Mercer County Child Support Attorneys
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026
Mercer County, Ohio · Celina · General Division
Ohio sets child support with a statewide Income Shares worksheet, and the Mercer County CSEA collects, distributes, and enforces it. Where you file depends on your situation: inside a divorce or dissolution in the General Division, or in a never-married case in the Juvenile Court.
Hire Gavvl for your Mercer County child support case
Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Mercer County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.
Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.
How do I set or change child support in Mercer County, Ohio?
Run the Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) and file it with a IV-D application (DR 10 in DR cases) so the Mercer County CSEA can administer the order. Inside a divorce or dissolution, support is decided in the General Division as part of that case. For never-married parents, file in the Juvenile Court ($200 deposit). To change an existing order, file in the same court that issued it — a $350 post-decree motion (UDRF 28) in the General Division or a $200 motion in Juvenile Court — or ask the CSEA for an administrative review. The CSEA is at 220 W. Livingston St., Room B181, 419-586-7961.
Put a flat-fee attorney on your Mercer County child-support case
Child support in Mercer County runs on the Ohio 2024 Income Shares worksheet and is administered by the CSEA at 220 W. Livingston Street, Room B181 (419-586-7961), which collects by wage withholding and enforces the order. Whether support belongs in your General Division divorce, a never-married Juvenile Court case ($200 deposit), or a post-decree modification, Gavvl Law runs the worksheet, files the DR 10 IV-D application, and takes it to the right court for one flat fee agreed up front, with payment plans available.
- The worksheet is where the number is won or lost. Ohio's support figure comes straight from the Income Shares worksheet, so how income, childcare, and health-insurance costs are entered drives the order. We build and document the worksheet carefully so the amount reflects the real numbers instead of a rough guess.
- Filed in the court that actually has your case. Support inside a marriage is decided in the General Division, while never-married support is a Juvenile Court matter in Suite 307 — filing in the wrong one wastes the deposit. We open or modify the case in the correct court and pair it with the required IV-D application.
- Modify or enforce without self-help. To change an order you return to the court that issued it — a $350 UDRF 28 motion in the General Division or a $200 motion in Juvenile Court — or ask the CSEA for an administrative review. We choose the fastest route and never let you withhold parenting time to collect, which only risks contempt.
When payments stop, the Mercer County CSEA can enforce through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals — and we line up the right tool instead of leaving you to chase it. Our flat fee, agreed before we begin and payable on a plan, means getting the order enforced doesn't turn into an open-ended legal bill.
Flat-fee options
Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the support motion (establish, modify, or terminate). The court filing fee is billed separately and this does not include in-court representation.
- Establish child support: $950
- Modify child support: $950
- Terminate 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.
Start your child support case or see payment plans & financing.
Ohio Child Support by the Numbers
- 2024 Year Ohio's updated Income Shares support schedule took effect Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.021
- 10% Change in the calculated amount that justifies a modification Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.79
- 3 years How often either parent can request an administrative review Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.60
- Age 18 When support normally ends — or high-school graduation, whichever is later Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.86
What Counts in an Ohio Child Support Calculation
| What the worksheet counts | Counts toward support? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Both parents' gross income | Yes | Wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, and self-employment earnings |
| Health insurance for the children | Yes | Credited to the parent who pays the premium |
| Work-related childcare | Yes | Daycare and after-school costs are added in |
| Parenting time | Yes | Adjustments apply for substantial or equal parenting time |
| Imputed income | Sometimes | Added when a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed |
| A new spouse's income | No | Only the two parents' incomes are counted |
Where to File: Mercer County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Clerk of Courts, Legal Division)
101 N Main St, Room 205, PO Box 28, Celina, OH 45822Phone: (419) 586-6461
Hours: Monday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
Website: Court website
Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)
Mercer County Court of Common Pleas — Probate/Juvenile Division
101 N Main St, Suite 307, Celina, OH 45822
Phone: (419) 586-1249
Hours: Monday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
Child Support is the right path if…
This is the right path in Mercer County if…
- You need a new child-support order, or you need to change or enforce an existing one.
- You want the Mercer County CSEA to collect support by wage withholding and distribute it.
