Establishing Paternity in Morrow County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green, Esq. · Managing Partner, Gavvl Law · Last updated June 8, 2026

Morrow County, Ohio · Mount Gilead

Establishing paternity is the legal step that gives an unmarried father rights and responsibilities and lets the Court order custody, parenting time, and support. In Morrow County, contested parentage is filed in the Juvenile Division at 48 East High Street, Mount Gilead, which can order genetic testing and then allocate parental rights.

How do I establish paternity in Morrow County, Ohio?

If both parents agree, sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity at the hospital or through CSEA — it has the force of a court order once filed and the rescission window passes. If paternity is disputed, file a Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights and Parenting Time (Ohio uniform SF 23 / JF 2) in the Morrow County Juvenile Division, (419) 947-5575, or ask Morrow County CSEA to open an administrative parentage case. The Court can order genetic testing and, once paternity is established, set custody, parenting time, and child support under the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors.

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: Morrow County Court of Common Pleas

48 East High Street, Mount Gilead, OH 43338, Mount Gilead, OH 43338
Phone: (419) 947-4515
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: morrowcountyohio.gov/government/county_elected_officials/common_pleas_court/about_the_court.php
e-Filing: https://clerkofcourts.morrowcountyohio.gov/eservices/home.page.2

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Morrow County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division
48 East High Street, 3rd Floor, Mount Gilead, OH 43338, Mount Gilead, OH 43338
Phone: (419) 947-5575
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Paternity is the right path if…

You are an unmarried parent who needs paternity established before custody or support can be ordered.
Paternity is disputed and you need genetic testing through the Court or CSEA.
You want custody, parenting time, and support decided once parentage is confirmed.
Ohio is the children's home state under the UCCJEA.

Filing Fees

Juvenile parentage filing: cash deposit set by the Court · Genetic testing may be ordered · CSEA can establish parentage administratively · Confirm fees with the Clerk

Forms & Filing Packets

Parentage complaint (Juvenile Division)

Filed at the Morrow County Juvenile Division when paternity is disputed or no acknowledgment exists. The Court can order genetic testing and then allocate parental rights.

Complaint to Establish Parentage / Paternity — Opens a parentage case at the Morrow County Juvenile Branch under R.C. 3111, asking the court to legally declare a father and (typically) allocate parental rights and set child support.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom. Confirms Ohio's jurisdiction over custody.

Agreed paternity and support

When both parents agree on paternity, an Acknowledgment of Paternity plus a support worksheet can establish parentage and set support without a contested hearing.

Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet — Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you're asking the court to set support.
IV-D Application for Child Support Services — Opens your case with Morrow County CSEA so support can be collected, tracked, and enforced through wage withholding.

How to File Paternity in Morrow County

Decide the path — acknowledgment or court. Agreeing parents can sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity; disputed cases need a parentage complaint in the Juvenile Division or a CSEA administrative case.
File the parentage complaint if disputed. File the Ohio uniform SF 23 / JF 2 in the Morrow County Juvenile Division and request genetic testing if needed.
Establish support and parenting. Once paternity is confirmed, run the Ohio child-support worksheet and ask the Court to set custody, parenting time, and support.

Morrow County Practice Notes

Genetic testing. Either party can request genetic testing. The court (or CSEA) will order the parties and child to a designated lab. Tests run 99%+ accurate. If the alleged father is excluded, the case is dismissed and the Ohio Department of Health updates the birth record.
In re Perales is the gate for non-parent custody. Without a finding that BOTH parents are unsuitable, an Ohio court cannot award custody to a non-parent — even if the child is thriving with the non-parent. The four Perales grounds are: contractual relinquishment of custody, abandonment, total inability to care for the child, or detriment from placement with the parents. Best interest alone is not enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rescind an Acknowledgment of Paternity in Ohio?: A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity can be rescinded within 60 days of the last signature by contacting your local Child Support Enforcement Agency and completing a Request for Paternity Determination. After 60 days you must challenge the acknowledgment in court within 1 year on grounds of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact (R.C. 3111.27). Genetic testing is typically ordered, and the Ohio Department of Health updates the birth record if the alleged father is excluded.
Do I file in Common Pleas or Juvenile in Morrow County?: Morrow County runs its family cases through one Court of Common Pleas with separate divisions sitting in the same courthouse at 48 East High Street, Mount Gilead. The General/Domestic Relations side handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody, parenting time, and support that travel with them for married or divorcing parents. The Juvenile Division (3rd floor, (419) 947-5575) handles paternity and custody for never-married parents, and grandparent or other non-parent custody.
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 Morrow County

Morrow County Common Pleas Court Forms. Local checklists, packets, and links to the Ohio uniform forms for divorce, dissolution, custody, support, and protection orders at morrowcountyohio.gov (Common Pleas Court Forms page). Court staff cannot give legal advice or help complete forms.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. The state's official 2024 Income Shares worksheet at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. Run it, print, and sign it before any hearing that sets or changes support.
Seminar for Separating Parents. Morrow County's court-approved parenting education program required under Local Rule 1 for parents of minor children. Most parents complete an approved online class such as Children in Between and file the Certificate of Completion before the final hearing.
Morrow County Mediation Department. Court mediation with mediator Kathy Nicolosi at 80 North Walnut Street, Suite F, Mount Gilead, (419) 947-9535, can help parents resolve parenting and other disputes outside a contested hearing.

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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Paternity guide — Statewide overview of paternity in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus 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.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.