How do I change child support in Hancock County?

File a Motion to Modify Child Support (the Domestic Relations local form in a divorce/dissolution case, or Uniform Form 28 in a Juvenile case) under R.C. 3119.79. You generally must show a substantial change such as a 10% change in the guideline amount. Domestic Relations modifications are generally effective from the filing date. You can also ask the CSEA, (419) 424-1365, to review the order.

How much does it cost to start a custody or paternity case in Hancock County?

In the Juvenile Court, a new complaint (parentage, custody, or support) is a $125 deposit and a new motion (modification or contempt) is $100; service by publication adds $100. A deposit waiver is available if you cannot pay. Confirm current amounts with the Juvenile Court at (419) 424-7066.

If we were never married, where do I file for custody in Hancock County?

In the Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23), part of the combined Probate/Juvenile Court at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay, (419) 424-7066. The county lists these on its 'Paternity & Custody' page. New complaints are a $125 deposit; new motions are $100.

How do I establish paternity in Hancock County?

Sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity, request genetic testing through the CSEA, (419) 424-1365, or file a parentage complaint in the Juvenile Court using the county's Paternity & Custody forms. Once parentage is established, the Juvenile Court can set custody, parenting time, and support in the same case. The new-complaint deposit is $125.

Hancock County Child Support Attorneys

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

Hancock County, Ohio · Findlay

Child support follows Ohio's statewide income-shares guidelines. Where the order belongs depends on the parents: married parents handle support in the Domestic Relations Division; never-married parents handle it in the Juvenile Court. The Hancock County CSEA, (419) 424-1365, can also establish, collect, and review support administratively.

Hire Gavvl for your Hancock County child support case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Hancock County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start (flat fees from $950).

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 get or change a child-support order in Hancock County?

Run the Ohio child-support worksheet and file in the right court: in a divorce or dissolution, support is set in the Domestic Relations Division; for never-married parents, support is set in the Juvenile Court (a $125 new-complaint deposit). To change an existing order, file a Motion to Modify Child Support (the Domestic Relations local form, or Uniform Form 28 in a Juvenile case) under R.C. 3119.79, or ask the CSEA, (419) 424-1365, to review it. Domestic Relations modifications are generally effective from the filing date.

Put a flat-fee child-support attorney on your Hancock County case

Hancock County support runs on Ohio's income-shares worksheet, but where you file decides everything: married parents set or change support in the Domestic Relations Division, never-married parents in the Juvenile Court, and the Hancock County CSEA at (419) 424-1365 can also establish, collect, or review an order administratively. Gavvl Law runs the worksheet, picks the venue that fits your facts, and handles establishment or a R.C. 3119.79 modification for one flat fee agreed up front, with payment plans available.

Three ways to fix a number, one right choice. A support problem can go to the Domestic Relations Division, the Juvenile Court, or the CSEA, and each has different forms and deposits. We steer married-case modifications to the DR Motion to Modify Child Support and never-married cases to the Juvenile Court or a CSEA review, so you aren't paying to file in the wrong place.
The worksheet the court will actually adopt. Ohio's income-shares result is only as good as its inputs — both incomes, health-insurance cost, and parenting-time days. We build the child-support worksheet with backup for each figure so a magistrate can sign your number instead of continuing the hearing for missing documentation.
Filing date matters — so we move. In a Hancock County Domestic Relations case a modification is generally effective from the date you file, so every week you wait is money lost or overpaid. We prepare the motion and worksheet promptly; a continuing-jurisdiction support motion is $175 on the Clerk schedule (the Domestic Relations Costs page lists $275), and a Juvenile motion is $100.

If you would rather not litigate, the Hancock County CSEA, (419) 424-1365, can open a IV-D case and review an existing order, with payments running through Ohio Child Support Payment Central. We coordinate the court and the CSEA so an administrative review and a court motion work together instead of at cross-purposes.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the support motion (establish, modify, or terminate). The court filing fee is billed separately and this does not include in-court representation.

