Establishing Paternity in Meigs County

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

Meigs County, Ohio · Pomeroy

Paternity (parentage) legally establishes a child's father. In Meigs County, parentage for unmarried parents is decided in the Probate/Juvenile Court (Judge L. Scott Powell). Once parentage is established — by acknowledgment, genetic testing, or a court judgment — the court can allocate custody, set a parenting-time schedule, and order child support.

How do I establish paternity in Meigs County, Ohio?

Parentage can be established by a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, by genetic testing, or by a parentage action under R.C. Chapter 3111 in the Meigs County Probate/Juvenile Court. File a sworn complaint (or the Ohio parentage/custody packet) with a Child Custody Affidavit (UCCJEA) and make a good-faith effort to identify all parties (Meigs Juv. R. 32). The filing fee is $125 (Meigs Juv. R. 37) plus a $124 original-action security deposit. Once parentage is established, the court can set custody, parenting time from its Standard Visitation Schedule, and child support by worksheet. Confirm the current fees with the court at (740) 992-6205.

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: Meigs County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Domestic Relations)

100 East Second Street, Room 302, Pomeroy, OH 45769
Phone: (740) 992-6419
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
Website: meigscommonpleascourt.com/
e-Filing: https://meigseaccess.com/eservices/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Meigs County Court of Common Pleas — Probate/Juvenile Division
112 East Memorial Drive, Ground Floor, Pomeroy, OH 45769
Phone: (740) 992-6205
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Paternity is the right path if…

The parents were not married and you need to legally establish the child's father.
You want custody, parenting time, or child support, which require parentage to be established first.
You can file in the Probate/Juvenile Court with a Child Custody Affidavit (UCCJEA) and the parentage packet.
You are prepared to pay the $125 filing fee plus the $124 security deposit, or file a Poverty Affidavit.

Filing Fees

$125 filing fee for paternity/custody (Meigs Juv. R. 37) plus a $124 original-action security deposit (Rule 12) · genetic-testing costs may be assessed · Poverty Affidavit available for indigency. Deposits can change — confirm the current amount with the Meigs County Clerk of Courts Legal Division at (740) 992-5290 (Domestic Relations) or the Probate/Juvenile Court at (740) 992-6205 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Establish parentage and ask for custody/support — $125 filing fee + $124 security deposit (Meigs Juv. R. 37, Rule 12)

File the Ohio parentage/custody packet in the Probate/Juvenile Court with the Child Custody Affidavit (UCCJEA). The court can order genetic testing if parentage is disputed, then allocate custody, parenting time, and support.

Parentage, Custody and/or Parenting Time (Ohio SC Juvenile packet) — The Ohio Supreme Court standardized Juvenile packet used by never-married parents to establish parentage, allocate custody, and set parenting time (R.C. Chapter 3111; R.C. 2151.23). Filed in the Meigs County Probate/Juvenile Court.
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.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.

Parentage already established — set custody and support — $125 filing fee + $124 security deposit (Juvenile)

If paternity is already acknowledged or adjudicated, file in the Probate/Juvenile Court to allocate custody, set parenting time, and order child support without re-establishing parentage.

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.
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 Paternity in Meigs County

Confirm whether parentage exists. If there is no signed Acknowledgment of Paternity or prior order, parentage must be established first.
Prepare the parentage packet. Complete the Ohio parentage/custody packet and the Child Custody Affidavit (UCCJEA), and gather information to identify all parties.
File in the Probate/Juvenile Court. File at 112 East Memorial Drive, Ground Floor, Pomeroy (mailing 100 East Second Street), and pay the $125 fee plus $124 security deposit, or file a Poverty Affidavit.
Complete genetic testing if ordered. If parentage is disputed, the court can order genetic testing before adjudicating the father.
Ask for custody, parenting time, and support. Once parentage is established, the court allocates custody, sets parenting time from its Standard Visitation Schedule, and orders child support by worksheet.

