Columbiana County Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody Attorneys

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Columbiana County, Ohio · Lisbon

When a child needs to live with someone who is not a parent — a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other trusted adult — that adult can ask the Columbiana County Juvenile Court (Charles A. Pike Juvenile Center, 260 West Lincoln Way, Lisbon — (330) 424-4071) for legal custody (R.C. 2151.23; R.C. 3109.04). For everyday needs short of a full custody case, the Juvenile Court provides a Grandparent Power of Attorney and a Caretaker Authorization Affidavit that cover school and medical decisions. Grandparents and certain relatives may also petition for companionship time (R.C. 3109.11 / 3109.12). The court decides custody on the child's best interest.

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How does a grandparent or non-parent get custody in Columbiana County, Ohio?

File a complaint for legal custody in the Columbiana County Juvenile Court (a separate filing per child), with a Child Custody Affidavit (R.C. 3127.33, UCCJEA), any prior custody/support order, a Written Request for Service, and the financial affidavits where support is at issue — typed in blue or black ink. The court decides legal custody on the child's best interest (R.C. 3109.04) and may appoint a CASA or GAL (attorney-CASA fees may not exceed $1,000 without prior court approval). For shorter-term needs, the Grandparent Power of Attorney or Caretaker Authorization Affidavit (R.C. 3109.042) can grant school and medical authority without a full custody case. Grandparents may also seek companionship under R.C. 3109.11 / 3109.12. The Juvenile per-child filing fee is $120 first child / $75 each additional, paid at filing — no e-filing, filed before 3:30 p.m.

Put a Columbiana County non-parent custody attorney on your side

When a child needs to live with a grandparent, relative, or other trusted adult, that adult can ask the Columbiana County Juvenile Court for legal custody under R.C. 2151.23 and R.C. 3109.04, decided on the child's best interest. For everyday needs short of a full case, the Juvenile Court also offers a Grandparent Power of Attorney and a Caretaker Authorization Affidavit. Gavvl Law matches your situation to the right tool — full custody, caretaker authority, or grandparent companionship — and sets one flat fee approved up front.

Full custody or a lighter caretaker tool. Not every situation needs a custody case: a Grandparent Power of Attorney or the Caretaker Authorization Affidavit under R.C. 3109.042 can grant school and medical authority while a child lives with you. We tell you when those lighter tools are enough and when only a legal-custody order will do.
A separate, complete filing per child. Columbiana requires a separate legal-custody filing for each child, typed in blue or black ink, with a Child Custody Affidavit (R.C. 3127.33), any prior order, and a request for service. We prepare each child's packet so the Juvenile counter accepts it before the 3:30 p.m. deadline.
Grandparent companionship where the law allows. Grandparents and certain relatives may petition for companionship under R.C. 3109.11 when a parent is deceased or R.C. 3109.12 for children of unmarried parents. We file the petition in the court handling the child's case and argue the best-interest factors the court weighs.

Juvenile custody filings cost $120 for the first child and $75 for each additional child, and if a CASA or GAL is appointed, attorney-CASA fees may not exceed $1,000 without prior court approval. Because the Division does not publish its full fee schedule online, we confirm the current amount with the Juvenile Clerk at (330) 424-4071 before you file.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the grandparent companionship/visitation motion or a non-parent custody complaint. You appear at any hearing.

Grandparent companionship / visitation motion: $950
Non-parent custody complaint: $1,250

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

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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: Columbiana County Court of Common Pleas (Domestic Relations)

105 South Market Street, Lisbon, OH 44432
Phone: (330) 424-7777
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Columbiana County Juvenile Court (Charles A. Pike Juvenile Center)
260 West Lincoln Way, Lisbon, OH 44432
Phone: (330) 424-4071
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (filings before 3:30 PM)

Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody is the right path if…

You are a grandparent, relative, or other non-parent seeking custody or companionship time.
The child has been living with you, or remaining with a parent is not in the child's best interest.
You can provide a Child Custody Affidavit and a Written Request for Service.
You may only need everyday authority (school, medical) through a Power of Attorney or Caretaker Authorization.

Filing Fees

Juvenile filing $120 first child + $75 each additional child · the Grandparent Power of Attorney and Caretaker Authorization Affidavit are lighter tools (confirm any cost with the Clerk) · CASA/GAL attorney fees may not exceed $1,000 without prior court approval · juvenile filings are in person or by mail before 3:30 p.m. — confirm current amounts at (330) 424-4071.

Forms & Filing Packets

Non-parent legal custody (Juvenile Court) — $120 first child + $75 each additional child (Juvenile)

A relative, grandparent, or other non-parent asks the Juvenile Court for legal custody, decided on the child's best interest (R.C. 3109.04). A separate filing is made per child.

Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 23) — Asks the Juvenile Branch to name a residential parent and legal custodian and set a parenting-time schedule when the parents were never married.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction over custody under the UCCJEA. Required in any case involving minor children.
Columbiana County Custody Affidavit (UCCJEA — local) — Local UCCJEA / parenting-proceeding affidavit required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years.
Written Request for Service (Juvenile — Local Rule 5) — Required with every Columbiana County Juvenile filing so the Clerk issues service on the other parties.

Everyday authority for a child living with you — Confirm with the Juvenile Clerk

When a child is living with a grandparent or caretaker, the Grandparent Power of Attorney or Caretaker Authorization Affidavit grants school and medical authority without a full custody case.

Grandparent Power of Attorney (Juvenile — local) — Lets a parent grant a grandparent authority to act for the child (school, medical) short of a full custody case.
Grandparent Caretaker Authorization Affidavit (Juvenile — local) — Authorizes a grandparent to make care and education decisions when a parent is unavailable — a shorter-term tool than a custody order (R.C. 3109.042).

