Shared Parenting in Marion County, Ohio
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 17, 2026
Marion County, Ohio · Marion
Ohio uses the terms sole custody and shared parenting. When both parents ask to be residential parents, they submit a written Shared Parenting Plan. Marion County's Family Division reviews the plan against the child's best interest.
How does shared parenting work in Marion County, Ohio?
When both parents want to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G), each submits a Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio Form 20). Marion Local Rule 5.03 requires the plan to be filed as a separate typed document. It is filed inside a divorce or, for unmarried parents, an Allocation of Parental Rights case on the Juvenile side ($268, Rule 3). Parenting time follows Local Rule 32B Options 1–5 by the child's age, and each parent completes parent education within 60 days (Rule 12). The court approves shared parenting only if it is in the child's best interest.
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
Shared parenting fits if…
- Both parents want to be designated residential parents and share decision-making.
- You can put a workable, written plan in place for schooling, health care, and a parenting-time schedule.
- The parents can communicate and cooperate enough to share day-to-day parenting.
- A shared arrangement is genuinely in the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04.
- You are ready to file the plan as a separate typed document as Marion Rule 5.03 requires.
Filing Fees
No extra fee inside a divorce · standalone allocation case $268 (Rule 3) · fee waiver available
Forms & Filing Packets
File a shared-parenting plan — Inside a divorce: part of that deposit · Standalone allocation case: $268 (Rule 3)
Submit the Form 20 plan (separate typed document) with the parenting addendum and support worksheet.
- Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
- Parenting Addendum (Marion Form K) — Attached when an order includes parenting or support terms, setting out the parenting-time details.
- 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.
- 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 Shared Parenting in Marion County
- Draft the shared-parenting plan. Prepare the Ohio Form 20 plan covering residential schedule, decision-making, holidays, and support, as a separate typed document (Rule 5.03).
- File inside the right case. File the plan inside your divorce, or in an Allocation of Parental Rights case on the Juvenile side for unmarried parents ($268).
- Add the support and parenting forms. Include the Ohio child-support worksheet and the Parenting Addendum (Form K).
- Complete parent education. Each parent finishes the approved online course within 60 days of the Form I notice and files the certificate.
- Attend the hearing. The court reviews the plan against the child's best interest and approves shared parenting if appropriate.
Marion County Practice Notes
- The plan must be a separate typed document. Marion Local Rule 5.03 requires the Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio Form 20) to be filed as a separate typed document, not buried inside another pleading.
- Parenting time follows Rule 32B. Marion County's standard parenting-time schedule is set by Local Rule 32B (effective 3/8/24), with Options 1–5 by the child's age band; the court can approve a different plan if it is in the child's best interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a written shared-parenting plan required in Marion County?
- Yes. When both parents ask to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G), each submits a Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio Form 20). Marion Local Rule 5.03 requires the plan to be filed as a separate typed document. A Parenting Addendum (Form K) sets out the parenting-time details.
- 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.
- Is a parenting class required for cases with children in Marion County?
- Yes. Under Marion F.C. Rule 12, each parent in a case involving children completes the Divorcing/Separated Parent Education Program — an approved online course finished within 60 days of the Form I notice. Listed provider fees range from $38.00 to $61.95, paid directly to the provider (it is not a court fee). You must file your Certificate of Completion with the Family Court Clerk.
- 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.
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/
Other Family-Law Topics in Marion County
- Statewide Divorce Overview — How divorce works across Ohio at a high level.
- Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
- Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Marion County family law attorney for help with your case.
Related to your shared parenting 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.
Related guides
In-depth, attorney-written guides on shared parenting and related Ohio family law topics.
- Shared Parenting in Ohio: How Joint Custody Really Works — Shared parenting is Ohio's version of joint custody — both parents stay legal custodians and share major decisions. Here's what a plan must cover and how courts decide.
- 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.
- 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.
Keep exploring
- Ohio Shared Parenting guide — Statewide overview of shared parenting in Ohio.
- Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
- Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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