Post-Decree Modifications in Ottawa County

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

Ottawa County, Ohio · Port Clinton

Life changes after a decree, and Ottawa County orders can be changed when the facts change. You file a post-decree motion in the court that issued the order — the Domestic Relations Division for married-parent decrees, or the Probate & Juvenile Court for never-married-parent orders. Reopening a case or filing a post-decree motion in the Domestic Relations Division is $300.

How do I change a custody, parenting-time, or support order in Ottawa County, Ohio?

File a post-decree motion in the court that issued the order. In the Domestic Relations Division, use the Motion for Change of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Form 27) to change custody, the Motion for Change of Parenting Time (Form 26) to change the schedule, or the Motion for Change of Child Support (Form 28) to change support; reopening a case or filing a post-decree motion is $300. In the Probate & Juvenile Court, use the corresponding Juvenile motions. Changing custody requires a change of circumstances plus the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(E); changing support generally requires a qualifying change under R.C. 3119.79.

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: Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

315 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452
Phone: (419) 734-6790
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the court)
Website: www.ottawacocpcourt.com/domestic-relations/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Ottawa County Probate & Juvenile Court (Juvenile Division)
315 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452
Phone: (419) 734-6840
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM)

Post-Decree Modifications is the right path if…

There is an existing Ottawa County order and your circumstances have changed.
Income, parenting time, the child's needs, or a parent's residence has changed significantly.
You want to change the residential parent, the schedule, or the support amount.
You can show the change meets the legal standard (R.C. 3109.04(E) or 3119.79).

Filing Fees

DR reopen / post-decree motion $300 · Juvenile post-disposition motion ~$35 · custody changes need a change of circumstances + best interest (R.C. 3109.04(E)); support changes need a qualifying change (R.C. 3119.79) — confirm with the Clerk at (419) 734-6755

Forms & Filing Packets

Change custody (residential parent) — $300 DR reopen/post-decree · Juvenile post-disposition ~$35

File the Motion for Change of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Form 27) in DR, or the Juvenile motion for change of custody. You must show a change of circumstances and that the change serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(E).

Motion for Change of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Form 27, Ottawa County copy) — Post-decree motion to reallocate custody (change the residential parent / legal custodian) under R.C. 3109.04(E).
Motion for Custody / Change of Custody (Ottawa County Juvenile) — Used to ask the Juvenile Court for custody, or to change an existing Juvenile custody order, in a case for never-married parents.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Affidavit 3, Ottawa County copy) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last five years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.

Change the parenting-time schedule — $300 DR reopen/post-decree · Juvenile post-disposition ~$35

File the Motion for Change of Parenting Time (Form 26) in DR, or the Juvenile Form 26, to adjust the companionship schedule based on the child's best interest.

Motion for Change of Parenting Time (Form 26, Ottawa County copy) — Post-decree motion to change the parenting-time / companionship schedule in an existing Domestic Relations case.
Motion for Change of Parenting Time (Form 26, Ottawa County Juvenile) — The Juvenile Court motion to change the parenting-time / companionship schedule in an existing Juvenile case.

Change child support — $300 DR reopen/post-decree · Juvenile post-disposition ~$35

File the Motion for Change of Child Support (Form 28) in DR, or the Juvenile support motion, with a fresh Ohio worksheet; or ask CSEA for an administrative review under R.C. 3119.79.

Motion for Change of Child Support / Expenses (Form 28, Ottawa County copy) — Post-decree motion to change child support or the allocation of child-related expenses after a change of circumstances.
Motion for Change of Child Support (Ottawa County Juvenile) — The Juvenile Court motion to change child support after a qualifying change of circumstances.
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.

