Post-Decree Modifications in Madison County

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

Madison County, Ohio · London

After a final order, you can ask the court to change custody, parenting time, or support when circumstances have changed. Modifications of a divorce order are filed in the General Division ($400 deposit); modifications of a Juvenile (never-married) order are filed in the Juvenile Division ($200 deposit).

How do I change a custody, parenting-time, or support order in Madison County, Ohio?

If your order came from a divorce or dissolution, file a post-decree motion in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas ($400 deposit) showing a change of circumstances. If your order came from the Juvenile Division (never-married parents), file the matching Juvenile motion — Motion for Custody (preexisting case), Motion to Modify or Terminate Child Support, or Motion for Visitation / Motion to Modify or Terminate Visitation — with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and, for support, an updated worksheet ($200 deposit; a change of custody for school purposes only is $100). The court applies the best-interest standard under R.C. 3109.04.

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: Madison County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

1 N. Main Street, London, OH 43140
Phone: (740) 852-9776
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current public-counter hours with the Clerk)
Website: www.co.madison.oh.us/departments/court_system/common_pleas/index.php

Post-Decree Modifications is the right path if…

There has been a substantial change in circumstances since your last order.
A parenting-time or custody arrangement is no longer working for the child.
Incomes, health-insurance, or childcare costs have changed enough to affect support.
You already have a final court order you need changed.

Filing Fees

General Division post-decree motion $400 · Juvenile modification $200 (school-purposes-only custody $100) · GAL $400 per party (General) or $2,000 (Juvenile) · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776

Forms & Filing Packets

Modify a divorce order (General Division) — $400 post-decree deposit

File a post-decree motion in the General Division showing a change of circumstances, with an updated financial affidavit and (for support) the support worksheet. The case is referred to a magistrate.

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.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
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.
Madison County Court of Common Pleas — General Division — The General Division of the Madison County Court of Common Pleas (Judge Eamon P. Costello). Domestic-relations matters are referred to a magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.1). Court and clerk staff cannot give legal advice or complete your forms.

Modify a Juvenile order (never-married parents) — $200 Juvenile deposit (school-purposes-only custody $100)

File the matching Juvenile motion — custody, child support, or visitation — with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and, for support, an updated worksheet.

Motion for Custody (preexisting case) — Madison County Juvenile — Asks the Juvenile Division to change custody (the residential parent and legal custodian) in a case that is already open.
Motion to Modify or Terminate Child Support — Madison County Juvenile — Asks the Juvenile Division to change or end an existing child-support order after a change of circumstances. File with an updated support worksheet.
Motion for Visitation (preexisting case) — Madison County Juvenile — Asks the Juvenile Division to set or address parenting time/visitation in a case that is already open.
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.

How to File Post-Decree Modifications in Madison County

Identify the court that issued your order. Divorce/dissolution orders are modified in the General Division; never-married orders are modified in the Juvenile Division.
Show a change of circumstances. Custody and support changes require a substantial change in circumstances since the last order; gather the supporting facts and updated financials.
File the right motion. Use a General Division post-decree motion ($400) or the matching Juvenile motion ($200), with the required affidavits and worksheet.
Best-interest decision. The court (or magistrate) applies the R.C. 3109.04 best-interest factors and enters the modified order.

Madison County Practice Notes

Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.
Domestic cases are referred to a magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.1). Under C.P. Loc.R. 6.1, domestic-relations matters in the General Division are referred to a magistrate who hears the case and issues a decision. A party may file objections under Civ.R. 53, and Judge Costello then rules on the objections and enters the final order.
Juvenile Division uses its own local form set. Unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting-time cases are filed in the Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Christopher J. Brown, 1 N. Main St., London, (740) 852-0760) using its local PDF forms. The court is open 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. M-F; self-represented parents reactivating a case by motion are not accepted after 3:30 p.m. (Juv. Loc.R. 3).
Married vs. never-married decides the court. Support and custody tied to a divorce/dissolution are decided in the General Division; for never-married parents they are decided in the Juvenile Division as part of a parentage/custody case (R.C. 2151.23). Confirm which court holds your case before filing a motion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to reopen or modify a Madison County divorce order?: Per the General Division Clerk's 2026 schedule, a post-decree motion (including a motion to modify a decree or change custody) is a $400 deposit, and a contempt citation is also $400 (C.P. Loc.R. 4.1). In the Juvenile Division a modification of custody, support, or visitation is a $200 deposit, a change of custody for school purposes only is $100, and a contempt motion is $100. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776 or the Juvenile Division at (740) 852-0760.
What does it cost to file a custody, paternity, or support case in the Madison County Juvenile Division?: Under Appendix A of the Juvenile Local Rules, a new or modified custody, parentage, child-support, or visitation case is a $200 deposit; a motion for change of custody for school purposes only is $100; and a contempt motion is $100. Publication is $75, and a Guardian ad Litem adds a $2,000 deposit (request within 90 days, Juv. Loc.R. 25). The Clerk may demand up to $150 more if the deposit is insufficient. Fees change — confirm with the Juvenile Division at (740) 852-0760.
Which court handles family-law cases in Madison County?: The General Division of the Madison County Court of Common Pleas (Judge Eamon P. Costello, 1 N. Main St., London) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court, and most domestic matters are referred to a magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.1). The combined Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Christopher J. Brown, 1 N. Main St., London) handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, R.C. 2151.23) and adoptions (Probate). Domestic-relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts at (740) 852-9776.
Will a judge or a magistrate hear my Madison County divorce?: Domestic-relations matters in the General Division are referred to a magistrate under C.P. Loc.R. 6.1. The magistrate hears the case and issues a decision; a party may file objections to the magistrate's decision within the time set by Civ.R. 53, and Judge Eamon P. Costello then rules on the objections and enters the final order. Confirm the current objection deadline with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776.

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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on modifications and related Ohio family law topics.

Post-Decree Modifications in Ohio: Changing Your Order After Divorce — Your divorce decree isn't carved in stone. When life changes, Ohio lets you modify custody, parenting time, and support — but each requires meeting a specific legal standard. Here's how.
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.
Contempt Motions in Ohio Family Court: Enforcing Your Order — When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding the children or refusing to pay support — a contempt motion is how Ohio courts enforce it. Here's how the process works.

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.
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