Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody in Hocking County

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

Hocking County, Ohio · Logan

Sometimes a child is being raised by a grandparent, relative, or other close adult. A non-parent can ask the court for legal custody — the right to make day-to-day and major decisions — without permanently ending the parents' rights the way an adoption does.

Can a grandparent or relative get custody in Hocking County, Ohio?

Yes. A non-parent can file a complaint for legal custody in the Hocking County Juvenile Court under R.C. 2151.23, naming the parents, with the parenting and (if support is at issue) financial affidavits; the custody deposit is $100.00 (Juvenile Local Rule 15). Custody motions are set for pretrial and final hearing within 90 days of filing, decided on the child's best interest. When the child's parents are or were married to each other, the request may instead belong in the Common Pleas DR Division (Local Rule 73.01(E)).

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: Hocking County Court of Common Pleas, General & Domestic Relations Division

1 East Main Street
Phone: (740) 385-4027
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: hocking.oh.gov/commonpleas

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Hocking County Juvenile Court (Common Pleas, Juvenile Division)
1 East Main Street
Phone: (740) 385-3615
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

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

You are a grandparent, relative, or close adult raising a child who isn't yours.
You need legal authority for school, medical care, and stability.
You want legal custody, not a permanent adoption that ends parental rights.
The arrangement is in the child's best interest.
You can name the parents and serve them with the case.

Filing Fees

Juvenile custody deposit $100.00 (Juvenile Local Rule 15) · when the parents are/were married, the request may belong in the Common Pleas DR Division (Local Rule 73.01(E)) — confirm the right court and deposit with the Clerk at (740) 385-2616 · original Juvenile pleadings signed in blue ink (Juvenile Local Rule 7).

Forms & Filing Packets

Non-parent legal custody (Juvenile Court) — Custody $100.00 (Juvenile Local Rule 15)

File a complaint for legal custody in the Juvenile Court naming the parents, with the parenting affidavit and (if support is at issue) financial affidavits. The court decides on the child's best interest; a guardian ad litem may be appointed (Juvenile Local Rule 14).

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 Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction over custody under the UCCJEA. Required in any case involving minor children.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
Hocking County Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Forms — The Common Pleas (General/DR Division) forms library, including the county Party Supplemental Information Affidavit, the Parenting Supplemental Information Affidavit, and the Notice of Intent to Relocate. Confirm you have the current version before filing.

Non-parent custody when parents are/were married — Confirm the deposit with the Clerk at (740) 385-2616

When the child's parents are or were married to each other, a non-parent's request for custody or visitation may instead be filed in the Common Pleas DR Division (Local Rule 73.01(E)). Confirm the right court for your situation before filing.

Hocking County Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Forms — The Common Pleas (General/DR Division) forms library, including the county Party Supplemental Information Affidavit, the Parenting Supplemental Information Affidavit, and the Notice of Intent to Relocate. Confirm you have the current version before filing.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.

How to File Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody in Hocking County

Confirm the right court. Never-married parents → Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23). Parents who are or were married → the request may belong in the Common Pleas DR Division (Local Rule 73.01(E)).
Prepare the complaint. Complete a complaint for legal custody naming the parents, with the parenting affidavit and (if support is at issue) the financial affidavits.
File and pay the deposit. File with the Juvenile Court and pay the $100.00 custody deposit (sign originals in blue ink), or confirm the DR Division deposit if the parents are/were married.
Serve the parents. The parents are served and may respond; the court schedules an initial appearance.
Attend the best-interest hearing. Custody motions are set for pretrial and final hearing within 90 days of filing; a guardian ad litem may be appointed before the court decides on the child's best interest.

Hocking County Practice Notes

Legal custody is not adoption. Legal custody to a non-parent gives the adult day-to-day and major decision-making authority but does not permanently end the parents' rights the way an adoption does. The parents keep residual rights, including (usually) some parenting time and a continuing support duty.
Which court hears it. When the parents were never married, non-parent custody belongs in the Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23). When the parents are or were married to each other, the request may belong in the Common Pleas DR Division (Local Rule 73.01(E)) — confirm with the court.
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.
Juvenile filings signed in blue ink. Original pleadings filed in the Hocking County Juvenile Court must be signed in blue ink (Juvenile Local Rule 7).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a grandparent or relative get custody in Hocking County?: Yes. A non-parent can seek legal custody in the Juvenile Court under R.C. 2151.23, decided on the child's best interest (custody deposit $100.00). When the child's parents are or were married to each other, the request may instead belong in the Common Pleas DR Division (Local Rule 73.01(E)) — confirm the right court for your situation.
How does the court decide custody in Hocking County?: On the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F)(1), which lists 10+ factors including each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of suitable age), the child's adjustment to home/school/community, the mental and physical health of everyone involved, and which parent is more likely to honor court-approved parenting time. A guardian ad litem may be appointed in a contested case.
What does it cost to file a custody or child-support case in Juvenile Court?: Custody is a $100.00 deposit; child support is a $60.00 deposit (Juvenile Local Rule 15). Ask the court about a fee waiver. Original Juvenile pleadings must be signed in blue ink (Juvenile Local Rule 7).
Which Hocking County court hears my family-law case?: Married/formerly married matters — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree, and adult protection orders — are heard in the Court of Common Pleas, General & Domestic Relations Division ((740) 385-4027). Never-married parentage, custody, support, companionship, and non-parent custody are heard in the Juvenile Court ((740) 385-3615). Both are at 1 East Main Street, Logan.

Free Local Resources in Hocking County

Hocking County DIY Divorce Forms. The Common Pleas Court's do-it-yourself divorce information and form links for self-represented filers: https://hocking.oh.gov/commonpleas/DIY-Divorce-Forms
Hocking County Common Pleas Forms. Domestic-relations forms, including the county Party and Parenting Supplemental Information Affidavits and the Notice of Intent to Relocate: https://hocking.oh.gov/commonpleas/Forms
Hocking County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Hocking County DJFS, 350 State Route 664 N, Logan, OH 43138; (740) 385-5663. Establish, modify, collect, and enforce child support (including interstate cases).
Ohio Child Support Calculator. The official 2024 Income Shares calculator used to estimate child support before you file: https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/
Hocking County Prosecutor — Victim Services & Sheriff. Help filing a protection order: Prosecutor's Office of Victim Services (740) 385-5343; Hocking County Sheriff's Office (740) 385-2131.

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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Grandparent / Non-Parent Custody guide — Statewide overview of grandparent / non-parent custody in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney 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.