Child Support in Warren County

How do I get a child-support order in Warren County, Ohio?

Run the Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet, then file it with the IV-D Application and Health Insurance Information at the right court: the Domestic Relations Court at 500 Justice Drive for married parents (included in a divorce/dissolution or a $350 Married Living Separately complaint), or the Warren County Juvenile Court at 900 Memorial Drive for never-married parents (a $160 Support complaint, or a $75 motion). The Warren County CSEA at (513) 695-1580 collects support through wage withholding and adds a 2% processing charge.

Where to File: Warren County Domestic Relations Court

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Warren County Juvenile Court (Probate/Juvenile Division)
900 Memorial Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036, Lebanon, OH 45036
Phone: (513) 695-1160
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Child Support is the right path if…

• You need a new child-support order, or your current order no longer fits your income or parenting time.
• You want support collected and enforced through automatic wage withholding.
• You have, or are opening, a custody or paternity case the support attaches to.
• Ohio has jurisdiction over the children.

Filing Fees

Included in a divorce/dissolution at DR · Married Living Separately complaint $350 · Juvenile Support complaint $160 + $50/additional child · Juvenile motion $75 · CSEA adds 2% processing

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Child Support in Warren County

1. Calculate support on the Ohio worksheet. Run the Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet using both parents' incomes and the parenting schedule.
2. Pick the right court. Married parents → DR Court (inside a divorce/dissolution or a Married Living Separately complaint). Never-married parents → Juvenile Court at 900 Memorial Drive.
3. File the worksheet with the IV-D and health-insurance forms. Include the IV-D Application so the Warren County CSEA can collect and enforce, plus the Health Insurance Information form.
4. Keep CSEA updated. Report income and address changes promptly to avoid notification fines and to keep wage withholding accurate.

Warren County Practice Notes

• Warren County CSEA add-ons. Warren adds a 2% processing charge on all support and 20% of the current order on arrearages. Cash medical is $510.21 per child per year, and health insurance is 'reasonable' when it costs no more than 5% of annual gross income. Failing to update CSEA brings escalating fines ($50/$100/$500).
• Required child-support language. Since 8/6/2024, Warren rejects initial and final documents that omit the updated child-support language, and final support entries must attach the Notifications form. Use the court's current templates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Warren County CSEA do?

The Warren County Child Support Enforcement Agency at 500 Justice Drive, P.O. Box 440, Lebanon, OH 45036-0440, phone (513) 695-1580, opens IV-D cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support by wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Warren adds a 2% processing charge on all support, plus 20% of the current order on arrearages. File the IV-D Application (DR Form 12 or WCJC Form 11) whenever a support order is set.

How much does it cost to file in Warren County?

Domestic Relations deposits (Clerk Breighton Smith, eff. 7/1/2025): a divorce or dissolution case is $400 with children and $300 without children; a case served by publication is $500; a married-living-apart custody/support complaint is $350; a post-decree motion is $75; and personal service by the Sheriff is $50 per party. An Affidavit of Indigency reduces the deposit to $15. Juvenile Court complaints (custody, parentage, support, visitation, shared parenting) are $160 plus $50 per additional child, and Juvenile motions are $75. Civil Protection Orders have no filing fee.

Do I file in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Warren County?

Warren County splits the two courts onto different campuses. The Domestic Relations Court at 500 Justice Drive hears married-parent matters — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody/support that travels with them. The Juvenile Court at 900 Memorial Drive hears never-married-parent matters — paternity, custody, parenting time, child support, and grandparent/non-parent custody. Under Rees v. Rees (2026-Ohio-1235, 12th Dist.), grandparent and relative visitation goes to DR when the parents are or ever were married or a parent is deceased.

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.

Free Local Resources in Warren County

• Warren County DR Help Center & Document Center. The DR Help Center at 500 Justice Drive helps self-represented parties fill out printed Document Center forms on Tuesdays 1–3 p.m. and Thursdays 9–11 a.m. All Domestic Relations forms and case-type filing packets are posted at warrencountyohio.gov/Domestic_Relations_Court/Forms.
• Warren County Probate/Juvenile Legal Help Center. Walk-in help at 900 Memorial Drive on Thursdays 8 a.m.–noon, where an attorney answers legal questions and provides filing packets regardless of financial situation (no attorney-client relationship is formed).
• Warren County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Warren County's IV-D agency at (513) 695-1580, csea.warrencountyohio.gov, opens and enforces support cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, and processes payments through OCSPC.
• Warren County CASA Program. More than 50 trained CASA volunteers, directed by Melissa Perduk, advocate for abused and neglected children in the child-welfare system. Details at warrencountyohio.gov/Probate_Juvenile/CASA/CASA/Index.

Other Family-Law Topics in Warren County

• Warren County Divorce — Contested divorce filing guide for the DR Court at 500 Justice Drive.
• Warren County Dissolution — The agreed, both-spouses-sign track with a hearing 31–90 days after filing.
• Warren County Custody — Married parents file in DR; never-married parents file at the Juvenile Court.

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.
• Cincinnati family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cincinnati 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.