- You can complete the Ohio child-support worksheet and a IV-D application (DR 10 in DR cases).
- You know which court has your case — the General Division for a divorce/dissolution, or the Juvenile Court for never-married parents.
- You understand support is separate from parenting time — you can't withhold one because the other is unpaid.
Filing Fees
Support inside a divorce/dissolution: part of the case deposit ($350 for a post-decree modification) · Never-married case in Juvenile Court: $200 deposit · IV-D application required · CSEA processing (poundage) fee applies. Confirm amounts with the Clerk (419-586-6461) or Juvenile Court (419-586-1249).
Forms & Filing Packets
Establish or change support — never-married parents (Juvenile Court) — $200 deposit (new case) · $50 relocation notice
- 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.
- IV-D Application for Child Support Services (Mercer DR 10) — Opens a child-support case with the Mercer County CSEA so support can be collected by wage withholding, distributed, and enforced. Required whenever the court sets or changes child 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.
- Mercer County Juvenile Court Forms — The Probate/Juvenile Division's own forms for never-married parents: Complaint for Parentage / Allocation of Parental Rights (Custody) / Parenting Time, parenting plans, motions to change custody or parenting time, motions for contempt with Show Cause Order, financial and health-insurance affidavits, the IV-D application, and the Grandparent Power of Attorney / Caretaker Authorization Affidavit.
Support inside a divorce or dissolution (General Division) — Part of the divorce/dissolution deposit · $350 for a post-decree modification
- 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.
- IV-D Application for Child Support Services (Mercer DR 10) — Opens a child-support case with the Mercer County CSEA so support can be collected by wage withholding, distributed, and enforced. Required whenever the court sets or changes child support.
- Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
- Medical / Health Care Information (Mercer DR 8) — Discloses the children's health-care and insurance information so the court can order medical support. Part of the Mercer County local DR packet.
How to File Child Support in Mercer County
- Run the Ohio child-support worksheet. Use the official Ohio Child Support Calculator (2024 Income Shares), print, and sign. A worksheet is required any time the court sets or changes support — including in shared parenting.
- Open a IV-D case with the CSEA. File a IV-D application (DR 10 in DR cases). The Mercer County CSEA (220 W. Livingston St., Room B181, 419-586-7961) opens the case, sets up wage withholding, and distributes payments.
- File in the right court. Inside a divorce or dissolution, support is decided in the General Division. For never-married parents, file in the Juvenile Court ($200). To change an order, file in the same court that issued it, or request a CSEA administrative review.
- Enforce if payments stop. If support goes unpaid, the CSEA can enforce through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. Don't withhold parenting time in response — file a contempt motion instead.
Mercer County Practice Notes
- Support runs through the Mercer County CSEA. Child support is administered by the Mercer County Child Support Enforcement Agency (220 W. Livingston St., Room B181, PO Box 649, Celina; 419-586-7961). A IV-D application (DR 10 in DR cases) is required before a support order issues; CSEA collects by wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders.
- Support continues during parenting time. Parenting time and child support are separate obligations. You cannot stop paying support because you're being denied parenting time, and you cannot withhold parenting time because support is unpaid — file a motion in the court that issued your order instead.
- Two courts, two judges named Matthew. Mercer County splits family law between two courts in the same building. The Court of Common Pleas General Division (Judge Matthew K. Fox, Room 301) hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, DR post-decree motions, and DVCPOs; cases are filed with the Clerk of Courts (Room 205). The combined Probate/Juvenile Division (Judge Matthew L. Gilmore, Suite 307) hears never-married parentage, custody, parenting time, and support. The same magistrate, Richard M. Delzeith, serves both courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How is child support handled in Mercer County?
- Support is set under R.C. Chapter 3119 using the Ohio child-support worksheet and is administered by the Mercer County CSEA (220 W. Livingston St., Room B181, 419-586-7961). A IV-D application (DR 10 in DR cases) is required; CSEA collects by wage withholding, distributes payments, and can enforce through license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals.
- How do I change a custody, support, or parenting-time order in Mercer County?
