Logan County Child Custody Attorneys

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

Logan County, Ohio · Bellefontaine

In Ohio, custody means the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities. In Logan County, where you file depends on whether the parents were married: the Domestic Relations section for married or divorcing parents, and the Juvenile section for never-married parents. The court decides custody using the R.C. 3109.04 best-interest factors and applies the Logan County Visitation Guidelines when parents cannot agree.

Hire Gavvl for your Logan County custody case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Logan County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

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 file for custody in Logan County, Ohio?

If you and the other parent were married, custody is decided inside your divorce, dissolution, or legal separation in the Domestic Relations section — file the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and an Ohio child-support worksheet with your case packet, and both parents complete the Common Ground Parenting Program. If you were never married, file a complaint for parentage and allocation of parental rights in the Juvenile section, where parentage must be established first if it has not been. The court applies the R.C. 3109.04 best-interest factors and uses the Logan County Visitation Guidelines as the default schedule. Any case with children requires the Application for Child Support Services. Confirm Juvenile deposits with the Juvenile Department at (937) 599-7245.

Hire Gavvl Law for your Logan County custody case

In Ohio, custody is the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities, and Logan County splits it by marital status: married or divorcing parents have custody decided in the Domestic Relations section, while never-married parents file in the Juvenile section after parentage is established. The Family Court applies the R.C. 3109.04 best-interest factors and uses the Logan County Visitation Guidelines as the default schedule when parents cannot agree. Gavvl Law files in the correct section, assembles the UCCJEA affidavit and worksheet, and prepares you for the best-interest hearing. Flat fee for an agreed arrangement, full representation when custody is contested.

Filed in Domestic Relations or Juvenile. Married parents have custody decided inside the divorce as part of the $400 case, while never-married parents file a parentage and allocation complaint in the Juvenile section where parentage must come first — we route your case to the right section.
Built on the best-interest factors. The court weighs the R.C. 3109.04(F) factors — each parent's wishes, the child's wishes when of sufficient age, adjustment to home and school, and any history of abuse — so we present your case around those factors and the Logan County Visitation Guidelines.
UCCJEA and the parenting class covered. We file the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit to confirm Ohio is the child's home state and, in a Domestic Relations case, make sure both parents complete the Common Ground Parenting Program the court requires with children.

We handle custody in the combined Family Court at 101 S. Main Street in Bellefontaine, coordinating the Domestic Relations line at (937) 292-4043 and the Juvenile Department at (937) 599-7245, and can involve CASA of Logan County guardians ad litem in contested cases.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the custody complaint or motion; you appear at any hearing.

Establish custody: $1,250
Modify custody: $1,450

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.

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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: Logan County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division

101 S. Main Street, Bellefontaine, OH 43311
Phone: (937) 292-4043
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Logan County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division — Juvenile
101 S. Main Street, Bellefontaine, OH 43311
Phone: (937) 599-7245
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Custody is the right path if…

You need a court order setting who the children live with and how parenting time and decisions are divided.
You and the other parent cannot agree on parenting time, school, or major decisions.
Ohio is the children's home state under the UCCJEA — they have lived in Ohio for the last 6 months.
You know which section applies — Domestic Relations (married) or Juvenile (never married).

Filing Fees

Custody inside a divorce is part of that $400 deposit · never-married custody in the Juvenile section has a deposit set by the court (confirm; waiver available). Court fees and deposits change — confirm the current amount with the Logan County Clerk of Courts before filing: Domestic Relations Department (937) 292-4043 or the Family Court main line (937) 599-7249 (Juvenile Department (937) 599-7245 for never-married-parent cases).

Forms & Filing Packets

Custody inside a divorce (married parents) — Included in the divorce ($400) deposit

Filed in the Domestic Relations section. When parents are married, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside the divorce, dissolution, or legal separation — there is no separate custody case.

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.
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 Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.
Application for Child Support Services (Logan County, 3-6-18) — Required (Title IV-D) under DR Loc. R. 1.03 in any Logan County case involving children. It opens the CSEA support case so support can be collected by income withholding and enforced. Tip: File this whenever children are involved, even if you and the other parent currently agree on an amount.

Custody in the Juvenile section (never-married parents) — Juvenile filing deposit: confirm with the Juvenile Department (waiver available)

Filed in the Juvenile section. Used when the parents were never married. Parentage must be established (by acknowledgment, prior judgment, or genetic testing) before the court can allocate custody.

Complaint for Parentage and Allocation of Parental Rights (Logan Juvenile) — Used by a never-married parent to establish parentage and ask the Juvenile section to set custody, parenting time, and child support (R.C. Chapter 3111; R.C. 2151.23). Filed with the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and a child-support worksheet.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction over custody under the UCCJEA. Required in any case involving 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.
Logan County Visitation Guidelines (Form DR-01, eff. 1-19-18) — The court's standard parenting-time schedule, applied as the default when parents do not agree on something different. The posted PDF is a scanned document, so confirm the current schedule specifics (holidays, distance, exchanges) with the court. Tip: Use these as your starting point; the court can tailor a different schedule when it fits the children.

