Fulton County Child Custody Attorneys

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026

Fulton County, Ohio · Wauseon

In Ohio, "custody" means the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities. Where you file depends on whether the parents were married: Common Pleas General Division (DR docket) if you are married or divorcing; Juvenile Division if the parents were never married. Both dockets are at 210 S. Fulton Street in Wauseon; the General Division is heard by Hon. Scott Haselman, while the combined Juvenile/Probate Court is a separate court with its own local rules. Because Fulton has not provided paper forms at the courthouse since July 1, 2013, every form must be downloaded from the Ohio Supreme Court site. Court staff cannot help you select or complete the right forms.

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

If you are married or divorcing, custody is decided inside your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in the Fulton County Court of Common Pleas (General Division), 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon. If you were never married to the other parent, file at the Fulton County Juvenile Division at the same address — but paternity must be established first (Acknowledgment of Paternity through CSEA, a court paternity order, or the father being listed on the birth certificate). The court applies the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors, and uses one of Fulton's four local Parenting Schedules (A, A-1, B, or C) as a baseline — or your fully custom plan. Download every form from supremecourt.ohio.gov; Fulton does not stock paper forms. For married/divorcing parents, filing fees follow the Appendix B schedule — call the Clerk at (419) 337-9260. For never-married parents filing in the Juvenile Division, fees follow Fulton Juvenile Rule 20 (a $200.00 cost deposit, $50 mediation fee deducted) — call the Juvenile/Probate Division at (419) 337-9242 to confirm.

Fulton County custody, handled by Gavvl Law

In Ohio, "custody" is the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities, and in Fulton County the very first question is which courtroom hears it: married or divorcing parents go to Hon. Scott Haselman's General Division, while never-married parents file in the separate Juvenile Division, both at 210 S. Fulton Street in Wauseon, but with different case numbers, deposits, and rules. Gavvl Law files on the right docket, builds the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest case, and offers a flat fee up front with payment plans, plus full representation for contested custody.

Choosing the right docket the first time. Filing married-parent custody in Juvenile, or never-married custody on the DR docket, wastes the deposit and delays your child's order. We confirm which division applies and, for an unmarried father, establish paternity first through CSEA, a court order, or the birth certificate before the custody claim goes in.
Building the best-interest record. Fulton's judge weighs the R.C. 3109.04(F) factors and uses one of four local Parenting Schedules, A, A-1, B, or C, as the baseline. We choose or customize the schedule, prepare Affidavit 3 (UCCJEA), Affidavit 4, and both child-support worksheets, and frame the evidence around what actually serves the child.
Deposits and deadlines by division. DR cases follow the Appendix B schedule at (419) 337-9260, while never-married Juvenile cases follow Rule 20's $200 cost deposit, with a $50 mediation fee deducted, at (419) 337-9242. We track whichever applies, plus the mandatory parenting program due within 75 days under Local Rule 11.01.

Ohio must be the child's home state under the UCCJEA, generally six months of residence, and every form must come from supremecourt.ohio.gov because Fulton keeps no paper forms and its staff cannot advise you. We assemble the complete DR or Juvenile packet, file it in Wauseon, and prepare an Affidavit of Indigency when a deposit is out of reach.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the custody complaint or motion; you appear at any hearing.

Establish custody: $1,250
Modify custody: $1,450

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.

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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: Fulton County Court of Common Pleas (General Division)

210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH 43567
Phone: (419) 337-9260
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Fulton County Juvenile Division
210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH 43567
Phone: (419) 337-9242
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (closed daily 12:00-1:00 PM)

Custody is the right path if…

You need a court order for who the children live with, who makes major decisions, and the parenting-time schedule.
You and the other parent can't agree, or you need an order in writing to enforce.
Ohio is the children's 'home state' under the UCCJEA — generally, they've lived in Ohio for the last 6 months.
If you were never married, paternity has been (or will be) established.

Filing Fees

DR fees follow Appendix B — call the Clerk at (419) 337-9260; never-married Juvenile filings follow Rule 20 ($200 cost deposit, $50 mediation fee deducted) — call (419) 337-9242 · No paper forms at courthouse · Approved parenting seminar required for cases with minor children · Birth certificate required for Grandparent POA / Application for Custodian filings (firm rule)

Forms & Filing Packets

DR docket packet (married or divorcing parents)

If you're filing for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment, custody is allocated inside that case. Add these to your filing packet.

