Post-Decree Modifications in Noble County, Ohio
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026
Noble County, Ohio · Caldwell · General or Juvenile Division
Life changes — incomes, schedules, and where families live. When a custody, parenting-time, or support order no longer fits, you return to the division that issued it (continuing jurisdiction) to ask for a change.
How do I modify a custody or support order in Noble County, Ohio?
File the matching Ohio Supreme Court standardized motion in the division that issued your order — the General Division (350 Court House) for a divorce decree, or the Juvenile Division (280 Court House) for a never-married order. The General Division deposit for an Application for Modification is $80 (unless the CSEA files); the Juvenile Division charges its $80 civil-action filing fee plus assessments. A support change generally requires a substantial change in circumstances; a custody change generally requires a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding. A residential parent who intends to move must file a written relocation notice (R.C. 3109.051(G)).
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: Noble County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Clerk of Courts)
350 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724Phone: (740) 732-4408
Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Thu 8:00 AM–12:00 PM (no Thursday afternoon court session)
Website: noblecommonpleas.org/
e-Filing: https://efile.henschen.com
Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)
Noble County Court of Common Pleas — Juvenile Division
280 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724
Phone: (740) 732-5047
Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Thu 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
Post-Decree Modifications is the right path if…
File a Noble County modification if…
- An existing custody, parenting-time, or support order no longer fits your family's situation.
- There's been a substantial change in circumstances (income, job, health, the child's needs, or a move).
- You're returning to the division that issued the order (General Division or Juvenile Division).
- For a custody change, you can also show the change serves the child's best interest.
- You need to give or respond to a relocation notice under R.C. 3109.051(G).
Filing Fees
$80 modification deposit (General Division) · $80 + assessments (Juvenile Division)
Forms & Filing Packets
Modify a General Division (divorce) order — $80 Application for Modification (unless the CSEA files) · custody investigation $80
- Motion for Change of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 27) — The Ohio uniform motion to change custody / allocation of parental rights after a decree or juvenile order. File it in the division that issued your order — the General Division for a divorce, or the Juvenile Division for a never-married case.
- Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
- 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.
- Noble County Court Forms & E-Filing — The court's forms page. Noble County directs filers to the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms and offers General Division e-filing at https://efile.henschen.com.
Modify a Juvenile Division order — $80 civil-action filing fee + $15 + $10 + $3 assessments
- Motion for Change of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 27) — The Ohio uniform motion to change custody / allocation of parental rights after a decree or juvenile order. File it in the division that issued your order — the General Division for a divorce, or the Juvenile Division for a never-married case.
- 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.
- 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.
- Noble County Juvenile Division Local Rules & Cost Schedule — The Juvenile Division's local rules, cost-deposit schedule (an $80 civil-action filing fee plus the legal-aid, computer-fund, and computer-research assessments), and case-management timelines (initial hearing within ~30 days; merits within ~60 days).
How to File Post-Decree Modifications in Noble County
- Return to the issuing division. File in the division that issued your order — the General Division for a divorce decree, or the Juvenile Division for a never-married order (continuing jurisdiction).
- File the standardized motion. Use the matching Ohio Supreme Court standardized motion (Change of Parental Rights and Responsibilities, or Change of Child Support/Medical/Tax) with an updated income/expense affidavit and a child-support worksheet if support is involved.
- Serve and show the change. Serve the other party (Local Rule 12.03 in the General Division). Be ready to show a substantial change in circumstances — and, for a custody change, that the change serves the child's best interest.
- Handle relocation notices. A residential parent who intends to move must immediately file a written relocation notice with the court (R.C. 3109.051(G)) and cannot move the child out of Ohio without a modified order.
Noble County Practice Notes
- Continuing jurisdiction & post-decree service. Modifications return to the division that issued your order. In the General Division, Local Rule 12.03 requires every post-decree motion to be served on the other party under the Civil Rules.
- Support runs through the Noble County CSEA. Child support is administered by the Noble County Child Support Enforcement Agency (46049 Marietta Rd., P.O. Box 250, Caldwell). The Clerk transmits copies of support-related filings to the CSEA under Local Rule 21.09, and support orders carry the mandatory language required by Local Rule 21.06.
- Relocation requires notice (and sometimes an order). Under the Standard Order of Parenting Time and R.C. 3109.051(G), a residential parent who intends to move must file a written relocation notice stating the case number, the parties, and the old and new addresses, and may not move the child's residence out of Ohio without first obtaining a modified order.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I change a custody or support order in Noble County?
- File the matching Ohio Supreme Court standardized motion in the division that issued your order — the General Division for a divorce decree, or the Juvenile Division for a never-married order. A support change generally requires a substantial change in circumstances; a custody change generally requires a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding.
- How much does a modification or contempt motion cost?
- In the General Division the deposit for an Application for Modification and Citation for Contempt is $80 (unless filed by the CSEA), and a custody investigation deposit is $80 (Local Rule 7). The Juvenile Division charges its $80 civil-action filing fee plus statutory assessments. Confirm current amounts with the issuing division.
- Can I move out of state with my child?
- Not without a modified order. A residential parent who intends to move must immediately file a written relocation notice with the court (R.C. 3109.051(G)) and may not move the child's residence out of Ohio without first obtaining a modified order.
- The other parent won't follow our order — what can I do?
- File a motion to show cause / motion for contempt in the division that issued the order (General Division for a divorce decree; Juvenile Division for a never-married order). The court can enforce support, parenting time, custody, and property terms; willful violations can carry penalties.
- Does Noble County have a standard parenting-time schedule?
- Yes. The county's Standard Order of Parenting Time (alternate weekends, a midweek visit, eight alternating holidays, a split winter break, and two two-week summer periods, plus a long-distance schedule) applies by default in both divorce and unmarried-parent cases unless the parties agree otherwise or show good cause to deviate.
Free Local Resources in Noble County
- Noble County Clerk of Courts (General Division / Domestic Relations). 350 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724; (740) 732-4408; fax (740) 732-5604; email areiter@noblecountyohio.gov; website https://noblecommonpleas.org/. Accepts divorce, dissolution, legal-separation, annulment, civil-protection-order, and DR post-decree filings, and confirms current deposits. E-filing is available at https://efile.henschen.com. Court staff cannot give legal advice.
- Noble County Juvenile Division. 280 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724; (740) 732-5047 (Judge Kelly A. Riddle). Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents and non-parent (relative) custody. The same Standard Order of Parenting Time used in divorces applies here by default.
- Noble County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 46049 Marietta Rd., P.O. Box 250, Caldwell, OH 43724. The CSEA establishes, modifies, collects, and enforces child support and can establish paternity administratively (sometimes with genetic testing). Confirm the agency's current direct line with the Clerk or the county before relying on it.
- Parenting / coparenting education. Noble County does not publish a standing parenting-education requirement or an approved program. Because a judge may order a class case-by-case, confirm with the Clerk of Courts at (740) 732-4408 (divorce/dissolution/legal separation) or the Juvenile Court at (740) 732-5047 (unmarried parents) whether a class is required, which program the court accepts, and the deadline to file any certificate.
- 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. Southeastern Ohio Legal Services serves Noble County for income-eligible residents — confirm the current intake line.
Other Family-Law Topics in Noble 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 Noble County case.
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.
Keep exploring
- Ohio Post-Decree Modifications guide — Statewide overview of post-decree modifications in Ohio.
- Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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