Shared Parenting in Washington County

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

Washington County, Ohio · Marietta

Shared parenting lets both parents be designated residential parents and legal custodians under a written plan that meets R.C. 3109.04(G). In Washington County the plan is filed with the divorce or dissolution at the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas, or in the Juvenile Court for never-married parents. The court approves a plan only if it serves the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F); where parents can't agree on a schedule, Parenting Time Policy 3A fills the gaps.

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

File a Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio Form 20) with your divorce or dissolution at the Washington County Court of Common Pleas, or in the Washington 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 complete the Successful 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: Washington County Court of Common Pleas

205 Putnam St, Marietta, OH 45750, Marietta, OH 45750
Phone: (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

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 $350 DR deposit (married) or the Juvenile new-case deposit (never-married) · plan must be notarized · Parenting Time Policy 3A is the default schedule · confirm amounts with the Clerk (740) 373-6623

Forms & Filing Packets

Shared parenting inside a divorce or dissolution — Part of the $350 DR deposit

File the Shared Parenting Plan with your DR case at the Court of Common Pleas, with the 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.
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.
Affidavit of Health Insurance (Washington County) — States who can provide health insurance for the children and at what cost — required whenever child support is at issue.

Shared parenting for never-married parents — New Juvenile case deposit set by that court

File in the Washington County Juvenile Court with the Unmarried Custody & Visitation packet, the 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.
Unmarried Custody & Visitation packet (Washington County) — The local packet never-married parents use to establish custody and visitation in the Juvenile Court. Complete the forms 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.
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.

How to File Shared Parenting in Washington County

Decide where to file. Married or divorcing parents file the plan with the divorce or dissolution at the Court of Common Pleas; never-married parents file in the Washington 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; Parenting Time Policy 3A is a useful default schedule.
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 at the Clerk of Courts or the Juvenile Court.
Complete the parenting class. Both parents finish Successful Co-Parenting and file the certificate before the final hearing.

Washington 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.
Parenting Time Policy 3A (Local vs. Long-Distance). For orders entered on or after May 1, 2015, the county standard is Policy 3A: a Local schedule for parents within 150 miles (alternate weekends Friday 6 p.m.–Sunday 8 p.m. plus Tuesday/Thursday evenings 5:30–8 p.m., with holidays and summer time) and a Long-Distance schedule for more than 150 miles. A relocating parent must give written notice within 7 days and file a Notice of Intent to Relocate.
"Successful Co-Parenting" is required with minor children. Each parent in a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or custody case with minor children completes "Successful Co-Parenting" through OSU Extension–Washington County and files the certificate before the final hearing. The class meets the second Monday of each month, 3:00–5:00 p.m., at 1115 Gilman Ave., Marietta; the fee is $30 in exact cash; pre-register at (740) 376-7431.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
What parenting class is required in Washington County, and what does it cost?: Washington County uses "Successful Co-Parenting," run by OSU Extension–Washington County. The class meets the second Monday of each month from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at 1115 Gilman Ave., Marietta, costs $30 in exact cash, and requires pre-registration at (740) 376-7431. Parents in a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or custody case with minor children complete it and file the certificate before the final hearing. Confirm the current schedule and fee when you register.
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.
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.

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.
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