Establish child support: $950
Modify child support: $950
Terminate 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 child support case or see payment plans & financing.

Ohio Child Support by the Numbers

2024 Year Ohio's updated Income Shares support schedule took effect Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.021
10% Change in the calculated amount that justifies a modification Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.79
3 years How often either parent can request an administrative review Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.60
Age 18 When support normally ends — or high-school graduation, whichever is later Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.86

What Counts in an Ohio Child Support Calculation

What the worksheet counts	Counts toward support?	Notes
Both parents' gross income	Yes	Wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, and self-employment earnings
Health insurance for the children	Yes	Credited to the parent who pays the premium
Work-related childcare	Yes	Daycare and after-school costs are added in
Parenting time	Yes	Adjustments apply for substantial or equal parenting time
Imputed income	Sometimes	Added when a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed
A new spouse's income	No	Only the two parents' incomes are counted

Where to File: Hancock County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

300 South Main Street, Findlay, OH 45840
Phone: (419) 424-7818
Hours: Monday–Friday
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Hancock County Probate/Juvenile Court (Allan H. Davis Judicial Center)
209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay, OH 45840
Phone: (419) 424-7066
Hours: Monday–Friday

Child Support is the right path if…

You need a first child-support order, or your income or the other parent's income has changed.
Your parenting-time schedule or health-insurance costs have changed substantially.
You were never married to the other parent and need a Juvenile Court order.
You want the CSEA to establish, collect, or review support.

Filing Fees

Domestic Relations: a continuing-jurisdiction support motion is $175 on the Clerk schedule (the Domestic Relations Costs page lists $275). Juvenile Court: $125 new complaint / $100 new motion. CSEA review available · confirm current amounts with the Clerk (419) 424-7037 or the Juvenile Court (419) 424-7066

Forms & Filing Packets

Support in a divorce/dissolution (Domestic Relations)

Set or change support in the Domestic Relations case with the Ohio child-support worksheet and the Appendix A financial affidavit; to change an order, file the Motion to Modify Child Support under R.C. 3119.79.

Motion to Modify Child Support Obligation(s) (Hancock County DR) — Domestic Relations motion to change a child-support order under R.C. 3119.79; DR modifications are generally effective from the filing date.
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.
Appendix A – Personal History and Financial Affidavit (Hancock County) — Hancock County's required financial and personal-history affidavit filed in divorce, dissolution, and post-decree matters in the Domestic Relations Division.

Support for never-married parents (Juvenile Court) — $125 new complaint / $100 new motion (Juvenile Court)

File in the Juvenile Court using the Complaint for Support (or General Motion to modify), the parenting affidavit, and the Ohio child-support worksheet; the new-complaint deposit is $125 and a new motion is $100.

Complaint for Support / Objection to Administrative Order (Hancock County Juvenile Court) — Juvenile Court complaint for support, also used to object to a CSEA administrative support order.
Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio SC Form 28) — The Ohio uniform motion to change child support, medical support, or the tax exemption after a change of circumstances. File in the division that issued the order.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you ask the court to set or change support.
IV-D Application (Hancock County) — Application to open a Title IV-D child-support case through the Hancock County CSEA, (419) 424-1365, for establishment, collection, or review.

How to File Child Support in Hancock County

Run the Ohio worksheet. Complete the Ohio child-support worksheet using both parents' income, health-insurance costs, and parenting-time facts before filing.
Pick the right court. Set or change support in the Domestic Relations case if you were married, or in the Juvenile Court if you were never married; the CSEA can also review the order.
File the right form. Use the Domestic Relations Motion to Modify Child Support, or in Juvenile Court the Complaint for Support or Uniform Form 28, with the worksheet and financial affidavit.
Attend the hearing. A magistrate or the CSEA reviews the numbers; Domestic Relations modifications are generally effective from the filing date.

