Filing for Custody in Mahoning County

Mahoning County, Ohio · Youngstown

In Ohio, 'custody' means the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities. In Mahoning County, where custody is decided depends on whether the parents were married: the Domestic Relations Division at 120 Market Street for married or divorcing parents, and the separate Juvenile Division at 300 East Scott Street for never-married parents. Either court applies the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors.

How do I file for custody in Mahoning County, Ohio?

If you and the other parent were married, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce, dissolution, or legal separation at the Mahoning County Domestic Relations Division, 120 Market Street, Youngstown — there is no separate custody filing. If you were never married, file a Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 23) in the Mahoning County Juvenile Division at 300 East Scott Street, (330) 740-2278. A Parenting Proceeding Affidavit confirming Ohio is the children's home state is required, and parents must complete the court-approved parenting class before parenting orders are finalized. The court decides under the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors.

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

120 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44503, Youngstown, OH 44503
Phone: (330) 740-2100
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/699/Domestic-Relations-Court

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division
300 East Scott Street, Youngstown, OH 44505, Youngstown, OH 44505
Phone: (330) 740-2278
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Custody is the right path if…

You need a court order saying who the children live with and how parenting time is divided.
You and the other parent can't agree on parenting time, school enrollment, or major decisions.
Ohio is the children's home state under the UCCJEA — they've lived in Ohio for the last 6 months.
You can complete the parenting class before the final hearing.

Filing Fees

DR custody (inside divorce): filed with the divorce deposit · Juvenile custody filing in the Juvenile Division · Parenting class required

Forms & Filing Packets

Custody inside a Mahoning divorce/dissolution (married parents)

Filed at the Mahoning County Domestic Relations Division, 120 Market Street. When parents were married, custody, parenting time, and child support travel with the divorce or dissolution — there is no separate custody filing.

Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom. Confirms Ohio's jurisdiction over custody.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet — Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you're asking the court to set support.

Custody packet — Juvenile Division (never-married parents)

Filed at the separate Mahoning County Juvenile Division, 300 East Scott Street, Youngstown. Used when the parents were never married. Paternity must be established before the court can allocate custody.

Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities — Asks the Mahoning County Juvenile Branch to designate a residential parent and legal custodian and set a parenting time schedule when parents were never married.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom. Confirms Ohio's jurisdiction over custody.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet — Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you're asking the court to set support.

How to File Custody in Mahoning County

Pick the right division — DR or Juvenile. Married/divorcing parents file with the DR case at 120 Market Street; never-married parents file in the Juvenile Division at 300 East Scott Street, Youngstown.
Confirm Ohio is the children's home state under the UCCJEA. The children must have lived in Ohio for at least the prior 6 months. The Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (R.C. 3127.23) is how you swear to those facts.
Complete the parenting class. Parents must finish the court-approved parenting class before parenting orders are finalized.
Assemble the packet and file. DR: parenting affidavit + child-support worksheet with the divorce. Juvenile: Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights (Form 23) + UCCJEA affidavit + child-support worksheet.

Mahoning County Practice Notes

Two separate courts — case type controls. Mahoning County's Domestic Relations and Juvenile divisions are separate courts in different buildings. Married parents file custody with the DR case at 120 Market Street; never-married parents file in the Juvenile Division at 300 East Scott Street. Grandparent / non-parent custody is always Juvenile.
Parenting class before parenting orders. Under R.C. 3109.053, the court requires a court-approved parenting class and the filed Certificate of Completion before parenting orders are finalized. Most parents use an approved online class such as 'Children in Between.'
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.
Guardian ad Litem in contested cases. In a contested custody case, the court can appoint a Guardian ad Litem — a court-appointed attorney — to investigate and recommend a parenting plan in the child's best interest. The GAL does not represent the child's wishes; the GAL represents what is best for the child. GAL fees are typically allocated between the parents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file for custody in Mahoning County?: If you and the other parent were married, custody and parenting time are decided inside your divorce, dissolution, or legal separation in the Domestic Relations Division at 120 Market Street, Youngstown. If you were never married, file a Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities in the Mahoning County Juvenile Division at 300 East Scott Street, Youngstown, (330) 740-2278. Either court decides custody under the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors.
Do I file in the Domestic Relations or Juvenile Division in Mahoning County?: Mahoning County runs two separate courts. The Domestic Relations Division (120 Market Street, Youngstown) handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody, parenting time, and support that travel with them for married or divorcing parents. The separate Juvenile Division (300 East Scott Street, Youngstown, Judge Theresa Dellick, (330) 740-2278) handles paternity and custody for never-married parents, and grandparent / non-parent custody.
Is a parenting class required in Mahoning County?: Yes. Under R.C. 3109.053, parents of minor children in a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment must complete a court-approved parenting education class and file the Certificate of Completion before the final hearing. Most parents complete an approved online class such as 'Children in Between.' The court will not finalize parenting orders until the certificate is filed.
What does it mean for Ohio to be my child's 'home state' under the UCCJEA?: Under the UCCJEA (R.C. 3127), Ohio is the children's home state when they have lived in Ohio with a parent for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before the filing. If the children recently moved, the prior state may still have jurisdiction. Ohio courts can also decline jurisdiction as an inconvenient forum under R.C. 3127.21 even when home-state requirements are met.
How is child support calculated in Mahoning County?: Mahoning County uses Ohio's statewide 2024 Income Shares Model — there is no county formula. Run the official worksheet at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov with both parents' gross incomes, parenting-time, health-insurance, and child-care figures, then file the signed worksheet with your support pleadings. The Mahoning County Child Support Enforcement Agency (345 Oak Hill Avenue, Entrance D, Youngstown, (330) 740-2073) collects and enforces the order through wage withholding once it is journalized.

Free Local Resources in Mahoning County

Mahoning County Domestic Relations Court. Local forms, local rules, and filing information for divorce, dissolution, custody, support, and protection orders at mahoningcountyoh.gov/699/Domestic-Relations-Court. Court staff cannot give legal advice or help complete forms.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. The state's official 2024 Income Shares worksheet at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. Run it, print, and sign it before any hearing that sets or changes support.
Children in Between (online parenting class). An approved online parenting class for parents of minor children, completed before the final hearing. The Certificate of Completion is filed with the court.
Community Legal Aid Services. Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents of Mahoning County and northeast Ohio. Intake line 1-800-998-9454.

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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Custody guide — Statewide overview of custody in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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