Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody in Hancock County

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

Hancock County, Ohio · Findlay

Grandparents and other relatives sometimes step in when parents can't safely care for a child. A non-parent can ask the Juvenile Court for legal custody, but Ohio law gives parents a strong constitutional preference, so the non-parent must show the parents are unsuitable or have relinquished care.

How can a grandparent or relative get custody in Hancock County?

File a complaint for legal custody in the Hancock County Juvenile Court at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay, using the county's Paternity & Custody forms with a parenting affidavit and, where support is at issue, the Ohio child-support worksheet. Because parents have a constitutional preference, you must show the parents are unsuitable or have relinquished care before the court can place the child with a non-parent. The new-complaint deposit is $125; a deposit waiver is available.

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: 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

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

You are a grandparent or relative already caring for the child, or need to be.
The child's parents are unable or unsuitable to provide safe care.
You need legal authority for school, medical, and daily decisions.
You want a court order rather than an informal arrangement.

Filing Fees

Juvenile Court new-complaint deposit $125; service by publication adds $100 · deposit waiver available with a poverty motion/affidavit · confirm current amounts with the Juvenile Court at (419) 424-7066

Forms & Filing Packets

Non-parent custody complaint (Juvenile Court) — $125 new-complaint deposit (Juvenile Court)

File the Juvenile Court custody complaint with a parenting affidavit; be ready to show the parents are unsuitable or have relinquished care. The new-complaint deposit is $125.

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.

Add a support order

Where support is at issue, add the Ohio child-support worksheet; the CSEA, (419) 424-1365, can help establish and collect support once custody is set.

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 Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody in Hancock County

Confirm standing. Be ready to show you are caring for the child or that the parents are unsuitable or have relinquished care, given the constitutional preference for parents.
Prepare the complaint. Use the Juvenile Court custody complaint and a parenting affidavit; add the Ohio child-support worksheet if support is at issue.
File and serve. File at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, (419) 424-7066, pay the $125 deposit (or file for a waiver), and serve the parents.
Attend the hearing. The court decides custody based on the child's best interest after the unsuitability/relinquishment showing, and can set support.

Hancock County Practice Notes

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.
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.
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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a grandparent or relative get custody in Hancock County?: Yes. A grandparent or other non-parent can file for legal custody in the Juvenile Court, but must show the child's parents are unsuitable or have relinquished care, because parents have a constitutional preference. The new-complaint deposit is $125; a parenting affidavit and, where support is at issue, a child-support worksheet are filed with the complaint.
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 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.
How do I get an emergency custody order in Hancock County?: When a child faces immediate risk, you can ask for emergency (ex parte) temporary orders — in the Domestic Relations case if it arises in a divorce/dissolution (Civ.R. 75(N)), or in the Juvenile Court if the parents were never married. Bring an affidavit describing the specific danger. The court can issue temporary orders quickly and set a prompt follow-up hearing. A protection order may be the better tool if there is violence or threats.

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 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.

Related guides

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

Grandparents' Rights in Ohio: Visitation and Custody — Ohio grandparents can sometimes seek court-ordered companionship time or even custody — but only in specific circumstances and always under the best-interest standard. Here's how it works.
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.
Kinship Adoption in Ohio: Adopting a Relative's Child — When a child can't safely stay with their parents, relatives often step in. Kinship adoption gives that arrangement legal permanence. Here's how it works in Ohio — and how it differs from custody.