Mahoning County Post-Decree Modification Attorneys

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

Mahoning County, Ohio · Youngstown

Life changes after a divorce or custody order — incomes shift, parents move, and schedules stop working. In Mahoning County, you change a final order by filing a post-decree motion in the same division that issued it: the Domestic Relations Division ((330) 740-2208) for divorce/dissolution cases, or the Juvenile Division ((330) 740-2278) for unmarried-parent cases.

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Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Mahoning County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

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

File a post-decree motion in the division that issued the order. Use Form 27 to change custody — which requires a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding (R.C. 3109.04(E)) — Form 26 to change parenting time, or Form 28 to change child support. A Domestic Relations post-decree motion deposit is $100; a Juvenile custody/visitation motion is $115 (plus the $15 OLAF fee) and a support modification is $100. To relocate, a residential parent must file a Notice of Intent to Relocate at least 60 days before the move (DR Rule 27). For support, you can also ask the Mahoning County CSEA for an administrative review.

Change your Mahoning County order the right way

After a final order, incomes shift, parents move, and schedules stop working — but Mahoning County holds you to specific standards and forms. Custody changes need a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding on a Form 27 (R.C. 3109.04(E)); parenting time uses Form 26; support uses Form 28 and generally a 10% change (R.C. 3119.79). Gavvl Law files the right motion in the division that issued your order and works on a flat fee, with payment plans and full representation for contested modifications.

The higher bar for custody, met with evidence. Reallocating the residential parent takes more than disagreement: you must show a change in circumstances since the last order and that the benefit outweighs the harm of moving the child (R.C. 3109.04(E)). We build that Form 27 record, while a Form 26 parenting-time change or Form 28 support change follows a lower standard.
Filed where the order lives. Post-decree motions stay in the division that issued the order under continuing jurisdiction — Domestic Relations for divorce and dissolution cases ($100 deposit), Juvenile for unmarried-parent cases ($115 plus the $15 OLAF fee, or $100 to modify support). We file in the correct court so the motion isn't bounced.
Relocation notices done on time. A residential parent must file a Notice of Intent to Relocate at least 60 days before moving (DR Rule 27), and the Clerk then notifies the other parent. We prepare that notice — or respond to one — and pair it with a Form 26 request to adjust parenting time around the move.

For support changes you often have two doors in Mahoning County: a Form 28 motion in the issuing division, or a free administrative review through the Mahoning County CSEA. We tell you which is faster for your situation and handle the paperwork, so a real change in your life turns into an updated order instead of a stalled one.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the motion to modify an existing custody, parenting-time, or support order. You appear at any hearing.

Modify custody or parenting time: $1,450
Modify child support: $950

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

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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: Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

Mahoning County Courthouse, 4th Floor, 120 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44503-1753
Phone: (330) 740-2208
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

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

Post-Decree Modifications is the right path if…

You already have a final custody, parenting-time, or support order.
Something significant has changed — income, a move, the children's needs, or the schedule.
You want to change custody and can show a change in circumstances plus best interest.
You need to give (or respond to) a relocation notice.

Filing Fees

DR post-decree motion: $100 · Juvenile custody/visitation motion: $115 (+ $15 OLAF) · Juvenile support modification: $100 · objections to a magistrate's decision: $100 · fee waiver available · confirm current amounts with the Clerk ((330) 740-2100) or Juvenile Division ((330) 740-2278)

Forms & Filing Packets

Change custody or parenting time — $100 DR post-decree motion / $115 Juvenile custody-visitation motion (+ $15 OLAF)

File the Form 27 (custody) or Form 26 (parenting time) motion in the division that issued the order. Custody changes require a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding.

Motion for Change of Parental Rights and Responsibilities (Mahoning Form 27) — Asks the court to reallocate custody after a final order. Requires a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding (R.C. 3109.04(E)).
Motion for Change of Parenting Time (Mahoning Form 26) — Changes the parenting-time schedule (a lower standard than changing custody). The county parenting-time schedules apply to the resulting order.
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.

Change child support — $100 DR post-decree motion / $100 Juvenile support modification

File the Form 28 motion with an updated Income Shares worksheet, or request a CSEA administrative review. Support changes generally require a 10% change or other qualifying basis (R.C. 3119.79).

Motion for Change of Child Support, Medical Support, or Tax Exemption (Mahoning Form 28) — The 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.
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.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.

Relocate with the children — Confirm any filing cost with the Clerk

A residential parent files a Notice of Intent to Relocate at least 60 days before moving; the other parent can ask the court to adjust parenting time.

Mahoning County Notice of Intent to Relocate — A residential parent must file this at least 60 days before moving (DR Rule 27); the Clerk notifies the other parent unless the residential parent objects on DV/abuse/neglect grounds.
Motion for Change of Parenting Time (Mahoning Form 26) — Changes the parenting-time schedule (a lower standard than changing custody). The county parenting-time schedules apply to the resulting order.

