Post-Decree Modifications in Greene County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Greene County, Ohio · Xenia

After a Greene County divorce, dissolution, or legal separation is final, the Domestic Relations Court at 595 Ledbetter Road keeps continuing jurisdiction over custody, parenting time, child support, and (if reserved) spousal support. Each change is a separate procedure with its own packet and legal standard, the Clerk's post-judgment deposit is $275, and every motion passes the Local Rule 1.7 pre-compliance review before it is filed. If the underlying order came from the Juvenile Division instead, the modification is filed there with different forms and fees.

How do I modify a Greene County divorce or dissolution order?

File the matching post-decree packet in the Greene County Domestic Relations Court at 595 Ledbetter Road, Xenia, after the Local Rule 1.7 compliance review. Use the Motion for Change of Parental Rights & Responsibilities packet to change custody (R.C. 3109.04(E) change in circumstances + best interest), the Motion for Change of Parenting Time/Visitation packet for schedule-only changes (best interest, R.C. 3109.051), the Motion for Change of Child Support packet (CSEA administrative review is an alternative), or the Motion to Change Spousal Support packet (only if the decree reserved jurisdiction). The Clerk's post-judgment deposit is $275; an Agreed Entry is $175. To relocate, file the Notice of Intent to Relocate (30 days in-county, 60 days out-of-county) and notify CSEA. Confirm current fees with the Clerk.

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: Greene County Domestic Relations Court

595 Ledbetter Road, Xenia, OH 45385, Xenia, OH 45385
Phone: (937) 562-6249
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: www.greenecountyohio.gov/415/Domestic-Relations-Court

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Greene County Court of Common Pleas — Juvenile Division
2100 Greene Way Blvd., Xenia, OH 45385, Xenia, OH 45385
Phone: (937) 562-4000
Hours: Court: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM · Clerk's Office: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Post-Decree Modifications is the right path if…

There has been a change of circumstances of the child or residential parent affecting custody.
The parenting-time schedule no longer works — a job, school, or the child's needs have changed.
A parent's income has changed enough to justify a child-support review.
The decree expressly reserved jurisdiction over spousal support and a change has occurred.
A parent intends to relocate and needs to file the required notice.

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

Filing Fees

$275 post-judgment motion · $175 Agreed Entry · $225 Notice of Intent to Relocate · CSEA support review is free · Confirm current amounts with the Clerk

Forms & Filing Packets

Change of custody / parental rights — $275 post-judgment deposit

Requires a change in circumstances of the child or residential parent since the decree AND best interest under R.C. 3109.04(E). Includes the Motion, Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, and Affidavit of Financial Disclosure.

Motion for Change of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Custody) Packet (Greene County DR) — Reallocates custody after a DR decree (R.C. 3109.04(E) change in circumstances + best interest). Includes the Motion, Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, Affidavit of Financial Disclosure, Notice of Hearing, and Instructions to the Clerk.

Change of parenting time / visitation — $275 post-judgment deposit

Schedule changes only — best-interest standard (R.C. 3109.051). A lower bar than a custody change.

Motion for Change of Parenting Time / Visitation Packet (Greene County DR) — Changes the parenting-time schedule only (best-interest standard, R.C. 3109.051) — a lower bar than a custody change.

Change of child support or spousal support — $275 post-judgment deposit

Use the child-support packet (CSEA administrative review is a free alternative); spousal support is modifiable only if the decree reserved jurisdiction.

Motion for Change of Child Support Packet (Greene County DR) — Changes a DR child-support order. Includes the Motion, Affidavit of Financial Disclosure, and Notice of Hearing. CSEA administrative review is an alternative path.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time the court sets or changes support.
Motion to Change Spousal Support Packet (Greene County DR) — Changes spousal support — available only if the decree expressly reserved jurisdiction over it.

Relocation notice add-on

File the Notice of Intent to Relocate 30 days before an in-county move, 60 days before out-of-county, and notify CSEA (Local Rule 4.2).

