Jackson County Child Support Attorneys

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

Jackson County, Ohio

Ohio sets child support using the statewide income-shares worksheet, and the Jackson County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) administers and enforces the order. Where you file depends on your situation: support for married or divorcing parents is decided inside the divorce, legal separation, or dissolution in the General Division, while support for never-married parents is set in the Probate & Juvenile Division after parentage is established.

Hire Gavvl for your Jackson County child support case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Jackson County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

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 get a child-support order in Jackson County, Ohio?

If you are married or divorcing, support is decided inside your divorce, legal separation, or dissolution in the General Division — file the Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet and the Health Insurance Affidavit with your case. If you were never married, support is set in the Probate & Juvenile Division (350 Portsmouth Street) after parentage is established, or the Jackson County CSEA, (740) 286-4181 (option 3), can open a IV-D case and set support administratively. To change an existing order, file a Motion for Change of Child Support (Form 28) under R.C. 3119.79 in the court that issued it — a DR post-decree motion carries a $200 deposit; for a Juvenile motion, call (740) 286-6405 about the fee and the Fee Waiver.

Put a flat-fee attorney on your Jackson County child-support case

Ohio sets child support with the statewide income-shares worksheet, but where you file in Jackson County depends on your history: support for married or divorcing parents is decided in the General Division, while support for never-married parents is set in the Probate & Juvenile Division after parentage — and the Jackson County CSEA at (740) 286-4181 (option 3) administers and enforces the order. Gavvl Law runs the worksheet, files in the right court, and works on a flat fee with payment plans.

The right court on the first filing. Married and divorcing parents resolve support inside the General Division case; never-married parents file in the Probate & Juvenile Division at 350 Portsmouth Street, where deputy clerk Suzi Cales handles private support and custody files. We route your case correctly so you aren't sent across town to refile.
Modifications framed to meet R.C. 3119.79. Changing an existing order generally takes a roughly 10% swing or another qualifying basis under R.C. 3119.79, filed as a Motion for Change of Child Support (Form 28) in the court that issued it — a $200 DR post-decree deposit. We build the worksheet comparison up front so the motion clears the threshold instead of getting denied.
CSEA objections done to the local rule. A motion objecting to a Jackson County CSEA administrative determination must attach that determination and a proposed worksheet (Local Rule 31.2). We assemble the required record so your objection is heard on the merits, not bounced for a missing attachment.

Support can be set through the court or opened as a IV-D case with the Jackson County CSEA for wage-withholding collection, and the two paths interact. We coordinate the court order and the CSEA file so enforcement is seamless, and because the Juvenile Division publishes no flat filing fee, we confirm the current deposit and Fee Waiver at (740) 286-6405 before you file.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the support motion (establish, modify, or terminate). The court filing fee is billed separately and this does not include in-court representation.

Establish child support: $950
Modify child support: $950
Terminate child support: $950

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.

Start your child support case or see payment plans & financing.

Ohio Child Support by the Numbers

2024 Year Ohio's updated Income Shares support schedule took effect Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.021
10% Change in the calculated amount that justifies a modification Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.79
3 years How often either parent can request an administrative review Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.60
Age 18 When support normally ends — or high-school graduation, whichever is later Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.86

What Counts in an Ohio Child Support Calculation

What the worksheet counts	Counts toward support?	Notes
Both parents' gross income	Yes	Wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, and self-employment earnings
Health insurance for the children	Yes	Credited to the parent who pays the premium
Work-related childcare	Yes	Daycare and after-school costs are added in
Parenting time	Yes	Adjustments apply for substantial or equal parenting time
Imputed income	Sometimes	Added when a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed
A new spouse's income	No	Only the two parents' incomes are counted

Where to File: Jackson County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Domestic Relations)

226 East Main Street, Jackson, OH 45640
Phone: (740) 286-2006
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Jackson County Court of Common Pleas, Probate & Juvenile Division
350 Portsmouth Street #101, Jackson, OH 45640
Phone: (740) 286-6405
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Child Support is the right path if…

You need a first child-support order, or you need an existing order changed under R.C. 3119.79.
You can provide income information so the court can run the Ohio income-shares worksheet.
You know whether your order belongs in the General Division (married/divorcing) or the Probate & Juvenile Division (never married).
You are willing to open or link a IV-D case with the Jackson County CSEA for collection and enforcement.

Filing Fees

Support inside a divorce/dissolution is covered by the $400 case deposit · a never-married support case is filed in the Probate & Juvenile Division (fee not published — call (740) 286-6405) · a DR post-decree motion to change support is $200 · the Jackson County CSEA, (740) 286-4181 (option 3), enforces and collects. Filing fees and local procedures change — always confirm the current amount and requirements with the Jackson County Clerk of Courts at (740) 286-2006 (General Division) or the Probate & Juvenile Division at (740) 286-6405 before you file.

