Shared Parenting in Portage County

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

Portage County, Ohio · Ravenna

Shared parenting is Ohio's version of joint custody — both parents stay residential parents and share decision-making under a written plan. In Portage County, shared parenting plans are filed in the Domestic Relations Court, whether the parents are married or were never married. The plan must address every factor the law requires, and the court approves it only if it serves the child's best interest.

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

Submit a written Shared Parenting Plan that addresses every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor — living arrangements, the holiday and vacation schedule, child support, decision-making, transportation, school and health care, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. Married or divorcing parents file the plan inside the divorce or legal separation; never-married parents file it with a parentage/custody case — both in the Portage County Domestic Relations Court. The free 'Children Are Forever' parenting class is required in an initial custody or parenting-time case. The court approves the plan only if it serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F).

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: Portage County Domestic Relations Court

203 W. Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266
Phone: (330) 297-3475
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: www.portagecounty-oh.gov/portage-county-domestic-relations-court

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to stay residential parents and share major decisions.
You can cooperate enough to follow a detailed written plan.
Your plan can address all of the R.C. 3109.04(G) required topics.
Shared parenting serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F).

Filing Fees

Filed inside a divorce (part of that deposit) or with a parentage case (deposit set by the Court — confirm with the Clerk) · the free 'Children Are Forever' class is required in an initial parenting case · the court approves a plan only if it serves the child's best interest. Portage County does not publish a fixed Domestic Relations deposit, so confirm the current amount with the Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations at (330) 297-3475 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Shared parenting inside a divorce (married parents) — Included in the divorce/dissolution deposit — confirm with the Clerk

File the proposed Shared Parenting Plan inside the divorce or legal separation in the Domestic Relations Court, with a child-support worksheet.

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). 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.
Checklist for Divorce (Portage County Domestic Relations Court) — The Domestic Relations Court's step-by-step checklist of the forms and documents required to file a divorce, so nothing is missing when you file with the Clerk.

Shared parenting with a parentage case (never-married parents) — Deposit set by the Court — confirm with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475

After parentage is established, file the Shared Parenting Plan with a parentage/custody complaint in the Domestic Relations Court.

Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 23) — Asks the court to name a residential parent and legal custodian and set parenting time for never-married parents. In Portage County this is filed in the Domestic Relations Court — not the Juvenile Court.
Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). 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.
Checklist for Parentage / Custody Actions (Portage County Domestic Relations Court) — The Domestic Relations Court's checklist for unmarried parents starting a parentage, custody, parenting-time, or support case. In Portage County these are filed in the DR Court, not the Juvenile Court.

How to File Shared Parenting in Portage County

Draft a complete plan. Write a Shared Parenting Plan addressing every R.C. 3109.04(G) topic so it is not sent back for revision.
Pick the right case. Married/divorcing parents file the plan inside the divorce; never-married parents file it with a parentage case — both in the Domestic Relations Court.
Take the parenting class. Complete the free 'Children Are Forever' class, required in an initial custody or parenting-time case.
Attend the hearing. The court reviews the plan and approves it if it serves the child's best interest, then incorporates it into the order.

Portage County Practice Notes

Cover every required topic. A Shared Parenting Plan must address each R.C. 3109.04(G) factor — physical living arrangements, holidays and vacations, child support, decision-making, transportation, school and health care, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. Plans that skip a topic are routinely sent back for revision.
Best interest still controls. Even with an agreed plan, the court approves shared parenting only if it serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F). In a dispute, the staff mediator (Rachel Pico) may help the parents reach a workable schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must a shared parenting plan include in Portage County?: A written Shared Parenting Plan must address every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor — physical living arrangements, holiday and vacation schedule, child support, decision-making authority, transportation, school and health-care decisions, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. Plans that skip a factor are routinely sent back for revision, and the court approves the plan only if it serves the child's best interest.
Where do I file for shared parenting in Portage County?: Married or divorcing parents file the proposed plan inside the divorce or legal separation; never-married parents file it with a parentage/custody case after parentage is established. Both are filed in the Portage County Domestic Relations Court, and the free 'Children Are Forever' class is required in an initial parenting case.
Do we have to take a parenting class in Portage County?: Yes, when minor children are involved. The Portage County Domestic Relations Court requires the 'Children Are Forever' parenting class in an initial custody or parenting-time case, and the class is free for Portage County cases. Sign up early through the Court's forms page so it does not delay your hearing.
How does a Portage County court decide custody?: Using the R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) best-interest factors — each parent's wishes, the child's wishes when of sufficient age, the child's interaction with parents and siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, the mental and physical health of everyone involved, which parent is more likely to honor parenting time, support compliance, and any history of abuse. In contested cases the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem.

Free Local Resources in Portage County

Portage County Domestic Relations Court (Judge Paula Giulitto). 203 W. Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266; Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations (330) 297-3475, open 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, protection orders, and all unmarried-parent parentage, custody, parenting-time, and support cases. Hosts the Domestic Relations Forms page, the divorce and parentage checklists, and the free 'Children Are Forever' parenting class. Offers e-filing; fax/email filing is $1 per transmission plus $1 per page.
Portage County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA / PCJFS). Portage County Job & Family Services, (330) 297-3750. Opens IV-D cases, sets and collects support by wage withholding, can establish paternity and order genetic testing, and runs the Child & Adult Protective Services abuse hotline at 330-296-CARE (330-296-2273).
Portage County Juvenile/Probate Court. Part of the combined Juvenile/Probate Court in Ravenna. Handles abuse/neglect/dependency and delinquency (Juvenile) and adoptions (Probate). Note: in Portage County, routine parentage and custody for unmarried parents are heard in the Domestic Relations Court, not here.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself before filing so you know the likely support amount.

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.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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