Paternity & Parentage in Hocking County

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

Hocking County, Ohio · Logan

When parents were never married, establishing parentage is usually the first step before custody, parenting time, or child support can be ordered. In Hocking County, parentage and the resulting orders are handled by the Juvenile Court (Common Pleas, Juvenile Division) before Hon. Jonah M. Saving.

How do I establish paternity in Hocking County, Ohio?

Three ways: sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity (often at the hospital — once final it has the effect of a court order); use the Hocking County CSEA administratively, with genetic testing if needed ((740) 385-5663); or file a parentage complaint (Form 23) in the Hocking County Juvenile Court, 1 East Main Street, Logan; (740) 385-3615, where the court can order genetic testing. The initial appearance is set within 45 days of filing (Juvenile Local Rule 19).

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.

Paternity is the right path if…

The parents were never married to each other.
You need to legally establish (or contest) who a child's father is.
An unmarried father wants enforceable custody or parenting-time rights.
A parent needs a child-support order tied to established parentage.
You want custody, parenting time, and support decided in one Juvenile case.

Filing Fees

Acknowledgment has no court fee · CSEA testing through the Hocking County CSEA ((740) 385-5663) · Juvenile deposits: custody $100.00, child support $60.00 (Juvenile Local Rule 15) · original Juvenile pleadings signed in blue ink (Juvenile Local Rule 7).

Forms & Filing Packets

Agreed paternity (acknowledgment or CSEA) — No court filing fee for an acknowledgment

When both parents agree, sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity or use the CSEA. To then set support, open a CSEA case with the Application for Child Support Services (JFS 07076) and run the Ohio worksheet.

Application for Child Support Services (JFS 07076) — Opens a IV-D case so the CSEA can collect, disburse, and enforce support. Required in a dissolution or parentage case with children and any time you ask the court to set support. Available through the Clerk/CSEA.
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.

Parentage case (disputed or court orders needed) — Custody $100.00 · child support $60.00 (Juvenile Local Rule 15)

File a parentage complaint (Form 23) in the Juvenile Court with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and a child-support worksheet. In a contested case the court orders genetic testing within 7 days; if paternity is determined, the parties complete the HEA 3029 Determination of Paternity.

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.
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.
Application for Child Support Services (JFS 07076) — Opens a IV-D case so the CSEA can collect, disburse, and enforce support. Required in a dissolution or parentage case with children and any time you ask the court to set support. Available through the Clerk/CSEA.

How to File Paternity in Hocking County

Choose your route. If both parents agree, an Acknowledgment of Paternity or the CSEA is simplest. If paternity is disputed or you need custody or support orders, file a parentage case.
Use CSEA for testing if needed. Request genetic testing through the Hocking County CSEA ((740) 385-5663), which can issue an administrative order before any court case.
File the parentage complaint. File Form 23 at the Hocking County Juvenile Court with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and a child-support worksheet; the court can order DNA testing within 7 days.
Establish the record. If paternity is determined, complete the HEA 3029 Determination of Paternity for a corrected birth record.
Set custody and support. The court allocates parental rights on the child's best interest and sets child support under the Ohio guidelines, all in the same case.

Hocking County Practice Notes

Paternity unlocks an unmarried father's rights. Until parentage is established, an unmarried father cannot enforce custody or parenting time. Establishing paternity is the first step to any father's parenting or support order.
Parentage timeline. In a parentage case the initial appearance is set within 45 days of filing; if DNA testing is requested it is ordered within 7 days, with a pretrial within 6 weeks and hearing/trial within 60 days of the pretrial (Juvenile Local Rule 19).
Companionship after parentage. In a parentage case, companionship for the newly established parent may be set with an initial-relationship schedule if that's in the child's best interest (Juvenile Local Rule 10). The Juvenile standard companionship schedule is alternating weekends Friday 7:00 p.m.–Sunday 7:00 p.m.
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

How do I establish paternity in Hocking County?: Three ways: sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity (often at the hospital — it has the effect of a court order once final); use the Hocking County CSEA administratively with genetic testing if needed ((740) 385-5663); or file a parentage complaint (Form 23) in Juvenile Court, where the court can order genetic testing.
How long does a parentage case take in Hocking County Juvenile Court?: The initial appearance is set within 45 days of filing; if DNA testing is requested it is ordered within 7 days, with a pretrial within 6 weeks and a hearing/trial within 60 days of the pretrial (Juvenile Local Rule 19). Other custody/companionship motions are set within 90 days of filing.
We were never married — where do I file for custody in Hocking County?: In the Hocking County Juvenile Court (Common Pleas, Juvenile Division), Hon. Jonah M. Saving, 1 East Main Street, Logan; (740) 385-3615. Before custody or support can be ordered for an unmarried father, parentage usually must be established.
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).
Is the Juvenile companionship schedule the same as the divorce schedule?: No. For unmarried parents (parentage cases), the Juvenile standard companionship schedule is alternating weekends Friday 7:00 p.m.–Sunday 7:00 p.m. with its own holiday rotation (Juvenile Local Rule 10). The court can set an initial-relationship schedule if the parent and child do not yet have a relationship.

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 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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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