Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody in Holmes County, Ohio

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

Holmes County, Ohio · Millersburg

A grandparent or other relative caring for a child can seek legal custody through the Juvenile Court, or use a Grandparent Power of Attorney / Caretaker Authorization Affidavit for day-to-day school and medical decisions without a full custody case.

Can a grandparent get custody in Holmes County, Ohio?

Yes. A relative or other non-parent can seek legal custody of a child through the Holmes County Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23(A)(2)). Because parents have a constitutionally protected interest, a non-parent generally must first show the parents are unsuitable — unfit, abandoned the child, relinquished custody, or that parental custody would harm the child — before the court reaches best interest. The Juvenile custody/visitation/parentage deposit is $63. For school and medical decisions without a full case, a relative can instead use the Grandparent Power of Attorney / Caretaker Authorization Affidavit packet. Confirm the current filing fee with the Juvenile Court.

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: Holmes County Court of Common Pleas, General & Domestic Relations Divisions

1 E. Jackson Street
Phone: (330) 674-5086
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Website: www.holmescourtofcommonpleas.org

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Holmes County Combined Probate & Juvenile Court
1 East Jackson Street, Suite 201
Phone: (330) 674-5841
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

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

You are a grandparent or other relative caring for a child.
The child's parents are unable or unfit to provide proper care.
You need legal authority for school, medical, or daily decisions.
You want either full legal custody or a simpler caretaker authorization.

Filing Fees

$63 Juvenile custody deposit · Grandparent POA packet (confirm deposit)

Forms & Filing Packets

Legal custody to a non-parent (Juvenile Court) — $63 Custody/Visitation/Parentage deposit (Juvenile Court)

File for legal custody using the Juvenile Court's custody/visitation/parentage packet.

Complaint for Custody, Visitation and Parentage PACKET (Juvenile) — The Juvenile Court packet to establish parentage and ask for custody and 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.

Grandparent Power of Attorney / Caretaker Authorization — Confirm the current deposit with the Juvenile Court

Use the POA packet for school and medical decisions without opening a full custody case.

Grandparent Power of Attorney / Caretaker Authorization Affidavit PACKET (Juvenile) — Lets a grandparent or caretaker make day-to-day school and medical decisions for a child without opening a full custody case.

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

Decide what you need. Choose between full legal custody and a Grandparent Power of Attorney for day-to-day decisions.
Gather the facts. Document the parents' inability or unfitness and your role in caring for the child.
File the packet. File the custody complaint packet or the POA packet with the Juvenile Court and pay the deposit.
Attend the hearing. For legal custody, present evidence of parental unsuitability and the child's best interest at the hearing.

Holmes County Practice Notes

Unsuitability comes before best interest. Because parents have a constitutionally protected interest in their children, a non-parent generally must show the parents are unsuitable (In re Perales; R.C. 3109.04) before the court reaches the child's best interest. Legal custody to a non-parent leaves residual parental rights — including possible companionship and a support obligation — intact.
POA is a lighter-weight option. A Grandparent Power of Attorney / Caretaker Authorization Affidavit lets a relative handle school and medical decisions without a full custody case. It does not transfer legal custody and can be revoked by a parent.
Filed in the Juvenile Court. Non-parent custody and the POA packet are filed in the Holmes County Juvenile Court (Judge Thomas C. Lee), 1 East Jackson St., Suite 201, Millersburg, (330) 674-5841.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a grandparent or relative get custody in Holmes County?: Yes. A non-parent can seek legal custody through the Holmes County Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23(A)(2)), but generally must first show the parents are unsuitable before the court reaches the child's best interest. Legal custody to a non-parent leaves residual parental rights intact. The custody/visitation/parentage deposit is $63.
What is a Grandparent Power of Attorney in Holmes County?: A Grandparent Power of Attorney / Caretaker Authorization Affidavit lets a relative caring for a child make day-to-day school and medical decisions without opening a full custody case. It does not transfer legal custody and can be revoked by a parent. The Juvenile Court provides the packet.
What does it cost to file a custody or support case in the Holmes County Juvenile Court?: The Juvenile Court cost deposits are $63 for a Custody / Visitation / Parentage case and $48 for a Child Support case. Card payments are accepted ($2.00 debit fee; $2.00 or 3%, whichever is greater, for credit). Confirm the current amounts with the Juvenile Court before filing.
Which court handles family-law cases in Holmes County, Ohio?: Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and married-parent custody/support are heard by the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas (Judge Sean Warner; Magistrate Tiffany D. Bird) and filed with the Clerk of Courts at 1 E. Jackson St., Millersburg. Custody, parenting time, support, and parentage for unmarried parents go to the Juvenile Court, and adoption goes to the Probate Court — both run by Judge Thomas C. Lee from 1 East Jackson St., Suite 201, Millersburg.

Free Local Resources in Holmes County

Holmes County Clerk of Courts. Files all General & Domestic Relations cases and processes filings; Clerk Ronda P. Steimel, 1 E. Jackson St., Millersburg, (330) 674-1876. Filing is paper-only (in person or by mail). Pay Common Pleas costs online at payments.lexisnexis.com/oh/co/holmes/clerkofcourts; view the docket at courts.co.holmes.oh.us/eservices.
Holmes County Domestic Relations Division. Judge Sean Warner; Magistrate Tiffany D. Bird. Publishes the county's Uniform DR forms at holmescourtofcommonpleas.org/domestic-relations and /domestic-relations-templates. Court phone (330) 674-5086.
Holmes County Combined Probate & Juvenile Court. Judge Thomas C. Lee. Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents, non-parent custody, and adoption, at 1 East Jackson St., Suite 201, Millersburg. Juvenile (330) 674-5841; Probate (330) 674-5881. Fillable packets at co.holmes.oh.us/document-library/juvenile-court.
Holmes County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Housed at Holmes County Job & Family Services, 85 N. Grant St., Millersburg, (330) 674-1111. Opens IV-D support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Website holmescountydjfs.com.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. The official 2024 Income Shares calculator at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. Run it, print the worksheet, and sign it — the court requires it any time support is set or changed.

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.
Medina family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Medina metro.
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