Hancock County Child Custody Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Hancock County custody 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 $1,440).

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.

Put a flat-fee custody attorney on your Hancock County case

Custody in Ohio means allocating parental rights and responsibilities — who the child lives with and who makes the major decisions. In Hancock County, married parents resolve custody in the Domestic Relations Division as part of a divorce or dissolution, while never-married parents file in the Juvenile Court on the Paternity & Custody docket for a deposit. Gavvl Law files in the right court, argues for the arrangement that fits your child, and represents you for one flat fee agreed up front, with payment plans available.

• Married or never-married decides the courthouse. Custody for married parents runs through the Domestic Relations Division inside the divorce or dissolution, but for never-married parents it's a separate Juvenile Court case at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center. We file in the court that actually has authority over your family, so you aren't paying to start over in the right place.
• Sole or shared — chosen strategically. Ohio offers sole custody, with one residential parent and legal custodian, or shared parenting, with both parents holding those roles under a plan. We help you decide which to seek based on how you and the other parent communicate, then prepare the parenting affidavit, plan, and support worksheet to back it.
• A first custody order that holds up. A first order sets the baseline every future dispute is measured against, so it pays to get it right. We prepare the parenting affidavit and a proposed plan, gather the evidence that shows what your child actually needs, and press for terms that won't need fixing a year later.

The court decides custody on the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04, weighing each parent's involvement, the child's adjustment to home and school, and whether the parents can cooperate. If you can't settle a schedule, the county's Appendix E parenting-time schedule takes over as the order — so we make sure it's a fallback you understand, not a surprise.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the custody complaint or motion; you appear at any hearing.

• Establish custody: $1,440
• Modify custody: $1,670

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

On limited-scope services of $2,000 or more, Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan with no interest and no credit check — takes 60% down to start, then the balance in three monthly payments, the first due 28 days after your initial payment. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your custody case or see payment plans & financing.

Real people — with direct lines

• Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
• Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
• Niva Elgin — Director of Attorney Relations · Licensed New Mexico Attorney
• Richard Furnish — Of Counsel Attorney

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — Niva Elgin, our Director of Attorney Relations and a licensed New Mexico attorney — or Richard Furnish, an Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorney. They've heard hundreds of situations like yours and will tell you plainly what you need, and what you don't. Meet the firm.

Your attorney

One of our Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorneys is your attorney for the case — from the first strategy call to the final order in Hancock County. You have their name and a direct line the day your file opens. Our attorneys.

Your case team

Niva Elgin keeps your case moving as Director of Attorney Relations. Madeline Wampler, Certified Paralegal, handles documents and scheduling. Erin Schultz, Finance Manager, handles billing and payment plans. Real people who answer when you call.

• 95+ five-star Google reviews
• 60+ years of combined Ohio family-law experience
• Super Lawyers Rising Stars honorees on the team: Elizabeth Warren (2021–2023) and Samantha Berkhofer (2019–2021)
• Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained — and every step after

1. Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, Niva Elgin, or Richard Furnish about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
2. Choose — Pick the level of help. Pay, or set up financing. Limited-scope flat fee or full representation — you choose, with real numbers in front of you. Pay online, or secure a Gavvl Direct payment plan or third-party financing in a few minutes. Nothing is billed until you decide.
3. Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
4. Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

• Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
• Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
• Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
• Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
• Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
• 24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Can I do this without an attorney?

sometimes, yes. Ohio lets you represent yourself, and for a genuinely agreed dissolution or a simple motion, some people do. The Hancock County forms and local rules are linked in the questions below, and our free tools will draft a parenting plan or estimate child support before you spend anything.

Here's what the online-divorce platforms leave out: most Ohio counties require their own forms and language on top of the statewide ones, and a rejected filing is the most common reason people call us after trying it alone. A $25, 30-minute call tells you whether you can do this yourself — and if you can, we'll say so.

• Free parenting plan builder
• Free child support estimate
• Attorney-written guides
• See the Hancock County forms & local rules

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

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

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

Custody is the right path if…

• You need a first custody and parenting-time order.
• You and the other parent can't agree on a residential schedule or decision-making.
• You were never married to the other parent and need a Juvenile Court order.
• You want a court-ordered plan that fits your child's best interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which forms do I need to file for custody in Hancock County?

Custody in a divorce/dissolution (Domestic Relations)

Custody is decided in the Domestic Relations case with the Parenting Affidavit, a parenting plan, and the Ohio child-support worksheet; Appendix E sets the standard schedule if you don't agree.

• Parenting Affidavit (Hancock County DR) — UCCJEA-style parenting affidavit filed in Domestic Relations cases that involve minor children.
• Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
• 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 E – Local Parenting Schedule (Hancock County DR) — Hancock County's standard Domestic Relations parenting-time schedule, applied when the parties do not agree to a different plan.

Custody for never-married parents (Juvenile Court)

File the Juvenile Court custody complaint with a parenting affidavit and the support worksheet; the new-complaint deposit is set by the Clerk.

• Paternity & Custody Page (Hancock County Juvenile Court) — The Juvenile Court's Paternity & Custody page, where unmarried parents file for parentage, custody, parenting time, and support at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay.
• Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 23) — Asks the Juvenile Branch to name a residential parent and legal custodian and set a parenting-time schedule when the parents were never married.
• Parenting Affidavit (Hancock County Juvenile Court) — UCCJEA parenting affidavit filed with a Juvenile Court parentage or custody case.
• 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.

