Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody in Hamilton County

How can a grandparent or relative get custody in Hamilton County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Custody by a Non-Parent in the Hamilton County Juvenile Court, 800 Broadway, Cincinnati, using the Custody — Non-Parent packet; the new-case deposit is $200. A non-parent must generally show the parents are unsuitable or have relinquished custody before the court will award custody under the child's best interest. For day-to-day authority without a full custody case, a grandparent can file a Grandparent Power of Attorney; a relative may also request companionship (visitation) using the Companionship — Non-Parent packet. All parties complete the free Triple P program.

Where to File: Hamilton County Court of Domestic Relations

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Hamilton County Juvenile Court
800 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 946-9431
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody is the right path if…

• You are a grandparent or other relative currently caring for the child.
• The parents are unable, unsuitable, or have relinquished care.
• You need legal authority for school, medical, and daily decisions.
• Custody by you serves the child's best interest.

Filing Fees

Juvenile non-parent custody: $200 new / $150 existing · Companionship: $200 new / $150 existing · Grandparent Power of Attorney filed with the Juvenile Court · All parties complete free Triple P

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody in Hamilton County

1. Decide custody vs. day-to-day authority. For lasting legal authority, file the Custody — Non-Parent packet. For school and medical decisions while a parent is unavailable, file the Grandparent Power of Attorney.
2. Gather proof of your caregiving and the parents' situation. Document how long the child has lived with you and facts showing the parents are unable, unsuitable, or have relinquished care.
3. File at the Juvenile Court and pay the deposit. File at 800 Broadway, Cincinnati. The non-parent custody deposit is $200 for a new case. Include the UCCJEA parenting affidavit.
4. Complete Triple P and attend the hearing. All parties in a custody case complete the free Triple P program. The Magistrate holds a pretrial and then a merit hearing if the case does not settle.

Hamilton County Practice Notes

• Non-parents must overcome the parental preference. Ohio law presumes a child is best with a fit parent. A non-parent generally must show the parents are unsuitable, unfit, or have contractually relinquished custody before the court reaches the best-interest analysis.
• Power of attorney vs. custody. A Grandparent Power of Attorney gives day-to-day authority for school and medical care but does not transfer legal custody, and a parent can revoke it. Seek full custody through the Non-Parent packet when you need lasting authority.
• 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I file in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Hamilton County?

If you are married to the other parent (or were married when the children were born), custody, parenting time, and child support travel with your divorce or dissolution at the Court of Domestic Relations. If you were never married, paternity and custody go to the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. Both branches sit at 800 Broadway in Cincinnati but are separate divisions. Grandparent and non-parent custody is always filed in Juvenile Court.

How much does it cost to file a family-law case in Hamilton County?

At the Court of Domestic Relations: a divorce or dissolution deposit is $325 without children and $375 with children; establishing custody or support for married parents whose case is not part of a divorce (Section 10) is $350; and post-decree motions are $125. In the Juvenile Court, custody runs $200 for a new case or $150 for an existing one, child support is $100, and paternity is $115. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk before filing.

Is the Triple P parenting program required in Juvenile Court?

Yes. All parties in a Hamilton County Juvenile Court custody case must complete the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P). It is free, taken online from home, and runs 6–8 individualized modules of under an hour each. You choose Triple P Online 0–12 or Teen based on the child's age, and you must show the completion certificate to the Magistrate or Judge at the first hearing. Register at triplep-parenting.com.

When does Hamilton County appoint a Guardian ad Litem or order an evaluation?

In contested custody matters the Court of Domestic Relations can appoint a Guardian ad Litem or order a custody evaluation through its Family Services. Standard evaluation fees are $900 for a Full Evaluation (children under 10), $600 for a Partial Evaluation (older children or minor modifications), and $200 for a Parenting Neutral Evaluation, with costs allocated at the Magistrate's discretion. Fees may be waived for indigent parties who file an Affidavit of Indigency.

Free Local Resources in Hamilton County

• Hamilton County Domestic Relations Self-Help Resources. Complete listing of all Domestic Relations forms, dissolution merit instructions (Form 9.0), the decree checklist, and the Accept/Reject/Resubmit e-filing guidance at hamiltoncountyohio.gov.
• Hamilton County Clerk of Courts E-Filing. Self-represented and represented parties can e-file Domestic Relations cases at efiling.hamiltoncountycourts.org. Pro se registration is available; credit cards accepted with a convenience fee. Help line (513) 946-5612.
• Hamilton County Job & Family Services — Child Support (CSEA). Hamilton County's IV-D child-support agency. Opens cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File the IV-D Application (HC7076) when establishing or modifying support.
• Hamilton County Juvenile Court Help Center. A partnership with the UC College of Law offering low-income residents free education and limited legal advice on custody, parenting time, companionship, and support in Juvenile Court. 800 Broadway, 1st Floor; (513) 946-9440.
• Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati. Free civil legal aid for low-income Hamilton County families, including help with custody, support, and domestic-violence protection orders.

Other Family-Law Topics in Hamilton County

• Hamilton County Divorce — Full filing guide for contested divorce in Hamilton DR.
• Hamilton County Dissolution — Both-parties-agree track with the Hamilton form system.
• Hamilton County Custody — Allocation of parental rights for married and never-married parents.
• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody works at a high level.

Related to your non-parent custody case

• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Adoption — Grow your family through step-parent, agency, or kinship adoption.
• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Grandparent / Non-Parent Custody guide — Statewide overview of grandparent / non-parent custody in Ohio.
• Cincinnati family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cincinnati 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.