Establishing Paternity in Darke County

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

Darke County, Ohio · Greenville

Paternity is the legal recognition of a child's father. For unmarried parents in Darke County, it is handled by the Probate/Juvenile Court before Judge Jason R. Aslinger, 300 Garst Ave, Greenville, (937) 547-7350. Until parentage is established, an unmarried mother is the sole residential parent and legal custodian by law; establishing paternity is the first step before a father can ask for custody, parenting time, or a support order.

How do I establish paternity in Darke County, Ohio?

You can establish parentage two ways: administratively through the CSEA / Central Paternity Registry (a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity or administrative genetic testing), or judicially by filing a parentage action in the Probate/Juvenile Court (300 Garst Ave, Greenville) under R.C. Chapter 3111, where the court can order genetic testing. The Juvenile Division's adult paternity fees are $175 for a new filing, $150 if a case already exists, and $50 for a consent entry; a fee waiver is available. Once parentage is established, the same court can set custody, parenting time, and child support. Confirm the current fees at (937) 547-7350.

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: Darke County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Darke County Courthouse, Second Floor, 504 South Broadway, Greenville, OH 45331
Phone: (937) 547-7335
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: darkecountycommonpleas.com

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Darke County Probate/Juvenile Court, Juvenile Division
300 Garst Ave, Greenville, OH 45331
Phone: (937) 547-7350
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Paternity is the right path if…

You are an unmarried parent who needs a father legally recognized.
You want to open the door to custody, parenting time, or a child-support order.
You may need the court to order genetic testing.
You can file in the Darke County Probate/Juvenile Court (or work through the CSEA).

Filing Fees

Adult paternity in the Juvenile Division: $175 new filing / $150 if a case already exists / $50 for a consent entry. A fee waiver is available; an Application for Legal Aid is also published by the Court. Court fees and deposits change — confirm the current amount with the Darke County Clerk of Courts at (937) 547-7335 (Domestic Relations) or the Probate/Juvenile Court at (937) 547-7350 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Court parentage action (Juvenile Division) — $175 new / $150 established / $50 consent entry

When parentage is disputed or you want a court order, file a parentage/custody complaint in the Probate/Juvenile Court with the UCCJEA affidavit. The court can order genetic testing and then allocate custody, parenting time, and support.

Complaint to Establish Parentage & Custody (Darke County Juvenile Division) — Used by a never-married parent to establish parentage and ask the Juvenile Division to allocate custody, parenting time, and child support (R.C. Chapter 3111; R.C. 2151.23). The Pro-Se Filing Packet and the UCCJEA affidavit are filed with it.
Juvenile Pro-Se Filing Packet (Darke County) — The self-represented filing packet for never-married-parent custody, parenting time, companionship, and support cases in the Darke County Juvenile Division.
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.

Acknowledgment of Paternity (administrative path) — Administrative through the CSEA

When both parents agree, parentage can be established administratively through the CSEA / Central Paternity Registry with a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity or administrative genetic testing — then support and custody can follow.

Unwed Mothers' Rights (Darke County information sheet) — Explains that, until a court orders otherwise, an unmarried mother is the sole residential parent and legal custodian by law and a father must establish parentage first.
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 Darke County

Decide on agreement or a court case. If both parents agree, use an Acknowledgment of Paternity through the CSEA; if disputed, file a parentage action in the Juvenile Division.
Gather the children's residence history. Complete the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit showing where the child has lived for the last 5 years.
File in the Probate/Juvenile Court. File the parentage/custody complaint (the Pro-Se Filing Packet is available) at 300 Garst Ave, Greenville.
Pay the fee or request a waiver. Adult paternity is $175 new / $150 established / $50 consent; ask about a fee waiver or Application for Legal Aid if you cannot afford it.
Address custody and support. Once parentage is established, the same court can set custody, parenting time, and child support.

