Shared Parenting in Cuyahoga County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 3, 2026

Cuyahoga County, Ohio · Cleveland

Shared parenting keeps both parents as residential parents and legal custodians, sharing decision-making under a written, notarized plan. In Cuyahoga County, married or divorcing parents request it inside the divorce or dissolution at the Domestic Relations Court, 1 W. Lakeside Avenue; never-married parents request it in the Juvenile Division at 9300 Quincy Avenue. Either court approves a plan only when it serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F).

How do I get shared parenting in Cuyahoga County, Ohio?

One or both parents file a proposed Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20), which must be notarized, in the court handling the case. For married or divorcing parents that is the Domestic Relations Court, 1 W. Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland — the plan travels with the divorce or dissolution. For never-married parents it is the Juvenile Division, 9300 Quincy Avenue, with a Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights. The plan must cover the residential schedule, holidays, decision-making, and support, and the court approves it only if it serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F). Parents with minor children must also complete the Children in Between Online seminar before parenting orders are finalized.

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: Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court

The Old Courthouse, 1 W. Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: (216) 443-8800
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Website: domestic.cuyahogacounty.gov
e-Filing: https://domestic.cuyahogacounty.gov

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas — Juvenile Division (Juvenile Justice Center)
9300 Quincy Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106
Phone: (216) 443-8400
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

You and the other parent both want to stay actively involved as residential parents.
You can cooperate on major decisions about school, medical care, and religion.
You want a written plan that splits parenting time and decision-making.
You're divorcing (Domestic Relations) or were never married (Juvenile) and need a parenting order.

If you and the other parent can't cooperate on major decisions, sole residential parent custody may fit better. See custody in Cuyahoga County.

Filing Fees

Married parents: shared parenting is decided within the divorce/dissolution (included in the $200/$300 DR deposit) · Never-married parents: filed in the Juvenile Division — confirm the current filing fee with the Juvenile Clerk at (216) 443-8400 · Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) must be notarized

Forms & Filing Packets

Shared parenting inside a divorce/dissolution (married parents) — Included in the $200/$300 divorce deposit at the DR Court

Filed at the Domestic Relations Court, 1 W. Lakeside Avenue. Both parents submit a notarized Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) with the divorce or dissolution.

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
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.

Shared parenting for never-married parents (Juvenile Division) — Confirm the current filing fee with the Juvenile Clerk, (216) 443-8400

Filed at the Juvenile Division, 9300 Quincy Avenue. File a Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights with the notarized Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20). Paternity must be established first.

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.
Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
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.

How to File Shared Parenting in Cuyahoga County

Decide whether shared parenting fits. Shared parenting works when both parents can cooperate on major decisions. If you can't, a sole residential parent arrangement may be more realistic.
Draft a Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20). Cover the residential schedule, holidays, decision-making, transportation, and support. The plan must be notarized.
File in the right court. Married/divorcing parents file with the divorce at 1 W. Lakeside Avenue; never-married parents file a Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights in the Juvenile Division at 9300 Quincy Avenue.
Complete the parenting seminar. Both parents complete the Children in Between Online seminar before parenting orders are finalized.

Cuyahoga County Practice Notes

Shared parenting needs a written, notarized plan. To order shared parenting, the court must approve a Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) covering the residential schedule, holidays, decision-making, and support. The plan must be notarized, and the court approves it only if it serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F).
Children in Between is required with kids. Parents with minor children must complete the Children in Between Online seminar (online.divorce-education.com) — the only court-approved online provider for Cuyahoga County — within 30 days of filing, and file the Certificate of Completion at least 2 weeks before the final hearing. Parenting orders are not finalized without it.
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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does shared parenting work in Cuyahoga County?: Shared parenting means both parents remain residential parents and legal custodians and share decision-making under a written plan. To request it, one or both parents file a proposed Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20), which must be notarized, in the court handling the case — the Domestic Relations Court for married parents or the Juvenile Division for never-married parents. The court approves a plan only if it serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F).
Where do I file for custody in Cuyahoga County?: It depends on whether you and the other parent were married. Married or divorcing parents resolve custody (the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities) inside the divorce or dissolution at the Domestic Relations Court, 1 W. Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland. Never-married parents file a Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities in the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Division, 9300 Quincy Avenue, Cleveland, (216) 443-8400. Either way, the court decides custody under the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors.
What parenting class does Cuyahoga County require?: Parents with minor children must complete the Children in Between Online seminar — the only court-approved online provider for Cuyahoga County, at online.divorce-education.com. Complete it within 30 days before or after filing, and file the Certificate of Completion with the Clerk at least 2 weeks before the final hearing. Your divorce will not be finalized without it.
Where can I get free help filing in Cuyahoga County?: The Cuyahoga County DR Help Center in Room 114 walks self-represented parties through Navigation Services — call (216) 443-8880. The Clerk's Filing Desk is (216) 443-7955, and Parenting / Mediation coordination is in Room 7 at (216) 443-8805. For child-support payment questions, call Ohio Child Support Payments at 1-800-860-2555.

Free Local Resources in Cuyahoga County

Cuyahoga County DR Help Center (Room 114). Walks self-represented parties through Navigation Services. (216) 443-8880.
Clerk's Filing Desk. (216) 443-7955
Parenting / Mediation (Room 7). (216) 443-8805 — required parenting seminar coordination and court-connected mediation.
Children in Between Online. online.divorce-education.com — the only court-approved online parenting seminar for Cuyahoga County.
Ohio Child Support Payments. 1-800-860-2555
Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the worksheet and print it for filing.
Ohio Legal Help. ohiolegalhelp.org — plain-language guides and interactive court forms.

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.
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

Ohio Shared Parenting guide — Statewide overview of shared parenting in Ohio.
Cleveland family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cleveland metro.
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