Shared Parenting in Jackson County

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

Jackson County, Ohio

Shared parenting is Ohio's version of joint custody: both parents are named residential parents and legal custodians and follow a written Shared Parenting Plan under R.C. 3109.04(G). In Jackson County, shared parenting is decided in the General Division for married/divorcing parents and in the Probate & Juvenile Division for never-married parents. The court can order mediation on parental-rights issues, and attendance is mandatory.

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

Propose a written Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio Form 20) under R.C. 3109.04(G) that sets each parent's time, decision-making, and child support. File it in the General Division if you are married/divorcing, or in the Probate & Juvenile Division if you were never married (after parentage is established). The court reviews the plan against the child's best interest (R.C. 3109.04(F)) and, in any case allocating parental rights, may order mediation — attendance is mandatory (Local Rule 22.1). The first four hours of court-appointed mediation carry no charge beyond the special-projects fee. The court issues its Standard Parenting Time Schedule (Appendix E) unless the parents propose and the court approves a different schedule.

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: 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: www.jacksoncountyohio.us/elected-officials/common-pleas-court/

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.

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to be named residential parent and legal custodian and can cooperate on major decisions.
You can prepare a written Shared Parenting Plan covering time, decision-making, and child support.
You know whether your case belongs in the General Division (married/divorcing) or the Probate & Juvenile Division (never married).
You are willing to attend court-ordered mediation on parental-rights issues if the court orders it.

Filing Fees

For married/divorcing parents, shared parenting is decided inside the $400 divorce/dissolution case · for never-married parents it is filed in the Probate & Juvenile Division (fee not published — call (740) 286-6405) · court-ordered mediation on parental-rights issues is mandatory, with the first four hours free beyond the special-projects fee. 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

Shared parenting inside a divorce or dissolution (married parents) — Included in the $400 divorce/dissolution deposit

File a Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) with your divorce or dissolution in the General Division, along with the 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.
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.
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.
Jackson County Standard Parenting Time Schedule (Appendix E) — The General Division's default parenting-time schedule, issued with every order allocating parental rights unless the parents propose and the court approves something different.

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

After parentage is established, file the parentage/allocation packet and a Shared Parenting Plan in the Probate & Juvenile Division.

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.
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.
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.
Jackson County Juvenile Visitation Guidelines — The Juvenile Division's standard parenting-time order applied in unmarried-parent cases.

How to File Shared Parenting in Jackson County

Draft a shared parenting plan. Prepare an Ohio Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) setting each parent's time, decision-making, and child support under R.C. 3109.04(G).
Pick the right court. Married/divorcing parents file with the divorce or dissolution in the General Division; never-married parents file in the Probate & Juvenile Division after parentage is established.
File the plan and worksheet. File the plan with the child-support worksheet and the required affidavits, plus the Juvenile parentage packet if you were never married.
Attend mediation and the hearing. Attend court-ordered mediation if the court orders it; the Magistrate reviews the plan against the child's best interest and the court approves the final order.

Jackson County Practice Notes

Mediation is mandatory on parental-rights issues. In any divorce, legal-separation, or post-decree case involving the allocation of parental rights, attendance at court-ordered mediation is mandatory (Local Rule 22.1). The first four hours with a court-appointed mediator carry no charge beyond the special-projects fee; time beyond four hours is split between the parents. Protection-order matters are excluded from mediation.
The plan is measured against the child's best interest. A shared parenting plan must serve the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F). The court issues the Standard Parenting Time Schedule (Appendix E) unless the parents propose and the court approves a different schedule, and the parents are held to an attorney's standard if self-represented.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does shared parenting work in Jackson County?: Shared parenting names both parents residential parents and legal custodians under a written Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) per R.C. 3109.04(G). The court reviews the plan against the child's best interest and may order mediation (attendance mandatory). It is filed in the General Division for married/divorcing parents and in the Probate & Juvenile Division for never-married parents.
Is mediation required in Jackson County family cases?: In any divorce, legal-separation, or post-decree case involving the allocation of parental rights, attendance at court-ordered mediation is mandatory (Local Rule 22.1). The first four hours with a court-appointed mediator carry no charge beyond the special-projects fee; time beyond four hours is split. Mediation is never used for protection orders (Local Rules 17.3, 17.7).
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 custody order in Jackson County?: Changing custody (reallocating parental rights) requires the change-in-circumstances test of R.C. 3109.04(E): facts arising since or unknown at the prior order, a change in circumstances, and the child's best interest. A change of parenting time is judged on best interest alone (R.C. 3109.051), a lower bar. File in the court that entered the order.
Which court handles family law in Jackson County, Ohio?: Jackson County has no separate domestic-relations court. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and DR post-decree matters are filed in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas (Judge Christopher J. Regan), and by standing order (Local Rule 30.1) all domestic-relations proceedings are conducted by Magistrate Gene Meadows. Custody, support, and paternity for never-married parents — and grandparent/non-parent custody — are handled in the combined Probate & Juvenile Division (Judge Justin W. Skaggs), 350 Portsmouth Street #101, (740) 286-6405.

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 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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