How to File Custody in Logan County

Pick the right section. Married or divorcing parents file in Domestic Relations; never-married parents file in Juvenile; non-parent custody is always Juvenile.
Confirm Ohio is the home state. The children must have lived in Ohio for at least the prior 6 months (or qualify under a UCCJEA exception); the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit is how you swear to those facts.
Assemble your packet. Married parents: the divorce packet plus the UCCJEA affidavit and worksheet (add a Shared Parenting Plan if asking for shared parenting). Never-married parents: a parentage/custody complaint, UCCJEA affidavit, and worksheet, plus the Application for Child Support Services.
File, serve, and attend the hearing. File in the right section, pay the deposit (or request a waiver), serve the other parent, and attend the best-interest hearing; the court can appoint a GAL.

Logan County Practice Notes

Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F) lists the best-interest factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes when of sufficient age, the child's relationships and adjustment to home/school/community, the health of all involved, the parent more likely to honor parenting time, and any history of abuse.
Where you file depends on marital status. Married or divorcing parents have custody decided in the Domestic Relations section as part of the divorce. Never-married parents file in the Juvenile section, and parentage must be established first. The Logan County Visitation Guidelines are the default parenting-time schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I file custody in Domestic Relations or Juvenile in Logan County?: It depends on whether you were married. If you are married to (or divorcing) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce, dissolution, or legal separation in the Domestic Relations section. If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are handled in the Juvenile section — both sections are in the same combined Family Court at 101 S. Main Street, Bellefontaine.
What parenting-time schedule does Logan County use?: When parents cannot agree, the court applies the Logan County Visitation Guidelines (Form DR-01, eff. 1-19-18) as the default schedule. The posted guidelines PDF is a scanned document, so confirm the current specifics (holiday rotation, distance provisions, exchanges) with the court. Parents can agree on their own plan instead, which the court usually approves if it fits the children.
Do I have to establish paternity before getting custody in Logan County?: Usually, yes. For a child born outside marriage, parentage generally must be established first — by a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, through the CSEA process, or by a parentage complaint in the Juvenile section — before the court can set custody, parenting time, or support for the father. The court can order genetic testing.
When does Logan County appoint a guardian ad litem, and what does it cost?: Under DR Loc. R. 8, the court appoints a Guardian ad Litem to protect a child's interest in contested custody and parenting-time matters (and where required by statute). GAL fees are 14 hours x $50 = $700; anything over $700 requires prior written court approval. A deposit is required at appointment, and fees are assessed between the parties. If both parties are indigent, the court may appoint someone to serve pro bono or with partial public funding. CASA of Logan County also provides trained volunteer advocates.
Is a parenting class required in Logan County?: Yes. Under DR Loc. R. 1.06, the Common Ground Parenting Program is mandatory in all actions involving children — every party in a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation involving children must attend. A certificate of attendance is filed in the case. If a parent does not attend, the court considers that refusal when allocating parental rights and may order attendance at additional cost. Confirm the provider, schedule, and fee with the Domestic Relations Department at (937) 292-4043.

Free Local Resources in Logan County

Logan County Court of Common Pleas — Family Court Division. The single combined Family Court for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree matters, and protection orders (Domestic Relations), plus never-married-parent custody/support, non-parent custody, and CPS (Juvenile), and adoption (Probate), at 101 S. Main Street, Bellefontaine. Family Court main line (937) 599-7249; Domestic Relations (937) 292-4043; Juvenile (937) 599-7245; Probate (937) 599-7252. DR/civil documents can be e-filed by email before 4:15 p.m. Court information and rules are at https://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court---family-court.html.
Logan County Domestic Relations Forms. Logan County uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized DR/Juvenile forms, plus a few local forms (the Visitation Guidelines, the Application for Child Support Services, and the Affidavit of Indigency). The DR forms page is at https://www.logancountyohio.gov/domestic-relations-forms.html.
Logan County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Any case involving children requires the Application for Child Support Services (Title IV-D). The CSEA sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, and can review existing orders. Confirm contact details with the Family Court at (937) 599-7249.
CASA of Logan County. Provides trained volunteer Guardian ad Litem advocates for children in contested cases. Learn more at https://www.casaoflogancounty.org/.
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 custody 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 custody and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
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.
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.
Emergency Custody in Ohio: When and How to Get an Ex Parte Order — When a child faces immediate danger, Ohio courts can grant emergency custody on short notice through an ex parte order. Here's what qualifies and what happens next.

More Logan County family-law resources

Ohio Custody guide — Statewide overview of custody in Ohio.
Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
Logan County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Logan County guide.
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