court website
e-Filing: Online e-filing portal

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Champaign County Family Court (Juvenile side)
200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana, OH 43078
Phone: (937) 484-1027
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed holidays)

Custody is the right path if…

You need a first custody and parenting-time order for your child.
You and the other parent can't agree on where the child lives or the schedule.
You were never married to the other parent and need parentage and custody together.
You want the order built around the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04.

Filing Fees

$250 Juvenile Complaint for Custody (never-married parents) · custody inside a DR case rides that deposit · one Juvenile fee covers all children of the same parents filed together — confirm with the Clerk at (937) 484-1027

Forms & Filing Packets

Custody for never-married parents (Juvenile side) — $250 Complaint for Custody (one fee covers all children of the same parents filed together)

File Ohio Uniform Form 23 with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3) and an Application for Child Support Services. A Complaint for Custody carries a $250 fee.

Family Court Cover Sheet — Required cover sheet for every initial Champaign County Family Court filing. Must be printed single-sided.
Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers — Required in every case so personal identifiers stay out of the public record (the filer must redact under Sup. R. 45). Printed single-sided.
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.
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.
Application for Child Support Services (Champaign County) — Opens a IV-D case with the Champaign County CSEA so support can be collected and enforced. Filed in any case where the court sets child support.

Custody inside a DR case (married / divorcing parents)

Custody travels with your divorce, dissolution, or legal separation on the DR side. File the county's local Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and a Parenting Plan or Shared Parenting Plan.

Family Court Cover Sheet — Required cover sheet for every initial Champaign County Family Court filing. Must be printed single-sided.
Confidential Disclosure of Personal Identifiers — Required in every case so personal identifiers stay out of the public record (the filer must redact under Sup. R. 45). Printed single-sided.
Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights and Responsibilities, and Parenting Time (DR local) — Champaign County's local custody/parentage complaint used on the DR side to allocate parental rights, parenting time, and child support.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Champaign County local) — Required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
Parenting Plan (Champaign County local) — Champaign County's local (non-shared) parenting plan, used when one parent will be the residential parent and legal custodian.

Add the child-support worksheet

Run the Ohio worksheet and file the Health Insurance Affidavit so the court can set support and medical coverage alongside custody.

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 (Champaign County local) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.

How to File Custody in Champaign County

Identify the right side of the court. Married or divorcing parents resolve custody on the DR side inside a divorce/dissolution/legal separation; never-married parents file on the Juvenile side.
Complete the right forms. Never-married parents use Ohio Uniform Form 23 with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit; DR-side parents use the county's local parentage/parenting forms and a parenting plan.
File and pay the fee. File at the Champaign County Family Court in Urbana — a Juvenile Complaint for Custody is $250 (one fee covers all children of the same parents filed together), plus the Cover Sheet and Confidential Disclosure (single-sided).
Address support and the schedule. Run the Ohio child-support worksheet and propose a schedule; if parents can't agree, the Standard Order of Parenting Time applies.

Champaign County Practice Notes

Sole custody vs. shared parenting. Sole custody names one parent the residential parent and legal custodian; shared parenting makes both parents legal custodian and residential parent under an approved plan that meets R.C. 3109.04. Ohio does not use "primary custody" or "joint custody." "Residential parent" is largely administrative (where the child lives and attends school); "legal custody" is decision-making authority.
The Standard Order of Parenting Time is the default. When parents can't agree, Champaign County applies its Standard Order of Parenting Time (Local Rules, Exhibit B): alternate weekends (Fri 6 p.m.–Sun 6 p.m.), a Tuesday 5:00–8:00 p.m. evening on off weeks, alternating holidays by odd/even year, a split Christmas, and four summer weeks. Neither parent may permanently remove the child from the court's jurisdiction without a hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between sole custody and shared parenting in Champaign County?: Sole custody names one parent the residential parent and legal custodian; shared parenting makes both parents legal custodian and residential parent under an approved plan that meets R.C. 3109.04. Ohio does not use the terms "primary custody" or "joint custody." "Residential parent" is largely administrative (where the child lives and attends school), while "legal custody" is decision-making authority.
Do I file custody in the DR or the Juvenile side in Champaign County?: If you are or were married to the other parent, custody, parenting time, and support are decided inside your divorce, dissolution, or legal separation on the Domestic Relations side, using Champaign County's local DR forms. If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are handled on the Juvenile side using Ohio Supreme Court Uniform forms (Form 23). Grandparent and other non-parent custody is always filed on the Juvenile side.
What is the standard parenting-time schedule in Champaign County?: When parents cannot agree, the court applies its Standard Order of Parenting Time (Family Court Local Rules, Exhibit B): alternate weekends Friday 6:00 p.m. to Sunday 6:00 p.m., a Tuesday 5:00–8:00 p.m. evening on the off weeks, alternating holidays by odd/even year, a split Christmas (Dec. 24 noon–Dec. 25 noon and Dec. 25 noon–Dec. 26 noon, alternating), and four summer weeks taken as two two-week blocks.
What does it cost to file on the Juvenile side in Champaign County?: Most Juvenile complaints and motions are $250 — Complaint for Custody, Complaint for Support, Complaint for Paternity, Motion for Shared Parenting, Motion for Visitation, Motion in Contempt, and a non-CSEA Motion to Terminate Support. If the children all have the same mother and father and are filed at the same time, there is only one filing fee for all of them. A fee waiver is available through the Ohio Supreme Court poverty affidavit.

Free Local Resources in Champaign County

Champaign County Family Court Clerk's Office. 200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana, OH 43078. Phone (937) 484-1027 / (937) 484-1028; fax (937) 484-1026; email clerks@ccfamct.us. Hours Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Clerks can check that the right blanks are filled in but cannot give legal advice. Online records (eServices): https://eservices.champaigncountyfamilycourt.com.
Champaign County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Champaign County Department of Job & Family Services / CSEA, 1512 S. US Hwy 68, Ste. N100, Urbana, OH 43078. Phone (937) 484-1500; website https://www.champaigndjfs.org. Establishes, collects, and enforces support and can establish paternity administratively.
Champaign County Law Library. Located on the basement level of the Champaign County Court of Common Pleas, open Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Self-represented parties can research the law there.
Children Services (abuse / neglect). Report concerns during business hours at (937) 484-1500 (ask for Children Services Intake); after hours/holidays call the Champaign County Dispatch Center at (937) 653-3409. Call 911 if a child is in immediate danger.

Related to your custody 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 custody and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
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.
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.
Emergency Custody in Ohio: When and How to Get an Ex Parte Order — When a child faces immediate danger, Ohio courts can grant emergency custody on short notice through an ex parte order. Here's what qualifies and what happens next.

Keep exploring Champaign County family law

Ohio Custody guide — Statewide overview of custody in Ohio.
Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
Champaign County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Champaign County guide.
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