Meigs County Practice Notes

Parentage cases are heard in the Probate/Juvenile Court. For never-married parents, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are decided in the combined Probate/Juvenile Court (Judge L. Scott Powell), not the General Division (R.C. 2151.23; R.C. Chapter 3111).
Commencement under Meigs Juv. R. 32. An original parentage action is started by a sworn complaint (modifications are by motion). File a Child Custody Affidavit (UCCJEA) and any out-of-county or out-of-state paternity entry, and make a good-faith effort to identify all parties (Rule 32.1–32.2).
Custody and support follow parentage. Once parentage is established, the court designates a residential parent and legal custodian (or shared parenting) under R.C. 3109.04, sets parenting time from its schedules, and sets support by the Ohio worksheet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to establish paternity before getting custody in Meigs County?: Yes, for never-married parents. Before the Probate/Juvenile Court can allocate custody or set support, parentage must be established — by a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, a prior judgment, or genetic testing in a parentage action under R.C. Chapter 3111. Once parentage is established, the court can designate a residential parent and legal custodian, set parenting time, and order child support.
How much does it cost to file a custody or support case in the Meigs County Juvenile Court?: Custody, visitation, contempt, and paternity filings are $125 each (new, re-opened, or cross/counter) under Meigs Juv. R. 37, plus a $124 original-action security deposit (Rule 12). A Guardian ad Litem deposit of $1,500 applies in private custody/parenting/visitation cases (Rule 21.11). No filing fee is charged to CSEA or Children's Services. If you can't afford the cost, file a Poverty Affidavit. Confirm current amounts with the court at (740) 992-6205.
Do I file custody in the General Division or the Juvenile Court in Meigs County?: If you are married to (or were married to) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce or dissolution in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas. If you were never married, parentage and custody are handled by the Probate/Juvenile Court. Married-but-separated parents seeking a parenting order file a "New Parenting Case" in the General Division. Grandparent and other non-parent custody is always filed in the Probate/Juvenile Court.
What is the standard parenting-time schedule in Meigs County?: The Probate/Juvenile Court's Standard Visitation Schedule gives the non-residential parent alternate weekends (Friday 6 p.m. to Sunday 6 p.m.) plus one weekday (default Thursday, 4 p.m./after school to 7:30 p.m.) in the week with no weekend. Ten holidays alternate by even/odd year; the non-residential parent gets four weeks of extended summer time and the residential parent two uninterrupted weeks. A separate Long-Distance Visitation Schedule applies when the parents live more than a 4-hour drive apart.
What is a IV-D application and how does the Meigs County CSEA help?: A IV-D application opens a child-support case with the Meigs County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Once opened, CSEA collects support through automatic wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and enforces the order through license suspension, tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. No filing fee is charged to CSEA. Opening a IV-D application is standard whenever a child-support order is issued.

Free Local Resources in Meigs County

Meigs County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Current filing fees, deposit amounts, and local DR forms (Local Rule 24) for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment. Legal Division (740) 992-5290; https://meigscountyclerkofcourts.com/legal-division/. E-filing through Meigs e-Access (https://meigseaccess.com/eservices/); mail and in-person filing also accepted.
Meigs County Probate/Juvenile Court. Handles never-married-parent custody, parenting time, support, and parentage, plus non-parent custody, adoption, and name change. Located at 112 East Memorial Drive, Ground Floor, Pomeroy (mailing 100 East Second Street); (740) 992-6205. https://meigscountyjuvenilecourt.org/
Meigs County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Opens IV-D child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. No filing fee is charged to CSEA. Contact the agency to open a IV-D application when establishing or modifying support.
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.
Meigs County Victim's Assistance & DV hotline. For protection-order help and safety planning, Meigs County Victim's Assistance is (740) 992-1720. The statewide domestic-violence hotline is 1-800-799-7233; in an emergency call 911.

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.

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Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity in Ohio.
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