Post-Decree Modifications in Perry County

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

Perry County, Ohio · New Lexington

Life changes after a divorce or custody order. In Perry County, motions to change custody, parenting time, or child support are filed in the court that issued the order — the General Division for a divorce/dissolution order, or the Juvenile Court for a parentage/custody order. The General Division post-decree deposit is $130.

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

File the matching motion in the court that issued your order. In the General Division, use the Motion for Change of Custody (Form 27.0), the Motion for Change of Parenting Time (Form 26.0), or the Motion for Change of Child Support (Form 28.0), with a memorandum and — for support — an updated worksheet and a financial affidavit. The post-decree deposit is $130. A change of custody requires a change of circumstances and that the change serve the child's best interest (R.C. 3109.04). Parents of minor children complete the OSU Extension co-parenting class where required.

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.

Post-Decree Modifications is the right path if…

There has been a real change since your last order (income, relocation, schedule, or the child's needs).
You need to change custody, parenting time, or child support.
Your existing order no longer fits your family's situation.
You can document the change of circumstances.

Filing Fees

$130 General Division post-decree deposit · Juvenile Motion to Reopen $200 · indigency affidavit reduces the deposit to $25 · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 342-1022

Forms & Filing Packets

Change custody (residential parent) — $130 post-decree deposit

File the Motion for Change of Custody (Form 27.0) with a memorandum showing a change of circumstances and that the change is in the child's best interest.

Motion for Change of Custody / Parental Rights (Perry Form 27.0) — The General Division motion to change the residential parent and legal custodian. File with a memorandum in support.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Perry Form 3.0) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
General Division Forms Page (Perry County Common Pleas) — The General Division's central forms page. The General Division of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court.

Change parenting time / companionship — $130 post-decree deposit

File the Motion for Change of Parenting Time (Form 26.0) with a memorandum in support.

Motion for Change of Parenting Time / Companionship (Perry Form 26.0) — The General Division motion to change a parenting-time / companionship schedule.
General Division Forms Page (Perry County Common Pleas) — The General Division's central forms page. The General Division of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court.

Change child support — $130 post-decree deposit

File the Motion for Change of Child Support (Form 28.0) with an updated child-support worksheet and a financial affidavit.

Motion for Change of Child Support (Perry Form 28.0) — The General Division motion to change child support after a change of circumstances. File with an updated child-support worksheet and a financial affidavit.
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.
Affidavit of Basic Information, Income & Expenses (Perry Form 1.0) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Support income claims with the prior-year W-2 and the last six months of paystubs (Local Rule 18).

How to File Post-Decree Modifications in Perry County

Identify the right court. File in the court that issued your order — the General Division for a divorce/dissolution order, or the Juvenile Court for a parentage/custody order.
Show a change of circumstances. Document the substantial change since your last order (income, relocation, schedule, or the child's needs).
File the matching motion. Use Form 27.0 (custody), Form 26.0 (parenting time), or Form 28.0 (support) with a memorandum in support and the $130 deposit.
Attach updated financials for support. A support change requires an updated child-support worksheet and a financial affidavit.
Attend the hearing. The court applies the best-interest standard (and, for custody, the change-of-circumstances test) before changing the order.

Perry County Practice Notes

No separate Domestic Relations court. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the General Division of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas — there is no separate Domestic Relations division. Judge Tina M. Boyer presides, with Magistrate / Court Administrator Jamie Farmer. File through the Clerk of Courts, 105 N. Main St. / P.O. Box 67, New Lexington 43764, (740) 342-1022.
Co-parenting class required with minor children (Local Rule 17). In any divorce or dissolution with minor children, both parents complete "Successful Co-Parenting: Helping Children Cope With Divorce," offered by OSU Extension Perry County, 104 S. Columbus St., Somerset, (740) 743-1602. The fee is $25 cash and you must pre-register about a week ahead (Local Rule 17(4)). In a divorce you attend after the answer date; in a dissolution you complete it before the final hearing. OSU Extension sends the completion verification directly to the court.
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.
Fee waiver if you can't afford the deposit. File an indigency (poverty) affidavit with your case. In the General Division the deposit is then reduced to $25; the Juvenile Court waives its deposit on a poverty affidavit. Confirm the current procedure with the Clerk at (740) 342-1022 (General Division) or (740) 342-1118 (Juvenile).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to reopen or modify a Perry County divorce order?: Per the General Division Clerk's schedule, a post-decree matter (a motion to modify custody, parenting time, or support, or to enforce an order) is a $130 deposit. An out-of-state money judgment is filed as a Foreign Judgment for $90. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 342-1022.
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.
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.
Can I file in Perry County without paying the full deposit?: Yes, if you cannot afford it. File an indigency (poverty) affidavit with your case; the General Division deposit is then reduced to $25, and the Juvenile Court waives its deposit on a poverty affidavit. Confirm the current procedure with the Clerk at (740) 342-1022 (General Division) or (740) 342-1118 (Juvenile).

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 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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