Clark County Paternity Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Clark County paternity case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Clark County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start (flat fees from $950).

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.

Establish paternity in Clark County with Gavvl Law

When parents were not married at birth, Ohio requires a legal step to establish the father before any court can order custody, parenting time, or support. In Clark County that case is filed in the Juvenile Section using the Complaint for Parentage, Custody & Parenting Time (Form 23), which can settle fatherhood, custody, and support in a single filing. Gavvl Law prepares the complaint and its supporting affidavits and offers a flat fee approved up front, with court-appointed counsel available for a $25 application fee if you qualify.

• One complaint that does three jobs. Clark's Form 23 is titled Complaint for Parentage, Custody & Parenting Time, so a single Juvenile Section filing can establish the father and let the court allocate parental rights and set support. We plead all three so you are not opening separate cases for each.
• The affidavits that open the case. A parentage filing needs the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3) confirming Ohio's jurisdiction, plus the income and health-insurance affidavits and a support worksheet once fatherhood is established. We file the full package so the Juvenile Section can move to orders instead of continuances.
• Filing in the Juvenile Section, not the Adult Section. Paternity for never-married parents belongs in the Clark County Juvenile Section at clarkohiojuvcourt.us — the Adult Section on Limestone Street only handles parentage when it arises inside a divorce. We open your case in the right court so nothing has to be refiled.

If you cannot afford an attorney, the Clark County Juvenile Section offers court-appointed counsel for a $25 non-refundable application fee that the court may waive or tax as costs, and once fatherhood is established the court sets support under the 2024 Income Shares Model. We guide you through both and offer a flat fee approved up front with payment plans.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the parentage complaint to establish legal paternity — adding custody and parenting time if you need it. You appear at any hearings yourself.

• Establish paternity (parentage complaint): $950
• Paternity with custody & parenting time: $1,350

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.

Start your paternity case or see payment plans & financing.

Real people, — with direct lines

• Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
• Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
• Niva Elgin — Senior Case Manager · Licensed New Mexico Attorney

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — or Niva Elgin, our senior case manager and a licensed New Mexico attorney. They've heard hundreds of situations like yours and will tell you plainly what you need, and what you don't. Meet the firm.

Your attorney

One of our Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorneys is your attorney for the case — from the first strategy call to the final order in Clark County. You have their name and a direct line the day your file opens. Our attorneys.

Your case team

Niva Elgin keeps your case moving as Senior Case Manager. Madeline Wampler, Certified Paralegal, handles documents and scheduling. Erin Schultz, Finance Manager, handles billing and payment plans. Real people who answer when you call.

• 95+ five-star Google reviews
• 60+ years of combined Ohio family-law experience
• Super Lawyers honorees on the team
• Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained, — and every step after

1. Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, or Niva Elgin about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
2. Choose — Pick the level of help. Pay, or set up financing. Limited-scope flat fee or full representation — you choose, with real numbers in front of you. Pay online, or secure a Gavvl Direct payment plan or third-party financing in a few minutes. Nothing is billed until you decide.
3. Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
4. Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

• Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
• Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
• Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
• Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
• Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
• 24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Can I do this without an attorney?

sometimes, yes. Ohio lets you represent yourself, and for a genuinely agreed dissolution or a simple motion, some people do. The Clark County forms and local rules are linked in the questions below, and our free tools will draft a parenting plan or estimate child support before you spend anything.

Here's what the online-divorce platforms leave out: most Ohio counties require their own forms and language on top of the statewide ones, and a rejected filing is the most common reason people call us after trying it alone. A $25, 30-minute call tells you whether you can do this yourself — and if you can, we'll say so.

• Free parenting plan builder
• Free child support estimate
• Attorney-written guides
• See the Clark County forms & local rules

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

Where to File: Clark County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Adult Section)

Paternity is the right path if…

• You and the other parent were not married when the child was born.
• You need a court order for custody, parenting time, or child support — which requires established parentage first.
• You want parentage, custody, parenting time, and support handled in a single Juvenile Section case.
• You cannot afford an attorney and may apply for court-appointed counsel in Juvenile court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which forms do I need to file for paternity in Clark County?

Parentage complaint (Juvenile Section)

Filed in the Clark County Juvenile Section. The Complaint for Parentage, Custody & Parenting Time (Form 23) establishes the father and opens custody, parenting-time, and support claims in one case.

• Complaint for Parentage, Custody & Parenting Time (Supreme Court Form 23) — Opens a custody, parenting-time, and support case for never-married parents in the Clark County Juvenile Section. Establishes parentage and allocates parental rights in one filing.
• Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3 — UCCJEA, R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom. Confirms Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
• Affidavit of Income, Expenses & Financial Disclosure (Affidavit 1) — Must be notarized. Required at filing in every Clark DR case. Both parties file their own.

Add: custody and child-support orders

Use the same Form 23 complaint to allocate parental rights and set support once parentage is established.

• Health Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
• Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, sign. Required any time the court is being asked to set support.

