Establishing Paternity in Columbiana County

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

Columbiana County, Ohio · Lisbon

When parents were never married, parentage (paternity) is handled by the Columbiana County Juvenile Court at the Charles A. Pike Juvenile Center (260 West Lincoln Way, Lisbon — (330) 424-4071), under Judge Thomas M. Baronzzi (R.C. 2151.23; R.C. Chapter 3111). One Columbiana rule is decisive: Juvenile Local Rule 19(B) requires you to first request an administrative determination through CSEA (7989 Dickey Drive, Lisbon — (330) 424-1479) and attach a copy of that request to your complaint or motion. Paternity must be established before the court can order custody, parenting time, or child support.

How do I establish paternity in Columbiana County, Ohio?

There are three paths: a voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity, a CSEA administrative order (with genetic testing if needed), or a judicial parentage action in the Juvenile Court — but Juvenile Local Rule 19(B) requires you to first request a CSEA administrative determination and attach a copy. To file in court, submit the Ohio SC Form 23 allocation complaint with a Child Custody Affidavit (UCCJEA, R.C. 3127.33), proof of any established paternity, the most recent custody/support order, the local Financial Affidavit, the parenting/health-insurance affidavits where support is at issue, and a Written Request for Service. If paternity is disputed, the requesting party pays for genetic testing in advance. The Juvenile per-child filing fee is $120 for the first child and $75 for each additional child; there is no e-filing, and juvenile filings must be made before 3:30 p.m.

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, Lisbon, OH 44432
Phone: (330) 424-7777
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: ccclerk.org/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

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

Paternity is the right path if…

You and the other parent were never married and need legal parentage established.
You want a custody, parenting-time, or child-support order that depends on establishing paternity first.
You can request a CSEA administrative determination before filing in court.
Ohio is the child's home state under the UCCJEA (the child has lived in Ohio for the last 6 months).

Filing Fees

Juvenile filing $120 first child + $75 each additional child · genetic testing paid in advance by the requesting party (cost may shift to the non-prevailing party) · CSEA administrative services are free · juvenile filings are in person or by mail before 3:30 p.m. (no e-filing) — confirm with the Clerk at (330) 424-4071.

Forms & Filing Packets

New parentage case (no existing case for the child) — $120 first child + $75 each additional child (Juvenile)

First request a CSEA administrative determination (Local Rule 19(B)) and attach a copy, then file the parentage/allocation complaint in Juvenile Court.

CSEA Administrative Determination Request (Juvenile Rule 19(B)) — Before filing a parentage or child-support action in Juvenile Court, Columbiana County Local Rule 19(B) requires you to first request an administrative determination through CSEA (7989 Dickey Drive, Lisbon · (330) 424-1479) and attach a copy of that request to your complaint or motion.
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.
Columbiana County Financial Affidavit (local — replaces OSC Affidavit 1) — Columbiana County uses its own local Financial Affidavit in place of the Ohio Supreme Court Affidavit 1. Required (typed) wherever support is at issue.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
Application for Child Support Services (IV-D · JFS 07076 — local) — Routes the case to Columbiana County CSEA (7989 Dickey Drive, Lisbon) for collection and enforcement. Required where the court will issue a child-support order.
Written Request for Service (Juvenile — Local Rule 5) — Required with every Columbiana County Juvenile filing so the Clerk issues service on the other parties.

Change in an existing Juvenile case (motion) — Juvenile per-child schedule — confirm with the Clerk

If a case already exists, file a motion with the correct caption — Local Rule 19(B)'s CSEA step still applies to support requests.

Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio SC Form 28) — The Ohio uniform motion to change child support, medical support, or the tax exemption after a change of circumstances. File in the division that issued the order.
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 Financial Affidavit (local — replaces OSC Affidavit 1) — Columbiana County uses its own local Financial Affidavit in place of the Ohio Supreme Court Affidavit 1. Required (typed) wherever support is at issue.
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 Paternity in Columbiana County

Confirm Juvenile jurisdiction. Never-married parentage is filed in the Columbiana County Juvenile Court. Ohio must be the child's home state under the UCCJEA.
Request a CSEA determination. Contact the Columbiana County CSEA (7989 Dickey Drive, Lisbon — (330) 424-1479) to request an administrative determination of parentage/support, and keep a copy to attach to your filing.
Complete the parentage complaint. File the Ohio SC Form 23 allocation complaint with the Child Custody Affidavit, the local Financial Affidavit, and the health-insurance affidavit where support is at issue.
File and serve. File in person or by mail with wet signatures before 3:30 p.m., pay the per-child fee, and include a Written Request for Service so the Clerk serves the other parent.
Resolve custody and support. Once paternity is established, the court allocates parental rights on the child's best interest (R.C. 3109.04) and sets support under R.C. Chapter 3119.

Columbiana County Practice Notes

CSEA administrative step comes first. Columbiana Juvenile Local Rule 19(B) requires a parentage or child-support filer to first request an administrative determination through CSEA (except as allowed by R.C. 3111.381) and attach a copy of that request to the complaint or motion. CSEA can establish paternity and support administratively, including genetic testing.
Three ways to establish a father. Paternity is established by a voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (which, once final, has the effect of a court order), a CSEA administrative order, or a judicial parentage determination in the Juvenile Court after the administrative step.
Paternity comes before custody or support. The court cannot allocate custody or order support for a child of unmarried parents until parentage is established. Required filing documents (typed, blue or black ink) include the Child Custody Affidavit (R.C. 3127.33), proof of any paternity, the most recent custody/support order, and a Written Request for Service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to go through CSEA before filing a paternity case in Columbiana County?: Generally yes. Columbiana County Juvenile Local Rule 19(B) requires you to first request an administrative determination through CSEA (except as allowed by R.C. 3111.381) and attach a copy of that request to your complaint or motion. CSEA can establish paternity and support administratively, including genetic testing.
How do I establish paternity in Columbiana County?: There are three ways: a voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (which, once final, has the effect of a court order), a CSEA administrative order (with genetic testing if needed), or a judicial parentage determination in the Juvenile Court after the required CSEA administrative step. Paternity must be established before the court can order custody, parenting time, or child support.
We were never married — where do I file for custody or support in Columbiana County?: In the Columbiana County Juvenile Court at the Charles A. Pike Juvenile Center, 260 West Lincoln Way, Lisbon — (330) 424-4071, Judge Thomas M. Baronzzi (R.C. 2151.23). If you were married, custody and support travel with the divorce, dissolution, or legal separation in the Domestic Relations Division instead.
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.
Do I have to take a parenting class for a Columbiana County custody or divorce case?: Not automatically. The Clerk of Courts confirmed (June 2026) Columbiana County has no across-the-board parenting-class requirement — a judge or magistrate may order one on a case-by-case basis (DR Local Rule 9.9(C); Juvenile Rule 9.2). If ordered, you arrange and pay for the seminar yourself, complete it, and file the attendance certificate.

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 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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on paternity and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
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.
Child Support Calculation in Ohio: How the Formula Works — Ohio calculates child support with the income shares model, combining both parents' incomes to set a shared obligation. Here's how the formula works and what changes the bottom line.

Keep exploring

Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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