Modifying Orders in Lucas County

How do I modify a custody or support order in Lucas County?

File a post-decree motion in the division that issued the order. To change the residential parent or custody under R.C. 3109.04(E), you must show a change in circumstances of the child or residential parent since the prior order, that modification is in the child's best interest, and that the benefit outweighs the harm of changing. Parenting-time changes use the lower best-interest standard. For child support, file Motion Form 28 with an updated Ohio Child Support Worksheet, or request a CSEA administrative review (generally every 36 months, or sooner on a 10%+ change).

Where to File: Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division (Juvenile Justice Center)
1801 Spielbusch Avenue, Toledo, OH 43604, Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 213-6722
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Post-Decree Modifications is the right path if…

• There is already a final Lucas County custody, parenting-time, or support order.
• Something significant has changed since that order was entered.
• You want to change the residential parent, the schedule, or the support amount.
• A CSEA administrative review has not resolved the issue.

Filing Fees

Motion filing fee or deposit set by the issuing court · CSEA administrative reviews are free

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Post-Decree Modifications in Lucas County

1. Identify what changed. Pin down the change in circumstances since the last order — income, relocation, the child's needs, or coverage.
2. Pick the right motion. Use Form 28 for child support; use the DR custody/parenting-time motion for a schedule or residential-parent change.
3. File in the issuing court. File the motion and updated affidavits in the division that entered the original order and serve the other party.
4. Attend the hearing. Present evidence to the Magistrate or Judge, who applies the correct standard before changing the order.

Lucas County Practice Notes

• Custody is harder to change than parenting time. Reallocating the residential parent under R.C. 3109.04(E) requires a change of circumstances plus a best-interest finding plus that the benefit outweighs the harm of changing homes. Adjusting parenting time only requires a best-interest finding.
• Try the CSEA review first for support. If you only want to change the dollar amount of support, a CSEA administrative review (generally every 36 months, or sooner on a 10%+ change) is often faster and cheaper than filing a motion in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I modify a Lucas County parenting or support order?

To change the residential parent or custody under R.C. 3109.04(E), you must show a change in circumstances of the child or the residential parent since the prior order, that modification is in the child's best interest, and that the benefit outweighs the harm of changing. For parenting time, the bar is lower — best interest only. For child support, you can request a CSEA administrative review generally every 36 months, or sooner when a recalculation differs by more than 10%, using Motion Form 28.

How do I change a child-support order in Lucas County?

File a Motion for Change of Child Support / Medical / Tax (Uniform DR Form 28) with an updated Ohio Child Support Worksheet. A court will modify support when a recalculation differs by more than 10%, when health-care coverage is inadequate, or after a substantial change in circumstances. CSEA can also conduct an administrative review of an order, generally every 36 months.

How much does it cost to file in the Lucas County DR Division?

The Domestic Relations Division deposit is $300 without children and $325 with children; confirm the current amount on the Lucas County Filing Fee Schedule (11-13-2023). Pay in person at the Clerk's Office (1st Floor, 429 N. Michigan Street) or online through the Forte portal — the online portal is restricted to DR payments and you MUST include your case number. Never-married parentage and custody cases are filed in the Juvenile Division (1801 Spielbusch Avenue), which sets its own deposit — call the Juvenile Clerk at (419) 213-6722.

Do never-married parents file custody in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Lucas County?

In Lucas County, married and divorcing parents resolve custody, parenting time, and support inside their divorce or dissolution at the Domestic Relations Division (Family Court Center, 429 N. Michigan Street). Never-married parents file parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support at the Juvenile Division (Juvenile Justice Center, 1801 Spielbusch Avenue). Non-parent and grandparent custody petitions also go to the Juvenile Division.

When is a Guardian ad Litem appointed in Lucas County?

In a contested custody or parentage case, the court can appoint a Guardian ad Litem — a court-appointed attorney who investigates and recommends a parenting arrangement in the child's best interest. The GAL represents what is best for the child, not the child's wishes, files a written report before the final hearing, and is available for cross-examination. GAL fees are allocated between the parties by ability to pay.

Free Local Resources in Lucas County

• Lucas County DR Division — Forms Hub (Schedules 1–5). Every Domestic Relations local Schedule form, the Uniform Ohio forms, and the filing instructions are posted free at co.lucas.oh.us/1360/Domestic-Relations-Division-Forms.
• Court Counseling Department (4th Floor, Family Court Center). Established 1938 — handles family evaluations, mediation, conciliation assessments, intake services, and parenting-education scheduling through the Family Court Center.
• Domestic Violence Resource Center (2nd Floor, Family Court Center). Helps petitioners obtain Civil Protection Orders. Call (419) 213-2700.
• Lucas County CSEA. Child Support Enforcement Agency at 3737 W. Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, OH 43623, (419) 213-3001 — opens cases, collects, and enforces support.

Other Family-Law Topics in Lucas County

• Lucas County Divorce — Contested and default divorce filing guide for the DR Division at 429 N. Michigan Street.
• Lucas County Custody — Married parents file inside divorce; never-married parents file parentage in the Juvenile Division.
• Lucas County Child Support — Ohio worksheet, Lucas County CSEA collection, and how to modify an order.
• Lucas County Paternity — Establish parentage by Acknowledgment, CSEA, or a Juvenile Division complaint.
• Lucas County Shared Parenting — File a Uniform DR Form 20 Shared Parenting Plan in the DR Division.
• Lucas County Emergency Custody — Seek an ex parte order when a child faces immediate danger.
• Lucas County Modifications — Change a custody, parenting-time, or child-support order after a life change.
• Lucas County Protection Orders — File a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order with no filing fee.
• Lucas County Legal Separation — Divide property and set support while staying legally married.
• Lucas County Annulment — Available only on the narrow R.C. 3105.31 grounds — most cases need a divorce.
• Lucas County Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody — Relatives must prove parental unsuitability under In re Perales.

Related to your modifications case

• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Post-Decree Modifications guide — Statewide overview of post-decree modifications in Ohio.
• Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus 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.