Establishing Paternity in Perry County

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

Perry County, Ohio · New Lexington

When parents are not married, parentage, custody, child support, and parenting time are decided by the Perry County Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Luann Cooperrider) through its Paternity-Custody Division, (740) 342-5520. Establishing paternity is the legal foundation for a father's custody and parenting-time rights and for a child-support order.

How do I establish paternity in Perry County, Ohio?

Paternity can be established by a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity, by genetic testing through the Perry County Child Support Division (CSEA), (740) 342-2278, or by a parentage action in the Juvenile Court's Paternity-Custody Division (R.C. Chapter 3111). To file a court case, use the Ohio Supreme Court standardized parentage/custody forms with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit at 105 N. Main St., New Lexington, (740) 342-5520. The new-case deposit is $300 (effective 1/1/2025), with $200 for the second parent. The court can order genetic testing and may appoint a Guardian ad Litem, then allocate custody, parenting time, and support.

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: Perry County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

105 N. Main Street, New Lexington, OH 43764
Phone: (740) 342-1022
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (Local Rule 2)
Website: pccommonpleas.com/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Perry County Probate & Juvenile Court
105 N. Main Street / P.O. Box 167, New Lexington, OH 43764
Phone: (740) 342-1118
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Paternity is the right path if…

The parents were not married when the child was born.
You need to legally establish who the father is.
An unmarried father wants enforceable custody or parenting-time rights.
A parent needs a child-support order tied to established parentage.

Filing Fees

$300 new juvenile case ($200 second parent, eff. 1/1/2025) · administrative parentage via CSEA · GAL $500 per party · confirm current amounts with the Juvenile Court at (740) 342-1118

Forms & Filing Packets

Complaint to establish parentage and parenting orders — $300 new juvenile case ($200 second parent) — eff. 1/1/2025

File the Ohio Supreme Court parentage/custody complaint with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit in the Juvenile Court's Paternity-Custody Division, then serve the other parent.

Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 23) — Asks the Juvenile Branch to name a residential parent and legal custodian and set a parenting-time schedule when the parents were never married.
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.
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.
Ohio Supreme Court Domestic Relations & Juvenile Standardized Forms — The Perry County Juvenile / Paternity-Custody Division uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms for parentage, custody, parenting time, and support. Confirm any local cover form with the Juvenile Court at (740) 342-1118.

Genetic testing / administrative route

Where parentage is disputed, ask the court for genetic testing; parentage can also be established administratively through the Perry County Child Support Division before or instead of a court case.

Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 23) — Asks the Juvenile Branch to name a residential parent and legal custodian and set a parenting-time schedule when the parents were never married.
Ohio Supreme Court Domestic Relations & Juvenile Standardized Forms — The Perry County Juvenile / Paternity-Custody Division uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms for parentage, custody, parenting time, and support. Confirm any local cover form with the Juvenile Court at (740) 342-1118.

How to File Paternity in Perry County

Choose the court or CSEA route. File in the Juvenile Court's Paternity-Custody Division, (740) 342-5520, or establish parentage administratively through the Perry County Child Support Division, (740) 342-2278.
Prepare the complaint packet. Complete the Ohio Supreme Court parentage/custody complaint and the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, plus a support worksheet where support is sought.
File with the $300 deposit. File at 105 N. Main St., New Lexington, (740) 342-1118, and pay the $300 new-case deposit ($200 for the second parent), or file a poverty affidavit.
Serve and resolve parentage. Serve the other parent; the court can order genetic testing where parentage is disputed.
Get the parenting and support order. The court allocates parental rights, parenting time, and support once parentage is established.

