Shared Parenting in Logan County

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

Logan County, Ohio · Bellefontaine

Shared parenting means both parents are named residential parents and legal custodians and share decision-making under a written plan. In Logan County the Family Court reviews a proposed Shared Parenting Plan against the R.C. 3109.04 best-interest factors — Domestic Relations for married parents, Juvenile for never-married parents.

How do I get a shared parenting plan in Logan County, Ohio?

Submit a proposed Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) that addresses the R.C. 3109.04(G) factors — living arrangements, decision-making, a parenting-time schedule, support, and how disputes are resolved. Married or divorcing parents file it in the Domestic Relations section as part of the divorce; never-married parents file in the Juvenile section after parentage is established. The court approves the plan only if it serves the children's best interest and, where parents do not specify a schedule, applies the Logan County Visitation Guidelines. With children, both parents must complete the Common Ground Parenting Program (DR 1.06). Confirm specifics with the DR Department at (937) 292-4043.

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: www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court---family-court.html

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.

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to be named residential parents and share decision-making.
You can put a workable plan in writing — schedule, decisions, support, and dispute resolution.
Your plan serves the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04.
You know which section applies — Domestic Relations (married) or Juvenile (never married).

Filing Fees

Shared parenting inside a divorce is part of that $400 deposit · never-married shared parenting is filed in the Juvenile section (deposit: confirm with the court). 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

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

File the proposed Shared Parenting Plan with your divorce packet in the Domestic Relations section. The court reviews it under the best-interest standard and incorporates an approved plan into the decree.

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
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.

Shared parenting for never-married parents — Juvenile filing deposit: confirm with the Juvenile Department

After parentage is established, file the proposed Shared Parenting Plan in the Juvenile section with the UCCJEA affidavit and a child-support worksheet. The court applies the best-interest standard.

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
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 Shared Parenting in Logan County

Draft the plan. Address the R.C. 3109.04(G) factors: living arrangements, decision-making, parenting-time schedule, support, and dispute resolution.
Pick the right section. Married or divorcing parents file in Domestic Relations; never-married parents file in Juvenile after parentage is established.
File the plan and affidavits. Submit the Shared Parenting Plan with the UCCJEA affidavit and child-support worksheet, and the Application for Child Support Services.
Complete parenting class and attend the hearing. Finish the Common Ground Parenting Program; the court approves the plan if it serves the children's best interest.

Logan County Practice Notes

Shared parenting is not automatically equal time. Both parents are residential parents under the plan, but the actual schedule is whatever the plan or order says. When parents do not specify a schedule, the court applies the Logan County Visitation Guidelines as the default.
Parenting class still applies. Because shared parenting involves minor children, both parents must complete the Common Ground Parenting Program (DR Loc. R. 1.06); a certificate of attendance is filed in the case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does shared parenting work in Logan County?: Shared parenting means both parents are named residential parents and legal custodians under a written plan. Either parent can propose a Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) that addresses the R.C. 3109.04(G) factors — living arrangements, decision-making, a parenting-time schedule, support, and dispute resolution. The court approves the plan only if it serves the children's best interest. Shared parenting is not automatically equal time; the schedule is whatever the plan or order says.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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 shared parenting 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 shared parenting and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
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.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Shared Parenting guide — Statewide overview of shared parenting in Ohio.
Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
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