Fulton County Post-Decree Modification Attorneys

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

Fulton County, Ohio · Wauseon

After a Fulton County divorce or dissolution is final, the Common Pleas General Division keeps continuing jurisdiction over child support, custody, parenting time, and (sometimes) spousal support. To change any of those, file a post-decree motion at the Clerk of Courts at 210 S. Fulton Street in Wauseon. Fulton uses the Ohio SC standardized post-decree forms — Form 27 to change custody, Form 28 to change child support, Form 26 to change parenting time.

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How do I modify a Fulton County divorce or dissolution decree?

Use Ohio SC Form 27 to change custody (residential parent / legal custodian), Form 28 to change child support, or Form 26 to change the parenting-time schedule. Custody changes require a change of circumstances of the child or residential parent plus best interest under R.C. 3109.04(E). Child support can also be reviewed administratively by CSEA every 36 months or on a 10%+ change. File at the Fulton County Clerk of Courts, 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon. Download every form from supremecourt.ohio.gov. Filing fees in Appendix B of the Local Rules — call (419) 337-9260. Property division is final and cannot be modified.

Hire Gavvl Law for Fulton County post-decree modifications

After a Fulton County decree is final, the General Division keeps continuing jurisdiction over child support, custody, parenting time, and, where the decree reserved it, spousal support, but property division is done for good. Changing an order means the right Ohio Supreme Court motion: Form 27 to change custody, Form 28 for support, or Form 26 for parenting time, filed with the Clerk at 210 S. Fulton Street in Wauseon. Gavvl Law matches the motion to your goal, proves the required change, and quotes a flat fee up front with payment plans, plus full representation for contested modifications.

Custody's high bar vs. a parenting-time tweak. R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) makes a Form 27 custody change require a change of circumstances of the child or residential parent, best interest, and a harm-versus-benefit finding, so "I want more time" is not enough and belongs on a Form 26 instead. We file the motion that actually fits and can survive the standard.
Free CSEA review before a Form 28 fight. Before litigating support, either party can request a free CSEA administrative review, available every 36 months or on a 10-percent-or-more change, with an enforceable result in roughly 60 to 90 days. We use it when it is faster and re-run both child-support worksheets when court is the better route.
Property division is final, support and parenting are not. Fulton will not reopen the property or debt allocation in a decree, so we focus the modification on what the court can still change and, if a magistrate's support order is wrong, file Fulton's local Objection to Child Support form within its printed deadline.

Modifications for never-married parents go to the separate Juvenile Division at the same courthouse, while divorced parents file with Hon. Scott Haselman's General Division under Appendix B, and we confirm the current deposit at (419) 337-9260 or (419) 337-9242. Because Fulton stocks no paper forms, we download Forms 26, 27, and 28 from supremecourt.ohio.gov and document the change of circumstances before filing in Wauseon.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the motion to modify an existing custody, parenting-time, or support order. You appear at any hearing.

Modify custody or parenting time: $1,450
Modify 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 post-decree modifications 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)

Post-Decree Modifications is the right path if…

Your income or the other parent's income has changed by 10% or more since the support order was entered.
It has been 36 months or longer since the last child-support review.
There has been a change of circumstances of the child or residential parent affecting custody.
The parenting-time schedule is no longer working — a job, school, relocation, or the child's needs have changed.
The decree expressly reserved jurisdiction to modify spousal support and a change has occurred.

If the other party is violating the existing order, you may want a contempt motion instead — or alongside. See Fulton County post-decree contempt.

Filing Fees

Filing fees in Appendix B of the Local Rules · CSEA administrative review is free · No paper forms at courthouse · Court staff cannot help with forms

Forms & Filing Packets

Change of custody / parental rights — Form 27 — Contact Clerk (Appendix B)

Requires 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 (R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a)).

Motion for Change of Parental Rights (Ohio SC Form 27) — Asks the court to reallocate parental rights and responsibilities. Requires change of circumstances and best interest under R.C. 3109.04(E).
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.

Change of child support — Form 28 — Contact Clerk (Appendix B)

Free administrative CSEA review is available every 36 months or earlier on a 10%+ change. You can also file the court motion below at any time.

Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio SC Form 28) — Asks the court to modify an existing child-support order.
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.
Financial Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer.

Change of parenting time — Form 26 — Contact Clerk (Appendix B)

Lower bar than a custody change. Best-interest standard applies; no change-of-circumstances required for parenting-time-only modifications under R.C. 3109.051.

Motion for Change of Parenting Time (Ohio SC Form 26) — Asks the court to change the parenting-time schedule.

How to File Post-Decree Modifications in Fulton County

Identify what you need to change. Custody (Form 27), child support (Form 28), or parenting time only (Form 26). You can combine them in one filing — bring all three forms if multiple issues apply.
Document the change of circumstances. For custody, the change must be of the child or residential parent — not the moving parent. For support, document the income change with paystubs, tax returns, and a current Affidavit 1.
Run both child-support worksheets. Use the Ohio Child Support Calculator AND Fulton's local worksheet. Required for any Form 28 motion and recommended for Form 27.
Download every form from the Ohio SC site. Fulton does not stock paper forms at the courthouse.
File at the Clerk of Courts in Wauseon. Pay the cost deposit from Appendix B. The case is heard by Hon. Scott Haselman.

Fulton County Practice Notes

Property division is final. Fulton Common Pleas will not modify the property/debt allocation in a final decree. Once divided, it stays divided. Only support, custody, parenting time, and (if expressly reserved) spousal support are modifiable.
Custody change has a high bar. R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) requires a change of circumstances of the child or residential parent (not the moving parent) AND best interest AND harm-vs-benefit. "I want more time" is not enough — file a Form 26 parenting-time motion instead.
CSEA review is free. Before filing a Form 28, consider requesting a CSEA administrative review — it's free, takes about 60-90 days, and the result is enforceable like a court order. Either party can object and trigger a court hearing.
Object to a magistrate's child-support order in writing. If a magistrate enters a child-support order you disagree with, Fulton publishes a local Objection to Child Support Order form at fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/19847. Read the instructions at the bottom — there's a filing fee and a hard deadline.
Juvenile Division for never-married parents. If the parties were never married, modifications go to the Fulton Juvenile Division (same courthouse, separate court with its own rules). Forms at fultoncountyoh.com/650/Juvenile-Court-Forms.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
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.
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.
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 guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on post-decree modifications and related Ohio family law topics.

Post-Decree Modifications in Ohio: Changing Your Order After Divorce — Your divorce decree isn't carved in stone. When life changes, Ohio lets you modify custody, parenting time, and support — but each requires meeting a specific legal standard. Here's how.
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.
Contempt Motions in Ohio Family Court: Enforcing Your Order — When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding the children or refusing to pay support — a contempt motion is how Ohio courts enforce it. Here's how the process works.