Clark County Post-Decree Modification Attorneys

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026

Clark County, Ohio · Springfield

After a Clark County divorce or dissolution is final, the court keeps continuing jurisdiction over child support, custody, parenting time, and (sometimes) spousal support. To change any of those, you file a post-decree motion at the Clark County DR at 101 N. Limestone Street — usually one of the Ohio Supreme Court Forms 26, 27, or 28, paired with the local Notice of Hearing.

Hire Gavvl for your Clark County post-decree modifications 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 $1,095).

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 modify a Clark County divorce or dissolution decree?

File the right Ohio Supreme Court motion at the Clark County DR, 101 North Limestone Street, Springfield. Use Form 27 to change custody (residential parent / legal custodian), Form 28 to change child support, or Form 26 to change the parenting-time schedule. Pair the motion with the Clark DR Notice of Hearing local form. Custody changes require a change of circumstances of the child or residential parent plus best interest under R.C. 3109.04(E). Child support can also be reviewed administratively by CSEA every 36 months or on a 10%+ change. Property division is final and cannot be modified.

Change a Clark County order the right way

After a Clark County decree, the Domestic Relations Court keeps jurisdiction over child support, custody, and parenting time — but not the property division, which is final. To change an order you file the matching Ohio Supreme Court motion — Form 27 for custody, Form 28 for support, or Form 26 for parenting time — paired with Clark's local Notice of Hearing form and served on the other side. Gavvl Law files the right motion on the right standard and offers a flat fee approved up front for straightforward changes or full representation for contested ones.

Matching the motion to the legal test. A Form 27 custody change demands a change of circumstances of the child or residential parent plus best interest and a harm-versus-benefit finding under R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) — a far higher bar than a Form 26 parenting-time tweak. We file the form whose standard your facts can actually meet.
The free CSEA review before you pay to litigate. For support, Clark parents can request a free CSEA administrative review every 36 months or on a 10-percent change, and it runs in about 60 to 90 days with an enforceable result. We tell you when that route beats a Form 28 court motion and when to go straight to the judge.
Clark's local Notice of Hearing, served correctly. Once the court sets a date, Clark requires its local Notice of Hearing served on the other party — letters and emails do not count, and a continuance needs the local Motion to Continue. We use the county's own templates so your hearing is not stripped for a service defect.

magistrates hear most Clark post-decree motions at the A.B. Graham Building on 31 N. Limestone Street, and either party has 14 days to file objections to the judge after a magistrate's decision. We calendar that objection window and prepare your evidence for the right room, with payment plans on a flat fee.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the motion to modify an existing custody, parenting-time, or support order. You appear at any hearing.

Modify custody or parenting time: $1,670
Modify child support: $1,095

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

On limited-scope services of $2,000 or more, Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan with no interest and no credit check — takes 60% down to start, then the balance in three monthly payments, the first due 28 days after your initial payment. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your post-decree modifications case or see payment plans & financing.

Real people — with direct lines

Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
Niva Elgin — Director of Attorney Relations · Licensed New Mexico Attorney

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — or Niva Elgin, our Director of Attorney Relations 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 Director of Attorney Relations. 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 Rising Stars honorees on the team: Elizabeth Warren (2021–2023) and Samantha Berkhofer (2019–2021)
Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained — and every step after

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.
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.
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.
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.

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Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
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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.

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

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

101 North Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502
Phone: (937) 521-1753
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: Court website

Post-Decree Modifications is the right path if…

Your income or the other parent's income has changed by 10% or more since the support order was entered.
It has been 36 months or longer since the last child-support review.
There has been a change of circumstances of the child or residential parent affecting custody.
The parenting-time schedule is no longer working — a job, school, relocation, or the child's needs have changed.
The decree expressly reserved jurisdiction to modify spousal support and a change has occurred.

If the other party is violating the existing order, you may want a contempt motion instead — or alongside. See Clark County post-decree contempt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which forms do I need to file for post-decree modifications in Clark County?

Change of custody / parental rights — Form 27

Requires a change of circumstances of the child or residential parent since the prior decree AND that modification is in the child's best interest AND that the harm of changing is outweighed by the benefits (R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a)).

Motion for Change of Parental Rights (Supreme Court Form 27) — Asks the court to reallocate parental rights and responsibilities. Requires a showing of change of circumstances and best interest under R.C. 3109.04(E).
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.
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.
Clark DR Notice of Hearing (local form) — Local DOCX template the moving party uses to notify the other side of any scheduled hearing date on a post-decree motion.

