Clinton County Post-Decree Modification Attorneys

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

Clinton County, Ohio · Wilmington

After a Clinton 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 e-file a post-decree motion — usually one of the Ohio Supreme Court Forms 26, 27, or 28 — through efile.henschen.com.

Hire Gavvl for your Clinton County post-decree modifications 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.

How do I modify a Clinton County divorce or dissolution decree?

E-file the right Ohio Supreme Court motion through efile.henschen.com with the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas at 46 South South Street, Suite 304, Wilmington. 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. 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. The filing fee to reopen a case with children is $175; civil reopenings are $100. Property division is final and cannot be modified.

Clinton County post-decree modifications, handled by Gavvl Law

After a Clinton County divorce or dissolution is final, the Court of Common Pleas keeps continuing jurisdiction over child support, custody, parenting time, and — when the decree reserved it — spousal support. Changes are e-filed through efile.henschen.com using Ohio Supreme Court Form 27 (custody), Form 28 (child support), or Form 26 (parenting time), and the reopening fee is $175 with children or $100 for a civil reopening. Gavvl Law files the right motion on the right standard so the court can actually grant it.

The right motion for the right change. Form 27 changes the residential parent or legal custodian, Form 28 changes child support, and Form 26 changes the parenting-time schedule only — and they can be combined in one filing when several issues apply. We pick the correct form and the correct legal standard so your request is not fighting the wrong burden.
Meeting the high bar for a custody change. R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) requires a change of circumstances of the child or the residential parent — not the moving parent — plus best interest, plus that the benefit outweighs the harm of changing. "I want more time" is a Form 26 parenting-time motion, not a custody case, and we tell you which one your facts actually support.
Using the free CSEA review before you pay to reopen. Before filing a Form 28, the Clinton County CSEA offers a free administrative review — generally every 36 months or sooner on a 10%-plus change — that produces an enforceable result in about 60 to 90 days. We often start there to save the reopening fee, and file the court motion when a review is not the faster route.

The property and debt division in a Clinton County decree is final and cannot be modified — only support, custody, parenting time, and expressly reserved spousal support are on the table — so we focus your motion where the court has power. If a magistrate decides the matter, objections are due within 14 days, and we protect that deadline.

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: $1,450
Modify child support: $950

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

Ohio Custody by the Numbers

Best interest The single standard that governs every Ohio custody decision Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04
No set age There is no age a child can choose a parent — the judge weighs a mature child's wishes Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(B)
Change in circumstances Required, plus a best-interest finding, before the residential parent can be changed Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(E)(1)
Shared parenting Either parent may ask the court for a joint parenting plan Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(G)

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: Clinton County Court of Common Pleas (Domestic Relations)

46 South South Street, Suite 304, Wilmington, OH 45177
Phone: (937) 382-3640
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: Court website

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

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 Clinton County post-decree contempt.

Filing Fees

$175 to reopen with children · $100 civil reopening · CSEA administrative review is free

Forms & Filing Packets

Change of custody / parental rights — Form 27 — $175 to reopen with children

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, and sign. Required any time the court is being asked to set or modify support.

Change of child support — Form 28 — $175 to reopen with children

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, and sign. Required any time the court is being asked to set or modify support.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Affidavit 1) — Must be notarized. Required at filing in every Clinton 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.

Change of parenting time — Form 26 — $175 to reopen with children

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 needed for parenting-time-only modifications.

How to File Post-Decree Modifications in Clinton 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 a current Affidavit 1.
Run a current child-support worksheet. Use ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. Required for any Form 28 motion and recommended for Form 27.
E-file through efile.henschen.com. Upload the motion(s) and pay the reopening fee ($175 with children, $100 civil). The court will schedule a hearing and notify both parties.
Attend the hearing in front of the Judge. Hon. Andrew T. McCoy hears DR matters. The court issues a decision; objections to any Magistrate's decision must be filed within 14 days.

Clinton County Practice Notes

Property division is final. Clinton County 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.
Mandatory e-filing applies. Post-decree motions must be e-filed through efile.henschen.com just like the original case.
CSEA review is free. Before filing a Form 28, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I file a modification or a contempt motion?: File a modification motion (Forms 26, 27, or 28) when circumstances have changed and you want a new order going forward. File a Motion for Contempt when the existing order is being violated and you want the court to enforce it — possible remedies include fines, jail, purge conditions, and attorney fees. The two motions can be filed together when both apply.
Can I modify the property division from my Clinton County decree?: No. Once the property and debt allocation is made final in your decree, it cannot be modified. You can still go back to court on child support, custody, parenting time, and (if the decree expressly reserved jurisdiction) spousal support.
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.
Do I have to e-file in Clinton County?: Yes. Clinton County has required mandatory e-filing for all Common Pleas filings since January 1, 2024. File through efile.henschen.com. You will set up an account, upload your PDFs, and pay the filing fee online.
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.

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.

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.
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.
Contempt Motions in Ohio Family Court: Enforcing Your Order — When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding the children or refusing to pay support — a contempt motion is how Ohio courts enforce it. Here's how the process works.