Clinton County Child Custody Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Clinton County custody case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Clinton 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.

Hire Gavvl Law for your Clinton County custody case

In Ohio "custody" is the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities, and in Clinton County where you file depends on whether the parents were married: married or divorcing parents go to the Court of Common Pleas, and never-married parents go to the Clinton County Juvenile Court at (937) 382-2391. The court decides using the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors, requires the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA), and both parents must finish a court-approved parenting class before the merit hearing. Gavvl Law handles both tracks.

• Filing in the right court from day one. For married or divorcing parents, custody is decided inside the divorce or dissolution at the Court of Common Pleas — there is no separate custody case. For never-married parents it is a Complaint for Parentage, Allocation and Parenting Time in the Juvenile Court, and paternity must be established first. We route your case to the correct court so it is not dismissed and refiled.
• Building the case on the best-interest factors. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) weighs each parent's wishes, the child's adjustment to home and school, who honors court-ordered parenting time, and any history of abuse. In a contested case the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem under Sup.R. 48 — the Clerk's $150 Home Investigation fee applies — and we prepare you for that scrutiny.
• A shared parenting plan that survives review. If you ask for shared parenting, the proposed plan must address every R.C. 3109.04(G) item — living arrangements, holidays, support, decision-making, transportation, school and health care, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. Plans that skip an item are sent back, so we draft one that is complete before it reaches the judge.

Juvenile Court deposit amounts are not posted online, so we confirm the current figure at (937) 382-2391 rather than guessing, and in Juvenile matters the county CASA program supplies the guardian ad litem (Director Elizabeth Biggane, (937) 383-1137). We also calendar the parenting-class Certificate of Completion so it is filed before the merit hearing.

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.

Start your custody case or see payment plans & financing.

Where to File: Clinton County Court of Common Pleas (Domestic Relations)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Clinton County Juvenile Court
46 South South Street, Wilmington, OH 45177
Phone: (937) 382-2391
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Custody is the right path if…

• You need a court order setting who the children live with and how parenting time and decision-making are divided.
• You and the other parent can't agree on parenting time, school enrollment, or major decisions for the children.
• Ohio is the children's home state under the UCCJEA — they've lived in Ohio for the last 6 months.
• You can complete a parenting education class and file the Certificate of Completion before the merit hearing.

Filing Fees

Custody inside a divorce/dissolution: $300 without children / $400 with children · Never-married custody in Juvenile Court: deposit not posted online — confirm at (937) 382-2391 · Home Investigation (custody): $150 · Guardian ad Litem fees in contested cases are allocated between the parents. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (937) 382-2316.

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Custody in Clinton County

1. Pick the right court — Domestic Relations or Juvenile. Married or divorcing parents file at the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas. Never-married parents file at the Clinton County Juvenile Court, (937) 382-2391. Grandparent and other non-parent custody is always Juvenile.
2. Confirm Ohio is the children's home state under the UCCJEA. The children must have lived in Ohio for at least the prior 6 months (or you must qualify under a UCCJEA exception). The Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3, R.C. 3127.23) is how you swear to those facts.
3. Complete the parenting education class. Both parents must complete the court parenting-education seminar and file the Certificate of Completion before the final hearing. Clinton County does not post a single provider or fee online — confirm the court-designated program with the General Division at (937) 382-3640 or the Juvenile Court at (937) 382-2391.
4. Assemble your forms packet. Married parents: the divorce/dissolution packet plus the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and an Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (add a proposed Shared Parenting Plan if you are asking for shared parenting). Never-married parents: a Complaint for Parentage, Allocation & Parenting Time (Supreme Court Form 23 / Juvenile Form 2), the UCCJEA affidavit, and the support worksheet.
5. File with the Clinton County Clerk and serve the other parent. File your packet (Common Pleas filings are e-filed through efile.henschen.com) and arrange service on the other parent. Call the Clerk at (937) 382-2316 — or the Juvenile Court at (937) 382-2391 — to confirm the current deposit and number of copies, and ask about a fee waiver if you cannot afford the deposit.
6. Attend the hearing — both parents required. The court holds a pretrial or status conference first, then a merit hearing if the case does not settle. The Guardian ad Litem report (if one is appointed) is filed before the merit hearing, and the judge or magistrate applies the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors.