Forms & Filing Packets

Support inside a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation (married parents) — Included in the $400 divorce/dissolution deposit

Support is set within the General Division case. File the Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet and the Health Insurance Affidavit with your divorce, dissolution, or legal-separation paperwork.

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.
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.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.

Support for never-married parents (Juvenile Division) — Juvenile deposit not published — call (740) 286-6405 and ask about the Fee Waiver

After parentage is established, support is set in the Probate & Juvenile Division — or the CSEA can open a IV-D case and set it administratively. Use the Juvenile parentage/allocation packet and the child-support worksheet.

Complaint for Parentage & Allocation of Parental Rights Packet (with Motion for Temporary Orders) — The Juvenile Division packet for unmarried parents to establish paternity and/or allocate parental rights, with the option to request temporary orders.
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.
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.
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.
Juvenile Financial Disclosure Form — Income and expense disclosure used in Juvenile support and custody matters.

How to File Child Support in Jackson County

Run the Ohio worksheet. Use the official Ohio Child Support Calculator to compute support under the 2024 income-shares model and print the worksheet.
Pick the right court. Married or divorcing parents file in the General Division inside the divorce/dissolution; never-married parents file in the Probate & Juvenile Division after parentage is established.
File or open a CSEA case. File the worksheet and Health Insurance Affidavit with your case, or contact the Jackson County CSEA, (740) 286-4181 (option 3), to open a IV-D case.
Enforce or modify. Use the CSEA to collect and enforce; to change the order later, file a Motion for Change of Child Support (Form 28) under R.C. 3119.79 in the court that issued it.

Jackson County Practice Notes

Two courts, two filing paths. Support for married/divorcing parents is decided in the General Division inside the divorce, dissolution, or legal separation. Support for never-married parents is set in the Probate & Juvenile Division (350 Portsmouth Street), where deputy clerk Suzi Cales handles private custody and support files.
Modifications use R.C. 3119.79. To change an existing order you generally need a roughly 10% change or another qualifying basis (R.C. 3119.79). A motion objecting to a Jackson County CSEA administrative determination must attach that determination and a proposed worksheet (Local Rule 31.2).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I contact the Jackson County child-support agency?: The Jackson County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), part of Jackson County Job & Family Services, can be reached at (740) 286-4181 (option 3). It administers and enforces support orders and can open a IV-D case to set or collect support.
Do I file in the General Division or the Juvenile Division in Jackson County?: If you were married to the other parent, custody and support are handled in the General Division inside the divorce, dissolution, or legal separation. If you were never married, custody, parenting time, support, and paternity are handled in the Probate & Juvenile Division (350 Portsmouth Street), (740) 286-6405.
How do I change a child-support order in Jackson County?: File a Motion for Change of Child Support (Form 28) under R.C. 3119.79 in the court that issued the order — generally a roughly 10% change or another qualifying basis is required. The DR post-decree-motion deposit is $200. A motion objecting to a CSEA administrative determination must attach that determination and a proposed worksheet (Local Rule 31.2).
How much does it cost to file in the Jackson County Juvenile Division?: The Probate & Juvenile Division does not publish a flat filing fee. Call (740) 286-6405 to ask about the current deposit, and ask about the Fee Waiver if you cannot afford it.
How can I pay the filing fee in Jackson County?: The Jackson County Clerk of Courts accepts cash, check, credit card, or money order for the General Division deposit. If you cannot afford the deposit, file the Financial Disclosure / Fee-Waiver Affidavit (Local Rule 2.3).

Free Local Resources in Jackson County

Jackson County Clerk of Courts (Seth I. Michael). 226 East Main Street #9, 3rd Floor, Jackson, OH 45640; (740) 286-2006. Files all General Division domestic-relations cases and hosts the DR forms page (jcclerk.com/page3.html) with the divorce, dissolution, and fee-waiver packets. Online records and e-filing registration are at jcclerk.com/page2.html (self-represented filers may use e-filing but are not required to — Local Rule 3.1). Accepts cash, check, credit card, or money order.
Jackson County Probate & Juvenile Division. 350 Portsmouth Street #101, Jackson, OH 45640; (740) 286-6405 (jcjuvenilecourt.com). Hears never-married parentage and custody, non-parent custody, and companionship; the local forms page is jcjuvenilecourt.com/forms/ and the Visitation Guidelines set the default parenting-time schedule.
Jackson County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Under Jackson County Job & Family Services, 25 E. South Street, Jackson, OH 45640; (740) 286-4181, Option 3 (jacksoncountyjfs.org). Opens IV-D cases, sets and collects support by wage withholding, and can establish paternity administratively through a Genetic Test/Administrative Order.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself before filing so you know the likely support amount.

Related to your child support case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on child support and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
How to Modify Child Support in Ohio — Child support orders aren't permanent. When income or circumstances change substantially, Ohio lets you modify support — through a CSEA review or a court motion. Here's how.

More Jackson County family-law resources

Ohio Child Support guide — Statewide overview of child support in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
Jackson County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Jackson 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.