How to File Post-Decree Modifications in Mahoning County

Identify the change and the right motion. Decide whether you're changing custody (Form 27), parenting time (Form 26), or support (Form 28), and confirm the change-in-circumstances basis.
File in the issuing division. File the motion in the division that issued the order — Domestic Relations for divorce/dissolution cases, Juvenile for unmarried-parent cases — with the applicable deposit.
Give any required notices. If you're relocating, file the Notice of Intent to Relocate at least 60 days before the move and serve the other parent.
Attend the hearing. Present evidence of the change and best interest; the court rules, and a magistrate's decision can be objected to within the local deadlines.

Mahoning County Practice Notes

Higher bar to change custody than parenting time. Changing the residential parent/legal custodian requires a change in circumstances since the last order plus a finding that the change serves the child's best interest and the harm of moving is outweighed by the benefit (R.C. 3109.04(E)). Changing parenting time is a lower standard. Modifying support generally requires a 10% deviation or other qualifying change (R.C. 3119.79).
Relocation notice and continuing jurisdiction. A residential parent must file a Notice of Intent to Relocate at least 60 days before moving (DR Rule 27); the Clerk notifies the other parent unless the residential parent objects on DV/abuse/neglect grounds. Post-decree motions stay in the division that issued the order under continuing jurisdiction — Domestic Relations for divorce/dissolution cases, Juvenile for unmarried-parent cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change a custody, support, or parenting-time order in Mahoning County?: File a post-decree motion in the same division that issued the order — the Domestic Relations Division ((330) 740-2208) for divorce/dissolution cases, or the Juvenile Division ((330) 740-2278) for unmarried-parent cases. Use Form 27 to change custody (which requires a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding under R.C. 3109.04(E)), Form 26 to change parenting time, or Form 28 to change support. A Domestic Relations post-decree motion deposit is $100; a Juvenile custody/visitation motion is $115 (plus the $15 OLAF fee) and a support modification is $100.
Do I have to tell the court before I move with my child in Mahoning County?: Yes. A residential parent (moving within or outside Ohio) must file a Notice of Intent to Relocate at least 60 days before the move and provide a copy to the assignment commissioner (DR Rule 27). The Clerk mails notice to the nonresidential parent unless the residential parent objects based on alleged domestic violence, abuse, or neglect. If no objection is filed within 60 days, the court may modify parenting time as requested.
How much does it cost to file for divorce or dissolution in Mahoning County?: The Mahoning County Domestic Relations deposit for a Complaint for Divorce, Legal Separation, Annulment, or Petition for Dissolution is $250 (with or without children) under the schedule effective May 22, 2015. A counterclaim or third-party complaint is $150, a post-decree motion is $100, objections to a magistrate's decision are $100, and registering a foreign support or custody order is $100. If you cannot afford the deposit, file a Poverty Affidavit with the Order Waiving Deposit. Confirm current amounts and payment methods with the Clerk of Courts at (330) 740-2100.
Do I file in the Domestic Relations or Juvenile Division in Mahoning County?: If you are married to (or were married to) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in the Domestic Relations Division (120 Market Street, Youngstown, (330) 740-2208). If you were never married, paternity and custody are handled by the separate Juvenile Division (Hon. Theresa Dellick, 300 East Scott Street, Youngstown, (330) 740-2278). Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are filed in the Juvenile Division.

Free Local Resources in Mahoning County

Mahoning County Domestic Relations Court. Local forms, local rules, and filing information for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, custody, support, and protection orders at https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/699/Domestic-Relations-Court. E-filing is mandatory; the Clerk of Courts ((330) 740-2100) handles intake at 120 Market Street, Youngstown. Court staff cannot give legal advice or help complete forms.
Mahoning County Juvenile Division. Handles never-married-parent custody, parentage, parenting time, and child support, plus non-parent custody, at 300 East Scott Street, Youngstown (Hon. Theresa Dellick). Filing line (330) 740-2278; the Juvenile Division is a paper-filing court.
Mahoning County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Opens IV-D cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support by wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Located at 345 Oak Hill Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44502; phone (330) 740-2600. Payment questions go to Ohio Child Support Payments at 1-800-860-2555.
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.
Community Legal Aid Services / VALU. Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents of Mahoning County and northeast Ohio, including the Volunteer Advocate Legal Unit (VALU) that assists with protection-order petitions and hearings. Intake line 1-800-998-9454.

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.

Continue your Mahoning County research

Ohio Post-Decree Modifications guide — Statewide overview of post-decree modifications in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
Mahoning County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Mahoning County guide.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
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Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.