Paternity & Parentage in Marion County, Ohio

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 17, 2026

Marion County, Ohio · Marion

When parents are not married to each other, legal parentage is established before the court can set custody, parenting time, and support. In Marion County these cases run on the Juvenile side of the Family Division under R.C. 2151.23 and R.C. 3111.

How do I establish paternity in Marion County, Ohio?

You can establish parentage three ways: the Marion County CSEA's administrative process, a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, or a court action under R.C. 3111 (with genetic testing if it is disputed). To also set custody, parenting time, and support, file a Complaint for Parentage/Allocation (Ohio Form 23 / JF 2) on the Juvenile side of the Family Division at 222 W. Center St. with the Case Designation (Form F) and affidavits — a $268 deposit (Rule 3). Each parent then completes parent education within 60 days (Rule 12).

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: Marion County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division

222 W. Center St.
Phone: (740) 223-4060
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Website: www.co.marion.oh.us/elected_offices/common_pleas_court_family_division/index.php

A paternity case fits if…

The parents were never married to each other and legal fatherhood has not yet been established.
You need a court order for custody, parenting time, or support and parentage must be confirmed first.
You want to confirm or challenge who a child's legal father is, with genetic testing if it is disputed.
You need the Marion County CSEA to establish and collect support after parentage is set.
Ohio is the child's home state under the UCCJEA so Marion County can decide custody.

Filing Fees

$268 allocation deposit (Rule 3) · CSEA administrative parentage per agency · fee waiver available

Forms & Filing Packets

Establish parentage and allocate parental rights — $268 allocation of parental rights (Rule 3); CSEA administrative parentage per agency

File on the Juvenile side and add the parenting/UCCJEA affidavit and support worksheet.

Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 23) — Asks the Juvenile Branch to name a residential parent and legal custodian and set a parenting-time schedule when the parents were never married.
Case Designation Form (Marion Form F) — Marion's case-designation cover sheet, filed with the complaint or petition to route the matter correctly within the Family Division.
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.
Parent Education Notice (Marion Form I, rev. 5/14/2025) — Notice of the Divorcing/Separated Parent Education Program (Rule 12). Lists the six approved online providers; each parent finishes the course within 60 days and files the certificate.

How to File Paternity in Marion County

Confirm or establish parentage. Use the CSEA process, sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity, or file an R.C. 3111 action with genetic testing if disputed.
File the allocation complaint. File the Complaint for Parentage/Allocation (Form 23 / JF 2) with the Case Designation (Form F) on the Juvenile side; pay $268 or file a fee waiver.
Add the parenting and support forms. Include the Parenting Proceeding/UCCJEA affidavit and the Ohio child-support worksheet.
Serve the other parent. Have the other parent served so the case can proceed.
Complete parent education and attend the hearing. Each parent finishes the approved course within 60 days (Form I); the court then sets custody, parenting time (Rule 32B), and support.

Marion County Practice Notes

Use the JF-numbered Juvenile forms. Unmarried-parent cases are Juvenile matters in the Family Division — use the JF-numbered forms (paired with the SF numbers) and the Juvenile case designation.
CSEA can establish paternity administratively. The Marion County CSEA (363 W. Fairground St.; (740) 387-6688 / (800) 960-5437) can establish paternity and support, but cannot grant or change custody or parenting time — those are decided by the Family Division.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I establish paternity in Marion County?: Through the Marion County CSEA's administrative process, a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, or a court action under R.C. 3111 (with genetic testing if it is disputed). Once parentage is established, the Juvenile side of the Family Division can allocate parental rights and set parenting time and support.
What can the Marion County CSEA do — and not do?: The Marion County Child Support Enforcement Agency (363 W. Fairground St.; (740) 387-6688 or (800) 960-5437) can establish paternity and establish, enforce, and collect child support, including by wage withholding. It cannot grant or change custody, resolve parenting-time disputes, or order payment of medical bills — those are decided by the Family Division.
What does it cost to file a custody or parentage case in Marion County?: A complaint or motion for Allocation of Parental Rights and Responsibilities carries a $268 deposit (Rule 3). Reopening a dormant case is $210. If a Guardian ad Litem is appointed, a $2,500 deposit applies. A fee waiver (Affidavit of Poverty) is available. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 223-4070.
Do married and unmarried parents file in the same place in Marion County?: Both file in the Family Division at 222 W. Center St., but on different tracks. Married (or formerly married) parents resolve custody, parenting time, and support inside a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment. Never-married parents file on the Juvenile side under R.C. 2151.23 — they do not file a divorce.
What is the standard parenting-time schedule in Marion County?: Marion County follows Local Rule 32B (effective 3/8/24), which sets standard parenting-time Options 1–5 by the child's age band. The court can adopt the standard schedule or approve a different plan that is in the child's best interest.

Free Local Resources in Marion County

Marion County Family Division — Court Forms. The Family Division of the Marion County Court of Common Pleas hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, custody, support, and protection-order matters at 222 W. Center St., Marion, OH 43302. Download the county lettered forms (Form A–N) and confirm current deposits before filing. Court (740) 223-4060; Clerk (740) 223-4070. Forms: https://www.co.marion.oh.us/elected_offices/common_pleas_court_family_division/family_court_forms/juvenile_domestic_forms.php
Marion County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). A division of Marion County Job & Family Services at 363 W. Fairground St., Marion, OH 43302. The CSEA establishes paternity and establishes, enforces, and collects child support; it cannot grant or change custody or parenting time. Call (740) 387-6688 or (800) 960-5437. Review & Adjust and other support help: https://mcjfs.com/child-support/
Divorcing/Separated Parent Education Program (Rule 12). Each parent in a case involving children completes a court-approved online parenting course within 60 days of the Form I notice and files the Certificate of Completion with the Family Court Clerk. Approved providers listed on Form I charge $38.00–$61.95, paid directly to the provider (not a court fee).
Ohio Child Support Guideline Calculator. The official statewide calculator that applies Ohio's 2024 Income Shares Model. Run it, print the worksheet, and file it any time the court sets or changes support: https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/

Related to your paternity case

Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Grandparents' Rights — Seek visitation or custody when it serves the child's best interest.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.

Related guides

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

Fathers' Rights in Ohio: Custody, Paternity, and Parenting Time — Ohio law does not favor mothers over fathers — but unmarried fathers must establish paternity before they have any rights. Here's how fathers protect their relationship with their children.
Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
Child Support Calculation in Ohio: How the Formula Works — Ohio calculates child support with the income shares model, combining both parents' incomes to set a shared obligation. Here's how the formula works and what changes the bottom line.

Keep exploring

Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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