Establishing Paternity in Coshocton County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 5, 2026

Coshocton County, Ohio · Coshocton

For never-married parents, paternity is handled by the Coshocton County Probate/Juvenile Court (Hon. Jason W. Given) at 426 Main Street. The Juvenile Court runs one of Ohio's most complete self-help systems — 28 tabbed packets. Paternity must be established before the court can order custody, parenting time, or child support.

How do I establish paternity in Coshocton County, Ohio?

Paternity can be established by a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, a prior judgment, or genetic testing. To start a court case, file the Juvenile Court's Tab 1 — Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights & Parenting Time — at 426 Main Street, along with the Parent Proceeding Affidavit (Tab 28) and an Ohio Child Support Worksheet. To undo an Acknowledgment, file Tab 2 within one year of signing, or Tab 3 if more than one year has passed. Email filings to doc426@coshoctoncounty.net (must contain an original signature).

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: Coshocton County Court of Common Pleas

318 Main St, Coshocton, OH 43812, Coshocton, OH 43812
Phone: (740) 622-1595
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: commonpleas.coshoctoncounty.us

Paternity is the right path if…

You and the other parent were never married and need a legal finding of who the father is.
You need paternity established before asking for custody, parenting time, or child support.
Ohio is the children's home state under the UCCJEA — they've lived in Ohio for the last 6 months.
You want to rescind or seek relief from an Acknowledgment of Paternity you previously signed.

Filing Fees

Juvenile Court deposits vary — call (740) 622-8969 to confirm before filing · Genetic testing may be ordered · A IV-D Application opens the case with the Coshocton County CSEA · Filings are preferred by email to doc426@coshoctoncounty.net with an original signature.

Forms & Filing Packets

Establish parentage (never-married parents) — Call the Juvenile Court at (740) 622-8969 to confirm the current deposit

Filed at the Coshocton County Juvenile Court. Opens a parentage and custody case for unmarried parents.

Tab 1 — Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights & Parenting Time — Opens a parentage and custody case in the Coshocton County Juvenile Court for never-married parents.
Tab 28 — Parent Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom. Confirms Ohio's jurisdiction over custody.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet — Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you're asking the court to set support.
IV-D Application (Coshocton local) — Opens your case with the Coshocton County CSEA so support can be collected, tracked, and enforced. Required whenever a child-support order will be issued.

Rescind or seek relief from an Acknowledgment of Paternity

Filed at the Coshocton County Juvenile Court. Use Tab 2 within one year of signing; use Tab 3 if more than one year has passed.

Tab 2 — Complaint to Rescind Acknowledgment of Paternity — Use within one year of signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity to rescind it.
Tab 3 — Complaint for Relief from Acknowledgment of Paternity — Use more than one year after signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity to seek relief from the determination.

How to File Paternity in Coshocton County

Confirm the Juvenile Court is the right court. Never-married parents file paternity at the Coshocton County Probate/Juvenile Court, 426 Main Street. Married or divorcing parents handle parentage inside the Common Pleas DR case instead.
Choose the right tab. To establish parentage, use Tab 1. To undo an Acknowledgment, use Tab 2 (within one year) or Tab 3 (after one year).
Complete the affidavit and worksheet. Add the Parent Proceeding Affidavit (Tab 28) to confirm Ohio's jurisdiction, and run an Ohio Child Support Worksheet if support will be set.
File and serve. File with the Juvenile Court (email doc426@coshoctoncounty.net with an original signature, or file in person). The other parent must be served.
Attend the hearing. The court may order genetic testing if paternity is disputed, then enters a parentage finding and addresses custody, parenting time, and support.

Coshocton County Practice Notes

Paternity comes first. The Juvenile Court cannot allocate custody, parenting time, or child support until parentage is established — by Acknowledgment, prior judgment, or genetic testing.
One-year line for challenging an Acknowledgment. A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity becomes final after the rescission window closes. Within one year you can rescind it (Tab 2); after one year you must seek relief from the determination (Tab 3), which is significantly harder.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I establish paternity in Coshocton County?: Paternity can be established by a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, by a prior court or administrative judgment, or by genetic testing. To start a court case for unmarried parents, file the Juvenile Court's Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights & Parenting Time (Tab 1) at 426 Main Street. Paternity must be established before the court can order custody, parenting time, or child support.
Can I undo an Acknowledgment of Paternity in Coshocton County?: Yes, within limits. If less than one year has passed since it was signed, file the Complaint to Rescind Acknowledgment of Paternity (Tab 2). If more than one year has passed, you must file a Complaint for Relief from the Acknowledgment (Tab 3), which is harder to win. Both are filed in the Coshocton County Juvenile Court.
Do I file custody in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Coshocton County?: If you are married to (or were married to) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce or dissolution at the Coshocton County Court of Common Pleas. If you were never married, paternity and custody are handled by the Coshocton County Juvenile Court. Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are always filed in Juvenile Court.
What is a IV-D application and why do I need one?: A IV-D Application opens a child-support case with your county's Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Once opened, CSEA collects support through automatic wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and can enforce the order through license suspension, federal tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. Filing a IV-D Application is standard whenever a child-support order is issued.
What does it mean for Ohio to be my child's 'home state' under the UCCJEA?: Under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127), Ohio is the children's home state when they have lived in Ohio with a parent for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before the filing. If the children recently moved, the prior state may still have jurisdiction. Ohio courts can also decline jurisdiction as an inconvenient forum under R.C. 3127.21 even when home-state requirements are met.

Free Local Resources in Coshocton County

Coshocton County Clerk of Courts. Provides current filing fees, local forms, and filing instructions for custody, divorce, and dissolution cases. Call (740) 622-1456 or visit https://commonpleas.coshoctoncounty.us before filing to confirm deposits and packet requirements.
Coshocton County Probate/Juvenile Court (unmarried parents). 426 Main Street, Coshocton. Probate (740) 622-1837 · Juvenile (740) 622-8969 · Resource Center (740) 295-7315. Hon. Jason W. Given. File by email to doc426@coshoctoncounty.net with an original signature.
Coshocton County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Coshocton County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support. 725 Pine Street, Coshocton · (740) 622-1020.
Free Family Law Clinic. A no-cost monthly clinic where you can speak with a volunteer attorney. Held at the Coshocton County Juvenile Court, 426 Main Street, with appointments starting at 2:00 p.m. Pre-register by calling Legal Aid of Southeast & Central Ohio (LASCO) at (614) 827-0527.
First Step Family Violence Services. Local advocacy, shelter, and protection-order help for survivors of domestic violence in Coshocton County. Call (740) 622-8504.

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.
Medina family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Medina metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.