Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody in Washington County
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026
Washington County, Ohio · Marietta
A grandparent, relative, or other suitable adult can ask the Washington County Juvenile Court for legal custody of a child under R.C. 2151.23(A)(2). This is not adoption and not guardianship — the parents keep residual rights and the order can be modified later. In Washington County these cases use the Change of Unmarried Parental Rights packet (completed in blue ink), filed with the custody clerk, Jill Roach (ext. 2421), and when the child is under 14 a custody investigation is required under Local Rule 24.
How can a grandparent get custody in Washington County, Ohio?
File a complaint for legal custody under R.C. 2151.23(A)(2) in the Washington County Juvenile Court, 205 Putnam St., Marietta, using the Change of Unmarried Parental Rights packet (completed in blue ink) with the custody clerk, Jill Roach (ext. 2421). The parents are parties and must be served, and the court must find the parents unsuitable — by relinquishment, abandonment, unfitness, or that parental custody would be detrimental — before awarding custody to a non-parent. When the child is under 14, Local Rule 24 requires a custody investigation. A Guardian ad Litem may be appointed (coordinator Kathy Thieman, ext. 2402).
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: Washington County Court of Common Pleas
205 Putnam St, Marietta, OH 45750, Marietta, OH 45750Phone: (740) 373-6623
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Website: washingtongov.org/269/Common-Pleas-Court---General-Division
Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)
Washington County Juvenile Court
205 Putnam St, Marietta, OH 45750, Marietta, OH 45750
Phone: (740) 373-6623
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Grandparent / Non-Parent Custody is the right path if…
- You are a grandparent, relative, or other adult close to the child.
- The child's parents are unable or unsuitable to provide proper care.
- You want legal custody (not adoption) so the parents keep residual rights.
- You're prepared to show the court that custody with you serves the child's best interest.
Filing Fees
New Juvenile case deposit set by that court · Complaint for Visitation $125 · custody investigation required when the child is under 14 (Local Rule 24) · confirm amounts with the Juvenile Court at (740) 373-6623 ext. 2421
Forms & Filing Packets
Legal custody to a non-parent — New Juvenile case deposit set by that court (confirm at ext. 2421)
File the Change of Unmarried Parental Rights packet (in blue ink) in the Juvenile Court; parents must be served. The court applies the unsuitability standard, and a custody investigation is required when the child is under 14.
- Change of Unmarried Parental Rights packet (Washington County) — The local packet used to change an unmarried-parent custody order — and the packet grandparents and other non-parents use to seek legal custody in the Juvenile Court. Complete in blue ink.
- 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.
Grandparent / relative companionship — $125 Complaint for Visitation
Request court-ordered companionship under R.C. 3109.051/3109.11/3109.12, using the Complaint for Visitation in the Juvenile case or as a motion in an existing DR case.
- Complaint for Visitation (Washington County Juvenile Court) — Requests court-ordered parenting time / companionship. The deposit is $125.
- 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.
How to File Grandparent / Non-Parent Custody in Washington County
- Confirm Juvenile Court is the right path. In Washington County, legal custody to a relative is a Juvenile Court matter, filed with the custody clerk, Jill Roach (ext. 2421).
- Prepare the packet. Complete the Change of Unmarried Parental Rights packet in blue ink, with the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit.
- File and serve the parents. File at the Washington County Juvenile Court; the parents are necessary parties and must be served.
- Prepare your unsuitability evidence. Gather proof that the parents are unsuitable and that custody with you serves the child's best interest; expect a custody investigation if the child is under 14.
- Attend the hearing. Present your case at the hearing; a Guardian ad Litem may be appointed to investigate and recommend.
Washington County Practice Notes
- Use the local packet, in blue ink. In Washington County a grandparent or relative seeking legal custody uses the Change of Unmarried Parental Rights packet, completed in blue ink and filed with the custody clerk, Jill Roach (ext. 2421). This is legal custody, not adoption or guardianship — the parents keep residual rights.
