Trumbull County Shared Parenting Attorneys

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

Trumbull County, Ohio · Warren

Shared parenting makes both parents residential parents and legal custodians under one written plan. In Trumbull County, the plan is filed with your divorce or dissolution in the Domestic Relations Division, or in a Juvenile case for never-married parents — both in the combined Trumbull County Family Court at 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren.

Hire Gavvl for your Trumbull County shared parenting case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Trumbull County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start (flat fees from $1,250).

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

How do I get shared parenting in Trumbull County, Ohio?

Submit a proposed Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) that addresses every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor — physical living arrangements, holidays and vacations, decision-making, child support, transportation, school and health care, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. File it with your divorce or dissolution in the Domestic Relations Division, or in a Juvenile case if you were never married, at the Trumbull County Family Court, 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren. The court approves the plan only if it serves the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F); if a parent doesn't specify a schedule, the county Parenting and Companionship Guidelines apply.

Hire Gavvl Law to build your Trumbull County shared parenting plan

Shared parenting makes both parents residential parents and legal custodians under one written plan, and in Trumbull County the proposed Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) is filed with your divorce or dissolution in the Domestic Relations Division or in a Juvenile case for never-married parents, all at the Family Court, 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren. Gavvl Law drafts a plan that survives review, sets a flat fee approved before drafting, offers payment plans, and gives full representation if the other parent objects.

Every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor, or it comes back. A Shared Parenting Plan must address physical living arrangements, holidays and vacations, decision-making, child support, transportation, school and health care, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. Trumbull County routinely returns plans that skip a factor, so we draft to all of them the first time.
Best interest still controls approval. Shared parenting is not automatic in Trumbull County — even an agreed plan is approved only if the court finds it serves the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F). We present the plan against that standard so the judge has a clear basis to adopt it.
Where the plan is silent, the Guidelines fill in. The Trumbull County Parenting and Companionship Guidelines supply the default schedule wherever a plan does not specify one, including separate local and long-distance schedules based on travel time. We reconcile your plan with those guidelines so there are no gaps to fight over later.

For married parents the plan rides inside the DR case; for never-married parents it follows paternity and a Juvenile new action — different tracks in the same Trumbull County Family Court. We file the plan in the correct division so the court reviews it on the first hearing rather than kicking it for a filing defect.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the complaint to establish custody and parenting time, or prepare your shared parenting plan for filing. You appear at any hearing.

Establish custody & parenting time: $1,250
Shared parenting plan (drafting): $1,650

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 shared parenting case or see payment plans & financing.

Real people, — with direct lines

Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
Niva Elgin — Senior Case Manager · Licensed New Mexico Attorney

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — or Niva Elgin, our senior case manager and a licensed New Mexico attorney. They've heard hundreds of situations like yours and will tell you plainly what you need, and what you don't. Meet the firm.

Your attorney

One of our Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorneys is your attorney for the case — from the first strategy call to the final order in Trumbull County. You have their name and a direct line the day your file opens. Our attorneys.

Your case team

Niva Elgin keeps your case moving as Senior Case Manager. Madeline Wampler, Certified Paralegal, handles documents and scheduling. Erin Schultz, Finance Manager, handles billing and payment plans. Real people who answer when you call.

95+ five-star Google reviews
60+ years of combined Ohio family-law experience
Super Lawyers honorees on the team
Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained, — and every step after

Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, or Niva Elgin about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
Choose — Pick the level of help. Pay, or set up financing. Limited-scope flat fee or full representation — you choose, with real numbers in front of you. Pay online, or secure a Gavvl Direct payment plan or third-party financing in a few minutes. Nothing is billed until you decide.
Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Can I do this without an attorney?

sometimes, yes. Ohio lets you represent yourself, and for a genuinely agreed dissolution or a simple motion, some people do. The Trumbull County forms and local rules are linked in the questions below, and our free tools will draft a parenting plan or estimate child support before you spend anything.

Here's what the online-divorce platforms leave out: most Ohio counties require their own forms and language on top of the statewide ones, and a rejected filing is the most common reason people call us after trying it alone. A $25, 30-minute call tells you whether you can do this yourself — and if you can, we'll say so.

