Hancock County Paternity Attorneys
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026
Hancock County, Ohio · Findlay
When parents are not married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are decided in the Juvenile Court at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay — the county's 'Paternity & Custody' docket. Establishing paternity is the legal foundation for a father's rights and for a child-support order.
Hire Gavvl for your Hancock County paternity 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 establish paternity in Hancock County, Ohio?
Sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity, request genetic testing through the Hancock County CSEA, (419) 424-1365, or file a parentage complaint in the Juvenile Court using the county's Paternity & Custody forms with a parenting affidavit and the Ohio child-support worksheet, then serve the other parent. The court can order genetic testing where parentage is disputed and can allocate custody, parenting time, and support in the same case. The new-complaint deposit is $125.
Hire Gavvl Law to establish paternity in Hancock County
For unmarried parents, everything — a father's rights, custody, parenting time, and support — starts with parentage, and in Hancock County that is decided on the Juvenile Court's 'Paternity & Custody' docket at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay. Gavvl Law can establish parentage by Acknowledgment, through CSEA genetic testing, or by filing a parentage complaint that also sets custody and support in the same case — for one flat fee agreed up front, with financing available.
- One case that settles parentage, custody, and support. The Juvenile Court can decide parentage and, in the same action, allocate parental rights and set support. We file the parentage complaint with the county's parenting affidavit and the Ohio child-support worksheet so you leave with an enforceable custody and support order, not just a paternity finding.
- Genetic testing handled the efficient way. Where parentage is disputed, testing can be ordered by the Juvenile Court or arranged administratively through the Hancock County CSEA at (419) 424-1365. We choose the faster route for your situation and make sure the result is entered so it actually controls the case.
- A flat fee that fits an unmarried-parent budget. The Juvenile Court new-complaint deposit is $125, and service by publication adds $100 if the other parent can't be located. We quote one flat fee up front for the parentage case, offer payment plans, and file a poverty motion for an eligible parent so cost doesn't keep a father off the record or a child off support.
Signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity is quick, but it is not the same as a custody or parenting-time order — many Hancock County fathers learn that too late. We explain when an Acknowledgment is enough and when you need a Juvenile Court order, so establishing paternity actually secures the parenting time and decision-making you want.
Flat-fee options
Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the parentage complaint to establish legal paternity — adding custody and parenting time if you need it. You appear at any hearings yourself.
- Establish paternity (parentage complaint): $950
- Paternity with custody & parenting time: $1,350
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.
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 45840Phone: (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
Paternity is the right path if…
- The parents were not married when the child was born.
- You need to legally establish who the father is.
- An unmarried father wants enforceable custody or parenting-time rights.
- A parent needs a child-support order tied to established parentage.
Filing Fees
Juvenile Court parentage deposit $125 (new complaint); service by publication adds $100 · administrative parentage and genetic testing via the CSEA, (419) 424-1365 · fee waiver for indigent filers · confirm current amounts with the Juvenile Court at (419) 424-7066
Forms & Filing Packets
Parentage complaint with custody and support — $125 new-complaint deposit (Juvenile Court)
File the Juvenile Court parentage complaint with the parenting affidavit and the Ohio child-support worksheet, then serve the other parent; the court allocates parental rights and sets support in the same case.
- 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.
Genetic testing / CSEA route
Where parentage is disputed, ask the court to order genetic testing; parentage can also be established administratively through the Hancock County CSEA before or instead of a court case.
- 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.
- Parenting Affidavit (Hancock County Juvenile Court) — UCCJEA parenting affidavit filed with a Juvenile Court parentage or custody case.
How to File Paternity in Hancock County
- Choose the court or CSEA route. File a parentage complaint in the Juvenile Court, or establish parentage administratively through the Hancock County CSEA, (419) 424-1365.
- Prepare the complaint packet. Complete the Juvenile Court parentage complaint, the parenting affidavit, and an Ohio child-support worksheet.
- File and serve. File at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay, (419) 424-7066, pay the $125 deposit, and serve the other parent.
- Resolve parentage and orders. The court can order genetic testing where parentage is disputed, then allocate custody and parenting time and 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
- 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.
- 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.
- What's the difference between sole custody and shared parenting in Hancock County?
- With sole custody, one parent is the residential parent and legal custodian and the other gets parenting time. With shared parenting, both parents are legal custodian and residential parent under a filed shared parenting plan. Hancock County posts a Shared Parenting Plan and a Local Parenting Plan, and Appendix E sets the standard parenting-time schedule when the parties do not agree to a different plan.
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.
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 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.
Related guides
In-depth, attorney-written guides on paternity and related Ohio family law topics.
- Fathers' Rights in Ohio: Custody, Paternity, and Parenting Time — Ohio law does not favor mothers over fathers — but unmarried fathers must establish paternity before they have any rights. Here's how fathers protect their relationship with their children.
- 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.
- 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.
More Hancock County family-law resources
- Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity 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.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
