Putnam County Child Custody Attorneys

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

Putnam County, Ohio · Ottawa

In Ohio, "custody" means the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities. In Putnam County, where you file depends on whether the parents were married: the Domestic Relations Division (Judge Schierloh) for married or divorcing parents, and the combined Juvenile/Probate Court (Judge Borer) for never-married parents. The court decides custody and parenting time using the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors, and both parents must complete the A-OK parenting class before the final hearing.

Hire Gavvl for your Putnam County custody case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Putnam County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

How do I file for custody in Putnam County, Ohio?

If you and the other parent were married, custody is decided inside your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in the Domestic Relations Division — file the Parenting Affidavit (UCCJEA) and the child-support worksheet with your case packet (part of the $300 deposit). If you were never married, file a Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio SC Form 23) in the Juvenile/Probate Court at (419) 523-3012; paternity must be established first. Both parents must complete the A-OK parenting class within 60 days of filing (Local Rule 41). The court applies the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors and Putnam's Rule 28 standard schedule. Confirm Juvenile/Probate fees at (419) 523-3012.

Hire Gavvl Law for your Putnam County custody case

In Ohio, custody means the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities, and in Putnam County where you file turns on whether the parents were married. Married or divorcing parents decide custody inside their divorce or dissolution in Judge Schierloh's Domestic Relations Division, while never-married parents file a Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights (Ohio SC Form 23) in Judge Borer's combined Juvenile/Probate Court. Gavvl Law files in the right court, applies the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors, and quotes one flat fee up front.

Two courts, one right door. Married-parent custody rides inside the divorce or dissolution in the Domestic Relations Division, but never-married custody starts with a Form 23 complaint in the Juvenile/Probate Court at (419) 523-3012 — and paternity has to be established first. We file in the correct court so the case is not bounced or delayed.
Built on the best-interest factors. The court decides custody and parenting time under the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors, with Putnam's Rule 28 standard schedule as the default. We build your case around those factors and the Parenting Affidavit (UCCJEA) so the parenting plan reflects your child's actual life.
Flat fee, with the parenting class handled. Both parents must finish the A-OK parenting class within 60 days of filing or an allocation cannot be granted (Local Rule 41). We keep that on schedule, quote one flat fee approved up front with payment plans and financing, and move to full representation for a contested custody fight.

Custody inside a divorce is part of the $300 deposit, but never-married custody fees are set by the Juvenile/Probate Court — confirm at (419) 523-3012 — and a contested fight can trigger a Guardian ad Litem, $800 for an attorney GAL or $400 for a CASA. We know that split and prepare you for the GAL before it arrives.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the custody complaint or motion; you appear at any hearing.

Establish custody: $1,250
Modify custody: $1,450

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your custody case or see payment plans & financing.

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: Putnam County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875
Phone: (419) 523-3110
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Putnam County Juvenile & Probate Court
245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875
Phone: (419) 523-3012
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Custody is the right path if…

You need a custody and parenting-time order for your child.
You know whether the parents were married (which sets the court).
Paternity is established (or you're ready to establish it for never-married parents).
You're prepared to complete the A-OK parenting class within 60 days.

Filing Fees

Custody inside a divorce/dissolution is part of the $300 deposit · never-married custody fees are set by the Juvenile/Probate Court — confirm at (419) 523-3012 · GAL deposit $800 attorney / $400 CASA in contested cases · poverty-affidavit waiver available

Forms & Filing Packets

Custody inside a Putnam County divorce or dissolution (married parents) — Part of the $300 divorce/dissolution deposit

Filed in the Domestic Relations Division. When parents are married, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside the divorce or dissolution — there is no separate custody case. File the Parenting Affidavit (UCCJEA) and the support worksheet with your packet.

Putnam County Parenting Affidavit — The county's parenting/UCCJEA affidavit listing where each child has lived and with whom. Filed with the complaint 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 the court sets or changes support.
Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 21) — Used when one parent will be designated residential parent and legal custodian.

Custody in the Putnam County Juvenile/Probate Court (never-married parents) — Filing fee set by the Juvenile/Probate Court — confirm the current deposit at (419) 523-3012

Filed in the Juvenile/Probate Court. Used when the parents were never married. Paternity must be established (by Acknowledgment, a prior judgment, or genetic testing) before the court can allocate custody. File the Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights (Form 23) with the UCCJEA 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.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.

How to File Custody in Putnam County

Determine the right court. Married or divorcing parents file in the Domestic Relations Division; never-married parents file in the Juvenile/Probate Court at (419) 523-3012. Grandparent and other non-parent custody is always Juvenile/Probate.
Establish paternity if never married. For never-married parents, paternity must be established first — by Acknowledgment of Paternity, a prior judgment, or genetic testing through the CSEA at 567-376-3780.
File with the Putnam County court and serve the other parent. File the Parenting Affidavit (UCCJEA) and support worksheet (married, inside the divorce) or the Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights (Form 23) (never-married, Juvenile/Probate), and serve the other parent.
Complete the A-OK class and attend the hearing. Both parents complete the A-OK parenting class within 60 days of filing (Local Rule 41). The court then applies the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors and Putnam's Rule 28 schedule.