How to File Post-Decree Modifications in Ottawa County

Confirm the right court. File in the court that issued the order — the Domestic Relations Division for married-parent decrees, or the Probate & Juvenile Court for never-married-parent orders.
Pick the right motion. Use Form 27 to change custody, Form 26 to change parenting time, or Form 28 to change support in DR (or the matching Juvenile motions).
Show the legal standard. Document the change of circumstances (custody) or qualifying change (support) and attach a fresh Ohio worksheet for support.
File, serve, and attend. File with the $300 DR reopen fee (or the Juvenile fee), have the other party served, and present your evidence at the hearing.

Ottawa County Practice Notes

Custody changes have a higher bar than schedule changes. To change the residential parent, R.C. 3109.04(E) requires a change of circumstances since the last order plus a finding that the change is in the child's best interest and that its benefits outweigh the harm of moving the child. Changing only the parenting-time schedule is judged on the child's best interest without the same change-of-circumstances threshold.
Support changes: court motion or CSEA review. You can change support by filing a Motion for Change of Child Support (Form 28 in DR; the Juvenile motion in Juvenile Court) under R.C. 3119.79, or by asking the Ottawa County CSEA for an administrative review. Either way, run a fresh Ohio worksheet so the court has current numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change a custody, parenting-time, or support order in Ottawa County?: You file a post-decree motion in the court that issued the order. In the Domestic Relations Division, use the Motion for Change of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Form 27) to change custody, the Motion for Change of Parenting Time (Form 26) to change the schedule, or the Motion for Change of Child Support (Form 28) to change support; reopening a case or filing a post-decree motion is $300. Custody changes require a change of circumstances and the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(E); support changes generally require a qualifying change under R.C. 3119.79.
Do I have to tell the court before I move with my child in Ottawa County?: Yes. A residential parent who intends to move generally must file a Notice of Intent to Relocate with the court that issued the order, so the court and the other parent can decide whether parenting time should change. Filing the notice does not automatically grant or deny the move — the other parent can object and ask the court to adjust the schedule based on the child's best interest. File the notice before you move and keep proof of the filing.
How much does it cost to file a Domestic Relations case in Ottawa County?: The Domestic Relations Division charges a $500 deposit to file a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment. An answer with a counterclaim is $300, reopening a case or filing a post-decree motion is $300, and personal service is about $100. A Guardian ad Litem deposit is $800 in a contested custody case. These are deposits against costs, not flat totals — pay the Clerk and confirm current amounts at (419) 734-6755.
Do I file in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Ottawa County?: It depends on whether you were married to the other parent. If you are or were married, custody, parenting time, and support are decided in your divorce, dissolution, or legal separation in the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas, 315 Madison St., Port Clinton ((419) 734-6790, Judge Bruce Winters). If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are handled in the combined Probate & Juvenile Court at the same address ((419) 734-6840, Judge Frederick C. Hany II). Non-parent (grandparent or relative) custody is always filed in the Juvenile Division.

Free Local Resources in Ottawa County

Ottawa County Clerk of Courts (Common Pleas / Domestic Relations). 315 Madison St., Room 106B, Port Clinton, OH 43452. Phone (419) 734-6755; filings email cpclerksfilings@co.ottawa.oh.us; website https://ottawacountyclerkofcourts.com/. The Clerk accepts divorce, dissolution, legal-separation, annulment, and protection-order filings and confirms current deposits. Court staff cannot give legal advice.
Ottawa County Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Frederick C. Hany II). 315 Madison St., Port Clinton, OH 43452. Juvenile Division (419) 734-6840; Probate Division (419) 734-6830; website https://www.ocpjcourt.com/. Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents and non-parent custody, plus adoptions. Hours Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed noon–1:00 PM).
Ottawa County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). The county CSEA establishes, modifies, collects, and enforces child support and can establish parentage administratively. The court skill does not publish a current CSEA address, phone, or website — confirm the agency's current contact information with the Clerk or the county before relying on it.
Parenting / coparenting education. Parents of minor children in a Domestic Relations case are generally expected to complete a parenting-education (coparenting) program. The court skill does not publish a current provider, format, or cost — confirm the required class, deadline, and fee with the Domestic Relations Division before filing.

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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