Who handles child support in Licking County?

The Licking County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 65 East Main Street, Newark — (740) 670-5998 or 1-800-513-1128. CSEA opens IV-D cases, collects support by wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces the court's order. It enforces the order; it does not represent either parent.

How is child support calculated and set up in Licking County?

Child support is calculated with Ohio's 2024 Income Shares worksheet and is part of any divorce, dissolution, or parentage case. To open or enforce a standalone case, file a IV-D Application with the Licking County CSEA. You'll provide income information and a Health Insurance Affidavit so the court can set both cash and medical support. Once an order is entered, CSEA collects by wage withholding.

How do I change a custody or support order after it's final in Licking County?

File a post-decree motion in the court that issued the order. Changing the residential parent or shared parenting generally requires a change in circumstances plus the child's best interest (R.C. 3109.04); parenting-time adjustments use a lower standard; child support can be modified on a substantial change (often a 10%+ change in the guideline amount). A Domestic Relations post-decree motion is $200; a Juvenile Motion for Further Hearing is $50.

Where do I file a paternity case in Licking County?

Unusually for Ohio, Licking County hears ALL paternity (parentage) cases in the Domestic Relations Court (75 E. Main Street, Newark), where a Parentage filing is $400 — not in the Juvenile Court. Custody, parenting time, and support between never-married parents are still decided in the Probate & Juvenile Court. If you need to establish parentage, confirm with the DR Court ((740) 670-5400) and the Juvenile Court ((740) 670-5624) where your specific action belongs.

Licking County Child Support Attorneys

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 17, 2026

Licking County, Ohio · Newark

Child support in Licking County is calculated with Ohio's 2024 Income Shares worksheet and administered by the Licking County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 65 E. Main Street, Newark. Support is part of every divorce, dissolution, and parentage case; it can also be opened or enforced through a IV-D application with CSEA, which collects by wage withholding and enforces the order.

Hire Gavvl for your Licking County child support case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Licking County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start (flat fees from $950).

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 set up or change child support in Licking County, Ohio?

Child support is calculated with the Ohio 2024 Income Shares worksheet and is part of any divorce, dissolution, or parentage case in the Domestic Relations Court. To open or enforce a standalone case, file a IV-D Application with the Licking County CSEA, 65 E. Main Street, Newark, (740) 670-5998 — CSEA collects support by wage withholding and can enforce it. To change an existing order, file a Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio SC Form 28) in the court that issued it (or ask CSEA for an administrative review); modification generally requires a substantial change, often a 10%+ change in the guideline amount.

Hire Gavvl Law for Licking County child support

Child support in Licking County runs on Ohio's 2024 Income Shares worksheet and is collected by the Child Support Enforcement Agency at 65 E. Main Street in Newark, which withholds wages and enforces the order but represents neither parent. Gavvl Law runs the worksheet the way the court will, opens or answers the CSEA IV-D case, and files to establish, modify, or defend an amount — on a flat fee for straightforward orders, with payment plans when you need them.

The 2024 worksheet run before you file. Support turns on income figures, health-insurance cost, and parenting-time credits fed into Ohio's Income Shares worksheet. We build your worksheet first so you know the guideline number — and whether you clear the roughly 10% swing a modification needs — before you spend a filing fee.
The right motion in the right court. Where you file to change support depends on your original case: a $200 post-decree motion in the Domestic Relations Court for married or divorced parents, or a $50 Motion for Further Hearing in the Probate & Juvenile Court for never-married parents. We file in the issuing court so the motion is not bounced.
CSEA collects — we advocate. The Licking County CSEA at (740) 670-5998 opens IV-D cases, withholds wages, and can suspend licenses or intercept tax refunds, but it does not take your side. We handle the review request or hearing so someone is actually arguing your income and the guideline result.

Support is set inside a divorce, dissolution, or parentage case and then administered by CSEA — and in Licking County parentage itself is heard in the Domestic Relations Court, not Juvenile. We line up the parentage, worksheet, and health-insurance pieces across both Newark courts so your order is entered right and enforced without a gap.

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: Licking County Domestic Relations Court

75 East Main Street, Newark, OH 43055
Phone: (740) 670-5400
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–Noon and 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Website: Court website
e-Filing: Online e-filing portal

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Licking County Probate & Juvenile Court
1 North Park Place, Newark, OH 43055
Phone: (740) 670-5624
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the court to confirm current hours)

Child Support is the right path if…

You need a new child-support order set as part of a divorce, dissolution, or parentage case.
You want CSEA to collect support by wage withholding and enforce the order.
Your income or the other parent's income has changed substantially since the last order (often 10%+).
You need medical/health-insurance support addressed alongside the cash support order.

Filing Fees

There is no separate fee to apply for CSEA IV-D services. Support set inside a divorce/dissolution/parentage case follows that case's deposit. To modify: a Domestic Relations post-decree motion is $200; a Juvenile Motion for Further Hearing is $50. Confirm current amounts with the Licking County Domestic Relations Court at (740) 670-5400 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Establish support / open a CSEA case — No separate CSEA application fee; support set inside a case follows that case's deposit — confirm with CSEA at (740) 670-5998

Used when there is no order yet. Support is set inside a divorce, dissolution, or parentage case, or opened through a IV-D application with the Licking County CSEA.