How to file paternity in Clark County

1. File the parentage complaint in the Juvenile Section. File the Complaint for Parentage, Custody & Parenting Time (Form 23) in the Clark County Juvenile Section. It establishes the father and opens custody and support claims in one case.
2. File the parenting affidavit. Include the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3), which lists where the child has lived and confirms Ohio's jurisdiction.
3. Add custody, parenting time, and support. Use the same case to ask the court to allocate parental rights and set child support. File the Health Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit 4) and the Ohio Child Support Worksheet.
4. Apply for court-appointed counsel if you qualify. If you cannot afford an attorney, apply at the Juvenile Court Clerk's office. There is a non-refundable application fee, which the court may waive or tax as carries a deposit.
5. Attend the hearing. The court establishes the father and enters the custody, parenting-time, and support orders requested in the complaint.

What does paternity cost in Clark County?

Two numbers matter. The court's filing fee, which the Clerk sets and can confirm. And the attorney work: Our published flat fees from $950 cover drafting and filing the paperwork (limited scope — the court's filing fee is invoiced separately), with payment plans available. Prefer full representation? An attorney can carry the whole case on a retainer — every number is published in the pricing section above.

What forms do I need for paternity in Clark County?

It depends on your situation — children, temporary orders, and which court you file in all change the packet. Answer the quick questions in the paperwork section above and your exact Clark County checklist appears, with every official form linked as a PDF.

How long does paternity take in Clark County?

It depends on how much you and the other side agree. Agreed matters generally move through Clark County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Adult Section) in months, not years; contested cases take longer. The part you control is filing a complete, correct packet the first time — bounced paperwork is the most common self-filing delay.

Do we really need lawyers if we agree?

Maybe not — and we'll say so at a $25 consultation. But an agreement only counts if it survives on paper, in the exact packet Clark County's court expects, and what you file becomes a binding court order that is hard to fix later. Precision drafting for people who already agree is most of what our flat-fee work is: done once, done right.

Where are the Clark County local rules, and what does this court do differently?

Judges, magistrates, and filing fees change, so we do not publish them here. Clark County posts the current information itself:

• Clark County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Adult Section) — local rules, standing orders, and the current judges and magistrates.
• Clark County local rules — the court's own rules for filings, hearings, and required local forms.
• Clark County Clerk of Courts — current filing fees and deposits, e-filing, and case records.

• One complaint covers parentage, custody, and support. Clark County's Form 23 is titled "Complaint for Parentage, Custody & Parenting Time." Filing it lets the Juvenile Section establish the father and, in the same case, allocate custody and parenting time and set child support.
• Where to file. Paternity for never-married parents is handled in the Clark County Juvenile Section (clarkohiojuvcourt.us), not in the Domestic Relations Adult Section. The Adult Section handles parentage issues only when they arise inside a divorce or dissolution.
• Support follows once parentage is established. Once the court establishes the father, it can set child support on the Ohio Child Support Worksheet under the 2024 Income Shares Model and allocate health-insurance coverage for the child.

Are there free legal resources in Clark County?

• Clark County DR Clerk. 101 N. Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502. Phone (937) 521-1753 for filing-fee deposits, copy requirements, and procedural questions.
• Ohio Supreme Court Standardized Forms. Clark County uses these forms for every DR case type — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree modifications. Available at supremecourt.ohio.gov.
• Clark County Public Library (Main Branch, S. Fountain Ave.). LawPak Ohio Dissolution forms at the Reference Desk and access to the Cengage Legal Forms Database (library card required).
• Clark County Mediation Referral. Court-connected mediation for custody, parenting time, and post-decree disputes. Referral form linked from clarkcountyohio.gov DR forms page.
• Legal Aid of Western Ohio. Free civil legal assistance for income-qualifying Clark County residents. Call (877) 894-4599.
• Clark County Bar Association. Lawyer referral service. clarkcobar.com.
• United Way 2-1-1 (Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties). Free 24/7 referral line for local shelter, advocacy, and social services.

Start Your Parenting Plan for Free

Before you meet with an attorney or mediator, try our free Ohio parenting plan builder — it explains sole custody vs. shared parenting in plain language and turns your answers into a printable worksheet you can bring to court, mediation, or a consultation.

Other Family-Law Topics in Clark County

• Clark County Dissolution — Cooperative path — deposit, 30-90 days to final hearing.
• Clark County Divorce — Full filing guide with Ohio SC standardized forms and the 42-day waiting period.
• Clark County Legal Separation — Same forms as divorce — marriage stays legally intact at the end.
• Clark County Annulment — Limited grounds under R.C. 3105.31 — treats the marriage as if it never happened.
• Clark County Post-Decree Modifications — Change child support, custody, or parenting time after the decree.
• Clark County Post-Decree Contempt — Enforce an order the other party is violating.
• Clark County Custody — Allocation of parental rights — Adult Section or Juvenile Section, with the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest test.
• Clark County Child Support — Set, modify, or enforce support under the Ohio 2024 Income Shares Model.
• Clark County Paternity — Establish a father, custody, and support for never-married parents with Form 23.
• Clark County Shared Parenting — Both parents as residential parent under a notarized Form 20 plan.
• Clark County Civil Protection Orders — Same-day ex parte protection — no filing fee, filed at the Title Office.

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.
• 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.

More Clark County family-law resources

• Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity in Ohio.
• Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
• Clark County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Clark County guide.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.