Darke County Practice Notes

The mother is sole custodian until parentage is established. Under Ohio law, until a court orders otherwise, an unmarried mother is the sole residential parent and legal custodian; the Court publishes an "Unwed Mothers' Rights" information sheet explaining this. A father must establish parentage before asking for custody or parenting time.
Two routes to parentage. Parentage can be established administratively (Acknowledgment of Paternity or genetic testing through the CSEA / Central Paternity Registry) or judicially by filing in the Probate/Juvenile Court, where genetic testing can be ordered.
Filed in the Probate/Juvenile Court, not Common Pleas. Parentage for never-married parents is handled by the Probate/Juvenile Court before Judge Aslinger, 300 Garst Ave, Greenville, (937) 547-7350 — not the Domestic Relations Division.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to establish paternity before getting custody in Darke County?: Usually, yes. For a child born outside marriage, the mother is the sole residential parent and legal custodian until a court orders otherwise, so a father generally must establish parentage first — by a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, through the CSEA, or by a court case — before he can ask for custody or parenting time.
What does a paternity or custody case cost in the Darke County Juvenile Court?: Adult paternity is $175 for a new filing, $150 if a case already exists, and $50 for a consent entry. A private custody, parenting-time, or companionship filing is $175 to open a new case and $150 to reopen an established case (plus a home-study deposit if a home study is ordered). The Juvenile Court takes cash, check, or card; a fee waiver is available.
Does Darke County have a separate divorce (Domestic Relations) court?: No. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and domestic violence protection orders are heard by the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas before Judge Travis L. Fliehman, with filings at the Darke County Clerk of Courts, 504 South Broadway, Greenville, (937) 547-7335. Never-married parentage, custody, parenting time, support, and non-parent custody are heard in the Probate/Juvenile Court before Judge Jason R. Aslinger, 300 Garst Ave, Greenville, (937) 547-7350.
How does the Darke County CSEA help with child support?: The Darke County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 631 Wagner Ave, Greenville, (937) 548-4132 option 4 or (800) 501-5635, opens IV-D cases, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects it by income withholding, and pays it through the state. It can also review and enforce existing orders.
What is a IV-D application and why do I need one in Darke County?: A IV-D Application opens a child-support case with the Darke County CSEA. Once opened, CSEA collects support through automatic income withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and can enforce the order through license suspension, tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referral. Darke County requires an Application for Child Support Services with any DR case involving children (Local Rule 2(F)).

Free Local Resources in Darke County

Darke County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Current filing fees, deposits, and case filing for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matters. File at the Darke County Courthouse, Second Floor, 504 South Broadway, Greenville; Clerk Cindy Pike, (937) 547-7335. The yellow Questionnaire is required with every DR complaint. Local court rules are at https://darkecountycommonpleas.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Local-Rules-effective-February-1-2026.pdf and downloadable DR forms are at https://darkecountycommonpleas.com/court-forms/.
Darke County Probate/Juvenile Court. Handles never-married-parent parentage, custody, parenting time, and support, plus non-parent custody, abuse/neglect/dependency, and adoption. 300 Garst Ave, Greenville; Juvenile (937) 547-7350, Probate (937) 547-7345; Judge Jason R. Aslinger presides. Self-help forms and the Pro-Se Filing Packet are at https://www.darkeprobatejuvenile.org/juvForms.php.
Darke County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Opens IV-D cases, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, pays through the state, and can review or enforce existing orders. 631 Wagner Ave, Greenville; (937) 548-4132 option 4 or (800) 501-5635.
Darke County Children Services (report child abuse). To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call Darke County JFS Child Protective Services at (937) 548-4132 Option 5; after hours (937) 548-2020; statewide hotline 1-855-642-4453. In an emergency, call 911.
Parenting seminar — "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" (OSU Extension). The court-approved parenting seminar required in DR cases with minor children (DR Local Rule 7(G)); about $45 per person. Register at https://scponline.osu.edu/.
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.

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Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity in Ohio.
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