Franklin County Child Support Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Franklin County child support case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Franklin 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.

Hire Gavvl Law for your Franklin County child support case

Whether you need a first support order, a change to an existing one, or enforcement when the payments stop, Franklin County runs child support through two channels: the court that issues the order (Domestic Relations or the Juvenile Branch) and the Franklin County CSEA at (614) 525-3275, which collects it by wage withholding. Gavvl Law works both — a flat-fee filing package to draft and file your support motion, or full representation to argue the numbers and the deviations for you.

• We run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet correctly. Your order rises or falls on what goes on the Ohio 2024 Income Shares worksheet — both parents' gross income, health-insurance premiums, work-related child care, and credits for other children. We build the worksheet from your actual records so the basic obligation is right the first time, not something you spend months fighting to fix.
• We argue deviations, not just the default number. The court can move off the worksheet amount for the R.C. 3119.23 factors — extended parenting time, extraordinary medical costs, special needs — but only with a written justification. We put that justification in front of the magistrate so the order reflects your real situation instead of a flat formula.
• We use the right tool: CSEA review or a court motion. A 10%-or-more income change (or 36 months elapsed) opens a free CSEA administrative review; a contested change or an enforcement fight belongs in court. We pick the faster path for your facts and, when the other parent is behind, file the Motion to Show Cause while CSEA runs wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and credit reporting.

Court-filed support motions in Franklin County carry a filing fee (about $175 in the Juvenile Branch — confirm the current amount with the Clerk), while CSEA administrative reviews are free. We tell you which forum fits before you spend a filing fee, and we open your IV-D case with Franklin County CSEA so collection starts the moment the order is entered.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the support motion (establish, modify, or terminate). The court filing fee is billed separately and this does not include in-court representation.

• Establish child support: $950
• Modify child support: $950
• Terminate child support: $950

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 child support case or see payment plans & financing.

Where to File: Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas — Juvenile Branch
399 South Front Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-4411
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Child Support is the right path if…

• You need a new child-support order set, or an existing order modified or enforced in child support matters.
• Your income has changed by 10% or more since the last support calculation, and a significant shift can cause financial hardship that makes seeking legal counsel a smart next step.
• The other parent is not paying as ordered and you need wage withholding or contempt enforcement; a paying parent who does not pay child support as ordered may face contempt consequences.
• You need health-insurance coverage allocated for the children.

Filing Fees

CSEA administrative reviews: free · Court motions: $175 Juvenile filing fee (custody or support under ORC 2151.233; modification or enforcement of an existing order is also $175 under DR Local Rule 2) · Wage withholding: automatic once entered · Confirm current amounts with the Clerk before filing

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Child Support in Franklin County

1. Pick the right court. Married/divorcing parents file in DR. Never-married parents file in Juvenile Branch. Already have an order? File the modification in whichever court issued it.
2. Run the Ohio 2024 Income Shares worksheet. Use ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. Include both parents' gross incomes, health insurance premiums, and work-related child care.
3. File the worksheet plus the IV-D Application. The IV-D Application opens your case with Franklin County CSEA so support can be collected by wage withholding.
4. Attend the hearing or CSEA administrative review. Magistrate or CSEA Hearing Officer will recommend an order. Either party can object within 14 days.
5. Enforce or modify as life changes. 10%+ income change triggers a modification right. CSEA's administrative tools include wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and credit reporting.

Franklin County Practice Notes

• Ohio Income Shares Model. Both parents' gross incomes go on the worksheet. Gross income is the starting point for child support calculations and can include wages, workers' compensation benefits, and trust income. The worksheet computes a basic monthly obligation based on combined income — that foundational amount is the basic child support obligation — and the noncustodial parent typically pays their share to the custodial parent based on their percentage of combined income. Health insurance, work-related child care, and prior orders for other children are factored in. Child support generally covers basic living expenses such as food and clothing, and may also help with tuition, school supplies, and transportation costs such as gas and insurance. Ohio's formula also accounts for parenting time and other relevant factors.
• Deviations are allowed but justified. The court can deviate from the worksheet amount based on the R.C. 3119.23 factors (extraordinary medical, special needs, extended parenting time, etc.) — but must explain the deviation in writing. In appropriate cases, added medical expenses or extracurricular activities may also matter.
• Income disputes and the records you'll need. If there is a dispute over a parent's income, earning capacity, or actual income, the court determines support using the available financial information and other relevant factors. Documents such as pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements may be relevant when reviewing financial resources. When one parent has primary residential responsibility, the non-custodial or paying parent usually pays support; split-parenting situations with one child, two children, or more than one child are calculated differently.
• Modification trigger: 10% or 36 months. CSEA will administratively review on request every 36 months, or earlier if a party shows a 10%+ change in the support obligation. Court-filed modifications use the same standard plus a change of circumstances. A substantial change or financial hardship may justify review or modification, especially when the current support amount no longer reflects a parent's ability to pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the residency requirements to file in Franklin County?