Hancock County Practice Notes

Hancock County CSEA handles support administratively. The Hancock County Child Support Enforcement Agency, (419) 424-1365, can establish parentage administratively, open a IV-D case, set support under Ohio's guidelines, and review existing orders. Support is paid through Ohio Child Support Payment Central.
Never-married parents file in Juvenile Court. If the parents were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are decided by the Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23) at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay, (419) 424-7066 — the county calls these 'Paternity & Custody' cases. The Juvenile deposit is $125 for a new complaint and $100 for a new motion, not the Domestic Relations fee schedule.
Hancock County publishes two overlapping DR fee lists. The Clerk-of-Courts schedule lists divorce $400 (no children) / $475 (with children) and dissolution $375 / $450, while the 'Domestic Relations Costs' page (effective July 1, 2025) lists divorce $550 / dissolution $450 with a $200 add-on for service by publication. Both are published; confirm the controlling amount with the Clerk at (419) 424-7037 before filing.
Juvenile filing deposits. In the Juvenile Court, a new complaint (parentage, custody, or support) is a $125 deposit, a new motion (modification or contempt) is $100, and service by publication adds $100. A poverty motion/affidavit can ask the Court to waive the up-front deposit. Confirm current amounts with the Juvenile Court at (419) 424-7066.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change child support in Hancock County?: File a Motion to Modify Child Support (the Domestic Relations local form in a divorce/dissolution case, or Uniform Form 28 in a Juvenile case) under R.C. 3119.79. You generally must show a substantial change such as a 10% change in the guideline amount. Domestic Relations modifications are generally effective from the filing date. You can also ask the CSEA, (419) 424-1365, to review the order.
How much does it cost to start a custody or paternity case in Hancock County?: In the Juvenile Court, a new complaint (parentage, custody, or support) is a $125 deposit and a new motion (modification or contempt) is $100; service by publication adds $100. A deposit waiver is available if you cannot pay. Confirm current amounts with the Juvenile Court at (419) 424-7066.
If we were never married, where do I file for custody in Hancock County?: In the Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23), part of the combined Probate/Juvenile Court at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay, (419) 424-7066. The county lists these on its 'Paternity & Custody' page. New complaints are a $125 deposit; new motions are $100.
How do I establish paternity in Hancock County?: Sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity, request genetic testing through the CSEA, (419) 424-1365, or file a parentage complaint in the Juvenile Court using the county's Paternity & Custody forms. Once parentage is established, the Juvenile Court can set custody, parenting time, and support in the same case. The new-complaint deposit is $125.

Free Local Resources in Hancock County

Hancock County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Current filing fees, deposit amounts, and case filing for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matters. Clerk of Courts, 3rd floor, 300 South Main Street, Findlay; (419) 424-7037. Hancock County publishes two overlapping DR fee lists, so confirm the controlling amount before filing. Forms are at https://www.co.hancock.oh.us/210/Forms; there is no public family-law e-filing.
Hancock County Probate/Juvenile Court. Handles never-married-parent parentage, custody, parenting time, and support, plus non-parent custody, at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay. Juvenile (419) 424-7066; Probate (419) 424-7079. New complaints are a $125 deposit; new motions $100. Paternity & Custody forms: https://www.co.hancock.oh.us/187/Paternity-Custody.
Hancock County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Establishes parentage administratively, opens IV-D cases, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, and reviews existing orders. Contact (419) 424-1365.
Free Pro Se Divorce Clinic. A free clinic runs monthly (1:00–4:00 p.m., First-Floor Conference Rooms of the Courthouse) for people without an attorney who qualify for Legal Aid — by appointment through the Legal Aid Line, 888-534-1432. LAWO and the Findlay-Hancock County Bar Association also hold a monthly Domestic Relations clinic.
Parenting Education (DR Rule 2.22). Cases with minor children require an approved online parenting class. Providers include A-OK ($30), Children in Between ($45.95 + $3), and Online Parenting Programs ($30). Program page: https://www.co.hancock.oh.us/212/Parenting-Education. File the certificate with the Clerk; questions (419) 424-7818.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.
Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services. Advocates can help with safety planning and protection-order petitions (no petitioner filing fee). Contact 419-420-9261 or 419-422-4766.

Related to your child support case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on child support and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
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.