Parenting Proceeding Affidavit / UCCJEA (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Use alongside Fulton's local worksheet.
Fulton County Local Child Support Worksheet — Local version used in addition to the Ohio Child Support Calculator output.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian. Attach one of Fulton's local Parenting Schedules (A, A-1, B, or C) as the baseline.
Fulton Parenting Schedule A — One of Fulton's four local parenting-time templates. Attach the schedule you want incorporated into the order.

Juvenile Division packet (never-married parents)

File at 210 S. Fulton Street, Juvenile Division. Paternity must be established first via Acknowledgment of Paternity through CSEA, a court paternity order, or by being listed on the birth certificate.

Complaint for Custody / Allocation of Parental Rights (Ohio SC Juvenile Form) — Opens a custody case in the Juvenile Division for never-married parents.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit / UCCJEA (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Use alongside Fulton's local worksheet.
Fulton County Local Child Support Worksheet — Local version used in addition to the Ohio Child Support Calculator output.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian. Attach one of Fulton's local Parenting Schedules (A, A-1, B, or C) as the baseline.
Fulton Parenting Schedule A — One of Fulton's four local parenting-time templates. Attach the schedule you want incorporated into the order.

Shared parenting plan add-on

Required when asking the court to designate both parents as residential parents and legal custodians under R.C. 3109.04(G).

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.

How to File Custody in Fulton County

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.
Pick the right docket: DR or Juvenile. Married or divorcing parents → DR docket at 210 S. Fulton Street. Never-married parents → Juvenile Division at the same address. Grandparent or non-parent custody → Juvenile only (with the child's birth certificate).
Establish paternity first if unmarried. Sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity at any CSEA office, get a court paternity order, or confirm the father is on the birth certificate before filing for custody.
Download every form from the Ohio SC site. Affidavit 3 (UCCJEA), Affidavit 4 (Health Insurance), Ohio child-support worksheet, Fulton's local Child Support Worksheet, parenting plan, and a Fulton Parenting Schedule (A, A-1, B, or C). Fulton does not stock paper forms.
File at 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon. Married/divorcing → pay the Appendix B cost deposit (call the Clerk at (419) 337-9260 to confirm). Never married → pay the $200 Juvenile cost deposit under Rule 20, $50 mediation fee deducted (call the Juvenile/Probate Division at (419) 337-9242 to confirm). Or file an Affidavit of Indigency.
Complete the parenting seminar and attend court. Both parents in any case with minor children must complete Fulton's mandatory parenting program within 75 days of filing (Local Rule 11.01) before the final hearing. The approved online option is at assistingourkids.com, allowed by request to the Assignment Commissioner for cause.

