Establishing Paternity in Putnam County

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

Putnam County, Ohio · Ottawa

Establishing paternity gives a child a legal father and opens the door to custody, parenting time, and support. In Putnam County there are two routes: the free, faster CSEA route (with free genetic testing) and the court route in Judge Borer's combined Juvenile/Probate Court, which can also allocate custody and parenting time at the same time.

How do I establish paternity in Putnam County, Ohio?

Two routes. The free route is the Putnam County CSEA (567-376-3780), which can establish paternity by administrative order with free genetic testing and then set support. The court route is the combined Juvenile/Probate Court (Judge Borer, (419) 523-3012): file a Complaint for Parentage, Allocation & Parenting Time (Ohio SC Form 23), which can also allocate custody and parenting time. Parents can also establish paternity voluntarily by signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity, which becomes final 60 days after it is filed. Confirm the Juvenile/Probate Court's filing fee at (419) 523-3012 — the $300 Domestic Relations deposit does not apply.

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: putnamcountyohio.gov/courts/common-pleas-court/

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.

Paternity is the right path if…

The parents were never married and need a legal father established.
You want free genetic testing and a support order through the CSEA.
You also want custody and parenting time decided, not just paternity.
You need to challenge or confirm an Acknowledgment of Paternity.

Filing Fees

Putnam County CSEA paternity services, including genetic testing, are free to the applicant (567-376-3780) · the Juvenile/Probate Court sets its own filing fee — confirm at (419) 523-3012 before filing

Forms & Filing Packets

Establish paternity through the CSEA (free) — Free to the applicant (CSEA)

Open a case with the Putnam County CSEA (567-376-3780) for an administrative paternity determination with free genetic testing; the CSEA can then set support. This route does not allocate custody or parenting time.

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.

Establish paternity and custody in court — Filing fee set by the Juvenile/Probate Court — confirm the current deposit at (419) 523-3012

File a Complaint for Parentage, Allocation & Parenting Time (Ohio SC Form 23) in the Juvenile/Probate Court with the Parenting Proceeding (UCCJEA) affidavit and the child-support worksheet. The court establishes paternity and allocates custody and parenting time.

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 Paternity in Putnam County

Decide the route. For free genetic testing and a support order, open a case with the Putnam County CSEA at 567-376-3780. To also decide custody and parenting time, plan to file in the Juvenile/Probate Court.
Request genetic testing if needed. If paternity is uncertain, the CSEA can order free genetic testing, or the court can order testing in a parentage case.
File the parentage complaint (court route). File a Complaint for Parentage, Allocation & Parenting Time (Ohio SC Form 23) with the Parenting Proceeding (UCCJEA) affidavit and the child-support worksheet at the Juvenile/Probate Court, (419) 523-3012.
Get the orders entered. Once paternity is established, the CSEA or the court sets support, and the court (court route) allocates custody and parenting time using the best-interest factors.

Putnam County Practice Notes

An Acknowledgment of Paternity becomes final after 60 days. When both parents voluntarily sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity and file it with Ohio's Central Paternity Registry, it carries the force of a court order 60 days later and can then be challenged only in narrow circumstances. Before signing, you can request genetic testing through the CSEA at 567-376-3780 if paternity is uncertain.
Juvenile/Probate cases use their own fee schedule. The $300 divorce/dissolution deposit on the Domestic Relations schedule does not apply to never-married custody, paternity, or non-parent custody. Those cases are filed in Judge Borer's Juvenile/Probate Court, which sets its own filing fee — confirm the current amount at (419) 523-3012 before filing, and ask about the poverty-affidavit waiver if you can't afford it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I establish paternity in Putnam County?: There are two routes. The free, faster route is the Putnam County CSEA (567-376-3780), which can establish paternity by administrative order with free genetic testing and then set support. The court route is the combined Juvenile/Probate Court (Judge Borer, (419) 523-3012): file a Complaint for Parentage, Allocation & Parenting Time (Ohio SC Form 23), which can also allocate custody and parenting time. A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity is another way parents establish paternity voluntarily.
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).
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.
What does the Putnam County CSEA do?: The Putnam County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), at 567-376-3780, can establish paternity (with free genetic testing), set or review a child-support amount by administrative order, and enforce orders through wage withholding. Payments run through Ohio Child Support Payment Central, which charges a 2% processing fee. CSEA services are free to the applicant; you do not need a court case to open one.

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 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.
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