Delaware County Shared Parenting Attorneys

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

Delaware County, Ohio · Delaware

Shared parenting makes both parents residential parents and legal custodians under one written plan. In Delaware County, the proposed Shared Parenting Plan (Uniform DR Form 20) is filed in the Domestic Relations Division and must address every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor before a magistrate will approve it.

Hire Gavvl for your Delaware County shared parenting case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Delaware 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 get a shared parenting plan approved in Delaware County, Ohio?

Submit a proposed Shared Parenting Plan (Uniform DR Form 20) to the Delaware County DR Division at 117 N. Union Street, Level 400, Delaware, OH 43015 — either inside your divorce or dissolution or with a parentage case. The plan must address physical living arrangements, the holiday and vacation schedule, decision-making, transportation, school and health care, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. Both parents complete the For the Children parenting seminar, and the court reviews the plan against the R.C. 3109.04(G) factors before adopting it. A standard parenting-time schedule triggers a 10% child-support reduction.

Build a Delaware County shared parenting plan with Gavvl Law

Shared parenting makes both parents residential parents and legal custodians under one written plan, filed on Uniform DR Form 20 in the Delaware County Domestic Relations Division. A magistrate reviews it against every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor before adopting it, and plans that skip a factor are routinely sent back for revision. Gavvl Law drafts a Form 20 that covers all of them the first time, whether it rides inside a divorce or a $200 Form 23 parentage case.

Every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor covered. A Delaware shared parenting plan has to address living arrangements, the holiday and vacation schedule, decision-making, transportation, school and health care, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution — miss one and the magistrate sends it back. We draft the full Form 20 so it clears review on the first pass.
The standard schedule and its 10% discount. Delaware publishes a Local Parenting Time Schedule you can adopt as a baseline, and doing so triggers an automatic 10% reduction in guideline child support under Local Rule 17.01(E) and R.C. 3119.051. We align your plan with that schedule and the Ohio worksheet so the support figure reflects it.
A route for never-married parents. Because Delaware keeps parentage in the DR Division under Local Rule 16, never-married parents attach the proposed plan to a Form 23 parentage complaint with a $200 deposit rather than filing in Juvenile Court. We open the right case so shared parenting is available to you at all.

Shared parenting only works when the plan is detailed enough to prevent the next fight, so we spell out exchanges, holidays, and a dispute-resolution step, and register both parents for the For the Children seminar through OSU Extension at (740) 833-2030 that Delaware requires before the order is final. One flat fee approved up front, payment plans available, and full representation if the other parent contests the plan.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the complaint to establish custody and parenting time, or prepare your shared parenting plan for filing. You appear at any hearing.

Establish custody & parenting time: $1,250
Shared parenting plan (drafting): $1,650

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 shared parenting 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.

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to be residential parents and legal custodians.
You can cooperate on schooling, health care, and major decisions.
You can write a detailed plan covering schedule, holidays, and dispute resolution.
Ohio is the children's home state under the UCCJEA.

Filing Fees

Included in the divorce/dissolution deposit, or $200 with a parentage filing · 10% support reduction with a standard parenting-time schedule

Forms & Filing Packets

Shared parenting plan packet

The proposed plan is filed in the DR Division and reviewed against the R.C. 3109.04(G) factors.

Shared Parenting Plan (Uniform DR Form 20) — Written plan meeting all R.C. 3109.04(G) factors: living arrangements, holidays, decision-making, transportation, school and health care, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution.
Local Parenting Time Schedule (Delaware County) — Delaware County's standard schedule — use it as a baseline or attach it when adopting the standard order (triggers the 10% support reduction).
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.
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.

Shared parenting with a parentage case (never-married)

Never-married parents file the Form 23 parentage complaint and attach the proposed shared parenting plan.

Complaint for Parentage / Allocation / Parenting Time (Uniform DR Form 23) — Opens the parentage case in the DR Division so the shared parenting plan can be allocated for never-married parents.

How to File Shared Parenting in Delaware County

Confirm both parents want shared parenting. Shared parenting only works when both parents will share residential and decision-making responsibility.
Draft a plan covering every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor. Address living arrangements, holidays, decision-making, transportation, school and health care, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution — plans that skip a factor get sent back.
File the plan with your case. Attach Form 20 to your divorce, dissolution, or Form 23 parentage filing in the DR Division.
Complete the parenting seminar and finalize. Both parents complete For the Children, then the court reviews the plan against the best-interest factors before adopting it.

Delaware County Practice Notes

Shared parenting plan must address every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor. A written Shared Parenting Plan must address physical living arrangements, holiday and vacation schedule, child support, decision-making authority, transportation, school and health-care decisions, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. Plans that skip a factor are routinely sent back for revision.
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.
Standard schedule reduces support 10%. Under Local Rule 17.01(E) and R.C. 3119.051, adopting Delaware County's standard parenting-time schedule triggers an automatic 10% reduction in the guideline child-support amount.

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.
Is the parenting seminar required in Delaware County?: Yes. Under Local Rule 2.02(E) / 7.02(C), both parents in any divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment involving minor children must complete the 'For the Children' parenting seminar before a final decree is issued. The seminar is run through the OSU Extension Office at (740) 833-2030. It may be waived only for good cause, and failure to attend can result in dismissal or suspension of court-ordered parenting time.
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.
When is a Guardian ad Litem appointed in Delaware County?: In a contested custody or parentage case, the court can appoint a Guardian ad Litem (Local Rule 32) — an attorney from the court-approved list who investigates and recommends a parenting arrangement in the child's best interest. The GAL is a party with full record access, files a written report no fewer than 7 days before the final hearing, and is available for cross-examination. GAL fees are set in the order of appointment and allocated between the parties by ability to pay.

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 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.

Continue your Delaware County research

Ohio Shared Parenting guide — Statewide overview of shared parenting 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.