IV-D Application for Child Support Services (Licking County CSEA) — Opens a IV-D child-support case with the Licking County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 65 E. Main Street, Newark, (740) 670-5998. CSEA collects support by wage withholding and enforces the order; it does not represent either parent.
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.

Modify an existing support order — Domestic Relations post-decree motion: $200 · Juvenile Motion for Further Hearing: $50 — confirm with the Clerk

Used when income or circumstances have changed substantially. File in the court that issued the order, or request a CSEA administrative review.

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 you ask the court to set or change support.

How to File Child Support in Licking County

Run the Ohio 2024 Income Shares worksheet. Use the official Ohio Child Support Calculator to estimate the guideline amount before you file or request a review.
Open or locate the case. If there is no order, file a IV-D Application with the Licking County CSEA, or have support set inside your divorce/dissolution/parentage case. If an order exists, identify the court that issued it.
File the right motion to set or change support. To change an order, file a Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio SC Form 28) in the issuing court, attaching a current worksheet — or ask CSEA for an administrative review.
Provide income and insurance information. File the Child Support Computation Worksheet and a Health Insurance Affidavit so the court can set both cash and medical support.
Let CSEA collect and enforce. Once an order is entered, CSEA collects by wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces the order if payments stop.

Licking County Practice Notes

CSEA enforces — it does not represent you. The Licking County CSEA (65 E. Main Street, Newark; (740) 670-5998 or 1-800-513-1128) opens IV-D cases, collects support by automatic wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces the order through tools like license suspension and tax intercept. It enforces the court's order and does not represent either parent.
Modification needs a substantial change. Child support may be reviewed or modified on a substantial change in circumstances — often a 10%+ change in the guideline amount — or another qualifying change. Use the Ohio 2024 Income Shares worksheet to estimate the new figure before filing.
Paternity is heard in Domestic Relations Court. Unusually for Ohio, Licking County hears ALL paternity (parentage) cases in the Domestic Relations Court, where a Parentage filing is $400 — not in the Juvenile Court. Custody, parenting time, and support between never-married parents are still decided in the Probate & Juvenile Court. If you need to establish parentage, confirm with the DR Court ((740) 670-5400) and the Juvenile Court ((740) 670-5624) where your specific action belongs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who handles child support in Licking County?: The Licking County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 65 East Main Street, Newark — (740) 670-5998 or 1-800-513-1128. CSEA opens IV-D cases, collects support by wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces the court's order. It enforces the order; it does not represent either parent.
How is child support calculated and set up in Licking County?: Child support is calculated with Ohio's 2024 Income Shares worksheet and is part of any divorce, dissolution, or parentage case. To open or enforce a standalone case, file a IV-D Application with the Licking County CSEA. You'll provide income information and a Health Insurance Affidavit so the court can set both cash and medical support. Once an order is entered, CSEA collects by wage withholding.
How do I change a custody or support order after it's final in Licking County?: File a post-decree motion in the court that issued the order. Changing the residential parent or shared parenting generally requires a change in circumstances plus the child's best interest (R.C. 3109.04); parenting-time adjustments use a lower standard; child support can be modified on a substantial change (often a 10%+ change in the guideline amount). A Domestic Relations post-decree motion is $200; a Juvenile Motion for Further Hearing is $50.
Where do I file a paternity case in Licking County?: Unusually for Ohio, Licking County hears ALL paternity (parentage) cases in the Domestic Relations Court (75 E. Main Street, Newark), where a Parentage filing is $400 — not in the Juvenile Court. Custody, parenting time, and support between never-married parents are still decided in the Probate & Juvenile Court. If you need to establish parentage, confirm with the DR Court ((740) 670-5400) and the Juvenile Court ((740) 670-5624) where your specific action belongs.

Free Local Resources in Licking County

Licking County Domestic Relations Court. 75 East Main Street, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 670-5400, fax (740) 670-5419. Provides current filing deposits, the Domestic Relations forms, rules & guides page (https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/domestic/forms_rules.htm), and CPO packets. The civil docket is maintained by the Clerk of Common Pleas, Olivia C. Parkinson.
Licking County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 65 East Main Street, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 670-5998 or 1-800-513-1128 (https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/csea/). Opens IV-D cases, sets and collects support by wage withholding, and enforces orders. CSEA enforces the court's order; it does not represent either parent.
Parenting seminar — "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" (The Woodlands). Required for everyone with minor children who files for divorce or dissolution. About 90 minutes online or a 2-hour in-person class. Register at www.thewoodland.org or (740) 349-7066 (online tech support ext. 241).
Licking County Domestic Relations Mediation. Mediation Coordinator Christopher R. Meyer, (740) 670-5409 (https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/domestic/mediation.htm). Offers assessment and referral to a court-approved mediator for divorce and post-divorce parenting disputes. A domestic-violence victim may decline mediation or bring a support person.
The Center for New Beginnings (domestic-violence help). Helps victims obtain a protection order and offers free confidential housing and services: (740) 345-4498 or (740) 349-8719, toll-free 1-800-686-2760.
Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (SEOLS) — Newark. 15 West Locust Ave., Suite A, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 345-0850 or 1-888-831-9412. Free civil legal help for those who qualify.

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.