Putnam County Practice Notes

Married goes to one judge; never-married usually goes to the other. Judge Schierloh's Domestic Relations Division hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody and support that ride along with them. Judge Borer's combined Juvenile/Probate Court hears custody for never-married parents, children-services cases, and adoption. Because the DR Division also advertises "child-custody disputes," confirm the division for a never-married case at (419) 523-3110 (DR) or (419) 523-3012 (Juvenile/Probate) before filing.
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.
Guardian ad Litem in contested cases. In a contested custody case, the court can appoint a Guardian ad Litem — a court-appointed attorney — to investigate and recommend a parenting plan in the child's best interest. The GAL does not represent the child's wishes; the GAL represents what is best for the child. GAL fees are typically allocated between the parents.
The A-OK parenting class has a 60-day clock. In any case with minor children, both parents must complete the A-OK parenting class within 60 days of filing. Miss it and you cannot be granted an allocation of parental rights; if no party completes it, the case is dismissed (Local Rule 41). There is an in-person option and a court-accepted online provider — confirm registration details with the Clerk at (419) 523-3110.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I file custody in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Putnam County?: If you are married to (or were married to) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in the Domestic Relations Division (Judge Schierloh), filed through the Clerk of Courts at (419) 523-3110. If you were never married, paternity and custody are handled by the combined Juvenile/Probate Court (Judge Borer) at (419) 523-3012. Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are filed in the Juvenile/Probate Court. Because the DR Division also advertises child-custody disputes, confirm the division for a never-married case before filing.
Is a parenting class required for custody cases in Putnam County?: Yes. In any case with minor children — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, or an allocation of parental rights — both parents must complete the A-OK parenting class within 60 days of filing. Miss it and you cannot be granted an allocation of parental rights; if no party completes it, the case is dismissed (Local Rule 41). There is an in-person option and a court-accepted online provider. Confirm registration details with the Clerk at (419) 523-3110.
What is the standard parenting-time schedule in Putnam County?: Unless the parents agree to a different plan the court approves, Putnam County's Rule 28 standard schedule applies: one weekday evening (Wednesday, 5:30–8:30 p.m.), alternating weekends (Friday 7 p.m. to Sunday 7 p.m.), six weeks of summer parenting time in two-week increments, and an even-year/odd-year holiday rotation. A separate long-distance plan applies when the parents live more than 150 miles apart.
When does Putnam County appoint a Guardian ad Litem?: In a contested custody case, the court can appoint a Guardian ad Litem — a court-appointed attorney — to investigate and recommend a parenting plan in the child's best interest. The GAL represents what is best for the child, not the child's wishes. In Putnam County the GAL deposit is $800 for an attorney GAL or $400 for a CASA volunteer, and the cost is typically allocated between the parents.
How much does a never-married custody or paternity case cost in Putnam County?: Never-married custody, paternity, and non-parent custody are filed in the Juvenile/Probate Court (Judge Borer), which sets its own filing fee — the $300 Domestic Relations deposit does not apply. Confirm the current amount at (419) 523-3012 before filing, and ask about a fee waiver if you can't afford it. CSEA paternity services, including genetic testing, are free to the applicant (567-376-3780).

Free Local Resources in Putnam County

Putnam County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Provides current filing fees, the county's Domestic Relations forms, and filing instructions for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment. File in person or by mail at 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875, or by fax/email (20 pages or fewer; $3 per transmission plus $1 per page) to (419) 523-5284 / cpefile@putnamcountyohio.gov. Call (419) 523-3110.
Putnam County Juvenile & Probate Court. Handles custody, parentage, and parenting time for never-married parents, non-parent custody, children-services cases, and adoption. Confirm its local forms and filing fees at (419) 523-3012.
Putnam County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Establishes paternity with free genetic testing, sets and reviews support administratively, and enforces orders by wage withholding. Payments run through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (2% processing fee). Call 567-376-3780.
Putnam County Pro Se Clinic (with Legal Aid of Western Ohio). A free instructional session on divorce, dissolution, and custody — educational, not legal representation. Schedule it at (419) 523-6200.
Putnam County Job & Family Services. Report concerns about a child's safety at 567-376-3777. In an immediate emergency, call 911.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official 2024 Income Shares worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.

Related to your custody 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 custody and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
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.
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.
Emergency Custody in Ohio: When and How to Get an Ex Parte Order — When a child faces immediate danger, Ohio courts can grant emergency custody on short notice through an ex parte order. Here's what qualifies and what happens next.

More Putnam County family-law resources

Ohio Custody guide — Statewide overview of custody in Ohio.
Toledo family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Toledo metro.
Putnam County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Putnam County guide.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
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