Filing for Custody in Franklin County

How do I file for custody in Franklin County, Ohio?

If you are married or divorcing, custody is decided inside your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations at 373 South High Street, Columbus. If you were never married to the other parent, file a Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (typically with a paternity complaint if paternity has not been established) at the Franklin County Juvenile Branch at 399 South Front Street. The court applies the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors and can designate one parent as residential parent and legal custodian, or order shared parenting.

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, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3902
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Custody is the right path if…

• You need a court order for who the children live with, who makes the major decisions, and the parenting time schedule.
• You and the other parent can't agree, or you need a court order in writing to enforce.
• You need to relocate, your co-parent does, or your existing schedule is no longer working.
• Ohio is the children's 'home state' under the UCCJEA — generally, they've lived in Ohio for the last 6 months.

Filing Fees

~$100-$150 Juvenile deposit · Custody inside a divorce is included in the divorce deposit

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Custody in Franklin County

1. Confirm Ohio is the child's home state under the UCCJEA. Generally, the children must have lived in Ohio for the last 6 months. If they recently moved, the prior state may still have jurisdiction.
2. Pick the right court: DR or Juvenile. Married or divorcing parents → DR at 373 South High Street. Never-married parents → Juvenile Branch at 399 South Front Street. Grandparent or non-parent custody → Juvenile only.
3. Decide between sole and shared parenting. Sole = one parent is residential parent and legal custodian. Shared = both parents are residential parents and legal custodians under a written Shared Parenting Plan that meets R.C. 3109.04(G) factors.
4. File the complaint and the parenting and child-support paperwork. Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA), Health Insurance Affidavit, Child Support Worksheet, and IV-D Application are standard.
5. Complete the required parenting class and attend court. Pretrial conferences and (in contested cases) a GAL investigation precede the final hearing. The Magistrate issues a decision; either party has 14 days to file Objections.

Franklin County Practice Notes

• 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.
• Guardian ad Litem in contested cases. In a contested custody case, Franklin courts can appoint a Guardian ad Litem to investigate and recommend a parenting plan in the child's best interest. GAL fees are allocated between the parents.
• Parenting class required when minors involved. Both parents in any new case with minor children must complete "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" and file the Certificate before the final hearing.

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 (paternity, never-married custody, child support, modifications) are typically $100-$150. 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.

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) 525-3902 to confirm before filing.

Is the parenting class really required?

Yes — under R.C. 3109.053 and Franklin DR local rule, both parents in any divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment involving minor children must complete "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" and file the Certificate of Completion before the final hearing. The online class runs about $40 per parent and takes about 4 hours. The Juvenile Branch has a comparable requirement for never-married custody cases.

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.

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.

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.

Is mediation required?

Franklin DR strongly encourages mediation in any case involving children. Court-connected parenting mediation is available at no cost in many cases. The Magistrate can order mediation at any pretrial conference. Mediation is not required, and not appropriate, in CPO cases involving domestic violence.

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 custody 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.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Custody guide — Statewide overview of custody in Ohio.
• Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.