- Parents must be found unsuitable. Before awarding custody to a non-parent over a parent, the court must find the parents unsuitable — through relinquishment, abandonment, unfitness, or that parental custody would be detrimental to the child.
- Custody investigation for young children. When the child is under 14, Local Rule 24 requires a custody investigation. A Guardian ad Litem may also be appointed under Sup. R. 48 / Local Juvenile Rule 29 (coordinator Kathy Thieman, ext. 2402).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can a grandparent or relative get custody in Washington County?
- Yes. A grandparent, relative, or other suitable adult can ask the Washington County Juvenile Court for legal custody under R.C. 2151.23(A)(2), using the Change of Unmarried Parental Rights packet (completed in blue ink) filed with the custody clerk, Jill Roach (ext. 2421). This is not adoption and not guardianship — the parents keep residual rights. When the child is under 14, Local Rule 24 requires a custody investigation. The court must find the parents unsuitable before awarding custody to a non-parent.
- Where do unmarried parents file for custody, paternity, or support in Washington County?
- At the Washington County Juvenile Court, 205 Putnam St., Marietta, before Hon. Timothy A. Williams (Magistrate Kyle Boker). The Juvenile Court keeps its own clerks: the custody clerk is Jill Roach (ext. 2421), and the paternity/support clerk is Morgan McCartney (ext. 2423). Complete the local juvenile packets in blue ink. Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are always filed here, not in Probate.
- What is the standard parenting-time schedule in Washington County?
- For orders entered on or after May 1, 2015, Washington County uses Parenting Time Policy 3A, which has a Local schedule (parents within 150 miles of each other) and a Long-Distance schedule (more than 150 miles apart). The Local schedule gives the non-residential parent alternate weekends Friday 6:00 p.m. to Sunday 8:00 p.m. plus Tuesday and Thursday evenings 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., with holidays and summer time added. A parent who plans to relocate must give written notice within 7 days and file a Notice of Intent to Relocate. Older orders may still follow the travel-time-based Policy 3.
- When does Washington County appoint a Guardian ad Litem?
- In a contested custody or parenting case the court can appoint a Guardian ad Litem under Sup. R. 48 and Local Juvenile Rule 29 to investigate and recommend what is in the child's best interest. The GAL coordinator is Kathy Thieman (ext. 2402). The county does not publish a flat GAL fee, so ask the court what deposit to expect; GAL fees are typically allocated between the parents.
Free Local Resources in Washington County
- Washington County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division. Provides current filing fees, local forms, and filing instructions for custody, divorce, and dissolution cases. Call (740) 373-6623, ext. 2503 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM), or visit https://washingtongov.org/269/Common-Pleas-Court---General-Division before filing to confirm deposits and packet requirements.
- Washington County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Washington County's IV-D agency, (740) 373-9324 (4th floor), opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.
- "Successful Co-Parenting" Parenting Class — OSU Extension. The court-approved parenting-education class for parents with minor children, run by OSU Extension–Washington County. Meets the second Monday of each month, 3:00–5:00 p.m., at 1115 Gilman Ave., Marietta; $30 in exact cash; pre-register at (740) 376-7431. File the certificate before the final hearing.
Other Family-Law Topics in Washington County
- Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
- Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Washington County custody attorney for help with your case.
Related to your non-parent custody case
- Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
- Adoption — Grow your family through step-parent, agency, or kinship adoption.
- Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Related guides
In-depth, attorney-written guides on non-parent custody and related Ohio family law topics.
- Grandparents' Rights in Ohio: Visitation and Custody — Ohio grandparents can sometimes seek court-ordered companionship time or even custody — but only in specific circumstances and always under the best-interest standard. Here's how it works.
- 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.
- Kinship Adoption in Ohio: Adopting a Relative's Child — When a child can't safely stay with their parents, relatives often step in. Kinship adoption gives that arrangement legal permanence. Here's how it works in Ohio — and how it differs from custody.
Keep exploring
- Ohio Grandparent / Non-Parent Custody guide — Statewide overview of grandparent / non-parent custody in Ohio.
- Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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