Fulton County Practice Notes

Pick the right docket. Married or divorcing parents → DR docket in the General Division. Never-married parents → Juvenile Division. Same courthouse — but a separate court with different case numbers and different procedural rules.
Paternity comes first for unmarried fathers. For an unmarried father to file for custody or parenting time, paternity must already be established — via a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity through CSEA, a court paternity order, or the father being listed on the birth certificate.
Pick a Fulton Parenting Schedule (or attach your own). Fulton publishes four local Parenting Schedules — A, A-1, B, and C — that the judge uses as a baseline. Review all four before deciding which best fits your situation, or attach a fully custom schedule to your parenting plan.
Birth certificate firm rule (Juvenile only). If you're filing a Grandparent Power of Attorney / Caretaker Affidavit or an Application for Custodian, the child's birth certificate must be filed at the same time — Fulton Juvenile will not accept the filing without it.
No paper forms at the courthouse. Since July 1, 2013, Fulton does not stock paper DR or Juvenile forms. You must download everything from supremecourt.ohio.gov. Court staff cannot help you select or complete forms.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I file in Fulton Juvenile Division instead of Common Pleas?: If the parents were never married, custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity are filed in the Fulton County Juvenile Division (same courthouse, separate court with its own rules). If you were married, those issues travel with the divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in the General Division. Heads-up: Juvenile requires a child's birth certificate at filing for Grandparent POA/Caretaker Affidavit and Application for Custodian filings — not optional.
What parenting-time schedule will the court use in my case?: Fulton publishes four local Parenting Schedules — A, A-1, B, and C — that the judge uses as a baseline. You can attach one of those to your parenting plan, or submit a fully custom schedule. Review all four templates on the Fulton local forms page before deciding which best fits your situation.
Why do I need a birth certificate for a Grandparent Power of Attorney filing?: Fulton Juvenile requires the child's birth certificate to be filed at the same time as any Grandparent Power of Attorney / Caretaker Affidavit or Application for Custodian. This is a firm requirement — without it, the Juvenile Division will not accept the filing.
Why doesn't the courthouse have paper forms?: Since July 1, 2013, the Fulton County Court of Common Pleas does not provide paper domestic-relations forms at the courthouse. All standardized forms are free on the Ohio Supreme Court website at supremecourt.ohio.gov. The court's staff also cannot help you choose or fill out the right forms — if you need help, consult an attorney.
Does Fulton County have a separate Domestic Relations Court?: No. Fulton County does not have a separate DR Court. All family-law cases — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree motions — are heard in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas by Hon. Scott Haselman, who also handles civil and criminal cases. Cases involving never-married parents go to the combined Juvenile/Probate Court, a separate court in the same courthouse with its own local rules.
Do I have to take a parenting class in Fulton County?: Yes. Under R.C. 3109.053 and DR Local Rule 11.01, any party in a case allocating parental rights for minor children (divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and juvenile custody matters as ordered) must complete the mandatory parenting program within 75 days of filing the complaint or motion. If you take the class in the county where your case is filed, the cost is paid from your court-cost deposit; if you are permitted to attend online or out of county, you pay the provider directly. The online option is allowed by request to the Assignment Commissioner for cause (language barrier, out-of-state party, disability, or financial hardship) and is accessed at assistingourkids.com. A missed scheduled session costs a $10 rescheduling fee. Cases with children ages 5 through 17 also complete the "What About Me" program (Rule 11.03). Failing to complete on time can make you ineligible to receive an allocation of parental rights.
Do I have to use Fulton's local Child Support Worksheet?: Use both. Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov, print and sign that output, and also use Fulton's local Child Support Worksheet at fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/250. The judge expects both to be in the file.

Free Local Resources in Fulton County

Fulton County Court of Common Pleas. 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH 43567. Phone (419) 337-9260 · Fax (419) 337-9293. Hon. Scott Haselman presides — handles DR, civil, and criminal cases.
Fulton County Local Rules (rev. 1/26/2024). fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13192 — includes Appendix B fee schedule.
Fulton County Court Fee Schedule (Appendix B). fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13191/appendix-b — confirm current amount with Clerk before filing.
Fulton County Local Forms Page. fultoncountyoh.com/235/Forms — Court Orders 1-8, Pretrial Order, Settlement Conference Notice, and Parenting Schedules A/A-1/B/C.
Local Child Support Worksheet. fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/250 — used alongside the Ohio Child Support Calculator output.
Fulton County Juvenile Division. Same courthouse; separate court with its own rules. Phone (419) 337-9242 · Fax (419) 337-9273 (closed daily 12:00-1:00 PM). Forms at fultoncountyoh.com/650/Juvenile-Court-Forms. Birth certificate required at filing for Grandparent POA / Caretaker Affidavit and Application for Custodian filings.
Juvenile Local Rules (2021). fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13596 — covers juvenile filing requirements.
Online Dockets / Records Search. fultoncountyoh.com/231/Records-Search
The Center for Child & Family Advocacy (CPO help). (419) 335-4255 · theccfa.org — free Civil Protection Order assistance.
Legal Aid Hotline. (888) 534-1432 · legalaidline.lawolaw.org — free phone-based legal advice for income-qualified residents.
Ohio Supreme Court Standardized DR & Juvenile Forms. supremecourt.ohio.gov — Fulton does not provide paper forms; download everything here.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the worksheet and print it for filing.
Ohio Legal Help. ohiolegalhelp.org — plain-language guides and interactive court forms.

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.

Related guides

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

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.
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.
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.
Emergency Custody in Ohio: When and How to Get an Ex Parte Order — When a child faces immediate danger, Ohio courts can grant emergency custody on short notice through an ex parte order. Here's what qualifies and what happens next.

Continue your Fulton County research

Ohio Custody guide — Statewide overview of custody in Ohio.
Toledo family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Toledo metro.
Fulton County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Fulton County guide.
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