Establishing Child Support in Clermont County

Clermont County, Ohio · Batavia

Child support in Clermont County is calculated under the Ohio Income Shares Model and can be established inside a divorce or dissolution at the Domestic Relations Court, through a Complaint for Support, or through Clermont Supports Kids (the county CSEA). All ongoing support must be paid through Ohio Child Support Payment Central — Clermont CSE cannot take in-person payments.

How do I set up child support in Clermont County, Ohio?

If you were married, support is set inside your divorce or dissolution at the Clermont County Domestic Relations Court, or by a spouse's Complaint for Support ($215 deposit) at 2340 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 200, Batavia. If you were never married, open a case with Clermont Supports Kids (CSEA) at (513) 732-7248 or file in Juvenile Court. Support is calculated on the Ohio Income Shares worksheet, and a IV-D application opens the CSEA case so payments can be collected by wage withholding. Pay through Ohio SMART e-Pay — Clermont CSE cannot accept in-person payments.

Where to File: Clermont County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

2340 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 200, Batavia, OH 45103, Batavia, OH 45103
Phone: (513) 732-7327
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Website: domesticcourt.org/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Clermont County Juvenile Court
2340 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 100, Batavia, OH 45103, Batavia, OH 45103
Phone: (513) 732-7696
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Child Support is the right path if…

  • You need a new child-support order or want to adjust an existing one.
  • You want support collected and enforced through wage withholding.
  • You can provide income proof — tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, and pay stubs.
  • Ohio has jurisdiction over the children and the parents.

Filing Fees

Complaint for Support: $215 deposit · Inside a divorce: included in the divorce deposit · CSEA application: no fee · Pay through Ohio SMART e-Pay (no in-person payments)

Forms & Filing Packets

Support through Domestic Relations (married parents) — Included in the divorce deposit, or $215 for a Complaint for Support

Filed inside a divorce/dissolution or as a spouse's Complaint for Support at the DR Court, Suite 200.

Support through CSEA / Juvenile Court (never-married parents) — No CSEA application fee; Juvenile filing per the cost schedule

Open a case with Clermont Supports Kids, or file in Juvenile Court when parents were never married. Under Juvenile Local Rule 24, a CSEA administrative determination is generally requested first.

How to File Child Support in Clermont County

  1. Decide the path — DR, Juvenile, or CSEA. Married parents use the DR Court; never-married parents use Juvenile Court or open a Clermont Supports Kids case.
  2. Open the IV-D case. File the Title IV-D application with Clermont Supports Kids so support can be collected and enforced through wage withholding.
  3. Run the Ohio Income Shares worksheet. Complete the Ohio child-support worksheet (and Clermont Form 626) using verified income for both parents.
  4. Attend the hearing with full financials. Bring tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, pay stubs, child-care, and health-insurance costs as required by the Pretrial Order.

Clermont County Practice Notes

  • All support runs through CSE. Clermont requires monthly support to be paid through Ohio Child Support Payment Central / CSE, not directly between parents. Clermont CSE cannot accept in-person payments — use Ohio SMART e-Pay, MoneyGram at CVS or Walmart, or Pay by Text. Support by private agreement is allowed only when expenses are clearly specified and divided.
  • Bring complete financial proof. At the support hearing (the first is usually a pretrial), the Pretrial Order requires tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, pay stubs, child-care expenses, and health-insurance costs. Missing financials routinely delay the order.
  • Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to file in Clermont County?
Domestic Relations deposits: divorce, legal separation, or annulment $325 without minor children / $400 with minor children; dissolution $300 without children / $350 with children; Complaint for Custody $215; Complaint for Support $215; post-decree motion $165 per motion. The DR Clerk takes cash, check, or money order only — no credit cards. Confirm current amounts at https://domesticcourt.org/costs-and-filing-fees/.
What does Clermont County CSEA (Clermont Supports Kids) do?
Clermont Supports Kids, the county Child Support Enforcement Agency at (513) 732-7248, opens IV-D cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support through wage withholding, and enforces orders. Clermont CSE cannot accept in-person payments — pay through Ohio SMART e-Pay, MoneyGram at CVS or Walmart, or Pay by Text. Existing Clermont Juvenile Court support orders are transferred to DR when a divorce or dissolution is filed.
Do I file in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Clermont County?
If you are married to the other parent (or were married when the children were born), custody, parenting time, and child support travel with your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment at the Domestic Relations Court, Suite 200. If you were never married, paternity and custody go to the Clermont County Juvenile Court, Suite 100 — both at 2340 Clermont Center Drive in Batavia. Grandparent and non-parent custody is always Juvenile. Civil Protection Orders are filed in Domestic Relations.
What is a IV-D application and why do I need one?
A IV-D Application opens a child-support case with your county's Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Once opened, CSEA collects support through automatic wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and can enforce the order through license suspension, federal tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. Filing a IV-D Application is standard whenever a child-support order is issued.

Free Local Resources in Clermont County

  • Clermont County Domestic Relations Court Forms & Self-Help. All DR Court forms organized by number and by name, filing checklists (Appendix A), the costs-and-filing-fees schedule, and the 'Can I Talk to a Judge?' guide are posted at domesticcourt.org/organized-by-form-name.
  • Domestic Court Law Clinic & Legal Aid Help Clinic. A monthly volunteer-attorney clinic (9 a.m.–noon at the Clermont County Library, 326 Broadway Street, Batavia) reviews documents before filing, and the Legal Aid Society Legal Help Clinic runs the 3rd and 4th Wednesday each month, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., at the DR Court for divorce, dissolution, and post-decree matters (no CPO advice).
  • Ohio Justice Bus at the DR Court. The mobile legal-aid office parks in the DR Court lot the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., offering free DR legal advice and forms help — no appointment needed (domesticcourt.org/the-ohio-justice-bus).
  • Clermont Supports Kids (CSEA). Clermont County's IV-D child-support agency at 2400 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 107, Batavia, (513) 732-7248. Opens support cases, runs the Income Shares calculation, and enforces orders. Payments through Ohio SMART e-Pay at oh.smartchildsupport.com (clermontsupportskids.org).

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Call +1-844-694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.