Notice of Intent to Relocate (Greene County DR) — File 30 days before an in-county move, 60 days before out-of-county, and notify CSEA (Local Rule 4.2). $225 deposit.

How to File Post-Decree Modifications in Greene County

Identify what you're changing. Custody, parenting time only, child support, or spousal support — each has a different standard and packet. You can combine related motions where appropriate.
Document the change. For custody, the change must be of the child or residential parent — not the moving parent. For support, gather paystubs, tax returns, and a current Affidavit of Financial Disclosure.
Build the matching packet. Use the Greene County packet for your change. Run a fresh Ohio child-support worksheet for any support motion.
Clear compliance review, then file. Submit the motion for the Local Rule 1.7 pre-compliance review; once approved, the Clerk files it with the $275 post-judgment deposit (or $175 for an Agreed Entry).
Attend the hearing. Judge Cynthia Martin or a magistrate (Amanda Holmes, Kimberly Stump Combs, or Mark Donatelli) hears the matter. Objections to a magistrate's decision follow Civ.R. 53 (Local Rule 3.12) and may require ordering a transcript.

Greene County Practice Notes

Custody and parenting time use different standards. Reallocating custody requires a change in circumstances of the child or residential parent plus best interest under R.C. 3109.04(E) — a high bar. Changing only the schedule uses the best-interest standard of R.C. 3109.051. A school-placement designation change within shared parenting is an administrative change, not a custody modification.
Each change is a separate packet. Greene County keeps custody, parenting time, child support, and spousal support as separate procedures with separate packets because they have different legal standards. Spousal support is modifiable only if the decree expressly reserved jurisdiction over it.
CSEA review is the free support alternative. Before filing a court motion to change child support, consider a CSEA administrative review — it's free and enforceable like a court order. Either party can object and trigger a court hearing.
Relocation has its own notice rule. A parent intending to move must file a Notice of Intent to Relocate (30 days in-county, 60 days out-of-county) and notify CSEA. The Court forwards it to the other parent unless a DV/abuse or address-confidentiality exception applies, and the move can trigger a parenting-time hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Greene County court handles changes after a divorce decree?: Post-decree matters from a Greene County DR case (divorce, dissolution, legal separation) stay in the Domestic Relations Court at 595 Ledbetter Road. If the underlying order came from the Juvenile Division (unmarried-parent or non-parent custody), the modification or contempt is filed there instead — different court, different forms, different fees.
How much does a post-decree motion cost in the Greene County DR Court?: The Clerk's deposit for post-judgment motions is $275; an Agreed Entry is $175; and a Notice of Intent to Relocate is $225. Every motion still passes the Local Rule 1.7 pre-compliance review before the Clerk files it. Confirm the current amount with the Clerk before you file.
Do I need permission to move with my child in Greene County?: You must file a Notice of Intent to Relocate (DR case) or Notice of Intent to Move (Juvenile case) and notify CSEA — at least 30 days before an in-county move and 60 days before an out-of-county move. The Court forwards the notice to the other parent unless a DV/abuse or address-confidentiality exception applies, and the move can trigger a hearing if either parent seeks to change the parenting orders.
Should I file a modification or a contempt motion in Greene County?: Use a modification when circumstances have changed and you need a different order going forward (custody, parenting time, or support). Use a contempt motion when the other party is willfully violating the existing order. They are separate procedures with separate packets, and you can file both when both apply.

Free Local Resources in Greene County

Self-Represented Parties Hub & Pro Se Guide. greenecountyohio.gov/420/Self-Represented-Parties — Greene's official online resource page for SRPs, including a comprehensive Pro Se Guide for the divorce-with-children process.
Clerk of Courts (filing after compliance review). Greene County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division, Greene County Courthouse, 45 N. Detroit Street, Xenia. Pleadings are filed here only after the DR Court's Local Rule 1.7 compliance review.
Greene County Juvenile Court. 2100 Greene Way Blvd., Xenia. (937) 562-4000.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Post-Decree Modifications guide — Statewide overview of post-decree modifications in Ohio.
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