Fulton County Paternity Attorneys

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

Fulton County, Ohio · Wauseon

If the parents were not married when the child was born, the mother has sole custody by default under Ohio law. To change that — for the father to seek custody or parenting time, or for child support to be set — paternity must first be legally established. Fulton paternity cases are handled by the Juvenile Division at 210 S. Fulton Street in Wauseon (same building as the DR docket, but a separate court with its own rules), or administratively through CSEA. Since July 1, 2013, Fulton has not stocked paper forms at the courthouse — download every standardized form from the Ohio Supreme Court website.

Hire Gavvl for your Fulton County paternity case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Fulton 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 establish paternity in Fulton County, Ohio?

There are three Ohio paths. (1) Sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity at the hospital or any CSEA office — fastest if both parents agree and no other man is presumed the father. (2) CSEA administrative paternity order — CSEA can order genetic testing and enter an administrative paternity order. (3) Court order — file a Complaint to Establish Parentage at the Fulton County Juvenile Division at 210 S. Fulton Street in Wauseon under R.C. 3111. The court can also allocate custody and set child support in the same case. Fulton does not provide paper forms — download the Ohio Supreme Court standardized juvenile forms from supremecourt.ohio.gov. Juvenile filing fees are set by Fulton Juvenile Rule 20 (Security for Costs): a complaint that also asks the court to allocate custody, parenting time, or companionship carries a $200.00 cost deposit ($50 mediation fee deducted). Call the Juvenile/Probate Division at (419) 337-9242 to confirm the deposit for your filing.

Put a Fulton County paternity attorney on your case

When parents were not married at a child's birth, Ohio gives the mother sole custody by default, so nothing changes for the father until paternity is legally established. Fulton handles paternity three ways: a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, a CSEA administrative order, or a Complaint to Establish Parentage under R.C. 3111 filed in the Juvenile Division at 210 S. Fulton Street in Wauseon. Gavvl Law picks the fastest route that fits your facts and can fold custody and support into the same court case, with a flat fee up front for agreed matters and full representation when parentage is disputed.

The fastest path when parents agree. If both parents agree and no other man is presumed the father, a free Acknowledgment of Paternity signed at any CSEA office becomes final after 60 days. We confirm no presumption blocks it and handle the signing rather than opening an unnecessary court case.
Genetic testing and disputed parentage. Either party can request court- or CSEA-ordered genetic testing, which runs 99-percent-plus accurate. We manage the testing appointment and the hearing, and if you signed an Acknowledgment you regret, we move to rescind within 60 days or challenge it within one year for fraud, duress, or mistake under R.C. 3111.27.
Custody and support in one filing. A Juvenile parentage complaint can also allocate custody and set child support, saving a second case. We add the custody claim, Affidavit 4, both child-support worksheets, a parenting plan, and a Fulton Parenting Schedule so parentage, parenting time, and support are decided together.

Juvenile paternity filings follow Fulton Juvenile Rule 20, a $200 cost deposit with a $50 mediation fee deducted, which we confirm with the Juvenile/Probate Division at (419) 337-9242, and the Acknowledgment and CSEA administrative paths are free. Because the courthouse stocks no paper forms, we download every standardized juvenile form from supremecourt.ohio.gov before we file.

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: 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)

Paternity is the right path if…

You and the other parent were not married when the child was born.
There is no Acknowledgment of Paternity on file, or it was rescinded or challenged.
You need a court order for custody, parenting time, or child support — which requires established paternity first.
Genetic testing is needed because one party disputes biological parentage.

Filing Fees

Juvenile filings follow Fulton Juvenile Rule 20 — $200 cost deposit if custody/parenting allocation is requested ($50 mediation fee deducted); call the Juvenile/Probate Division at (419) 337-9242 · Acknowledgment of Paternity: free · CSEA administrative path: free · No paper forms at courthouse

Forms & Filing Packets

Court petition packet (Juvenile Division)

Filed at 210 S. Fulton Street, Juvenile Division. Use when there is any dispute, when the alleged father is unreachable, or when you also want custody and support orders in the same filing.

Complaint to Establish Parentage (Ohio SC Juvenile Form) — Opens a parentage action in the Juvenile Division under R.C. 3111.
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.

Custody and child-support add-on

Add to your parentage complaint to allocate parental rights and set support in the same case — saves a second filing.

Complaint for Custody / Allocation of Parental Rights (Ohio SC Juvenile Form) — Adds the custody claim to your parentage complaint.
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.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.
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.

How to File Paternity in Fulton County

Confirm Ohio is the child's home state under the UCCJEA. Generally, the child must have lived in Ohio for the last 6 months.
Try the Acknowledgment of Paternity first. If both parents agree and no other man is presumed the father, sign at any CSEA office. Free, final after 60 days.
Use CSEA's administrative path if needed. CSEA can order genetic testing and enter an administrative paternity order. Either party can object within 30 days and move the case to Juvenile Court.
File the court petition when contested or when you need custody / support orders. Complaint to Establish Parentage at the Fulton Juvenile Division at 210 S. Fulton Street in Wauseon. Add custody and support claims in the same case to avoid a second filing.
Attend the genetic-testing appointment and the hearing. Testing is scheduled within 30–60 days. The hearing follows once results are filed. Paternity is established by court order; custody and support orders follow.

Fulton County Practice Notes

Try the fastest path first. If both parents agree and no other man is presumed the father, sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity at any CSEA office. It is free and becomes final after 60 days.
Genetic testing. Either party can request genetic testing. The court (or CSEA) will order the parties and the child to a designated lab. Tests run 99%+ accurate. If the alleged father is excluded, the case is dismissed.
Rescinding an Acknowledgment. A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity can be rescinded within 60 days, or challenged in court within 1 year on grounds of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact (R.C. 3111.27).
Presumption of paternity. A man married to the mother at the child's birth (or within 300 days before) is presumed the father. An Acknowledgment will be rejected if there's an unrebutted presumption — you need a court action.
No paper forms at the courthouse. Fulton does not stock paper Juvenile forms. Download everything from supremecourt.ohio.gov before walking in. 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.
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.
How much does it cost to file in Fulton County?: Fulton uses two different fee structures depending on the court. Domestic Relations (General Division) cases — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree motions — follow the Appendix B security-cost schedule ($325 without children, $400 with children, $280 post-judgment with children); call the Clerk of Courts at (419) 337-9260. Juvenile Division cases — paternity, custody/parenting allocation, and support for never-married parents — follow Fulton Juvenile Rule 20 (Security for Costs), where a complaint or motion for allocation of parental rights, parenting time, or companionship carries a $200.00 cost deposit ($50 mediation fee deducted); call the Juvenile/Probate Division at (419) 337-9242. An Affidavit of Indigency is available to waive fees for qualifying low-income filers.

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 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.

Keep exploring Fulton County family law

Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity 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.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
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