Establishing Paternity in Ross County

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

Ross County, Ohio · Chillicothe

When parents are not married, parentage, custody, child support, and parenting time are decided in the Probate/Juvenile Court (Judge J. Jeffrey Benson, 2 N. Paint St., Suite A). Establishing paternity is the legal foundation for a father's custody and parenting-time rights and for a child-support order.

How do I establish paternity in Ross County, Ohio?

File a Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities & Parenting Time (Juvenile local Form 23) in the Ross County Probate/Juvenile Court, 2 N. Paint St., Suite A, Chillicothe, (740) 774-1177, with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3), an income affidavit (Affidavit 1), and a Personal Identifier Information Sheet. Serve the other parent (Form 31). The filing fee is $115 (effective 12/13/2023), plus $75 if a home investigation is requested. The court can order genetic testing and may order mediation and appoint a Guardian ad Litem. The case ends with a Parenting Judgment Entry (Form 22). Paternity can also be established administratively through the Ross County CSEA.

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: Ross County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

2 N. Paint Street, Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: (740) 702-3032
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
Website: www.rosscountycommonpleas.org/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Ross County Court of Common Pleas, Probate/Juvenile Division
2 N. Paint Street, Suite A, Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: (740) 774-1177
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)

Paternity is the right path if…

The parents were not married when the child was born.
You need to legally establish who the father is.
An unmarried father wants enforceable custody or parenting-time rights.
A parent needs a child-support order tied to established parentage.

Filing Fees

$115 Paternity/Custody/Visitation Complaint (+$75 if a home investigation is requested, +$100 jury request) · administrative parentage via CSEA · confirm current amounts with the Probate/Juvenile Court at (740) 774-1177

Forms & Filing Packets

Complaint to establish parentage and parenting orders — $115 Paternity/Custody/Visitation Complaint (+$75 home investigation) — eff. 12/13/2023

File the Juvenile Complaint for Parentage (Form 23) with the parenting and income affidavits and a Personal Identifier Information Sheet, then serve the other parent. The Pro Se Instructions walk self-represented parents through it.

Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities & Parenting Time (Local Form 23) — The Juvenile Division complaint that establishes parentage and asks the court to allocate parental rights and set parenting time when the parents were never married.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Local Affidavit 3) — Required in any Juvenile case involving children. Lists where each child has lived and confirms the court's jurisdiction under the UCCJEA.
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.
Request for Service (Local Form 31) — Tells the Juvenile clerk how to serve the other parent (certified mail, personal service, etc.).
Pro Se Instructions re Custody and Visitation (Juvenile Division) — The Juvenile Division's step-by-step instructions for self-represented parents in custody and visitation cases.

Genetic testing add-on

Where parentage is disputed, ask the court to order genetic testing; parentage can also be established administratively through the Ross County CSEA before or instead of a court case.

Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities & Parenting Time (Local Form 23) — The Juvenile Division complaint that establishes parentage and asks the court to allocate parental rights and set parenting time when the parents were never married.
Waiver of Service of Summons (Local Form 30) — Lets the other parent voluntarily accept service in a Juvenile case instead of being formally served.

How to File Paternity in Ross County

Choose the court or CSEA route. File in the Probate/Juvenile Court, or establish parentage administratively through the Ross County CSEA, (740) 773-2651.
Prepare the complaint packet. Complete the Complaint for Parentage (Form 23), the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Affidavit 3), an income affidavit, and a Personal Identifier Information Sheet.
File with the $115 fee. File at 2 N. Paint St., Suite A, Chillicothe, (740) 774-1177, and pay the $115 fee (add $75 if you request a home investigation).
Serve and resolve parentage. Serve the other parent (Form 31); the court can order genetic testing where parentage is disputed.
Get the parenting judgment. The court enters a Parenting Judgment Entry (Form 22) allocating parental rights, parenting time, and support.

