Establishing Paternity in Clermont County

How do I establish paternity in Clermont County, Ohio?

File a Complaint to Establish Paternity at the Clermont County Juvenile Court, 2340 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 100, Batavia, or request an administrative determination from Clermont Supports Kids (CSEA) at (513) 732-7248. Under Juvenile Local Rule 24, the requesting party advances genetic-testing costs, which run 99%+ accurate. Once paternity is established, the court can allocate parental rights and set child support on the Ohio Income Shares worksheet. A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity can be rescinded within 60 days.

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

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.

Paternity is the right path if…

• The parents were never married and legal fatherhood has not been established.
• You need paternity confirmed before custody, parenting time, or support can be ordered.
• You want genetic testing or want to challenge an Acknowledgment of Paternity.
• Ohio has jurisdiction over the child.

Filing Fees

Juvenile filing per the cost schedule · Genetic-testing costs advanced by the requesting party · CSEA application: no fee

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Paternity in Clermont County

1. Request a CSEA determination. Contact Clermont Supports Kids at (513) 732-7248 to request an administrative parentage determination, which is attached to your court filing.
2. File the parentage complaint in Juvenile Court. File the Complaint to Establish Paternity at 2340 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 100, Batavia, with the IV-D application.
3. Complete genetic testing if ordered. If paternity is contested, the court orders the parties and child to a designated lab; results are 99%+ accurate.
4. Move to custody and support. Once paternity is established, ask the court to allocate parental rights and set support on the Ohio Income Shares worksheet.

Clermont County Practice Notes

• Ask CSEA first under Juvenile Local Rule 24. Clermont Juvenile Local Rule 24 requires the requesting party to first seek a CSEA administrative determination of parentage and attach it to the complaint or motion. Genetic-testing costs are advanced by the requesting party and may be reallocated later.
• Genetic testing. Either party can request genetic testing. The court (or CSEA) will order the parties and child to a designated lab. Tests run 99%+ accurate. If the alleged father is excluded, the case is dismissed and the Ohio Department of Health updates the birth record.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 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.

Can I rescind an Acknowledgment of Paternity in Ohio?

A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity can be rescinded within 60 days of the last signature by contacting your local Child Support Enforcement Agency and completing a Request for Paternity Determination. After 60 days you must challenge the acknowledgment in court within 1 year on grounds of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact (R.C. 3111.27). Genetic testing is typically ordered, and the Ohio Department of Health updates the birth record if the alleged father is excluded.

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).

Other Family-Law Topics in Clermont County

• Clermont County Divorce — Full filing guide for contested divorce in Clermont DR.
• Clermont County Dissolution — Both-parties-agree route — faster and cheaper than divorce.
• Clermont County Custody — Married parents file inside divorce; never-married parents file at Juvenile Court.
• Clermont County Child Support — Set or enforce support through the DR Court or Clermont Supports Kids.

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.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity in Ohio.
• Cincinnati family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cincinnati metro.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.