Establishing Paternity in Jefferson County

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

Jefferson County, Ohio · Steubenville

Establishing paternity legally identifies a child's father, which unlocks custody, parenting time, child support, and benefits. In Jefferson County, parentage for unmarried parents is handled by the Jefferson County Juvenile Court, or administratively through the Jefferson County CSEA. There are three routes: a voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity, an administrative CSEA order, or a judicial parentage action.

How do I establish paternity in Jefferson County, Ohio?

There are three ways. Both parents can sign a voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (often at the hospital or through the CSEA), which becomes final if not rescinded. The Jefferson County CSEA, (740) 282-0961, can establish paternity administratively and order genetic testing. Or you can file a judicial parentage action in the Jefferson County Juvenile Court (parentage filing $125), where the court can order genetic testing and then allocate custody, parenting time, and support (R.C. Chapter 3111; R.C. 2151.23).

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: 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)

Paternity is the right path if…

The parents were never married and paternity has not yet been legally established.
You need paternity decided before the court can order custody, parenting time, or child support.
You are the mother, the alleged father, or the child's representative seeking a parentage determination.
You are prepared to use an Acknowledgment of Paternity, a CSEA administrative process, or a judicial action with possible genetic testing.

Filing Fees

Acknowledgment of Paternity and CSEA administrative paternity: no court filing fee · judicial parentage action in Juvenile Court: $125 · genetic testing arranged through the CSEA or court. Confirm current amounts with the Jefferson County Clerk of Courts at (740) 283-8583 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Agreed paternity — Acknowledgment of Paternity — No court filing fee for an Acknowledgment of Paternity

When both parents agree, sign a voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (at the hospital or through the CSEA). It becomes final if not rescinded within the statutory window and has the force of a court order.

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.

Disputed paternity — judicial parentage action — $125 (parentage complaint) — Juvenile fee schedule

File a parentage action in the Jefferson County Juvenile Court. The court can order genetic testing, then establish parentage and allocate custody, parenting time, and support.

Parentage, Custody and/or Parenting Time (Ohio SC Juvenile packet) — The Ohio Supreme Court standardized Juvenile packet never-married parents use to establish parentage, allocate custody, and set parenting time (R.C. Chapter 3111; R.C. 2151.23).
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 / 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.
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.

How to File Paternity in Jefferson County

Decide whether paternity is agreed. If both parents agree, a voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity may be all you need; if it's disputed, plan for genetic testing through the CSEA or court.
Use the CSEA or file in Juvenile Court. Ask the Jefferson County CSEA, (740) 282-0961, to open an administrative case, or file a parentage action in the Jefferson County Juvenile Court ($125).
Complete genetic testing if ordered. If parentage is disputed, the CSEA or court orders genetic testing and determines parentage from the results.
Move on to custody and support. Once parentage is established, the Juvenile Court can allocate custody and parenting time and set child support using the Ohio worksheet.

Jefferson County Practice Notes

Paternity comes before custody and support. For never-married parents, the Juvenile Court cannot order custody, parenting time, or support until parentage is legally established — by Acknowledgment of Paternity, a prior judgment, or genetic testing.
Three routes to establish parentage. A voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity, an administrative determination by the Jefferson County CSEA (which can order genetic testing), or a judicial parentage action in the Juvenile Court (R.C. Chapter 3111).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I establish paternity in Jefferson County?: Three ways: both parents can sign a voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (often at the hospital or through the CSEA), which becomes final if not rescinded; the Jefferson County CSEA can establish paternity administratively and order genetic testing; or you can file a judicial parentage action in the Jefferson County Juvenile Court, where the court can order genetic testing (R.C. Chapter 3111).
How much is a paternity or custody filing in Jefferson County Juvenile Court?: A parentage, custody, or visitation complaint in the Jefferson County Juvenile Court is $125; an agreed entry is $85; a motion is $50 in an ongoing case or $75 to reopen a closed case. An Acknowledgment of Paternity and CSEA administrative paternity carry no court filing fee. Confirm current amounts with the Juvenile Court at (740) 283-8557.
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.
What does it mean for Ohio to be my child's 'home state' under the UCCJEA?: Under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127), Ohio is the children's home state when they have lived in Ohio with a parent for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before filing. If the children recently moved, the prior state may still have jurisdiction. Ohio courts can also decline jurisdiction as an inconvenient forum under R.C. 3127.21 even when home-state requirements are met.

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