Child Support in Lorain County

How do I get a child-support order in Lorain County, Ohio?

Run the Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (the Lorain Self-Help Center has a calculator at lcdrc.ohiolegalhelp.org) and file with an IV-D Application (JFS07076). For married parents, support is set inside the divorce or dissolution at the DR Division, 225 Court Street, Elyria, OH 44035. For never-married parents, file in the Juvenile Division. To change an existing order, file a Motion for Change of Child Support ($100 deposit). The IV-D Domestic Support Unit at (440) 326-4836 holds support hearings.

Where to File: Lorain County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations & Juvenile Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Lorain County Juvenile Division
225 Court Street, Elyria, OH 44035, Elyria, OH 44035
Phone: (440) 329-5187
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Child Support is the right path if…

• You need a first child-support order, or your current order no longer fits your incomes or parenting time.
• There's been a 10%+ change in the support amount or a substantial change of circumstances.
• You want CSEA to collect support automatically by wage withholding.
• Health-insurance or uninsured-medical responsibility needs to be set or updated.

Filing Fees

Establish: IV-D Application free · Modify: $100 Motion for Change of Child Support · Ohio Income Shares Model

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Child Support in Lorain County

1. Run the Ohio Income Shares worksheet. Use the Lorain Self-Help calculator or ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov, then print and sign the worksheet.
2. File the IV-D Application and worksheet. Submit the JFS07076 IV-D Application with your support pleadings so CSEA can collect and enforce.
3. File in the correct division. Married parents: DR Division with the divorce. Never-married: Juvenile Division. Modifications cost $100.
4. Attend the support hearing. The IV-D Domestic Support Unit at (440) 326-4836 sets a hearing before a child-support magistrate to journalize the order.

Lorain County Practice Notes

• CSEA administrative review vs. court motion. You can request an administrative review of support through the Lorain County CSEA, or file a court motion in the division that issued the order. The court's IV-D Domestic Support Unit at (440) 326-4836 runs support hearings before Magistrates Tracy Ly and Nicole Block.
• IV-D Application is required with parental-rights cases. Under DR Local Rule 24 and Juvenile Local Rule 2, an IV-D Application is required for any case involving parental rights, paternity, or child support, along with a signed child-support worksheet and health-insurance addendum on final entries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lorain County CSEA do?

The Lorain County Child Support Enforcement Agency opens IV-D cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support by wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and enforces orders. The court's IV-D Domestic Support Unit at (440) 326-4836 handles child-support hearings before Magistrates Tracy Ly and Nicole Block. File the IV-D Application (JFS07076) whenever a support order is established. CSEA forms are at lcdjfs.com/forms.

How much does it cost to file in Lorain County?

Lorain County DR deposits (effective 11/01/2025): divorce, dissolution, or annulment $350 without minor children and $675 with minor children. A Motion for Change of Custody or Child Support is $100, a motion after judgment to modify, revive, or vacate is $50, service by publication is $75, and the bond for an ex parte restraining order is $75. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at 225 Court Street, Room 108, Elyria.

What is a IV-D application and why do I need one?

A IV-D Application opens a child-support case with your county's Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Once opened, CSEA collects support through automatic wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and can enforce the order through license suspension, federal tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. Filing a IV-D Application is standard whenever a child-support order is issued.

Do I file in the Domestic Relations or Juvenile Division in Lorain County?

Lorain County runs a combined Domestic Relations & Juvenile Division at 225 Court Street, but the case type still controls. If you are married to the other parent (or were married when the children were born), custody, parenting time, and support travel with your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in the Domestic Relations Division at (440) 329-5277. If you were never married, paternity and custody go to the Juvenile Division at (440) 329-5187. Grandparent / non-parent custody is always Juvenile.

Free Local Resources in Lorain County

• Lorain County Virtual Self-Help Center. Guided form assistants and fillable PDFs for divorce, dissolution, custody, support, legal separation, and protection orders at lcdrc.ohiolegalhelp.org. Create an account to save and complete your forms on your own schedule.
• Lorain County Help Center. Free in-person help understanding court processes and procedures on the 2nd Floor of the Justice Center, 225 Court Street, Elyria. Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. Call (440) 406-3288. Staff cannot give legal advice.
• Separating Parents Seminar. Required parenting education for divorcing, dissolving, and unmarried parents and anyone seeking custody or visitation. Free in-person and Zoom sessions, or a $25+ online Center for Divorce Education course. Register at lcdrc.org or call (440) 326-4846.
• Genesis House Domestic Violence Shelter. 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, and support for men, women, and children fleeing domestic violence in Lorain County. All basic needs provided.

Other Family-Law Topics in Lorain County

• Lorain County Divorce — Full filing guide for contested divorce in the Lorain County DR Division.
• Lorain County Dissolution — Both-parties-agree route — faster and cheaper than a divorce.
• Lorain County Custody — Married parents file inside divorce; never-married parents file in the Juvenile Division.

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.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Child Support guide — Statewide overview of child support in Ohio.
• Cleveland family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cleveland metro.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.