Clinton County Shared Parenting Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Clinton County shared parenting 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 (flat fees from $1,250).

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.

Put a flat-fee attorney on your Clinton County shared parenting plan

Shared parenting designates both parents as residential parents and legal custodians, and to request it in Clinton County you file a proposed Shared Parenting Plan on Supreme Court Form 20 that addresses every item in R.C. 3109.04(G). Married or divorcing parents file at the Court of Common Pleas; never-married parents file in the Juvenile Court at (937) 382-2391. The court must still find the plan serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F). Gavvl Law drafts a plan that is complete and approvable.

• A Form 20 plan that addresses every G item. A Shared Parenting Plan must cover 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, so we draft one that hits every R.C. 3109.04(G) requirement before it is filed.
• Best interest still controls even when you agree. Even if both parents want shared parenting, the court must independently find it serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F) before approving the plan. We build the plan around those factors and against Clinton County's Standard Parenting Schedule so the judge has a workable, best-interest schedule to sign.
• Speaking Ohio's terminology. Ohio recognizes only sole custody or shared parenting — there is no "joint custody" or "primary custody" in Ohio law. In shared parenting both parents are residential parents and legal custodians under the approved plan, and we draft the document in the language the Clinton County court expects.

Clinton County applies its published Standard Parenting Schedule as the default when parents do not propose a workable schedule of their own, so we build your plan to improve on that baseline. Both parents must complete the parenting-education class and file the Certificate of Completion before the final hearing, and we calendar it so nothing delays approval.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the complaint to establish custody and parenting time, or prepare your shared parenting plan for filing. You appear at any hearing.

• Establish custody & parenting time: $1,250
• Shared parenting plan (drafting): $1,650

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 shared parenting case or see payment plans & financing.

Real people, — with direct lines

• Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
• Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
• Niva Elgin — Senior Case Manager · Licensed New Mexico Attorney

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — or Niva Elgin, our senior case manager 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 Clinton 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 Senior Case Manager. 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 honorees on the team
• Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained, — and every step after

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

• Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
• Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
• Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
• Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
• Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
• 24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

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 Clinton 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.

• Free parenting plan builder
• Free child support estimate
• Attorney-written guides
• See the Clinton County forms & local rules

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

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

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

• You and the other parent both want to be residential parents and legal custodians.
• You can cooperate enough to share decision-making about school, health care, and activities.
• You can put together a written plan that covers every R.C. 3109.04(G) item.
• Ohio is the child's home state under the UCCJEA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which forms do I need to file for shared parenting in Clinton County?

Shared parenting inside a divorce or dissolution (married parents)

Filed at the Court of Common Pleas as part of the divorce or dissolution. Submit a proposed Shared Parenting Plan on Supreme Court Form 20.

• Shared Parenting Plan (Supreme Court Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents and legal custodians under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
• 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.

Shared parenting in Juvenile Court (never-married parents)

Filed in the Juvenile Court once parentage is established. The proposed Shared Parenting Plan must still address every R.C. 3109.04(G) item.

• Shared Parenting Plan (Supreme Court Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents and legal custodians under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
• Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights & Parenting Time (Supreme Court Form 23 / Juvenile Form 2) — The Juvenile Court complaint that establishes parentage and asks the court to allocate custody and parenting time for never-married parents. Confirm any local Juvenile packet at (937) 382-2391.
• 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.
• 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.

How to file shared parenting in Clinton County

1. Draft a complete Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20). Address every R.C. 3109.04(G) item — living arrangements, holidays, support, decision-making, transportation, school and health care, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. Have it notarized.
2. Pick the right court. Married or divorcing parents file at the Court of Common Pleas. Never-married parents file in the Juvenile Court at (937) 382-2391 once parentage is established.
3. Add the supporting paperwork. Include the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA, Affidavit 3) and an Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet so the court can confirm jurisdiction and set support.
4. Complete the parenting-education class. Both parents must finish the court parenting-education seminar and file the Certificate of Completion before the final hearing.
5. Attend the hearing for best-interest review. The court reviews the plan against the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors and either approves it, asks for revisions, or sets the matter for hearing if the parents disagree.

What does shared parenting cost in Clinton 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 $1,250 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 shared parenting in Clinton 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 Clinton County checklist appears, with every official form linked as a PDF.

How long does shared parenting take in Clinton County?

It depends on how much you and the other side agree. Agreed matters generally move through Clinton County Court of Common Pleas (Domestic Relations) 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 Clinton 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 Clinton County local rules, and what does this court do differently?

Judges, magistrates, and filing fees change, so we do not publish them here. Clinton County posts the current information itself:

• Clinton County Court of Common Pleas (Domestic Relations) — local rules, standing orders, and the current judges and magistrates.
• Clinton County local rules — the court's own rules for filings, hearings, and required local forms.
• Clinton County Clerk of Courts — current filing fees and deposits, e-filing, and case records.

• The plan must address every R.C. 3109.04(G) item. A Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) must cover 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.
• Best interest still controls. Even when both parents agree, the court must independently find that shared parenting is in the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F) before it approves the plan. Clinton County applies its Standard Parenting Schedule as the default when the parents do not propose a workable schedule of their own.
• Ohio terminology. Ohio recognizes sole custody or shared parenting. 'Joint custody' and 'primary custody' are not Ohio terms — in shared parenting both parents are residential parents and legal custodians under the approved plan.

Are there free legal 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.

Start Your Parenting Plan for Free

Before you meet with an attorney or mediator, try our free Ohio parenting plan builder — it explains sole custody vs. shared parenting in plain language and turns your answers into a printable worksheet you can bring to court, mediation, or a consultation.

Other Family-Law Topics in Clinton County

• Clinton County Dissolution — 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 shared parenting 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 shared parenting and related Ohio family law topics.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Keep exploring Clinton County family law

• Ohio Shared Parenting guide — Statewide overview of shared parenting 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.