- File a motion in the same court that issued the order — the General Division for a divorce/dissolution case (a $350 post-decree motion), or the Juvenile Court for an unmarried-parent case ($200). A change of the residential parent generally requires a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding (R.C. 3109.04).
- How much is a post-decree motion in Mercer County?
- A General Division post-decree / post-judgment motion is $350; a relocation notice is $100. In Juvenile Court, a motion (including a contempt motion) is $200 and a relocation notice is $50. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk (419-586-6461) or the Juvenile Court (419-586-1249).
- How much is a custody, parentage, or support case in Mercer County Juvenile Court?
- $200 for a new custody, support, visitation, or paternity case (or to reactivate a closed one, or for a contempt motion) under the Juvenile Local Rules Appendix A (eff. 2026). A relocation notice is $50, and a GAL request requires a $1,000 deposit. Each new or reopened case also carries a $25 stenographer's fee.
- We were never married — where do I file for custody in Mercer County?
- In the combined Probate/Juvenile Division (Judge Matthew L. Gilmore) on the 3rd floor, Suite 307, 419-586-1249. Parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents are Juvenile Court matters, not divorce-court matters.
Free Local Resources in Mercer County
- Mercer County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division (divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, CPO). Clerk Calvin Freeman, 101 N. Main St., Room 205, PO Box 28, Celina, OH 45822; (419) 586-6461; fax (419) 586-5826; clerk@mercercountycourts.com. Files all Domestic Relations and civil cases and confirms current deposits (divorce, dissolution, and post-decree motions are each a $350 deposit eff. 4/1/2024). No personal checks — cash, money order, or cashier's check, or pay online via LexisNexis. Court staff cannot give legal advice. Confirm the current amount and any e-filing registration (Common Pleas Loc.R. 29) with the Clerk before filing.
- Mercer County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (hears all Domestic Relations cases). Judge Matthew K. Fox, Magistrate Richard M. Delzeith, 101 N. Main St., Room 301, Celina, OH 45822; (419) 586-2122; cpc@mercercountycourts.com. Decides divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, DR post-decree, and domestic-violence civil protection orders. There is no separate Domestic Relations court.
- Mercer County Probate/Juvenile Division (never-married parents, non-parent custody). Judge Matthew L. Gilmore, Suite 307 (3rd floor), 101 N. Main St., Celina, OH 45822; juvenile line (419) 586-1249 or (419) 586-2418; fax (419) 586-4506; https://mercercountycourts.com/index.php. Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents, plus grandparent and other non-parent custody. New custody/support/visitation/paternity cases carry a $200 deposit (plus a $25 stenographer's fee); confirm current amounts with the court.
- Mercer County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 220 W. Livingston St., Room B181, PO Box 649, Celina, OH 45822-0649; (419) 586-7961; toll-free 800-207-3597; fax (419) 586-2151; hours M–F 8:30 AM–4:00 PM. Opens IV-D child-support cases, establishes paternity administratively, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders.
- A-OK Parenting Program (required for divorce/dissolution with minor children). Mercer County requires each parent in a divorce or dissolution with minor children to attend the A-OK Parenting Program before the final hearing (Common Pleas Loc.R. 21.02). Cost is a one-time $30 per person, paid at the class; you are registered automatically when you file, and the court mails your assigned date. The program runs 6:00–9:00 PM on the 4th Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September, and November in Room 303 of the courthouse. Juvenile (never-married) cases are generally not ordered into A-OK. Call (419) 586-2122 to reschedule.
- Ohio Legal Help & legal aid. Ohio Legal Help (https://www.ohiolegalhelp.org/) has plain-English guides and the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms for divorce, custody, support, and protection orders. Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO) serves Mercer County for income-eligible residents — confirm the current intake line.
Other Family-Law Topics in Mercer County
- Ohio Divorce Overview — How Ohio divorce and dissolution work at a high level.
- Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with an attorney for help with your Mercer County case.
Related to your child support case
- Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
- Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
- Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.
Related guides
In-depth, attorney-written guides on child support and related Ohio family law topics.
- 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.
- 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.
Continue your Mercer County research
- Ohio Child Support guide — Statewide overview of child support in Ohio.
- Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
- Mercer County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Mercer County guide.
- Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
- Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
