Crawford County Paternity Attorneys

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

Crawford County, Ohio · Bucyrus

In Ohio, the mother of a child born outside marriage is the only legal custodian until a court says otherwise — so a father usually has to establish parentage first. In Crawford County, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents are decided in the Juvenile Court before Judge Patrick T. Murphy, (419) 562-1896.

Hire Gavvl for your Crawford County paternity case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Crawford 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 establish paternity in Crawford County, Ohio?

There are three paths: sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity, establish parentage through the child support agency (CSEA, (419) 562-0773), or file a parentage case in the Crawford County Juvenile Court. Until parentage is established, the mother is the sole legal custodian of a child born outside marriage. Once parentage is set, the Juvenile Court can decide custody, parenting time, and child support — usually in the same case using a Complaint for Parentage and Custody, the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, and a child-support worksheet. The new-filing deposit is about $250 (verify at (419) 562-1896); a fee waiver is available.

Hire Gavvl Law to establish paternity in Crawford County

For a child born outside marriage, the mother is the only legal custodian until a court says otherwise, so a father usually has to establish parentage before he can ask for custody or parenting time. In Crawford County that runs through the Juvenile Court before Judge Patrick T. Murphy at (419) 562-1896, and Gavvl Law handles the acknowledgment, CSEA, and court paths on a flat fee that gets parentage, custody, and support decided together.

Parentage established the right way. There are three paths — a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, a CSEA case, or a Juvenile Court filing — and the best one depends on whether parentage is disputed. We pick the path that fits, and arrange genetic testing through CSEA or the court when it is contested.
One case for parentage, custody, and support. A Complaint for Parentage and Custody lets Judge Murphy's court establish parentage and set custody, parenting time, and support in a single case. We file it with the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and a child-support worksheet so you are not back for separate filings.
A flat fee with a fee waiver backup. The Juvenile new-filing deposit runs about $250, and we quote a single flat fee up front with payment plans. If the deposit is out of reach, we file the poverty affidavit that waives it so cost does not delay securing a father's rights.

Never-married parentage, custody, and support in Crawford County are all handled in the Juvenile Court in the same courthouse at 112 E. Mansfield Street, not on the Common Pleas domestic docket. We know Judge Murphy's process and keep the CSEA piece aligned so parentage leads cleanly into a custody and support order.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the parentage complaint to establish legal paternity — adding custody and parenting time if you need it. You appear at any hearings yourself.

Establish paternity (parentage complaint): $950
Paternity with custody & parenting time: $1,350

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 paternity 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: Crawford County Court of Common Pleas

112 E. Mansfield Street, Bucyrus, OH 44820
Phone: (419) 562-5771
Hours: Monday–Friday
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Crawford County Juvenile & Probate Court
112 E. Mansfield Street, Bucyrus, OH 44820
Phone: (419) 562-1896
Hours: Monday–Friday

Paternity is the right path if…

The parents were never married and parentage has not been legally established.
You want to secure a father's legal rights, or set custody, parenting time, or support.
You can use an acknowledgment, CSEA, or a court case to establish parentage.
You can file in the Crawford County Juvenile Court and pay the deposit (or request a waiver).

Filing Fees

Acknowledgment of Paternity: no court fee · CSEA parentage: no filing fee · Juvenile parentage/custody case: about $250 (verify with the Juvenile Court; waiver available). Court fees and deposits change — confirm the current amount with the Crawford County Clerk of Courts at (419) 562-2766 (Domestic Relations) or the Juvenile Court at (419) 562-1896 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Establish parentage and custody in Juvenile Court — About $250 for a new Juvenile filing (verify; waiver available)

File a Complaint for Parentage and Custody in the Crawford County Juvenile Court with the UCCJEA affidavit and a child-support worksheet. The court establishes parentage (by acknowledgment, prior judgment, or genetic testing) and then sets custody, parenting time, and support.

Complaint for Parentage and Custody (Crawford Juvenile Court) — Used by a never-married parent to establish parentage and ask the Juvenile Court to set custody, parenting time, and child support (R.C. Chapter 3111; R.C. 2151.23). Filed with the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and a child-support worksheet.
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.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you ask the court to set or change support.