For divorce, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months immediately before filing, and a Franklin County resident for at least 90 days. For dissolution, only the 6-month Ohio residency applies — there is no separate Franklin County residency requirement. For juvenile-branch cases (paternity, never-married custody, child support), Ohio must be the children's 'home state' under the UCCJEA, which generally means the children have lived in Ohio for the last 6 months.

How much does it cost to file in Franklin County DR?

Approximate deposits: divorce or legal separation $300 without children / $350 with children; dissolution $250 without children / $300 with children; annulment $300/$350. Juvenile Branch filings for custody or support under ORC 2151.233 (paternity, never-married custody, child support, and modifications) are $175. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at 373 South High Street (DR) or 399 South Front Street (Juvenile) before filing.

How long does the case usually take?

Dissolution: 30-90 days from filing to the final hearing. Uncontested divorce or legal separation: 4-6 months. Contested divorce: 6-18 months depending on temporary-orders activity and the Magistrate's calendar. Paternity: 60-120 days if uncontested, longer if genetic testing or contested allocation is involved. Civil Protection Orders: ex parte order the same day; full hearing within 7-10 days; final order can last up to 5 years.

What does Franklin County CSEA do?

The Franklin County Child Support Enforcement Agency at (614) 525-3275 opens IV-D cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support by wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and enforces orders (license suspension, contempt referrals, federal tax intercept). Filing an IV-D Application is standard whenever a child-support order is issued.

How do I know whether to file in DR or the Juvenile Branch?

If you are married to the other parent (or the parties were married when the children were born), custody, parenting time, and child support travel with the divorce / dissolution / legal separation / annulment in DR at 373 South High Street. If you were never married, paternity and custody go to the Juvenile Branch at 399 South Front Street. Grandparent / non-parent custody is always Juvenile. Civil Protection Orders against a current/former intimate partner or family member go to DR.

When can I modify a parenting or support order?

For custody / residential-parent designation under R.C. 3109.04(E), you must show a change of circumstances of the child or residential parent since the prior decree, and that modification is in the child's best interest, and that the harm of changing is outweighed by the benefits. For child support, you can request a CSEA administrative review every 36 months, or earlier on a 10%+ deviation. For parenting time, the bar is lower — best-interest only.

Will my case be heard by a Judge or a Magistrate?

Most pretrial conferences, temporary-orders motions, and even contested final hearings in Franklin DR are heard by a Magistrate. The Magistrate issues a Magistrate's Decision; either party then has 14 days to file Objections, which are decided by the assigned Judge. Civil Protection Order full hearings are heard directly by the assigned Judge.

Can I e-file in Franklin County?

Yes. Domestic Relations filings go through drj.fccourts.org/efiling — attorneys must e-file unless excepted, and self-represented parties may e-file or file in person at 373 South High Street. The Juvenile Branch at 399 South Front Street accepts in-person filings; some Juvenile filings can be submitted electronically — call (614) 525-4411 to confirm before filing.

Free Local Resources in Franklin County

• Franklin County DR Self-Help Resource Center. 373 South High Street. Forms, computer terminals, limited procedural help. Cannot give legal advice. Mon–Fri during court hours.
• Legal Aid Society of Columbus. (614) 241-2001. Income-qualified family law representation and advice clinics across central Ohio.
• Columbus Bar Lawyer Referral Service. (614) 221-0754. Paid 30-minute consultation referrals to vetted Franklin County family-law attorneys.
• Franklin County CSEA (Child Support Enforcement Agency). (614) 525-3275. Opens IV-D cases and collects/distributes child support through wage withholding.
• Franklin County Juvenile Branch Help Center. 399 South Front Street. Procedural help for self-represented filers on never-married custody, paternity, and support cases.

Other Family-Law Topics in Franklin County

• Franklin County Divorce — Full filing guide with forms, fees, and the parenting class.
• Franklin County Dissolution — Cooperative path — both spouses agree first.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator — Run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself.
• Ohio family-law resources — 88-county directory of courts and legal aid.

Related to your child support case

• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on child support and related Ohio family law topics.

• 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.
• How to Modify Child Support in Ohio — Child support orders aren't permanent. When income or circumstances change substantially, Ohio lets you modify support — through a CSEA review or a court motion. Here's how.

Keep exploring Franklin County family law

• Ohio Child Support guide — Statewide overview of child support in Ohio.
• Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
• Franklin County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Franklin 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.