Modifying Orders in Trumbull County
Reviewed by Stephanie Green, Esq. · Managing Partner, Gavvl Law · Last updated June 8, 2026
Trumbull County, Ohio · Warren
Final custody, parenting-time, and support orders can be changed when circumstances change. In Trumbull County, you file a post-decree motion in the same division that issued the order — the Domestic Relations or Juvenile Division of the Trumbull County Family Court at 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren.
How do I modify a custody or support order in Trumbull County, Ohio?
File the matching post-decree motion in the division that issued your order: Form 27 to change the residential parent/legal custodian, Form 26 to change parenting time/companionship, or Form 28 to change child support. The post-decree motion fee is $105 in a divorce case and $131 on the Juvenile side. Custody changes require a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding under R.C. 3109.04(E); support changes generally require a substantial change (often a 10%+ change in the calculated amount). The change is effective from the filing date, not retroactively.
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 Family Court — Domestic Relations Division
220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44482, Warren, OH 44482Phone: (330) 675-2627
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 Family Court — Juvenile Division
220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44482, Warren, OH 44482
Phone: (330) 675-2375
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Post-Decree Modifications is the right path if…
- There is already a final order and circumstances have changed since it was entered.
- You need to change who the residential parent is, or the parenting-time schedule.
- Incomes or needs have changed enough to justify a different support amount.
- You want the modification effective from your filing date — so you don't wait to file.
Filing Fees
Post-decree motion: $105 in a divorce case · $131 on the Juvenile side · Support reviews can also go through CSEA · Change is effective from the filing date.
Forms & Filing Packets
Modify custody or parenting time — $105 (divorce post-decree) / $131 (Juvenile post-decree)
Filed in the division that issued the order. A change of residential parent requires a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding (R.C. 3109.04(E)).
- Motion for Change of Parental Rights and Responsibilities (Ohio uniform Form 27) — Asks to change who is the residential parent and legal custodian after a final order, based on a change in circumstances.
- Motion for Change of Parenting Time / Companionship (Ohio uniform Form 26) — Asks to adjust the parenting-time or companionship schedule without changing who the residential parent is.
- 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.
Modify child support — $105 (divorce post-decree) / $131 (Juvenile post-decree)
Filed in the division that issued the order, or requested as a CSEA administrative review.
- Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio uniform Form 28) — Asks the court to modify an existing child-support order when incomes or circumstances have changed.
- 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 Post-Decree Modifications in Trumbull County
- Identify what you're changing. Custody (Form 27), parenting time (Form 26), or child support (Form 28) — and file in the division that issued the order.
- Document the change in circumstances. Gather proof of the change — income records, a relocation, school or safety issues — and, for support, a new Income Shares worksheet.
- File the motion and pay the fee. File the matching motion with the Clerk and pay the post-decree fee ($105 divorce / $131 Juvenile); serve the other party.
- Attend the hearing. The court applies the change-in-circumstances and best-interest standards and either modifies or denies the order.
Trumbull County Practice Notes
- Change of circumstances required for custody. To change the residential parent, R.C. 3109.04(E) requires a change in circumstances of the child or residential parent since the last order, plus a finding that the change serves the child's best interest and that the benefit outweighs the harm of moving the child.
- Support modifications need a substantial change. A child-support order can be modified when there is a substantial change in circumstances — commonly treated as a 10%+ change in the recalculated guideline amount, or a change in health-insurance or child-care costs. Run a fresh Income Shares worksheet to show it.
- File promptly — no retroactivity. Modifications are generally effective from the date you file the motion (or request the CSEA review), not from when the circumstances first changed. Waiting to file means losing the benefit of the change for that period.
Frequently Asked Questions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 44482, (330) 675-2732) collects and enforces the order through wage withholding once it is journalized.
- What do I have to do before moving with my child in Trumbull County?
- If you are the residential parent and intend to move, Ohio law and the Trumbull County Parenting and Companionship Guidelines require you to file a Notice of Intent to Relocate with the court — generally at least 60 days before the planned move. The court sends notice to the other parent, who can object and ask for a hearing on whether parenting time should be revised. Moving without filing the notice can be treated as contempt and can hurt a later custody position.
- How long does a Trumbull County case usually take?
- A dissolution is heard 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64). An uncontested (default) divorce, where the other spouse won't respond, typically finishes in a few months — the defendant has 28 days to file an Answer after being served. A contested divorce usually runs 8–18 months depending on temporary-orders activity, discovery, and the assigned judge's calendar. Judges Samuel F. Bluedorn and David L. Engler hear the Family Court docket.
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 44482, (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.
Other Family-Law Topics in Trumbull County
- Trumbull County Divorce — Full filing guide for contested divorce in the Trumbull County Family Court, Domestic Relations Division.
- Trumbull County Dissolution — The no-fault, agreement-first path — Form 17 petition, separation agreement, and the 30–90 day hearing.
- Trumbull County Custody — Married parents file inside divorce; never-married parents file in the Juvenile Division.
Related to your modifications case
- Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
- Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
- Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.
Keep exploring
- Ohio Post-Decree Modifications guide — Statewide overview of post-decree modifications 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.
