Shared Parenting in Scioto County

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

Scioto County, Ohio · Portsmouth

Shared parenting makes both parents residential parents and legal custodians under a written plan, instead of naming one sole residential parent. In Scioto County a proposed Shared Parenting Plan must address every required item, and the court approves it only when it serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04. Where the plan is silent, the county's Standard Parenting Time Order (DR Rule 9.0) fills the gap.

How does shared parenting work in Scioto County, Ohio?

File a proposed Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio Form 20) that addresses physical living arrangements, the holiday and vacation schedule, child support, decision-making, transportation, school and health-care decisions, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution — the items required by DR Rule 2.09 (or Juvenile Local Rule 8 for never-married parents). The court approves shared parenting only if it serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04. If the plan doesn't specify a schedule, Scioto County's Standard Parenting Time Order (DR Rule 9.0) applies.

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: Scioto County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth, OH 45662, Portsmouth, OH 45662
Phone: (740) 355-8316
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM)
Website: sciotocountydrcourt.com

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Scioto County Juvenile Court
602 7th St #201, Portsmouth, OH 45662, Portsmouth, OH 45662
Phone: (740) 355-8306
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM)

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to be residential parents and legal custodians under a written plan.
You can cooperate on major decisions about school, health care, and activities.
You can draft a plan that addresses every required item under DR Rule 2.09.
Shared decision-making is realistic and serves the child's best interest.

If cooperation isn't realistic, sole custody with a parenting-time schedule may fit better. Compare custody.

Filing Fees

Filed inside a divorce/dissolution ($250 DR) or post-decree ($130) · never-married parentage $275 first child plus $25 screen · Standard Parenting Time Order (DR Rule 9.0) fills gaps · confirm amounts with the Clerk.

Forms & Filing Packets

Shared parenting in a Domestic Relations case (married parents) — Part of the divorce/dissolution deposit ($250) or post-decree ($130)

File the proposed Shared Parenting Plan with your divorce, dissolution, or post-decree case in the DR Division.

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.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
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) — $275 first child in Juvenile (plus $25 screen)

File the proposed plan with a parentage / allocation case in the Juvenile Division.

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.
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.

How to File Shared Parenting in Scioto County

Decide on shared parenting. Confirm both parents want to be residential parents and legal custodians and can cooperate on major decisions.
Draft a complete plan. Prepare a Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) that addresses every item required by DR Rule 2.09 (or Juvenile Local Rule 8).
File with the right court. Married parents file the plan in the Domestic Relations Division; never-married parents file in the Juvenile Division, with the UCCJEA affidavit and child-support worksheet.
Complete the parenting class. Both parents finish Successful Co-Parenting and file the certificate before the final hearing (DR Rule 6.02).
Get court approval. The court reviews the plan against the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04 and either approves it or directs revisions; gaps default to the Standard Parenting Time Order (DR Rule 9.0).

Scioto County Practice Notes

The plan must address every required item. Under DR Rule 2.09 (and Juvenile Local Rule 8 for never-married parents) a Shared Parenting Plan must cover physical living arrangements, the 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 returned for revision.
Standard Parenting Time Order (DR Rule 9.0). Scioto County's Standard Parenting Time Order (DR Rule 9.0, effective 1/1/2016) gives the non-residential parent alternating weekends Friday 6 p.m. to Sunday 6 p.m., an off-week Wednesday overnight, summer time alternating week-to-week with a 14-day exclusive block, and holidays alternating by odd/even year, with the receiving parent providing transportation. A 100-mile provision lets either parent seek a modified schedule when the parents live more than 100 miles apart.
"Successful Co-Parenting" is required with minor children. Each parent in a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or custody case with minor children completes the "Successful Co-Parenting" seminar through OSU Extension — a 3-hour research-based program taken online at scponline.osu.edu — within 60 days of service of the complaint or filing of the petition, and files the certificate before the final hearing (DR Rule 6.02). The provider charges a minimal fee; confirm the current cost when you register.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must a shared parenting plan include in Scioto County?: A written Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio Form 20) must address physical living arrangements, the holiday and vacation schedule, child support, decision-making authority, transportation, school and health-care decisions, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution — the items required by DR Rule 2.09 (and, for never-married parents, Juvenile Local Rule 8). Plans that skip a factor are routinely sent back for revision. The court approves shared parenting only when the plan serves the child's best interest under R.C. 3109.04.
What is the standard parenting-time schedule in Scioto County?: Scioto County's Standard Parenting Time Order (DR Rule 9.0, effective 1/1/2016) gives the non-residential parent alternating weekends from Friday 6 p.m. to Sunday 6 p.m., an off-week Wednesday overnight, summer time alternating week-to-week with a 14-day exclusive block, and holidays alternating by odd/even year. A 100-mile provision lets either parent seek a modified schedule when the parents live more than 100 miles apart. The court can order a different schedule when the standard order does not serve the child's best interest.
How does a Scioto County court decide custody?: Scioto County courts allocate custody and parenting time using the R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) best-interest factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when the court interviews the child), the child's relationships with parents and siblings, the child's adjustment to home, school, and community, the mental and physical health of everyone involved, which parent is more likely to honor court-approved parenting time, child-support compliance, any history of abuse or neglect, and whether a parent plans to live outside Ohio. Ohio allows either sole custody (one residential parent and legal custodian) or shared parenting under a written plan.
Is a parenting class required for custody cases in Scioto County?: Yes, for cases with minor children. The Domestic Relations Division requires both parents in a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation involving minor children to complete "Successful Co-Parenting," a 3-hour research-based seminar offered through Ohio State University Extension and taken online at https://scponline.osu.edu (registered via DR Form 11). It must be completed within 60 days after service of the divorce complaint or filing of the dissolution petition, and the Certificate of Attendance is furnished to the court at the final pretrial or dissolution hearing (DR Rule 6.02). The cost is minimal, paid to the provider. The Juvenile Local Rules do not establish a separate stand-alone parenting class — confirm with the Juvenile Court whether one is required in a custody case.

Free Local Resources in Scioto County

Scioto County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division. Provides the current Clerk fee schedule (rev. 1/1/2024), local forms, and filing instructions for divorce, dissolution, and custody cases. Visit https://sciotoclerk.com/legal-division/ before filing to confirm deposits and accepted payment methods.
Scioto County Domestic Relations Division. The standalone DR court (Judge Jerry L. Buckler; Magistrate Robert M. Johnson) at 602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth, (740) 355-8316 (fax (740) 355-8205). Hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, parentage, custody, and support, and distributes the DR packets and local forms. Hours Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM). https://sciotocountydrcourt.com
Scioto County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Scioto County's IV-D agency at 710 Court Street, Portsmouth, opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Confirm the agency's current direct phone. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.
"Successful Co-Parenting" Parenting Class — OSU Extension. The court-approved 3-hour parenting-education seminar for parents with minor children, taken online at https://scponline.osu.edu (registered via DR Form 11). Complete it within 60 days and file the Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing (DR Rule 6.02).

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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