Establishing Paternity in Trumbull County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 8, 2026

Trumbull County, Ohio · Warren

Establishing the legal father is the first step before a never-married parent can get a custody, parenting-time, or child-support order. In Trumbull County, parentage cases are filed in the Juvenile Division of the combined Trumbull County Family Court at 220 Main Avenue SW in Warren, (330) 675-2375.

How do I establish paternity in Trumbull County, Ohio?

Paternity can be established three ways: a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity at birth, a CSEA administrative order, or a court case. To establish it in court, file a Complaint to Establish Parentage in the Juvenile Division of the Trumbull County Family Court, 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, (330) 675-2375; the new-action fee is $186 and Juvenile e-filing is mandatory as of June 1, 2026. If paternity is disputed, the court orders genetic testing. Once parentage is established, the same case can set custody, parenting time, and child support.

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: Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Department (Trumbull County Family Court)

220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44481, Warren, OH 44481
Phone: (330) 675-2375
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: www.co.trumbull.oh.us/family-court/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Department (Trumbull County Family Court)
220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44481, Warren, OH 44481
Phone: (330) 675-2375
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Paternity is the right path if…

The parents were never married and the legal father has not been established.
You need paternity in place before a custody, parenting-time, or support order can issue.
You want or need genetic testing to confirm or contest who the father is.
You signed an Acknowledgment of Paternity and need to confirm, enforce, or challenge it.

Filing Fees

$186 new Juvenile action to establish parentage · Genetic testing ordered if disputed (CSEA can administer) · Juvenile e-filing mandatory as of June 1, 2026 · Worksheet free at the state calculator.

Forms & Filing Packets

Establish parentage in the Juvenile Division — $186 new Juvenile action

Filed in the Juvenile Division of the Trumbull County Family Court. The same case can then set custody, parenting time, and support.

Complaint to Establish Parentage / Paternity — Opens a parentage case in the Juvenile Division to establish the legal father so custody, parenting time, and support can be ordered.
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.

Add custody and support once parentage is established

After parentage, the court can allocate parental rights and set support in the same proceeding.

Complaint for Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities (Ohio uniform Form 23) — Asks the Trumbull County Juvenile Division to designate a residential parent and legal custodian and set a parenting-time schedule when parents were never married.
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 Trumbull County

Confirm Juvenile jurisdiction. Never-married parentage cases go to the Juvenile Division of the Trumbull County Family Court, 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, (330) 675-2375.
File the Complaint to Establish Parentage. File the parentage complaint with the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit; the new-action fee is $186 (Juvenile e-filing mandatory as of June 1, 2026).
Complete genetic testing if disputed. If the alleged father contests paternity, the court orders genetic testing before entering parentage.
Add custody and support. Once parentage is established, ask the same court to allocate parental rights (Form 23) and set child support using the Ohio worksheet.

Trumbull County Practice Notes

Three ways to establish paternity. Paternity can be established by a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity (often at the hospital), by a CSEA administrative order, or by a court judgment. Establishing it is the gateway to a custody, parenting-time, or support order for never-married parents.
Genetic testing if disputed. When paternity is contested, the court (or CSEA) orders genetic testing. If the test excludes the alleged father, the case is dismissed as to him and the birth record is corrected; if it confirms him, parentage is entered and support can be ordered.
Rescinding an Acknowledgment. A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity can be rescinded within 60 days through CSEA; after that, it must be challenged in court within 1 year on grounds of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact (R.C. 3111.27).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I file in the Domestic Relations or Juvenile Division in Trumbull County?: Trumbull County runs ONE combined Trumbull County Family Court at 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, with the same judges hearing both sides. The Domestic Relations Division (Clerk (330) 675-2627) handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody, parenting time, and support that travel with them for married or divorcing parents. The Juvenile Division (Clerk (330) 675-2375) handles paternity and custody for never-married parents, grandparent / non-parent custody, and child support outside a marriage.
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.
How much does it cost to file in Trumbull County?: Effective May 1, 2025, the Trumbull County Family Court charges a $301 deposit for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment complaint, and $105 for a post-decree motion in a divorce case. On the Juvenile side, a new action (parentage, custody, or support) is $186 and a post-decree juvenile motion is $131. A domestic-violence civil protection order is filed with no deposit. If you cannot afford the deposit, file a Poverty Affidavit (Affidavit of Indigency) asking the court to waive it. Confirm current amounts with the DR Clerk at (330) 675-2627 or the Juvenile Clerk at (330) 675-2375.
How is child support calculated in Trumbull County?: Trumbull County uses Ohio's statewide 2024 Income Shares Model — there is no county formula. Run the official worksheet at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov with both parents' gross incomes, parenting-time, health-insurance, and child-care figures, then file the signed worksheet with your support pleadings. The Trumbull County Child Support Enforcement Agency (159 E. Market St., Suite 200, Warren, OH 44481, (330) 675-2732) collects and enforces the order through wage withholding once it is journalized.
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; in Trumbull County, contact the CSEA at (330) 675-2732.

Free Local Resources in Trumbull County

Trumbull County Family Court. Local forms, local rules, the Parenting and Companionship Guidelines, and filing information for divorce, dissolution, custody, support, and protection orders at co.trumbull.oh.us/family-court. DR Clerk (330) 675-2627; Juvenile Clerk (330) 675-2375. Court staff cannot give legal advice or help complete forms.
Trumbull County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Trumbull County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders at 159 E. Market St., Suite 200, Warren, OH 44481, (330) 675-2732. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. The state's official 2024 Income Shares worksheet at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. Run it, print, and sign it before any hearing that sets or changes support.
Someplace Safe — Domestic Violence Services. Trumbull County's domestic-violence program runs a 24-hour crisis hotline at (330) 393-3005 with emergency shelter, safety planning, and court advocacy for civil protection orders.

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.
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.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.