Shared Parenting in Hardin County

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

Hardin County, Ohio · Kenton

Shared parenting lets both parents stay residential parents and legal custodians under a written plan. In Hardin County, a shared parenting plan is filed in the Domestic Relations Division — inside a divorce or dissolution for married parents, or on the juvenile track for never-married parents. The court approves the plan only if it serves the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04.

How do I get shared parenting in Hardin County, Ohio?

File a written Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) asking the court to name both parents residential parent and legal custodian under R.C. 3109.04(G). Married parents file it inside the divorce or dissolution in the Domestic Relations Division; never-married parents file it on the juvenile track (a $300 complaint deposit under Juv Rule 28) after parentage is established. Include the Parenting Proceeding (UCCJEA) affidavit and the Ohio child-support worksheet, and complete the 'Successful Co-Parenting' class. The court approves the plan only if it is in the children's best interest.

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: Hardin County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

One Courthouse Square, Suite 210, Kenton, OH 43326
Phone: (419) 674-2233
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk)
Website: hardincountyjuvenilecourt.com/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Hardin County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division (juvenile, parentage & never-married matters)
One Courthouse Square, Suite 210, Kenton, OH 43326
Phone: (419) 674-2233
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk)

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to remain residential parents and legal custodians.
You can cooperate enough to share major decisions about the children.
You have (or can build) a written plan covering schedule, holidays, and decision-making.
Shared parenting fits the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04.

Filing Fees

Shared parenting inside a divorce/dissolution is part of that case deposit · never-married shared parenting is a $300 juvenile complaint deposit (Juv Rule 28) · parenting class required · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (419) 674-2278

Forms & Filing Packets

Shared parenting inside a divorce or dissolution (married parents)

File the Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) with the divorce or dissolution in the Domestic Relations Division, along with the Parenting Proceeding (UCCJEA) affidavit and the Ohio child-support worksheet.

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.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Hardin County) — Required in any case involving minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction over custody (R.C. 3127.23).
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.

Shared parenting on the juvenile track (never-married parents) — $300 juvenile complaint deposit (Juv Rule 28)

After parentage is established, file the Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights with a Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20), the Parenting Proceeding (UCCJEA) affidavit, the IV-D Application, and the support worksheet. The complaint deposit is $300 (Juv Rule 28).

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.
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.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Hardin County) — Required in any case involving minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction over custody (R.C. 3127.23).
IV-D Child Support Application (Hardin County) — Opens a child-support case with the Hardin County CSEA so support is collected by automatic wage withholding and enforced. Required whenever a child-support order is set in a case with children.
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 Shared Parenting in Hardin County

Build a written plan. Draft a Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) covering the schedule, holidays, decision-making, and how disputes are resolved.
Pick the right track. Married parents file inside the divorce or dissolution; never-married parents file on the juvenile track after parentage is established.
File the plan and affidavits. File the plan with the Parenting Proceeding (UCCJEA) affidavit and the Ohio child-support worksheet through the Clerk of Courts.
Complete the parenting class. Complete OSU Extension's 'Successful Co-Parenting' class before the final hearing (GD Rule 21).
Attend the hearing. The court reviews the plan under the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors and approves, modifies, or rejects it.