Grandparent companionship (visitation) — Juvenile per-child schedule — confirm with the Clerk

Grandparents and certain relatives may petition for companionship under R.C. 3109.11 (when a parent is deceased) or R.C. 3109.12 (children of unmarried parents), decided on the child's best interest, in the court handling the child's case.

Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 23) — Asks the Juvenile Branch to name a residential parent and legal custodian and set a parenting-time schedule when the parents were never married.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction over custody under the UCCJEA. Required in any case involving minor children.
Written Request for Service (Juvenile — Local Rule 5) — Required with every Columbiana County Juvenile filing so the Clerk issues service on the other parties.

How to File Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody in Columbiana County

Decide what you need. Choose between full legal custody, everyday caretaker authority (Power of Attorney / Caretaker Authorization), or grandparent companionship time.
File in Juvenile Court. Legal custody and companionship for non-parents are filed in the Columbiana County Juvenile Court — a separate filing per child.
Assemble the documents. Include a Child Custody Affidavit (R.C. 3127.33), any prior custody/support order, the financial affidavits where support is at issue, and a Written Request for Service — typed in blue or black ink.
Consider the lighter tools. If the child simply lives with you, the Grandparent Power of Attorney or Caretaker Authorization Affidavit may cover school and medical decisions without a custody case.
File and serve. File in person or by mail with wet signatures before 3:30 p.m., pay the per-child fee, and the court decides custody on the child's best interest.

Columbiana County Practice Notes

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.
Lighter caretaker tools. For day-to-day caregiving without a full custody order, the Columbiana County Juvenile Court provides a Grandparent Power of Attorney and a Caretaker Authorization Affidavit (R.C. 3109.042). These cover school and medical needs but are not the same as a custody order.
CASA / GAL and fee schedule. A CASA or GAL may be appointed to advocate for the child's best interest; attorney-CASA fees may not exceed $1,000 without prior court approval (Juvenile Rules 6(B), 9.6, 22). The Juvenile Division does not publish its full fee schedule online — confirm the current filing fee with the Clerk at (330) 424-4071.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a grandparent or relative get custody in Columbiana County?: Yes. A grandparent, relative, or other non-parent can file for legal custody in the Columbiana County Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23; R.C. 3109.04), decided on the child's best interest. For shorter-term needs, a Grandparent Power of Attorney or Caretaker Authorization Affidavit may be enough — both forms are on the Juvenile Court's website.
What is the difference between a Grandparent Power of Attorney and a custody order in Columbiana County?: A Grandparent Power of Attorney (and the Caretaker Authorization Affidavit under R.C. 3109.042) lets a grandparent handle school and medical decisions while a child lives with them — without a full custody case. A legal-custody order from the Juvenile Court is more permanent and gives the non-parent the right to make daily and major decisions; the two caretaker forms are a lighter, shorter-term tool.
Can grandparents get visitation (companionship) in Columbiana County?: Possibly. Grandparents and certain relatives may petition for companionship under R.C. 3109.11 (when a parent is deceased) or R.C. 3109.12 (children of unmarried parents), decided on the child's best interest, in the court handling the child's case — Juvenile for unmarried-parent matters, or Domestic Relations where a divorce case is the anchor.
What does it cost to file in Columbiana County Juvenile Court?: The Probate/Juvenile Division charges a flat per-child filing fee — $120 for the first child and $75 for each additional child (confirmed with the Juvenile Clerk, June 2026). For example, a custody filing for two children is $195. There is no e-filing: original documents are filed in person or by mail with wet signatures, and all juvenile filings must be made before 3:30 p.m. The Division does not publish its full schedule online, so confirm the current fee at (330) 424-4071.

Free Local Resources in Columbiana County

Columbiana County Clerk of Courts (Anthony J. Dattilio). 105 South Market Street, Lisbon, OH 44432. Phone (330) 424-7777.
Columbiana County Local Rules. ccclerk.org/common-pleas-court-rules — Local Rules 9.4, 9.41, 9.42 and DR procedure.
Ohio Supreme Court Standardized Forms. supremecourt.ohio.gov — used for the complaint, decree, parenting plans, and post-decree motions.
Columbiana County Local Forms (ccclerk.org). Case Designation Sheet, Personal Information Form, Financial Affidavit, UCCJEA, IV-D Application.
Local Companionship Schedules. Rule 9.4 (Uniform), Rule 9.41 (Long Distance), Rule 9.42 (Transitional) — linked from ccclerk.org.
Charles A. Pike Juvenile Center. 260 West Lincoln Way, Lisbon — (330) 424-4071. Judge Thomas M. Baronzzi. Filings before 3:30 p.m.
Columbiana County Law Library. columbianacountylawlibrary.org — research and self-help resources.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the worksheet and print it for filing.
Ohio Legal Help. ohiolegalhelp.org — plain-language guides and form walkthroughs.

Related to your non-parent custody case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Adoption — Grow your family through step-parent, agency, or kinship adoption.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on non-parent custody and related Ohio family law topics.

Grandparents' Rights in Ohio: Visitation and Custody — Ohio grandparents can sometimes seek court-ordered companionship time or even custody — but only in specific circumstances and always under the best-interest standard. Here's how it works.
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.
Kinship Adoption in Ohio: Adopting a Relative's Child — When a child can't safely stay with their parents, relatives often step in. Kinship adoption gives that arrangement legal permanence. Here's how it works in Ohio — and how it differs from custody.