Child Support in Knox County

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

Knox County, Ohio · Mount Vernon

Ohio sets child support with a statewide Income Shares worksheet. In Knox County, support is established inside a divorce or dissolution (Domestic Relations) or a parentage case (Probate & Juvenile), and Knox County Child Support Services (the CSEA) collects and enforces it. This guide covers the worksheet, opening a IV-D case, and changing an order later.

How is child support set and changed in Knox County, Ohio?

Support is calculated on the Ohio 2024 Income Shares Child Support Worksheet, which the court attaches to any support entry (DR Rule 31.2). Married parents set support inside a divorce or dissolution in the Domestic Relations Division; never-married parents set it in a parentage case in the Probate & Juvenile Court. Open a IV-D case with Knox County Child Support Services (CSEA) at (740) 397-7177 ext. 3040 so support is collected by income withholding. To change an order, file a motion under R.C. 3119.79 (generally a 10%+ change) or ask CSEA for an administrative review.

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: Knox County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

111 East High Street, 2nd Floor, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Phone: (740) 393-6777
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk of Courts at (740) 393-6788)
Website: co.knox.oh.us/common-pleas/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Knox County Probate & Juvenile Court
111 East High Street, 1st Floor, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Phone: (740) 393-6798
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the court at (740) 393-6798)

Child Support is the right path if…

You need a first child-support order, or you want to change an existing one.
You can provide both parents' income, work-related child-care, and health-insurance costs for the worksheet.
You want Knox County Child Support Services (CSEA) to collect support by automatic income withholding.
Your circumstances have changed enough that a recalculation would shift support by at least 10% (R.C. 3119.79).

Filing Fees

New order: part of the divorce/dissolution deposit, or $300 for a new Probate & Juvenile parentage/support case · Modification: $300 post-decree motion (DR) or $200 reopen (Juvenile) · CSEA administrative review available. Confirm amounts with the Clerk (740) 393-6788 or CSEA (740) 397-7177 ext. 3040.

Forms & Filing Packets

Establish a new child-support order — Included in the divorce/dissolution deposit · new Juvenile parentage/support case $300

Set inside a divorce/dissolution (Domestic Relations) or a parentage case (Probate & Juvenile). Run the worksheet and open a IV-D case with CSEA.

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 Uniform Affidavit 4, Knox-hosted) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
Apply for Child Support Services (Title IV-D) — Knox County CSEA — Opens a IV-D child-support case with Knox County Child Support Services. Once opened, CSEA establishes/collects support by income withholding and can enforce it. Phone (740) 397-7177 ext. 3040 or (800) 298-2223.

Modify an existing child-support order — $300 post-decree motion (Domestic Relations) · $200 reopen (Probate & Juvenile)

File a motion to change support under R.C. 3119.79, or request a CSEA administrative review. File in the division that issued the order.

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.
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.
Apply for Child Support Services (Title IV-D) — Knox County CSEA — Opens a IV-D child-support case with Knox County Child Support Services. Once opened, CSEA establishes/collects support by income withholding and can enforce it. Phone (740) 397-7177 ext. 3040 or (800) 298-2223.

How to File Child Support in Knox County

Run the Ohio worksheet. Calculate support on the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares Child Support Worksheet using both parents' income, child-care, and health-insurance costs.
Choose the right court. Married parents set support inside the divorce/dissolution in Domestic Relations; never-married parents set it in a parentage case in the Probate & Juvenile Court.
Open a IV-D case with CSEA. Apply for child-support services with Knox County Child Support Services so support is collected by automatic income withholding.
Modify when circumstances change. To change an order, file a motion under R.C. 3119.79 (generally a 10%+ change) or request a CSEA administrative review, attaching a fresh worksheet.

Knox County Practice Notes

The signed worksheet attaches to every support entry. Knox County DR Rule 31.2 requires a signed Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet on any entry that sets or changes support. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares calculator, print it, and sign it.
CSEA collects and can review administratively. Knox County Child Support Services (CSEA) is the IV-D agency that collects support by income withholding, distributes it, and enforces it. CSEA can also conduct an administrative review of an existing order — a route that can be quicker than a court motion for a straightforward recalculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Knox County CSEA do, and do I need a IV-D application?: Knox County Child Support Services (the CSEA) is the IV-D agency that establishes, collects, and enforces child support. Filing a IV-D Application opens a support case so CSEA can set support under Ohio's guidelines, collect by automatic income withholding, distribute payments, and enforce orders through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals. Reach CSEA at (740) 397-7177 ext. 3040 or (800) 298-2223.
How do I change child support in Knox County?: File a motion to modify support under R.C. 3119.79 — generally, a recalculation must show at least a 10% change from the existing order (or another qualifying basis). The post-decree motion deposit in the Domestic Relations Division is $300. Knox County Child Support Services can also conduct an administrative review of an existing order through the CSEA.
Which Knox County court hears my family-law case?: If you are (or were) married to the other parent, divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree matters, and civil protection orders are heard in the Domestic Relations Division of the Knox County Court of Common Pleas (Judge Richard D. Wetzel; Magistrate Natasha Plumly), and filed with the Clerk of Courts at 117 East High Street, Suite 201, Mount Vernon. If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support — and all non-parent custody requests — are heard in the Knox County Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Jay W. Nixon), 111 East High Street, 1st Floor, (740) 393-6798.
What does it cost to file a parentage or custody case in the Knox County Probate & Juvenile Court?: For never-married parents, a new complaint or motion to establish paternity, support, or custody in the Probate & Juvenile Court is $300, and a reopened or new action on an existing case is $200. If you cannot afford the deposit, an Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) is available. Confirm the current amounts with the Probate & Juvenile Court at (740) 393-6798.
How is paternity established in Knox County?: Paternity can be established three ways: by signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) at the hospital or later through the CSEA, by an administrative order through Knox County Child Support Services, or by a court order with genetic testing in the Probate & Juvenile Court. Establishing paternity is the legal step that lets the court order custody, parenting time, and child support for an unmarried couple's child.

Free Local Resources in Knox County

Knox County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Where divorce, dissolution, legal-separation, and post-decree filings are made — 117 East High Street, Suite 201, Mount Vernon, (740) 393-6788. The Clerk confirms current deposits and packet requirements; the Fee Schedule (effective 9/26/2025) and DR Rules are posted at https://co.knox.oh.us/common-pleas/.
Knox County Probate & Juvenile Court. Hears never-married parentage, custody, support, and non-parent custody, plus adoption — 111 East High Street, 1st Floor, Mount Vernon, (740) 393-6798. New parentage/custody/support case $300; reopen $200. Local rules at https://knoxpjcourt.com/.
Knox County Child Support Services (CSEA). The IV-D agency that establishes, collects, and enforces child support by income withholding. Apply for services at https://co.knox.oh.us/jfs/child-support/ or call (740) 397-7177 ext. 3040 or (800) 298-2223.
Parenting Wisely seminar. The court-ordered parenting-education seminar for any divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment with minor children — about 2 hours, $30 cash or money order payable to the Knox County Treasurer, due within 45 days of filing (DR Rule 12).
Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.

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.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.