Child Support in Jefferson County

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

Jefferson County, Ohio · Steubenville

Ohio sets child support using the statewide income-shares worksheet, and the Jefferson 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 Domestic Division, while support for never-married parents is set in the Jefferson County Juvenile Court.

How do I get a child-support order in Jefferson County, Ohio?

If you are married or divorcing, support is decided inside your divorce, legal separation, or dissolution in the Domestic 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 Jefferson County Juvenile Court (parentage/support filing $125) after parentage is established, or the Jefferson County CSEA, (740) 282-0961, can open a IV-D case and set support administratively. To change an existing order, file a Motion for Change of Child Support under R.C. 3119.79 in the court that issued it (DR motion deposit $50; Juvenile motion $50 ongoing / $75 to reopen).

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: Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas, General Division — Domestic Division

301 Market Street, Steubenville, OH 43952
Phone: (740) 283-8583
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the Clerk to confirm current hours)
Website: jeffersoncountyoh.com/court/common-pleas

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Jefferson County Juvenile Court
Jefferson County Justice Center, 12001 State Route 7, Steubenville, OH 43952
Phone: (740) 283-8557
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the court to confirm current hours)

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 Domestic Division (married/divorcing) or the Juvenile Court (never married).
You are willing to open or link a IV-D case with the Jefferson County CSEA for collection and enforcement.

Filing Fees

Support inside a divorce is part of the divorce deposit ($250) · never-married support filed in Juvenile Court is $125 · DR motion $50 · Juvenile motion $50 (ongoing) / $75 (reopen) · CSEA collects a 2% processing fee on payments. Confirm current amounts with the Jefferson County Clerk of Courts at (740) 283-8583 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Support inside a divorce or legal separation (married parents) — Part of the divorce/legal-separation deposit ($250)

Support is decided as part of your Domestic Division case. File the worksheet and Health Insurance Affidavit with your divorce or legal-separation packet; the order routes payment through Ohio CSPC.

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.
Financial Disclosure Affidavit (Jefferson County Domestic Division) — The Domestic Division's income, expense, asset, and debt disclosure. Local rule requires it on file at least 14 days before a contested hearing.
IV-D Application for Child Support Services — Opens or links your case with the Jefferson County Child Support Enforcement Agency (under Jefferson County Job & Family Services, (740) 282-0961) so support is collected by wage withholding and enforced. Request the application from the CSEA.

Support for never-married parents (Juvenile Court) — $125 (parentage/support complaint) — Juvenile fee schedule

Filed in the Jefferson County Juvenile Court, usually together with parentage and custody. Paternity must be established before support is ordered.

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.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Jefferson County Clerk of Courts) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction over custody under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127.23). Required in any case with minor children.
IV-D Application for Child Support Services — Opens or links your case with the Jefferson County Child Support Enforcement Agency (under Jefferson County Job & Family Services, (740) 282-0961) so support is collected by wage withholding and enforced. Request the application from the CSEA.

Change an existing support order — DR motion $50 · Juvenile motion $50 (ongoing) / $75 (reopen)

File a Motion for Change of Child Support under R.C. 3119.79 in the court that issued the order, with a fresh worksheet and financial disclosure. Give the Jefferson County CSEA a copy.

Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio SC Form 28) — The Ohio uniform motion to change child support, medical support, or the tax exemption after a change of circumstances. File in the division that issued the order.
Financial Disclosure Affidavit (Jefferson County Domestic Division) — The Domestic Division's income, expense, asset, and debt disclosure. Local rule requires it on file at least 14 days before a contested hearing.
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.

How to File Child Support in Jefferson County

Pick the right court. Married or divorcing parents handle support in the Domestic Division; never-married parents file in the Juvenile Court after parentage is established.
Run the Ohio worksheet. Use the official Ohio Child Support Calculator to produce the income-shares worksheet, then print and sign it.
File the financial paperwork. File the Financial Disclosure Affidavit and the Health Insurance Affidavit so the court can set basic and medical support.
Open or link a IV-D case. File a IV-D Application with the Jefferson County CSEA so the order is collected by wage withholding and enforced.
To modify, file under R.C. 3119.79. File a Motion for Change of Child Support with a fresh worksheet in the issuing court, and send the CSEA a copy.

Jefferson County Practice Notes

Ohio income-shares worksheet controls. Jefferson County uses the statewide Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 income-shares model) from the official calculator at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. A support order must contain the mandatory statutory support language and any deviation findings.
The CSEA administers orders from both courts. The Jefferson County Child Support Enforcement Agency (under Jefferson County Job & Family Services, (740) 282-0961, 125 South Fifth Street, Steubenville) administers support orders from both the Domestic Division and the Juvenile Court — including wage withholding, distribution, and enforcement. A 2% processing fee applies to payments.
Open a IV-D case for collection. File a IV-D Application with the Jefferson County CSEA so the order is collected by automatic wage withholding and enforced through license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file for child support in Jefferson County?: If you are married or divorcing, support is decided inside your divorce, legal separation, or dissolution in the Domestic Division. If you were never married, support is set in the Jefferson County Juvenile Court after parentage is established, and the Jefferson County CSEA, (740) 282-0961, can open a IV-D case and set support administratively.
How is child support calculated in Jefferson County?: Using the statewide Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 income-shares model) from the official calculator at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. The order must contain the mandatory statutory support language and any deviation findings, and the Jefferson County CSEA administers and enforces it.
What does it cost to file a support case in Jefferson County?: Inside a divorce, support is part of the $250 divorce deposit. For never-married parents, a parentage/support complaint in the Juvenile Court is $125. A support modification is a $50 motion in the Domestic Division, or $50 (ongoing) / $75 (reopen) in the Juvenile Court. The CSEA collects a 2% processing fee on payments. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 283-8583.
Do I need a IV-D application in Jefferson County?: Yes — a IV-D Application opens or links your case with the Jefferson County Child Support Enforcement Agency, (740) 282-0961, so support is collected by wage withholding and enforced through license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals. A 2% processing fee applies to payments.
Do I file in the Domestic Division or Juvenile Court in Jefferson County?: If you are married to (or were married to) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce, legal separation, or dissolution in the Domestic Division. If you were never married, paternity, custody, and support are handled by the Jefferson County Juvenile Court. Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are always filed in the Juvenile Court.

Free Local Resources in Jefferson County

Jefferson County Clerk of Courts (Andrew Plesich). 301 Market Street, Steubenville, OH 43952; (740) 283-8583. Hosts the Domestic Forms page (jeffersoncountyohcoc.com/domestic-forms) with the divorce, dissolution, fee-waiver, and protection-order packets, and confirms current deposits. Accepts cash, money order, or online card/debit — not personal checks. E-filing is under construction.
Jefferson County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Under Jefferson County Job & Family Services, 125 South Fifth Street, Steubenville, OH 43952; (740) 282-0961 (jcdjfs.com). Opens IV-D cases, sets and collects support by wage withholding (2% processing fee), and can establish paternity administratively.
Jefferson County Juvenile Court. Jefferson County Justice Center, 12001 State Route 7, Steubenville, OH 43952; (740) 283-8557 (jeffersoncountyprobatejuvenile.com/juvenile-court). Hears never-married parentage and custody, non-parent custody, and parenting time; publishes the Local Parenting Time Guidelines.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Child Support guide — Statewide overview of child support in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.