Shared Parenting in Shelby County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 15, 2026

Shelby County, Ohio · Sidney

Ohio allows sole custody (one residential parent and legal custodian, with parenting time to the other) or shared parenting (both parents as residential parents and legal custodians under a written plan). In Shelby County, married parents file at the Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division and never-married parents at the Juvenile Court. The court approves shared parenting only if the plan serves the child's best interest, and Local DR Rule 22 supplies the standard parenting-time schedule.

How do I get a shared parenting plan approved in Shelby County, Ohio?

Prepare a written Shared Parenting Plan covering physical living arrangements, the holiday and vacation schedule, child support, decision-making authority, transportation, school and health-care decisions, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution under R.C. 3109.04(G). Married parents file the Ohio Supreme Court Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) at the Domestic Relations Division; never-married parents file in the Shelby County Juvenile Court. Absent agreement or a best-interest deviation, the court applies Local DR Rule 22's standard parenting-time schedule (about 90 overnights per year). The court approves the plan only if it serves the children's best interest under the R.C. 3109.04(F) factors.

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: Shelby County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

100 E. Court Street, 3rd Floor, Sidney, OH 45365
Phone: (937) 498-7221
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM; Friday, 8:30 AM–Noon
Website: co.shelby.oh.us/229/Common-Pleas-Court

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Shelby County Juvenile Court
100 E. Court Street, 2nd Floor, Sidney, OH 45365
Phone: (937) 498-7255
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to be designated residential parents and legal custodians.
You can agree on a detailed written plan addressing every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor.
You want a clear parenting-time schedule, holidays, and decision-making spelled out.
Shared parenting fits the children's best interest given both households.

Filing Fees

Cost deposit set by the Clerk for Domestic Relations cases (General Division Local Rule 3) · $250 deposit for Juvenile filings (Juvenile Local Rule 4) · Local DR Rule 22 supplies the default parenting-time schedule · Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (937) 498-7221

Forms & Filing Packets

Shared parenting in a divorce or dissolution (married parents) — Cost deposit set by the Clerk (General Division Local Rule 3 — confirm the current amount at (937) 498-7221)

File a proposed Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) with your Domestic Relations case.

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.
Local DR Rule 22 — Guidelines for Parenting Time — Shelby County's standard parenting-time schedule (~90 overnights per year), applied unless the parties' order says otherwise.

Shared parenting for never-married parents (Juvenile Court) — $250 deposit (Juvenile Local Rule 4)

Submit a proposed shared-parenting plan with the parentage/custody complaint.

Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Custody) and Parenting Time — Opens a never-married parent's parentage/custody case in the Shelby County Juvenile Court (Uniform DR Form 23 / Uniform Juvenile Form 2).
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 Shelby County

Draft the plan. Write a Shared Parenting Plan addressing every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor — schedule, holidays, decision-making, transportation, support, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution.
Use the right court and form. Married parents file the Ohio Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) at the Domestic Relations Division; never-married parents file the plan with the parentage/custody complaint in the Juvenile Court.
Attach the support worksheet. Include an Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet so the court can set support consistent with the plan.
Attend the hearing. The court reviews the plan against the children's best interest and Local DR Rule 22, approving, modifying, or rejecting it.

Shelby County Practice Notes

The plan must address every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor. A written Shared Parenting Plan must cover physical living arrangements, holidays and vacations, 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.
Local DR Rule 22 is the default schedule. Unless the parties' order says otherwise, Shelby County applies Local DR Rule 22's standard parenting-time schedule — about 90 overnights per year, with alternating weekends (Friday 7:00 p.m.–Sunday 7:00 p.m.), a mid-week visit, alternating holidays, and alternating summer weeks.
Best interest still 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a shared parenting plan approved in Shelby County?: Prepare a plan covering the schedule, holidays, decision-making, transportation, support, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution under R.C. 3109.04(G). Married parents file the Ohio Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) at the Domestic Relations Division; never-married parents file the plan with the parentage/custody complaint in the Juvenile Court. The court approves it only if it serves the children's best interest.
What parenting-time schedule does Shelby County use if we don't agree?: Absent agreement or a best-interest deviation, the court applies Local DR Rule 22's standard schedule — about 90 overnights per year, with alternating weekends (Friday 7:00 p.m.–Sunday 7:00 p.m.), one mid-week visit, alternating holidays, and alternating summer weeks. Different rules apply for long-distance parents and infants/pre-schoolers.
What is the difference between shared parenting and sole custody in Shelby County?: With sole custody, the court names one parent the residential parent and legal custodian, with parenting time to the other. With shared parenting, both parents are residential parents and legal custodians under an approved plan (R.C. 3109.04(G)). Either way, the court applies the best-interest standard.

Free Local Resources in Shelby County

Shelby County Clerk of Courts. Handles Domestic Relations filings and provides local DR forms and instructions. Filings are the original plus 4 copies (Local DR Rule 4); e-filing per General Division Local Rule 39. Call (937) 498-7221 to confirm the current cost deposit and packet requirements before filing.
Shelby County Juvenile Court (Probate & Juvenile). Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents, plus non-parent custody. Forms by matter at shelbycoprobate.org/shelby-county-juvenile-court/; (937) 498-7255. Every juvenile filing carries a $250 deposit (Juvenile Local Rule 4).
Catholic Social Services — Parenting Seminar. Provides the court-ordered "Shield Your Child from Conflict" parenting seminar (Local DR Rule 13) at 100 South Main Street, Suite 101, Sidney. Register by phone or in person at (937) 498-4593; fee-waiver requests go directly to Catholic Social Services.
Shelby County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 227 South Ohio Avenue, Sidney; (937) 498-4981 (toll-free 800-561-5548). Establishes paternity and support, modifies and enforces orders, and processes payments through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (2% administrative fee).

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