Ross County Practice Notes

Juvenile Division uses its own local form set. Unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting-time cases are filed in the Probate/Juvenile Court (2 N. Paint St., Suite A, (740) 774-1177) using its local forms — Forms 11 and 20–31 and Affidavits 1, 3, and 4 — plus Pro Se Instructions re Custody and Visitation. The Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms are also accepted.
Juvenile filing fees (effective 12/13/2023). A Paternity, Custody, or Visitation Complaint is $115 (add $75 for a home investigation or $100 for a jury-trial request); a Motion to Reopen is $100; a Child Support Complaint is $100. Fees are subject to change — confirm with the Probate/Juvenile Court at (740) 774-1177.
Support routed through SCOJFS. All Ross County support is paid through South Central Ohio Job & Family Services (SCOJFS); the Clerk routes support entries through the CSEA box and the required JFS memo is attached to the decree (General Division Local Rule 20.09). Child-support services run through Ross County CSEA, 475 Western Ave, Ste. B, (740) 773-2651.

Frequently Asked Questions

Married vs. never-married parents — which court decides custody in Ross 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 Juvenile Division (R.C. 2151.23) using the court's local forms (Forms 11, 20–31; Affidavits 1, 3, 4).
What does it cost to file a custody, paternity, or support case in the Ross County Juvenile Division?: Effective 12/13/2023, a Paternity, Custody, or Visitation Complaint is $115 in the Probate/Juvenile Court (add $75 if a home investigation is requested, or $100 for a jury-trial request). A Motion to Reopen a paternity/custody/support/visitation case is $100, and a Child Support Complaint is $100. Fees are subject to change — confirm with the Probate/Juvenile Court at (740) 774-1177.
How is child support handled in Ross County?: Support is paid through South Central Ohio Job & Family Services (SCOJFS); the Clerk routes support entries through the CSEA box (General Division Local Rule 20.09). Child-support services run through the Ross County Child Support Enforcement Agency (Administrator Rick Reynolds), 475 Western Ave, Ste. B, Chillicothe, (740) 773-2651. CSEA can establish, calculate, collect, and enforce support.
Which court handles family-law cases in Ross County?: The General Division of the Ross County Court of Common Pleas (2 N. Paint St., Chillicothe) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The combined Probate/Juvenile Court (2 N. Paint St., Suite A) handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, under R.C. 2151.23) and adoptions (Probate). Cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts at (740) 702-3010.

Free Local Resources in Ross County

Ross County Clerk of Courts (General Division / Domestic Relations). 2 N. Paint St., Suite B, Chillicothe, OH 45601; (740) 702-3010. Files all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases, posts the legal forms and the Divorce/Dissolution checklist, and confirms current deposits. Online payment via nCourt; records via eAccess. The General Division hears all DR matters — there is no separate Domestic Relations court.
LegalAtoms — free guided divorce & dissolution prep. https://legalatoms.com/ross/ — the Clerk's free, guided tool (English and Spanish) that prepares Ross County divorce and dissolution paperwork to print and file. It does not give legal advice.
Families in Transition (FiT) parenting class. The Child Protection Center, 138 Marietta Road, Suite E, Chillicothe; (740) 779-7431. Required within 60 days in any divorce/dissolution or custody/companionship-modification with minor children (Local Rule 20.12; Juvenile County Rule 13). Fee $25 (exact cash or PayPal); certificate valid one year. Confirm current class dates when registering.
Ross County Probate/Juvenile Court. 2 N. Paint St., Suite A, Chillicothe; (740) 774-1177 or (740) 774-1179 (https://www.rossprobatejuvenile.com/). Judge J. Jeffrey Benson. Hears unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile) and adoptions (Probate), using local Forms 11 and 20–31.
Ross County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 475 Western Ave, Ste. B, Chillicothe, OH 45601; (740) 773-2651 (https://jfs.ohio.gov/about/local-agencies-directory/csea-ross). Administrator Rick Reynolds. Establishes, calculates, collects, and enforces support; payments are routed through South Central Ohio Job & Family Services (SCOJFS).

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