Establishing Paternity in Delaware County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 4, 2026

Delaware County, Ohio · Delaware

Establishing paternity, or legal fatherhood, unlocks custody, parenting time, child support, and inheritance rights for never-married parents. In Delaware County, parentage actions are filed in the Domestic Relations Division (Local Rule 16) — not the Juvenile Court — using the Uniform DR Form 23 parentage complaint, or established administratively through CSEA.

How do I establish paternity in Delaware County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Parentage/Allocation/Parenting Time (Uniform DR Form 23) with the Delaware County DR Division at 117 N. Union Street, Level 400, Delaware, OH 43015; the parentage deposit is $200. Attach the Affidavit of Basic Information (Affidavit 1), Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3), and JFS 07076 if genetic testing is requested or support will be ordered. If parentage is contested, the court orders genetic testing — costs may be advanced by CSEA where there's no prior determination, or prepaid by the contesting party (Local Rule 16.02). Once parentage is established, the court can allocate custody and set support, with retroactive support possible for unmarried parties under R.C. 3111.13.

Delaware County paternity: one flat fee, no hourly surprises

Worried about what paternity will cost in Delaware County? We quote one flat fee up front instead of running an open-ended hourly meter, so there are no surprise invoices — and payment plans let you spread the cost if you need to. Below you'll also find the Delaware County court information — contacts in Delaware, the forms you need, and local fee details.

One flat fee, agreed up front. See the exact flat-fee options below and approve them before we start — no open-ended hourly bills.
Payments that fit your budget. Flexible payment plans and financing are available, so cost doesn't have to delay getting help.
Why Delaware County families choose us. Our incentive matches yours: with one flat fee, the sooner your paternity case is resolved, the better for everyone. Licensed Ohio family-law attorneys serving Delaware County and statewide.

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: Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

117 N. Union Street, Level 400, Delaware, OH 43015
Phone: (740) 833-2025
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Website: Court website
e-Filing: Online e-filing portal

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Delaware County Juvenile Court
145 N. Union Street, Delaware, OH 43015
Phone: (740) 833-2600
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Paternity is the right path if…

You need to legally establish (or disprove) who the father is.
You want custody, parenting time, or child support that depends on legal fatherhood.
An Acknowledgment of Paternity wasn't signed, or you need to challenge one.
You're ready for court-ordered genetic testing if parentage is contested.

Filing Fees

$200 parentage deposit · Genetic testing costs advanced by CSEA where there's no prior determination, or prepaid by the contesting party

Forms & Filing Packets

Parentage complaint (DR Division) — $200 parentage deposit

Opens the parentage case in the Delaware County DR Division and, in the same action, can allocate parental rights and set support.

Complaint for Parentage / Allocation / Parenting Time (Uniform DR Form 23) — Asks the DR Division to legally establish the parent-child relationship and, typically, allocate custody and parenting time.
Affidavit of Basic Information, Income, and Expenses (Uniform DR Affidavit 1) — Income disclosure required with a parentage filing under Local Rule 2.02(B).
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom. Confirms Ohio's jurisdiction over custody.
IV-D Application for Child Support Services — Opens your case with Delaware County CSEA so support can be collected, tracked, and enforced through wage withholding.

Contested paternity / genetic testing

When parentage is disputed, the court orders genetic testing. A new birth record requires the HEA 3029 form (Local Rule 16.02).

Parentage — Allocation of Parental Rights Filing Checklist (Local) — Delaware County's checklist for the documents a contested parentage case requires.
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.

How to File Paternity in Delaware County

Decide how parentage will be established. By a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, a prior court order, or genetic testing if disputed.
File the Form 23 parentage complaint. File with the DR Division at 117 N. Union Street and pay the $200 deposit; attach Affidavits 1 and 3 and JFS 07076 if support is sought.
Complete genetic testing if contested. The court orders testing through a designated lab; results are 99%+ accurate. Use HEA 3029 for a new birth record.
Set custody and support. Once parentage is established, the court can allocate parental rights and order support — retroactive support is available for unmarried parties under R.C. 3111.13.

Delaware County Practice Notes

Parentage is a DR case in Delaware County. Local Rule 16 keeps parentage actions in the Domestic Relations Division rather than Juvenile Court. The court can establish fatherhood and, in the same case, allocate custody and order support.
Genetic testing. Either party can request genetic testing. The court (or CSEA) will order the parties and child to a designated lab. Tests run 99%+ accurate. If the alleged father is excluded, the case is dismissed and the Ohio Department of Health updates the birth record.
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

Do never-married parents file custody in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Delaware County?: In Delaware County, parentage and the allocation of parental rights for never-married parents are handled by the Domestic Relations Division (Local Rule 16; file the Complaint for Parentage/Allocation/Parenting Time, Uniform DR Form 23) — not the Juvenile Court. Married or divorcing parents resolve custody inside their divorce or dissolution in the same DR Division at 117 N. Union Street. Non-parent and grandparent custody petitions go to the Delaware County Juvenile Court at 145 N. Union Street.
How is child support handled in Delaware County?: Support is set with the legislatively adopted Ohio Child Support Worksheet and collected through the Delaware County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA); direct payments to the other parent are treated as gifts, not support. File the JFS 07076 Application for Child Support Services when a support order is established. CSEA generally reviews orders every 36 months, and a court will modify when a recalculation differs by more than 10%. A standard parenting-time schedule triggers an automatic 10% support reduction (Local Rule 17.01(E), R.C. 3119.051).
Can I rescind an Acknowledgment of Paternity in Ohio?: A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity can be rescinded within 60 days of the last signature by contacting your local Child Support Enforcement Agency and completing a Request for Paternity Determination. After 60 days you must challenge the acknowledgment in court within 1 year on grounds of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact (R.C. 3111.27). Genetic testing is typically ordered, and the Ohio Department of Health updates the birth record if the alleged father is excluded.
How long does a Delaware County case usually take?: Dissolution: 30–90 days — Local Rule 7.03 sets the final hearing between 30 and 90 days after filing. Uncontested (default) divorce: roughly 4–6 months, with the uncontested final hearing held at least 42 days after service is completed (Local Rule 8.01). Contested divorce: 6–18 months depending on discovery, custody disputes, and trial scheduling.

Free Local Resources in Delaware County

Delaware County DR Court Forms Page. Every Domestic Relations form, the case-type ZIP packets (divorce, dissolution, parentage, modification, CPO), and the filing checklists are posted free at domestic.co.delaware.oh.us/forms.
Delaware County DR Virtual Resource Center. The DR Division's self-help hub links the general-information pages, FAQs, common-terms glossary, the For the Children parenting seminar, and the Co-Parenting Program at domestic.co.delaware.oh.us/virtual-resource-center.
Delaware County eAccess / E-Services Portal. Self-represented and represented parties can e-file and check dockets at court.co.delaware.oh.us/eservices. Payment is processed through LexisNexis — confirm the amount before authorizing.

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.

More Delaware County family-law resources

Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
Delaware County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Delaware County guide.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.

Call (380) 205-3899 or email support@gavvl.com.