Child Support in Montgomery County

How do I get a child-support order in Montgomery County, Ohio?

Run the Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet, then file with the right court: inside a divorce or dissolution at the Montgomery County DR Court (301 West Third Street) for married parents, or the Initiate Child Support Packet at the Montgomery County Juvenile Court (380 West Second Street) for never-married parents. File an IV-D Application with the Montgomery County CSEA, (937) 225-4600, so support can be collected and enforced through wage withholding.

Where to File: Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Montgomery County Juvenile Court
380 West Second Street, Dayton, OH 45422, Dayton, OH 45422
Phone: (937) 496-7908
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Child Support is the right path if…

• You need a first child-support order, or a IV-D case opened with the county CSEA.
• Support should run through automatic wage withholding and CSEA enforcement.
• You have the income information needed to run the Ohio Income Shares worksheet.
• Ohio is the children's home state under the UCCJEA.

Filing Fees

Support inside a divorce is included in the divorce deposit · Juvenile child-support filings follow the Juvenile Court fee schedule · cash medical support $510.21/child/year

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Child Support in Montgomery County

1. Run the Ohio child-support worksheet. Complete the Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (or the Montgomery County calculator at mcdrc.ohiolegalhelp.org) using both parents' income.
2. Pick your court. Married parents: support travels with the divorce or dissolution at the DR Court. Never-married parents: file the Initiate Child Support Packet at the Juvenile Court.
3. Open a IV-D case with CSEA. File the IV-D Application with the Montgomery County CSEA, (937) 225-4600, so support is collected by wage withholding and enforced.
4. File and serve. Self-represented DR parties review through the Compliance Office; Juvenile filers can use Citizen Services for the packet.

Montgomery County Practice Notes

• Ohio Income Shares model and 90 overnights. Montgomery applies the 2024 Ohio Income Shares worksheet. The Standard Order of Parenting Time assumes 90 overnights for the non-residential parent, which affects the support calculation. Cash medical support is set at $510.21 per child per year (Mont. D.R. Rule 5.9).
• Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Montgomery County CSEA do?

The Montgomery County Child Support Enforcement Agency at (937) 225-4600, 1111 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., opens IV-D cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support through wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and enforces orders through license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals. File an IV-D Application whenever a child-support order is established.

Do I file in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Montgomery County?

If you are married to the other parent (or were married when the children were born), custody, parenting time, and child support travel with the divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment at the Domestic Relations Court, 301 W. Third Street. If you were never married, paternity and custody go to the Montgomery County Juvenile Court at 380 W. Second Street — a separate building in downtown Dayton. Grandparent and non-parent custody is always Juvenile.

How much does it cost to file in Montgomery County?

Domestic Relations deposits: divorce $375 without children / $475 with children; dissolution $300 without children / $400 with children; legal separation $300 / $400; annulment $300. Post-decree motions are $200 and service by publication is $200. There is no filing fee for a DV/CPO. Court surcharges (Technology $20, E-Filing/Storage $35, Parent Education $10, and others) are added per Mont. D.R. Rule 2, and a 3% convenience fee applies to card and e-filing payments. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk of Courts at 41 N. Perry Street.

What is a IV-D application and why do I need one?

A IV-D Application opens a child-support case with your county's Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Once opened, CSEA collects support through automatic wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and can enforce the order through license suspension, federal tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. Filing a IV-D Application is standard whenever a child-support order is issued.

Free Local Resources in Montgomery County

• Montgomery County DR Court — Ohio Legal Help Self-Help Portal. Free step-by-step interviews and fillable forms for Montgomery County divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, custody, support, and protection-order cases at mcdrc.ohiolegalhelp.org.
• Montgomery County DR Court Navigator & Legal Clinic. The Court Navigator (Room 222, (937) 496-7766) and the free virtual Legal Clinic with the Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project (2nd Tuesday and 3rd Thursday monthly) help self-represented parties understand procedures and complete forms.
• Montgomery County Juvenile Court Citizen Services. Free pro se assistance for custody, parenting time, child support, paternity, contempt, and grandparent filings at (937) 224-3977, citizen.services@mcjcohio.org — walk-in Monday/Tuesday, by appointment Wednesday–Friday.
• Montgomery County CSEA. The county IV-D child-support agency at (937) 225-4600, 1111 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., opens cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders.

Other Family-Law Topics in Montgomery County

• Montgomery County Divorce — Full filing guide for contested divorce in Montgomery DR.
• Montgomery County Dissolution — Both-parties-agree route — faster and cheaper than divorce.
• Montgomery County Custody — Married parents file inside divorce; never-married parents file at the Juvenile Court.

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.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Child Support guide — Statewide overview of child support in Ohio.
• Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.