Perry County Practice Notes

Juvenile / Probate use the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms. Unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting-time cases are filed in the Probate & Juvenile Court (105 N. Main St., Paternity/Custody line (740) 342-5520) using the Ohio Supreme Court standardized Domestic Relations & Juvenile forms. Confirm any local cover form with the Juvenile Court at (740) 342-1118.
Juvenile filing fees (effective 1/1/2025). A new juvenile case (parentage, custody, support, or parenting time) is a $300 deposit, with $200 for the second parent; a Motion to Reopen is $200; a custody request filed inside an unruly/delinquency case is $50; and a Guardian ad Litem deposit is $500 per party. Fee waiver is available by poverty affidavit. Confirm current amounts with the Juvenile Court at (740) 342-1118.
Support runs through the Perry County Child Support Division. Child support is calculated under Ohio's 2024 Income Shares model and established, calculated, collected, and enforced through the Perry County Child Support Division (CSEA), (740) 342-2278. Support tied to a divorce/dissolution is ordered in the General Division; support for never-married parents is ordered in the Juvenile Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Married vs. never-married parents — which court decides custody in Perry County?: If you are or were married, custody and parenting time are decided as part of the divorce, dissolution, or legal separation in the General Division. If the parents were never married, parentage, custody, support, and parenting time are decided in the Probate & Juvenile Court's Paternity-Custody Division (R.C. 2151.23, 3109.04), reached at (740) 342-5520, using the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms.
What does it cost to file a custody, paternity, or support case in the Perry County Juvenile Division?: Effective 1/1/2025, a new juvenile case (parentage, custody, support, or parenting time) is a $300 deposit, with $200 for the second parent. A Motion to Reopen is $200, and a custody request filed inside an existing unruly/delinquency case is $50. A Guardian ad Litem deposit is $500 per party. A fee waiver is available by poverty affidavit. Confirm current amounts with the Juvenile Court at (740) 342-1118.
How is child support handled in Perry County?: Child support is calculated under Ohio's 2024 Income Shares model and is established, calculated, collected, and enforced through the Perry County Child Support Division (CSEA) at (740) 342-2278. Support tied to a divorce or dissolution is ordered in the General Division; support for never-married parents is ordered in the Juvenile Court as part of a parentage/custody case.
Which court handles family-law cases in Perry County?: The General Division of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas (105 N. Main St., New Lexington) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The Probate & Juvenile Court (also 105 N. Main St.) handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, under R.C. 2151.23) and adoptions (Probate). Domestic-relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts at (740) 342-1022.

Free Local Resources in Perry County

Perry County Clerk of Courts (General Division / Domestic Relations). Clerk Wes Harlan, 105 N. Main Street / P.O. Box 67, New Lexington, OH 43764; (740) 342-1022, fax (740) 342-5527. Files all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases. Forms at https://pccommonpleas.com/forms.php; e-file through the Henschen portal at https://efile.henschen.com/. The General Division (Judge Tina M. Boyer) hears all domestic-relations matters — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The Clerk cannot give legal advice or fill out forms. Confirm current deposits before filing.
“Successful Co-Parenting” parenting class (OSU Extension, Perry County). 104 S. Columbus Street, Somerset, OH 43783; (740) 743-1602 (https://perry.osu.edu/). Required under Local Rule 17(4) for any divorce or dissolution with children under 18. Fee $25 cash, pre-register at least one week ahead. Attend after the answer date in a divorce, or before the final hearing in a dissolution. OSU Extension sends proof of completion directly to the court. Confirm the current schedule and fee when registering.
Perry County Probate & Juvenile Court. Judge Luann Cooperrider, 105 N. Main Street / P.O. Box 167, New Lexington, OH 43764 (https://perrycountyohio.gov/law-courts/perry-county-ohio-probate-and-juvenile-court/). Juvenile (740) 342-1118; Paternity/Custody Division (740) 342-5520; Probate (740) 342-1493. Hears unmarried-parent paternity, custody, parenting time, and non-parent custody (Juvenile) and adoptions (Probate), using the Supreme Court of Ohio standardized forms.
Perry County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). (740) 342-2278. Perry County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs automatic wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders through license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals. File a IV-D Application whenever support is established or modified.
Perry County Job & Family Services / Children Services. (740) 342-3551. Investigates abuse, neglect, and dependency referrals and can file complaints in Juvenile Court. Statewide child-abuse hotline: 1-855-O-H-CHILD (1-855-642-4453).

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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on paternity and related Ohio family law topics.

Fathers' Rights in Ohio: Custody, Paternity, and Parenting Time — Ohio law does not favor mothers over fathers — but unmarried fathers must establish paternity before they have any rights. Here's how fathers protect their relationship with their children.
Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
Child Support Calculation in Ohio: How the Formula Works — Ohio calculates child support with the income shares model, combining both parents' incomes to set a shared obligation. Here's how the formula works and what changes the bottom line.

Keep exploring

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