Clinton County Practice Notes

• Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists the best-interest factors the court weighs: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents and siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, the mental and physical health of everyone involved, which parent is more likely to honor court-approved parenting time, child-support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.
• Guardian ad Litem in contested cases. In a contested custody case the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem under Sup.R. 48 to investigate and recommend a parenting plan in the child's best interest. The Clerk's $150.00 Home Investigation fee applies to custody investigations, and in Juvenile Court the county CASA program supplies guardians ad litem (Elizabeth Biggane, (937) 383-1137). GAL fees are typically allocated between the parents.
• Shared parenting plan must address every R.C. 3109.04(G) item. A written Shared Parenting Plan must address physical living arrangements, the holiday and vacation schedule, child support, decision-making authority, transportation, school and health-care decisions, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. Plans that skip an item are routinely sent back for revision.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I file in Juvenile Court instead of DR?

If the parents were never married, custody, parenting time, and child support are filed in the Clinton County Juvenile Court at 46 South South Street, Wilmington — phone (937) 382-2391. If you were married, those issues travel with the divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in DR.

How much does it cost to file in Clinton County DR?

Filing fees are $300 for a dissolution or divorce without children and $400 with children. A motion to reopen a case with children is $175; a civil motion to reopen is $100. Home investigations are $150. CPO petitions have no filing fee. Copies are $0.10 per page; certified copies add $2.00 per document.

Is a parenting class required in Clinton County?

Yes. In cases involving minor children — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and custody/parental-rights cases — Clinton County requires the parent(s) to complete a court parenting-education seminar and file the Certificate of Completion before the final hearing; a case will not proceed to final hearing until it is done. The court may waive it for good cause. Clinton County does not post a single official provider or fee online, so confirm the court-designated program and current cost with the General Division at (937) 382-3640 (or the Juvenile Court at (937) 382-2391 for unmarried parents).

Will a Guardian ad Litem be appointed in my custody case?

In a contested custody or parenting matter the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem under Sup.R. 48 to investigate and report on the child's best interest. The Clerk's $150.00 Home Investigation fee applies to custody investigations. In Juvenile Court matters, the county's CASA program provides guardians ad litem (Director Elizabeth Biggane, 46 South South Street, Wilmington — (937) 383-1137).

What is the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and why do I need it?

Any Ohio custody case requires a Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3) under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127.23). It lists where each child has lived for the past five years and any other custody cases, and it confirms Ohio has jurisdiction. Ohio is usually the child's 'home state' if the child has lived here for at least the prior 6 months.

What are the residency requirements to file in Clinton County?

For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have lived in Ohio for at least 6 months and in Clinton County for at least 90 days before filing. Dissolution only requires the 6-month Ohio residency.

Free Local Resources in Clinton County

• Clinton County Clerk of Courts. 46 South South Street, Wilmington, OH 45177. Phone (937) 382-2316. E-filing through efile.henschen.com.
• Clinton County DR Local Rules (with form appendices). clintoncountycourts.org — DR forms are appendices to the local rules document.
• Ohio Supreme Court Standardized Forms. Used for the complaint, affidavits, decree, parenting plans, and motions. Available at supremecourt.ohio.gov.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the worksheet and print it for filing.
• Clinton County Law Library. 46 South South Street, Wilmington — (937) 382-2428.
• Alternatives to Violence Center (Clinton County). 94 N. South Street, 3rd Floor, Suite D, Wilmington — Office (937) 383-3285 · 24-hour Crisis Line 1-888-816-1146.
• Ohio Legal Help. ohiolegalhelp.org — plain-language guides and form walkthroughs.

Other Family-Law Topics in Clinton County

• Clinton County Dissolution — $300 without children / $400 with — mandatory e-filing.
• Clinton County Divorce — Ohio SC standardized forms plus the local Case Designation and Personal Identifier forms.
• Clinton County Legal Separation — Same forms as divorce — marriage stays legally intact at the end.
• Clinton County Annulment — Limited grounds under R.C. 3105.31 — treats the marriage as if it never happened.
• Clinton County Post-Decree Modifications — Change child support, custody, or parenting time after the decree.
• Clinton County Post-Decree Contempt — Enforce an order the other party is violating.

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.

Continue your Clinton County research

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