Child Support in Summit County

How is child support set and changed in Summit County, Ohio?

Run both parents' incomes through the official Ohio Child Support Guideline Calculator, print and sign the worksheet, and file it with your case — at the Summit DR Court (married parents) or Juvenile Court (never-married parents). File the Application for Child Support Services (Local Form 115) so CSEA can open a IV-D case and collect by wage withholding. To change an existing order, ask CSEA for an administrative review (generally every 36 months, or sooner on a substantial change) or file a post-decree motion using Local Form 102. Ohio treats a 10% change in the calculated amount as the modification threshold. The post-decree filing fee is $240.

Where to File: Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Summit County Juvenile Court
650 Dan Street, Akron, OH 44310, Akron, OH 44310
Phone: (330) 643-2900
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Child Support is the right path if…

• You need a first child-support order set.
• Your income or the other parent's income has changed significantly.
• You need help collecting or enforcing support already ordered.
• You want the amount calculated under Ohio's current guidelines.

Filing Fees

Child support uses Ohio's 2024 Income Shares Model · CSEA collects by wage withholding (filings exempt from deposit) · Modification: $240 post-decree motion or a CSEA review · 10% change is the modification threshold

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Child Support in Summit County

1. Run the Ohio worksheet. Use the official Ohio Child Support Guideline Calculator with both parents' incomes, the number of children, and insurance and childcare costs. Print and sign it.
2. File with your case. File the worksheet with your divorce, dissolution, or parentage case at the correct Summit court, along with the income and health-insurance affidavits.
3. Open a CSEA case. Submit the Application for Child Support Services (Local Form 115) so CSEA can collect by wage withholding and track payments.
4. To change support, gather proof. Collect current pay stubs and tax returns showing the change, and run a fresh worksheet.
5. Request a review or file a motion. Ask CSEA for an administrative review, or file the Post Decree Motion (Local Form 102) at the DR Court with the $240 fee.

Summit County Practice Notes

• The calculator is the starting point. Ohio's 2024 guideline calculator sets a presumptive amount from both parents' gross incomes, the number of children, and health-insurance and childcare costs. Courts can deviate for parenting-time, extraordinary costs, or other statutory reasons, but must explain why.
• CSEA does the collecting. Once support is ordered, the Summit County CSEA opens a IV-D case and withholds support from wages, then distributes it. Open the case with the Application for Child Support Services (Local Form 115). CSEA filings are exempt from the cost deposit.
• Modifications need a real change. You can't just ask for a different number. Ohio looks for a roughly 10% change in the calculated amount, or other qualifying changes, before modifying. Bring recent pay stubs and tax returns to support the new worksheet.
• Support and parenting time are separate. You cannot withhold parenting time because support is unpaid, and you cannot stop paying because time is denied. Each is enforced on its own — through CSEA or a contempt motion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is child support calculated in Summit County?

Summit County follows Ohio's statewide 2024 Income Shares Model. Support is based on both parents' gross incomes, the number of children, health-insurance and childcare costs, and parenting-time adjustments, run through the official Ohio Child Support Guideline Calculator. You file the printed worksheet with your case, and a Summit court (DR for married parents, Juvenile for never-married) issues the order. CSEA then collects it by wage withholding.

How does child support get collected in Summit County?

Once a court sets support, the Summit County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) opens a IV-D case and collects payments through wage withholding, then distributes them to the receiving parent. You open a CSEA case by filing the Application for Child Support Services (Local Form 115) with your case. CSEA also handles administrative reviews and can help enforce arrears. CSEA filings are exempt from the cost deposit.

How do I change a child-support order in Summit County?

You can ask CSEA for an administrative review (generally available every 36 months, or sooner on a substantial change), or file a post-decree motion at the DR Court using Local Form 102 (Motion for Change of Child Support, Medical, or Tax). Ohio treats a 10% change in the calculated amount as the threshold for modification. Bring recent pay stubs and tax returns. The post-decree filing fee is $240.

Does my case go to the Domestic Relations Court or the Juvenile Court?

Summit splits family work by courthouse. Married and divorcing parents — and their custody, support, and parenting-time issues — are handled at the Domestic Relations Court, 205 South High Street, Akron. Never-married parents and non-parent (grandparent/relative) custody cases are handled at the Summit County Juvenile Court, 650 Dan Street, Akron. Filing in the wrong court delays your case, so confirm venue before you file.

What are the Summit County Domestic Relations filing fees?

Summit's Clerk fee schedule: divorce $420 with children / $370 without; dissolution $400 with children / $370 without; legal separation and annulment $420 with children / $370 without; a private parenting (unmarried) complaint or a complaint for legal custody $420; all post-decree motions and contempt actions $240; and a counterclaim $50. CPO petitions and CSEA filings are exempt from the deposit. If you can't afford the deposit, file Local Form 124 to proceed in forma pauperis.

Free Local Resources in Summit County

• Summit Free Legal Clinic at Open M. Court-hosted community clinic in Akron offering free legal advice for self-represented parties.
• Summit County DR Court. drcourt.org — CPO forms, Local Rules, judge bios, and the parenting-class LMS. Clerk's Office (1st floor) opens at 7:30 a.m.
• Summit County Juvenile Court. juvenilecourt.summitoh.net · (330) 643-2900. Custody, visitation, support, and Grandparent Power of Attorney forms at 650 Dan Street.
• Summit County CSEA (Child Support Enforcement Agency). Opens IV-D cases and collects/distributes child support through wage withholding once a support order is in place.
• Victim Assistance Program of Summit County. Free advocates who help domestic-violence survivors complete CPO petitions and prepare for hearings.

Other Family-Law Topics in Summit County

• Summit County Divorce — Full filing guide with forms, fees, and the court's parenting class.
• Ohio Grandparents' Rights — Statewide overview of custody and companionship options for grandparents.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator — Run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself.
• Ohio family-law resources — 88-county directory of courts and legal aid.

Related to your child support case

• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Child Support guide — Statewide overview of child support in Ohio.
• Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.