Shared Parenting in Perry County

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

Perry County, Ohio · New Lexington

Ohio uses shared parenting — not "joint custody" — when both parents are designated residential parents under a court-approved plan. In Perry County a shared-parenting plan is filed in the General Division (married parents) or the Juvenile Court (never-married parents), and the court must find it in the child's best interest.

How do I get shared parenting in Perry County, Ohio?

File a Shared Parenting Plan with your custody case — the General Division's Form 20.0 in a divorce/dissolution, or the Ohio Supreme Court shared-parenting plan in the Juvenile Court for never-married parents. The plan must address the residential schedule, decision-making, child support, health insurance, holidays, and transportation, and the court must find it in the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04. Parents of minor children complete the OSU Extension co-parenting class. If the parents cannot cooperate, the court may instead name one sole residential parent and legal custodian.

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.

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to remain residential parents and share major decisions.
The parents can communicate and cooperate about the children.
You can propose a workable residential schedule and decision-making plan.
Shared parenting is realistically in the child's best interest.

If the parents can't cooperate, the court may instead name one sole residential parent and legal custodian. Compare custody.

Filing Fees

Filed within a divorce ($285) or a juvenile parentage/custody case ($300) · GAL $400 (General) / $500 (Juvenile) per party · confirm current amounts with the Clerk (740) 342-1022 or Juvenile Court (740) 342-1118

Forms & Filing Packets

Shared parenting in a divorce/dissolution (General Division)

File the General Division Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20.0) with your divorce or dissolution, plus the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, the Health Insurance Affidavit, and the support worksheet.

Shared Parenting Plan (Perry Form 20.0) — Filed when both parents will be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must address the residential schedule, decision-making, support, health insurance, holidays, and transportation.
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.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Perry General Division) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
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.

Shared parenting for never-married parents (Juvenile Court) — $300 new juvenile case (eff. 1/1/2025)

File the Ohio Supreme Court shared-parenting plan with your parentage/custody case in the Juvenile Court, with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and the support worksheet.

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.

How to File Shared Parenting in Perry County

Confirm both parents will share. Shared parenting requires both parents to be designated residential parents and to share major decisions.
Draft a complete plan. Address the residential schedule, decision-making, child support, health insurance, holidays, and transportation in the Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20.0 in the General Division).
File with your custody case. File the plan in the General Division (married) or the Juvenile Court (never-married) with the parenting affidavits and support worksheet.
Complete the co-parenting class. Both parents complete OSU Extension's "Successful Co-Parenting" class where minor children are involved.
Get the best-interest decision. The court approves the plan only if it finds shared parenting in the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04.

Perry County Practice Notes

Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.
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.
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.

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.
Do I have to take a parenting class in Perry County?: Yes, in any divorce or dissolution involving 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), under Local Rule 17(4). The fee is $25 cash and you must pre-register about a week ahead. In a divorce you attend after the answer date; in a dissolution you complete it before the final hearing. OSU Extension sends your completion verification directly to the court.
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.
When does Perry County appoint a Guardian ad Litem?: In a contested custody, parenting-time, or parentage case the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem — a court-appointed attorney who investigates and recommends a parenting arrangement in the child's best interest. The GAL deposit is $400 per party in the General Division and $500 per party in the Juvenile Court. Approved GAL fees are typically allocated between the parents.

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 shared parenting case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.

Related guides

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

Shared Parenting in Ohio: How Joint Custody Really Works — Shared parenting is Ohio's version of joint custody — both parents stay legal custodians and share major decisions. Here's what a plan must cover and how courts decide.
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.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Shared Parenting guide — Statewide overview of shared parenting in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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