Establishing Paternity in Stark County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 5, 2026

Stark County, Ohio · Canton

Paternity (parentage) is established in the Juvenile Division of the Stark County Family Court at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 670, Canton. A legal finding of fatherhood unlocks custody, parenting time, and child support — and is required before the court can allocate parental rights for never-married parents.

How do I establish paternity in Stark County, Ohio?

File the Stark County New Case — Juvenile Complaint for Paternity, Custody, or Visitation in the Juvenile Division of the Family Court at 110 Central Plaza South, Canton, OH 44702, or sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity through CSEA. If parentage is disputed, the court or CSEA orders genetic testing. UCCJEA compliance is mandatory (Rule 16.01), and unmarried parents filing an initial parental-rights action must complete the 'Working Together for Kids' seminar before the initial hearing (Rule 16.06).

Stark County paternity: one flat fee, no hourly surprises

Worried about what paternity will cost in Stark County? We quote one flat fee up front instead of running an open-ended hourly meter, so there are no surprise invoices — and payment plans let you spread the cost if you need to. Below you'll also find the Stark County court information — contacts in Canton, the forms you need, and local fee details.

One flat fee, agreed up front. See the exact flat-fee options below and approve them before we start — no open-ended hourly bills.
Payments that fit your budget. Spread the cost with a payment plan, or use financing — so the flat fee works with your budget.
Why Stark County families choose us. Because it's a flat fee, we're paid to resolve your paternity case — not to run up hours — so nothing drags for the sake of billing. Licensed Ohio family-law attorneys serve Stark County and all 88 counties.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the parentage complaint to establish legal paternity — adding custody and parenting time if you need it. You appear at any hearings yourself.

Establish paternity (parentage complaint): $950
Paternity with custody & parenting time: $1,350

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 paternity 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: Stark County Family Court (Domestic Relations & Juvenile Divisions)

110 Central Plaza South, Suite 670, Canton, OH 44702
Phone: (330) 451-7415
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: Court website

Paternity is the right path if…

The parents were not married when the child was born and no father is legally established.
You need a legal father named before custody, parenting time, or support can be ordered.
Paternity is disputed and you need genetic testing.
You want to set up child support through CSEA after parentage is confirmed.

Filing Fees

New Juvenile complaint $307 · Genetic testing ordered when disputed · UCCJEA affidavit required

Forms & Filing Packets

Establish parentage in the Juvenile Division

New Case — Juvenile Complaint for Paternity, Custody, or Visitation — Stark County's assembled Juvenile Division complaint to establish parentage and, in the same action, allocate custody and visitation.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom. Confirms Ohio's jurisdiction over custody.

Disputed paternity — genetic testing

When parentage is contested, the court or CSEA orders the parties and child to a designated lab. Tests run 99%+ accurate; if the alleged father is excluded, the case is dismissed.

New Case — Juvenile Complaint for Paternity, Custody, or Visitation — File the parentage complaint and request genetic testing when fatherhood is contested.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet — Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you're asking the court to set support.

How to File Paternity in Stark County

File a parentage complaint or sign an Acknowledgment. File the Stark New Case Juvenile complaint, or sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity through CSEA if both parents agree.
Request genetic testing if disputed. Ask the court or CSEA to order DNA testing. The lab compares samples from the parties and child at 99%+ accuracy.
Complete the required seminar. Unmarried parents finish 'Working Together for Kids' before the initial hearing (Rule 16.06).
Move on to custody and support. Once parentage is established, the Juvenile Division can allocate parental rights and set a support order.

Stark County Practice Notes

Genetic testing. Either party can request genetic testing. The court (or CSEA) will order the parties and child to a designated lab. Tests run 99%+ accurate. If the alleged father is excluded, the case is dismissed and the Ohio Department of Health updates the birth record.
Acknowledgment of Paternity timeline. A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity can be rescinded within 60 days of the last signature through CSEA. After 60 days you must challenge it in court within 1 year on grounds of fraud, duress, or material mistake (R.C. 3111.27).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I file in the Domestic Relations or Juvenile Division in Stark County?: Stark County runs a combined Family Court — the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Divisions share one location at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 670, Canton, and one main number, (330) 451-7415. The Domestic Relations Division (Judge Michelle L. Cordova) handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody and support that travel with them for married parents. The Juvenile Division (Judge Rosemarie A. Hall) handles paternity and custody for never-married parents, plus grandparent / third-party custody. Six shared magistrates hear cases in both divisions.
How does child support enforcement work in Stark County?: Child-support orders run through the Stark County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Under Rule 18, a support order through CSEA requires a confidential Personal Identifier Form filed with the Clerk and CSEA, and the entry must state the payment amount plus a 2% processing fee, any arrearage and repayment, and the effective date. Support is paid through Ohio Child Support Payment Central unless cash is processed at Stark County CSEA. When support is modified or custody changes, counsel files a time-stamped copy with CSEA through the Clerk — the Clerk won't accept the order without the CSEA copy (Rule 18.03).
Can I rescind an Acknowledgment of Paternity in Ohio?: A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity can be rescinded within 60 days of the last signature by contacting your local Child Support Enforcement Agency and completing a Request for Paternity Determination. After 60 days you must challenge the acknowledgment in court within 1 year on grounds of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact (R.C. 3111.27). Genetic testing is typically ordered, and the Ohio Department of Health updates the birth record if the alleged father is excluded.
What is a IV-D application and why do I need one?: A IV-D Application opens a child-support case with your county's Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Once opened, CSEA collects support through automatic wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and can enforce the order through license suspension, federal tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. Filing a IV-D Application is standard whenever a child-support order is issued.

Free Local Resources in Stark County

Stark County Family Court Help Desk. Free help for self-represented parties completing and reviewing divorce and custody forms, plus questions on court procedure and notary services. Mondays 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., first come first served; check in with the reception bailiff in the lobby, (330) 451-7415. Help Desk attorneys do not represent you or give legal advice.
Stark County Family Court — Court Filing Forms & Brochures. The court's assembled filing packets for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, custody, support, contempt, and protection orders, hosted in the county Document Center at starkcountyohio.gov. The court notes the forms are a resource only and not a substitute for legal advice.
Stark County Law Library. Public legal-research help at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 401, Canton, (330) 451-7380, Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Domestic Violence Project, Inc. (DVPI). Shelter, advocacy, and support for those experiencing domestic violence in Stark County. Learn more at dvpi.org.

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.