Hardin County Practice Notes

Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.
Parenting-time guideline (GD Rule 26 / long-distance Rule 27). Parents are encouraged to build their own plan. If they don't agree, the court applies its parenting-time guideline (GD Rule 26), with a separate long-distance schedule (GD Rule 27) when the parents live far apart. The guideline is the minimum; the court can order more or less based on the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors.
Mandatory parenting education (Successful Co-Parenting). In cases involving the allocation of parental rights, both parents must complete OSU Extension's court-approved 'Successful Co-Parenting' class — $30 per participant — before the final hearing (GD Rule 21 / Juv Rule 37). Register through OSU Extension at (419) 674-2297 and file the certificate of completion. Confirm the current cost and schedule with the provider.
One Domestic Relations Division hears it all. Hardin County has a single Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division (Judge Maria Santo; division created 1/1/2023 under R.C. 2301.03(FF)(1)) at One Courthouse Square, Suite 210, Kenton, (419) 674-2233. The same division hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment AND parentage, never-married custody, and civil protection orders — there is no separate juvenile court. Only adoptions and guardianships go to the separate Probate Court (Judge Steve Christopher).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard parenting-time schedule in Hardin County?: Parents are encouraged to build their own plan. If they don't agree, the court applies its parenting-time guideline (GD Rule 26), with a separate long-distance schedule (GD Rule 27) when the parents live far apart. The guideline serves as the minimum parenting time; the court can order more or less based on the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors.
Do married and unmarried parents file in different courts in Hardin County?: No — the same Domestic Relations Division hears both. If you are or were married to the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce or dissolution (GD Rule 3 deposits). If you were never married, parentage and custody are filed as a juvenile-track case in the same Domestic Relations Division under the Juv Rule 28 fee schedule (a $300 complaint deposit). Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are also filed on the juvenile track.
Is a parenting class required in a Hardin County case with children?: Yes. In cases involving the allocation of parental rights, both parents must complete the court-approved parenting-education program — OSU Extension's 'Successful Co-Parenting', $30 per participant — before the final hearing (GD Rule 21 / Juv Rule 37). Register through OSU Extension at (419) 674-2297 and file the certificate of completion with the court. Confirm the current cost and schedule with the provider before you register.
Which court handles divorce, custody, and support in Hardin County?: One court hears all of it: the Court of Common Pleas, Hardin County, Domestic Relations Division, One Courthouse Square, Suite 210, Kenton, (419) 674-2233 (Judge Maria Santo). The same Domestic Relations Division hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment for married spouses AND parentage, never-married custody, and civil protection orders — there is no separate juvenile court in Hardin County. Only adoptions and guardianships go to the separate Probate Court (Judge Steve Christopher). Petitions are filed through the Clerk of Courts, Suite 310, (419) 674-2278.

Free Local Resources in Hardin County

Hardin County Clerk of Courts (record custodian). One Courthouse Square, Suite 310 (3rd floor), Kenton, OH 43326; (419) 674-2278 (fax (419) 674-2273). The Clerk is the record custodian for Common Pleas filings, posts local forms at https://www.hardincourts.com/CLSite/forms.php, and confirms current deposits and copy counts. E-filing is available through https://efile.henschen.com/; fax filings to (419) 674-2273 must be 10 pages or fewer with a compliant cover page. Court costs can be paid online at https://www.hardincourts.com/CLSite/payment.php.
Hardin County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division. One Courthouse Square, Suite 210 (2nd floor), Kenton, OH 43326; (419) 674-2233 (https://hardincountyjuvenilecourt.com/). Created January 1, 2023 (R.C. 2301.03(FF)(1)) and led by Judge Maria Santo, this single Domestic Relations Division hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment AND juvenile, parentage, never-married custody, and civil protection-order cases — there is no separate Juvenile Court in Hardin County.
Hardin County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 175 W. Franklin St., Suite 200, Kenton, OH 43326; (419) 674-2269. The county IV-D agency establishes, modifies, collects, and enforces child support. Open a IV-D case to set up automatic wage withholding and enforcement.
Hardin County Job & Family Services — Children Services Agency. (419) 675-1130 (after hours (419) 673-1268; or (800) 442-7346). The county children-services agency investigates child abuse, neglect, and dependency. For an emergency call 911; the statewide child-abuse hotline is 855-642-4453 (855-OH-CHILD).
Successful Co-Parenting (parenting-education class). Hardin County's required parenting/co-parenting education is provided through OSU Extension's "Successful Co-Parenting" program — $30 per participant, offered in person and/or online. Registration is required; call (419) 674-2297 for current Hardin County dates before relying on it for a specific case.
Hardin County Probate Court (adoption & guardianship). One Courthouse Square, Suite 200, Kenton, OH 43326; (419) 674-2230. The separate Probate Court — not the Domestic Relations Division — handles stepparent and kinship adoptions ($200, plus $100 for publication if required) and guardianships; the Probate Court requires that you have an attorney for an adoption. It does not handle divorce or custody.
Legal Aid of Western Ohio. (888) 534-1432. Free civil legal help for income-eligible Hardin County residents, including some family-law matters. The Ohio Supreme Court also posts statewide self-help forms for self-represented litigants.

Related to your shared parenting 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 shared parenting and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
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.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Shared Parenting guide — Statewide overview of shared parenting in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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