Shared Parenting in Union County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Union County, Ohio · Marysville

Shared parenting lets both parents be designated residential parents and legal custodians under a written plan that meets R.C. 3109.04(G). In Union County the plan is filed with the divorce or dissolution at the Domestic Relations Division, or in the Juvenile Court for never-married parents. The court approves a plan only if shared parenting serves the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F), and cases with children often mediate early.

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

File a Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio Form 20) with your divorce or dissolution at the Union County Domestic Relations Division, or in the Union County Juvenile Court if you were never married. The plan must address living arrangements, holiday and vacation schedules, decision-making, transportation, health, education, and dispute resolution, and must be notarized. The court approves it only if shared parenting is in the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F). Both parents must complete the co-parenting class before the final hearing.

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: Union County Court of Common Pleas - Domestic Relations Division

215 W 5th St, Marysville, OH 43040, Marysville, OH 43040
Phone: (937) 645-3015
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the Clerk to confirm current hours)
Website: www.unioncountyohio.gov/departments/CommonPleasCourt

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to be designated residential parents and legal custodians.
You can cooperate on major decisions about health, education, and the children's welfare.
You have (or can build) a workable schedule for living arrangements, holidays, and vacations.
Shared parenting is realistically in the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F).

If cooperation isn't realistic, one parent can ask to be named sole residential parent instead. Compare custody.

Filing Fees

Part of the divorce/dissolution deposit (married) or the Juvenile new-case deposit (never-married, $75/$115) · plan must be notarized · added mediation sessions $160 · confirm amounts with the Clerk (937) 645-3015 or Juvenile Court (937) 645-3029

Forms & Filing Packets

Shared parenting inside a divorce or dissolution — Part of the divorce/dissolution deposit

File the Shared Parenting Plan with your DR case, with the children's affidavits and support worksheet.

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time the court sets or changes support.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.

Shared parenting for never-married parents — $75 agreed · $115 contested

File in the Union County Juvenile Court with the parentage/custody complaint, UCCJEA affidavit, and support worksheet.

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
Complaint to Establish Paternity (with custody & parenting time) — Filed in the Union County Juvenile Court to legally establish the father and ask the court to set custody and parenting time. Union uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized juvenile forms.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction over custody under the UCCJEA. Required in any case involving minor children.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you ask the court to set or change support.

How to File Shared Parenting in Union County

Decide where to file. Married or divorcing parents file the plan with the divorce or dissolution at the Domestic Relations Division; never-married parents file in the Union County Juvenile Court.
Draft a complete plan. Use Ohio Form 20 and address living arrangements, holidays and vacations, decision-making, transportation, health, education, and dispute resolution.
Add the supporting forms. Include the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, the Health Insurance Affidavit, and the child-support worksheet.
Notarize and file. Sign the plan before a notary and file it with your case; attorneys e-file, pro se filers file in person.
Complete the co-parenting class. Both parents finish the online co-parenting class and file the certificate before the final hearing.

Union County Practice Notes

Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.
The plan must be complete and notarized. A shared parenting plan under R.C. 3109.04(G) must address physical living arrangements, the holiday and vacation schedule, decision-making, transportation, health and education, and dispute resolution — and must be signed before a notary. The court can reject a plan that doesn't serve the children's best interest.
Mediation: first session covered, added sessions $160. Union County has a Mediation Department, and cases with children often mediate early, before the temporary-orders hearing. The court fee covers an initial session; added sessions cost $160 each. Mediation is never used for a protection order.
Co-parenting class is required with minor children. Both parents in a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment with minor children must complete Union County's online co-parenting class (about 4 hours, $49.99 per parent) and file the certificate before the final hearing. In a dissolution the case is dismissed if the certificate is not filed within 90 days. The court suggests taking the class before mediation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What parenting class is required in Union County, and what does it cost?: Both parents in a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment with minor children must complete Union County's online co-parenting class — about 4 hours, $49.99 per parent — and file the certificate before the final hearing. In a dissolution, the case is dismissed if the certificate is not filed within 90 days. The court suggests taking the class before mediation.
Does Union County offer mediation, and what does it cost?: Yes. Union County has a Mediation Department, and cases with children often mediate early, before the temporary-orders hearing. The court fee covers an initial session, and added sessions cost $160 each. Mediation is never used for a protection order.
What does it cost to file for custody in the Union County Juvenile Court?: An agreed custody case costs $75 to file in the Union County Juvenile Court (Room 107, (937) 645-3029 ext. 3411); a contested one costs $115. A show-cause motion to enforce an order has a $100 deposit. Registering an out-of-state custody order is $115, or $175 if you also ask to enforce or modify it at the same time.
Can I e-file my case in Union County?: In Union County, attorneys must e-file. Self-represented (pro se) filers bring paper copies to the Clerk of Courts counter at 215 W 5th St, Marysville. Confirm the number of copies and the current deposit with the Clerk at (937) 645-3015.

Free Local Resources in Union County

Union County Clerk of Courts. Provides current filing fees, local forms, and filing instructions for custody, divorce, and dissolution cases. Call (937) 645-3015 or visit https://www.unioncountyohio.gov/departments/CommonPleasCourt before filing to confirm deposits and packet requirements.
Union County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Union County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.

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.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Shared Parenting guide — Statewide overview of shared parenting in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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