How to file custody in Hancock County

1. Pick the right court. File custody in the Domestic Relations Division if you were married, or in the Juvenile Court if you were never married.
2. Prepare the packet. Complete a parenting affidavit and a proposed parenting plan (sole or shared), and the Ohio child-support worksheet.
3. File and serve. File with the right court, pay the applicable deposit (or request a waiver), and serve the other parent.
4. Best-interest decision. The court decides custody based on the child's best interest (R.C. 3109.04); Appendix E sets the standard schedule if you don't agree.

What does custody cost in Hancock County?

Two numbers matter. The court's filing fee, which the Clerk sets and can confirm. And the attorney work: Our published flat fees from $1,440 cover drafting and filing the paperwork (limited scope — the court's filing fee is invoiced separately), with payment plans available. Prefer full representation? An attorney can carry the whole case on a retainer — every number is published in the pricing section above.

What forms do I need for custody in Hancock County?

It depends on your situation — children, temporary orders, and which court you file in all change the packet. Answer the quick questions in the paperwork section above and your exact Hancock County checklist appears, with every official form linked as a PDF.

How long does custody take in Hancock County?

It depends on how much you and the other side agree. Agreed matters generally move through Hancock County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division in months, not years; contested cases take longer. The part you control is filing a complete, correct packet the first time — bounced paperwork is the most common self-filing delay.

Do we really need lawyers if we agree?

Maybe not — and we'll say so at a $25 consultation. But an agreement only counts if it survives on paper, in the exact packet Hancock County's court expects, and what you file becomes a binding court order that is hard to fix later. Precision drafting for people who already agree is most of what our flat-fee work is: done once, done right.

Where are the Hancock County local rules, and what does this court do differently?

Judges, magistrates, and filing fees change, so we do not publish them here. Hancock County posts the current information itself:

• Hancock County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division — local rules, standing orders, and the current judges and magistrates.
• Hancock County Clerk of Courts — current filing fees and deposits, e-filing, and case records.

• 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 set by the court for a new complaint and for a new motion, not the Domestic Relations fee schedule.
• A separate Domestic Relations Division hears divorce. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the Domestic Relations Division of the Hancock County Court of Common Pleas at the Hancock County Courthouse, 300 South Main Street, Findlay. Most matters are heard by a magistrate. File through the Clerk of Courts (3rd floor), (419) 424-7037; the DR offices can be reached at (419) 424-7818.
• An approved online parenting class is required. Any Hancock County case involving minor children requires an approved online parenting class (DR Rule 2.22). A divorce will not be completed until the Plaintiff attends; a dissolution requires both parties; a parenting motion requires the filing party. Approved providers include A-OK, Children in Between, and Online Parenting Programs. File the certificate with the Clerk; questions (419) 424-7818.
• Relocation more than 150 miles needs 30 days' notice. A residential parent who intends to move more than 150 miles must file and serve a Notice of Intent to Relocate at least 30 days ahead (DR Rule 2.19); if no one objects within 30 days, the long-distance parenting schedule becomes the order.

Are there free legal 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 deposit; new motions. 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, Children in Between, and Online Parenting Programs. 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.

Start Your Parenting Plan for Free

Before you meet with an attorney or mediator, try our free Ohio parenting plan builder — it explains sole custody vs. shared parenting in plain language and turns your answers into a printable worksheet you can bring to court, mediation, or a consultation.

Other Family-Law Topics in Hancock County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Hancock County family-law attorney for help with your case.

Related to your custody case

• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
• Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.

Related guides

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

• Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
• Shared Parenting in Ohio: How Joint Custody Really Works — Shared parenting is Ohio's version of joint custody — both parents stay legal custodians and share major decisions. Here's what a plan must cover and how courts decide.
• My Ex Leaves Our Child With the Grandparents During Their Parenting Time. Can I Do Anything About It? — Ohio courts favor grandparent relationships, so a few nights a month at grandma's is not a problem. It becomes one when the grandparents replace the parent. This guide explains why the court cannot order the grandparents to do anything, how to tell whether you have shared parenting or sole custody, and the six realistic options — from a documented conversation to a right of first refusal, contempt, a parenting time modification, a custody change, or an emergency motion.
• My Ex Has Mental Health Problems and I'm Worried About the Kids. What Can I Do in Ohio? — A mental health diagnosis alone does not cost an Ohio parent custody — courts look at whether the condition is affecting the child, and they weigh the health of everyone involved, including you. This guide covers what changes when a condition is untreated: emergency motions versus modification, court-ordered evaluations, what a guardian ad litem actually does, supervised parenting time with step-up plans, and the real limits on subpoenaing records.
• I Think My Ex Is Drinking or Using Drugs. Is There Anything I Can Do? (Ohio) — You do not have to prove your co-parent is using before you ask an Ohio court for help — you have to give the court a credible reason to look. This guide covers what a judge actually cares about, emergency filings versus modification, how to ask for the right test panel (fentanyl and alcohol are not on standard screens), EtG, PEth, hair and nail testing windows, alcohol monitoring during parenting time, guardians ad litem, and supervised time with step-up plans.
• Emergency Custody in Ohio: When and How to Get an Ex Parte Order — When a child faces immediate danger, Ohio courts can grant emergency custody on short notice through an ex parte order. Here's what qualifies and what happens next.

Continue your Hancock County research

• Ohio Custody guide — Statewide overview of custody in Ohio.
• Toledo family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Toledo metro.
• Hancock County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Hancock County guide.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.