Change of child support — Form 28

Free administrative CSEA review is available every 36 months or earlier on a 10%+ change. You can also file the court motion below at any time.

Motion for Change of Child Support (Supreme Court Form 28) — Asks the court to modify an existing child-support order. CSEA also offers free administrative reviews every 36 months or on a 10%+ change.
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.
Affidavit of Income, Expenses & Financial Disclosure (Affidavit 1) — Must be notarized. Required at filing in every Clark DR case. Both parties file their own.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
Clark DR Notice of Hearing (local form) — Local DOCX template the moving party uses to notify the other side of any scheduled hearing date on a post-decree motion.

Change of parenting time — Form 26

Lower bar than a custody change. Best-interest standard applies; no "change of circumstances" required for parenting-time-only modifications under R.C. 3109.051.

Motion for Change of Parenting Time (Supreme Court Form 26) — Asks the court to change the parenting-time schedule. Best-interest standard applies; no "change of circumstances" required for parenting-time-only modifications.
Clark DR Notice of Hearing (local form) — Local DOCX template the moving party uses to notify the other side of any scheduled hearing date on a post-decree motion.

If you need a continuance

Clark County requires the local Motion to Continue for any DR hearing continuance — letters and emails are not enough.

Clark DR Motion to Continue (local form) — Clark County local form. Required to formally request continuance of any DR hearing. Include opposing counsel's position if known.

How to file post-decree modifications in Clark County

Identify what you need to change. Custody (Form 27), child support (Form 28), or parenting time only (Form 26). You can combine them in one filing — bring all three forms if multiple issues apply.
Document the change of circumstances. For custody, the change must be of the child or residential parent — not the moving parent. For support, document the income change with paystubs, tax returns, and the new Affidavit 1.
Run a current child-support worksheet. Use ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. Required for any Form 28 motion and recommended for Form 27.
File at 101 N. Limestone Street with the Notice of Hearing. Pay the filing fee set by the Clerk at (937) 521-1753. Once the court sets a hearing date, complete the Clark DR Notice of Hearing local form and serve it on the other party.
Attend the hearing in front of the Judge or Magistrate. Magistrate hearings are usually held in the A.B. Graham Building at 31 N. Limestone Street. The Magistrate issues a decision; either party has 14 days to file Objections, which go to the Judge.

What does post-decree modifications 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 $1,095 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 post-decree modifications 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 post-decree modifications 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.

Property division is final. Clark County DR will not modify the property/debt allocation in a final decree. Once divided, it stays divided. Only support, custody, parenting time, and (if expressly reserved) spousal support are modifiable.
Custody change has a high bar. R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) requires a change of circumstances of the child or residential parent (not the moving parent) AND best interest AND harm-vs-benefit. "I want more time" is not enough — file a Form 26 parenting-time motion instead.
Use the local Notice of Hearing. Clark DR has a local DOCX Notice of Hearing template the moving party must serve on the other side once a hearing date is set. Letters or emails are not a substitute.
CSEA review is free. Before filing a Form 28 in court, consider requesting a CSEA administrative review — it's free, takes about 60-90 days, and the result is enforceable like a court order. Either party can object and trigger a court hearing.

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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on post-decree modifications and related Ohio family law topics.

Post-Decree Modifications in Ohio: Changing Your Order After Divorce — Your divorce decree isn't carved in stone. When life changes, Ohio lets you modify custody, parenting time, and support — but each requires meeting a specific legal standard. Here's how.
My Ex Leaves Our Child With the Grandparents During Their Parenting Time. Can I Do Anything About It? — Ohio courts favor grandparent relationships, so a few nights a month at grandma's is not a problem. It becomes one when the grandparents replace the parent. This guide explains why the court cannot order the grandparents to do anything, how to tell whether you have shared parenting or sole custody, and the six realistic options — from a documented conversation to a right of first refusal, contempt, a parenting time modification, a custody change, or an emergency motion.
I Think My Ex Is Drinking or Using Drugs. Is There Anything I Can Do? (Ohio) — You do not have to prove your co-parent is using before you ask an Ohio court for help — you have to give the court a credible reason to look. This guide covers what a judge actually cares about, emergency filings versus modification, how to ask for the right test panel (fentanyl and alcohol are not on standard screens), EtG, PEth, hair and nail testing windows, alcohol monitoring during parenting time, guardians ad litem, and supervised time with step-up plans.
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 Clark County family law

Ohio Post-Decree Modifications guide — Statewide overview of post-decree modifications 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.
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