Post-Decree Modifications in Mercer County, Ohio

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

Mercer County, Ohio · Celina · General Division

Life changes after a decree. In Mercer County you return to the same court that issued your order — the General Division for a divorce/dissolution, or the Juvenile Court for an unmarried-parent order — to change custody, parenting time, or support.

How do I modify a custody or support order in Mercer County, Ohio?

File a motion in the same court that issued the order. In the General Division, file UDRF 27 (reallocate parental rights) or UDRF 28 (modify support) with the income and parenting-proceeding affidavits, the worksheet, and DR 10 — a $350 post-decree deposit (Loc.R. 24). In the Juvenile Court, file a Motion for Change of Custody or Parenting Time, or a support-modification motion — a $200 deposit (Juv. Loc.R. 6.04(D)). A change of the residential parent requires a change in circumstances that is specifically identified, plus a best-interest finding (R.C. 3109.04). To relocate, file a Notice of Intent to Relocate (DR 6, $100 in DR cases; $50 in Juvenile cases) with 30 days' notice.

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: Mercer County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Clerk of Courts, Legal Division)

101 N Main St, Room 205, PO Box 28, Celina, OH 45822
Phone: (419) 586-6461
Hours: Monday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
Website: www.mercercountyoh.gov/elected-officials/clerk-of-courts/

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

Post-Decree Modifications is the right path if…

A modification is the right path in Mercer County if…

You already have a custody, parenting-time, or support order and circumstances have changed.
You can specifically identify the change in circumstances (required for a change of residential parent).
You're filing in the same court that issued your order — General Division or Juvenile Court.
You can show the change serves the child's best interest (R.C. 3109.04).
You need to relocate and must give the required notice before moving.

Filing Fees

General Division: $350 post-decree motion · $100 relocation notice (DR 6) · Juvenile Court: $200 motion · $50 relocation notice. A change of the residential parent requires a specifically-identified change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding (R.C. 3109.04).

Forms & Filing Packets

Modify a General Division (divorce) order — $350 post-decree motion · $100 relocation notice (DR 6)

Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
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.
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.
Notice of Intent to Relocate (Mercer DR 6) — The residential parent files this notice before moving (DR cases: $100 deposit). The parenting-time guidelines also require 30 days' written notice of any move to the other parent and to Child Support; the court can adjust parenting time after notice (Loc.R. 25; R.C. 3109.051(G)).

Modify a Juvenile Court order — $200 motion · $50 relocation notice

Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio SC Form 28) — The Ohio 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 you ask the court to set or change support.
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.
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.

How to File Post-Decree Modifications in Mercer County

Identify the change in circumstances. For a change of the residential parent, the motion must specifically identify the change in circumstances — it isn't enough to simply state that circumstances changed (R.C. 3109.04). For parenting time or support, the standard is the child's best interest or a qualifying change.
File in the issuing court. File UDRF 27 (custody) or UDRF 28 (support) in the General Division (Loc.R. 24, $350), or a Motion for Change of Custody / Parenting Time in the Juvenile Court (Juv. Loc.R. 6.04(D), $200). Attach the updated income affidavit, worksheet, and IV-D application for support changes.
Handle relocation properly. If you're moving, file a Notice of Intent to Relocate (DR 6, $100 in DR cases; $50 in Juvenile) and give 30 days' written notice (R.C. 3109.051(G)). In a Juvenile case the other parent has 14 days to object; if none, the court may approve without a hearing.
Attend the hearing. The court reviews your motion at a pretrial and, if contested, a hearing. A GAL ($1,000 deposit) may be appointed in a contested custody modification.

Mercer County Practice Notes

Change of residential parent: name the change specifically. A change of the residential parent requires a change in circumstances that is specifically identified in the motion plus a best-interest finding (R.C. 3109.04). Vague allegations are routinely denied — be specific and supported by affidavit.
Relocation requires notice (and sometimes an order). The residential parent must file a Notice of Intent to Relocate before moving (DR 6, $100 in DR cases; $50 in Juvenile) and give 30 days' written notice to the other parent and Child Support (R.C. 3109.051(G)). The court can adjust parenting time after notice and any hearing.
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 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).
Do I have to give notice before moving with my child in Mercer County?: Yes. The residential parent files a Notice of Intent to Relocate (DR cases: DR 6, $100; Juvenile cases: $50) and must give the other parent 30 days' written notice (R.C. 3109.051(G)). In a Juvenile case the non-residential parent has 14 days after notice to object; if no objection, the court may approve the move without a hearing.
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.

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.

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.

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Ohio Post-Decree Modifications guide — Statewide overview of post-decree modifications in Ohio.
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