Establishing Paternity in Hamilton County

How do I establish paternity in Hamilton County, Ohio?

File a complaint to establish the parent-child relationship in the Hamilton County Juvenile Court, 800 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202, using the Paternity packet (a father's packet or a mother's packet). The filing fee is $115. If the parties don't agree, the court orders genetic testing. Once paternity is established, the same court can set custody, parenting time, and child support. To undo an earlier finding, file a Petition to Set Aside Paternity ($100).

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.

Paternity is the right path if…

• The parents were not married when the child was born.
• You need a legal father established before custody or support can be ordered.
• You want genetic testing to confirm or rule out fatherhood.
• Ohio is the child's home state under the UCCJEA.

Filing Fees

Paternity (parent-child relationship): $115 · Set aside paternity: $100 · Foreign decree: $75 · Genetic testing ordered by the court when paternity is disputed

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Paternity in Hamilton County

1. Choose the correct packet. Use the father's packet or the mother's packet from juvenile-court.org. To undo an existing finding, use the Petition to Set Aside Paternity instead.
2. File at the Juvenile Court and pay the fee. File at 800 Broadway, Cincinnati. The fee is $115 to establish the parent-child relationship (or $100 to set aside). Confirm Ohio is the child's home state under the UCCJEA.
3. Complete genetic testing if ordered. If the parties don't agree on paternity, the court orders genetic testing. A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity may resolve the issue without a hearing.
4. Move to custody and support. Once paternity is established, ask the same Juvenile Court to set custody, parenting time, and child support, and complete the free Triple P program if a custody case is opened.

Hamilton County Practice Notes

• Paternity comes before custody and support. A never-married father has no enforceable custody or support rights until paternity is legally established. Filing the paternity packet first lets the same Juvenile Court address custody, parenting time, and support in the same case.
• Genetic testing. Either party can request genetic testing. The court (or CSEA) will order the parties and child to a designated lab. Tests run 99%+ accurate. If the alleged father is excluded, the case is dismissed and the Ohio Department of Health updates the birth record.

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.

Can I rescind an Acknowledgment of Paternity in Ohio?

A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity can be rescinded within 60 days of the last signature by contacting your local Child Support Enforcement Agency and completing a Request for Paternity Determination. After 60 days you must challenge the acknowledgment in court within 1 year on grounds of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact (R.C. 3111.27). Genetic testing is typically ordered, and the Ohio Department of Health updates the birth record if the alleged father is excluded.

What does it mean for Ohio to be my child's 'home state' under the UCCJEA?

Under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127), Ohio is the children's home state when they have lived in Ohio with a parent for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before the filing. If the children recently moved, the prior state may still have jurisdiction. Ohio courts can also decline jurisdiction as an inconvenient forum under R.C. 3127.21 even when home-state requirements are met.

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 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.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity 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.