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

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, Division of Domestic Relations (Trumbull County Family Court)

220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44481
Phone: (330) 675-2627
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

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

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to be residential parents and legal custodians under one plan.
You can cooperate enough to share decision-making and a detailed schedule.
You can submit a plan covering every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor.
Shared parenting serves the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F).

Frequently Asked Questions

Which forms do I need to file for shared parenting in Trumbull County?

Shared parenting inside a divorce/dissolution (married parents)

Filed in the Domestic Relations Division with your divorce or dissolution.

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio uniform Form 20) — A written plan addressing every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor when both parents will share legal custody and significant parenting time.
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.
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.

Shared parenting in the Juvenile Division (never-married parents)

Filed in the Juvenile Division after paternity is established. Juvenile e-filing is mandatory as of June 1, 2026.

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.
Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio uniform Form 20) — A written plan addressing every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor when both parents will share legal custody and significant parenting time.
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.
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 shared parenting in Trumbull County

Draft a complete Shared Parenting Plan. Use Ohio SC Form 20 and address every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor in writing.
Pick the right division. Married/divorcing parents file the plan with the DR case; never-married parents establish paternity and file in the Juvenile Division.
File the plan and supporting forms. Attach the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and a child-support worksheet, and file with the correct Clerk.
Attend the hearing for approval. The court reviews the plan against the best-interest factors and approves it (or sends it back for revision) at the hearing.

What does shared parenting cost in Trumbull County?

Two numbers matter. The court's filing fee, which the Clerk sets and can confirm. And the attorney work: Our published flat fees from $1,250 cover drafting and filing the paperwork (limited scope — the court's filing fee is invoiced separately), with payment plans available. Prefer full representation? An attorney can carry the whole case on a retainer — every number is published in the pricing section above.

What forms do I need for shared parenting in Trumbull County?

It depends on your situation — children, temporary orders, and which court you file in all change the packet. Answer the quick questions in the paperwork section above and your exact Trumbull County checklist appears, with every official form linked as a PDF.

How long does shared parenting take in Trumbull County?

It depends on how much you and the other side agree. Agreed matters generally move through Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Trumbull County Family Court) in months, not years; contested cases take longer. The part you control is filing a complete, correct packet the first time — bounced paperwork is the most common self-filing delay.

Do we really need lawyers if we agree?

Maybe not — and we'll say so at a $25 consultation. But an agreement only counts if it survives on paper, in the exact packet Trumbull County's court expects, and what you file becomes a binding court order that is hard to fix later. Precision drafting for people who already agree is most of what our flat-fee work is: done once, done right.

Where are the Trumbull County local rules, and what does this court do differently?

Judges, magistrates, and filing fees change, so we do not publish them here. Trumbull County posts the current information itself:

Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Trumbull County Family Court) — local rules, standing orders, and the current judges and magistrates.
Trumbull County Clerk of Courts — current filing fees and deposits, e-filing, and case records.

The plan must address every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor. A Shared Parenting Plan must cover physical living arrangements, the holiday and vacation schedule, 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.
Best interest still controls. Shared parenting is not automatic. Even with an agreed plan, the court must find that shared parenting serves the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F) before approving it.
Guidelines fill the gaps. Where a plan doesn't specify a schedule, the Trumbull County Parenting and Companionship Guidelines (eff. 1/1/2022) provide the default, including separate local and long-distance schedules based on travel time.

Are there free legal 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 www.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.

Start Your Parenting Plan for Free

Before you meet with an attorney or mediator, try our free Ohio parenting plan builder — it explains sole custody vs. shared parenting in plain language and turns your answers into a printable worksheet you can bring to court, mediation, or a consultation.

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.
My Ex Leaves Our Child With the Grandparents During Their Parenting Time. Can I Do Anything About It? — Ohio courts favor grandparent relationships, so a few nights a month at grandma's is not a problem. It becomes one when the grandparents replace the parent. This guide explains why the court cannot order the grandparents to do anything, how to tell whether you have shared parenting or sole custody, and the six realistic options — from a documented conversation to a right of first refusal, contempt, a parenting time modification, a custody change, or an emergency motion.
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.