Establish parentage through CSEA — No fee to open a IV-D case with CSEA

Open a case with the Crawford County child support agency (CSEA), (419) 562-0773, which can establish parentage (including genetic testing) and set a support order administratively.

Application for Child Support (Crawford County CSEA) — Opens a IV-D support case with the Crawford County child support agency (CSEA), (419) 562-0773. CSEA sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects it by income withholding, and pays it through the state.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you ask the court to set or change support.

How to File Paternity in Crawford County

Choose your path. Decide whether to use an Acknowledgment of Paternity, CSEA, or a Juvenile Court case.
Gather documents. Collect the child's birth information and, for a court case, the UCCJEA affidavit and a child-support worksheet.
File or apply. File a Complaint for Parentage and Custody in the Juvenile Court, or open a case with CSEA.
Complete genetic testing if needed. If parentage is disputed, the court or CSEA can order genetic testing before entering an order.
Get the parentage and custody order. Once parentage is established, the court sets custody, parenting time, and support in the same case.

Crawford County Practice Notes

Parentage comes before custody and support. For a child born outside marriage, the mother is the only legal custodian until a court says otherwise. A father usually has to establish parentage first — by a signed form, through CSEA, or by a court case — before he can ask for custody or parenting time.
The Juvenile Court handles never-married parents. Parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents are decided in the Crawford County Juvenile Court before Judge Murphy, (419) 562-1896 — not in the Common Pleas DR docket.
One case can settle parentage, custody, and support. A Complaint for Parentage and Custody lets the court establish parentage and set custody, parenting time, and support together, so you usually do not need separate filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to establish paternity before getting custody in Crawford County?: Usually, yes. For a child born outside marriage, the mother is the only legal custodian until a court says otherwise, so a father generally must establish parentage first — by a signed acknowledgment, through the child support agency, or by a court case — before he can ask for custody or parenting time.
Do I file custody in Common Pleas or Juvenile Court in Crawford County?: If you are married to (or divorcing) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce, dissolution, or legal separation at the Court of Common Pleas before Judge Leuthold. If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are handled by the Crawford County Juvenile Court before Judge Murphy — in the same courthouse at 112 E. Mansfield Street.
What is the Juvenile Court filing fee in Crawford County?: The Juvenile Court confirmed a deposit of about $250 for a new filing such as custody or parentage, and about $200 for a modification. Because it is not a posted schedule, verify the exact amount when you file at (419) 562-1896. A fee waiver is available if you cannot afford the deposit.
How does the Crawford County CSEA help with child support?: The Crawford County child support agency (CSEA) handles support; reach it at (419) 562-0773. Support is set under Ohio's guidelines, collected by income withholding, and paid through the state. A support change can also start through CSEA's review process.
Which court handles family law in Crawford County?: All family law runs through the Court of Common Pleas at 112 E. Mansfield Street in Bucyrus. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, spousal support, property division, and civil protection orders are heard before Judge Sean E. Leuthold, (419) 562-5771. Custody, parenting time, and child support for never-married parents are heard in the Juvenile Court before Judge Patrick T. Murphy, (419) 562-1896. Adoption is handled by the Probate Court before Judge Murphy, Suite 103, (419) 562-5876.

Free Local Resources in Crawford County

Crawford County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Current filing fees, deposit amounts, and case filing for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matters. File in person in Suite 204 at 112 E. Mansfield Street, Bucyrus; (419) 562-2766. No e-filing yet; fax is reserved for emergencies. Local court rules and the Proposal for Temporary Orders are at https://crawfordcocpcourt.org/local-court-rules/.
Crawford County Juvenile & Probate Court. Handles never-married-parent parentage, custody, parenting time, and support, plus non-parent custody, abuse/neglect/dependency (CPS), and adoption. Juvenile (419) 562-1896; Probate Suite 103 (419) 562-5876. Judge Patrick T. Murphy presides over both.
Crawford County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, and pays through the state. Opens IV-D cases and can review existing orders. Contact (419) 562-0773.
Crawford County Children Services hotline. To report a concern about a child's safety, call (419) 563-1570, which runs 24 hours. In an emergency, call 911.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.

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 Crawford County family law

Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
Crawford County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Crawford County guide.
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