Family Law Resources

If you need to contact an advocate immediately, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 24 hours a day, at 800-799-7233, or visit www.thehotline.org. 

Note: Computer use can be monitored, and it is impossible to completely clear your browsing history. If you are concerned that your abuser is monitoring your usage, please use a computer that they cannot access. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Family Violence: Get Safe and Get Help

This brochure explains your rights when you or someone in your family is the victim of domestic violence.

How to Present Evidence in Court

If you represent yourself in a Civil Protection Order hearing, you may want to introduce evidence. Evidence may include photos, text messages, or audio recordings. This brochure explains how you can present evidence in court when you represent yourself.

Domestic Violence and Public Benefits

This brochure explains the rights victims of domestic violence have when receiving Ohio Works First (OWF), food stamps, and subsidized housing.

Ohio Works First (OWF) hardship extension

If you are a victim of domestic violence, you may be able to have your Ohio Works First benefits extended beyond the normal 36-month limit. This brochure explains how you can ask to have your Ohio Works First benefits extend past the 36-month limit.

Fair Housing Protections for Survivors of Domestic Violence

This brochure talks about the rights a survivor of domestic violence has under the Fair Housing Act and other laws.

Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order

This packet is designed to help someone file for a Civil Protection Order if you are a family or household member of the person you are filing against. For more information on if you qualify as a family or household member, please review the information on the first page of this packet.

Dating Violence Civil Protection Order

This packet is designed to help someone fie for a Dating Violence Civil Protection Order if you are or were in a “dating relationship” with the other person within the past 12 months. For more information on if you qualify for a dating violence protection order, please review the information on the first page of this packet.

Civil Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order

This packet is designed to help someone file for a Civil Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (CSPO or CSOOPO). A CSPO is appropriate if the other person’s actions constitute menacing by stalking. A CSOOPO is appropriate if you are the victim of a sexually oriented offense. For more information on if you qualify for a CSPO or CSOOPO, please review the information on the first page of this packet.

Juvenile Civil Protection Order

This packet is designed to help someone file for a Civil Protection Order against a person that is considered a minor (under the age of 18 years old). Please note: the age of the Petitioner is irrelevant; the Court only looks at the age of the Respondent to determine if a Juvenile Civil Protection Order has been correctly filed in the Juvenile Court.

Local Forms:

Licking County

If you are filing your packet in Licking County, you are required to fill out and submit this additional form.

The Rights of Unmarried Mothers

This brochure explains the rights unmarried mothers have regarding their children.

Rights of Cohabitants: People Who Live Together but Are Not Married

This brochure explains the rights of people who live together but are not married, the legal advantages of marriage, and how to gain some rights that are similar to those for married couples.

Don’t Be Left Out of the Picture: The Ohio Putative Father Registry

The Ohio Putative Father Registry (OPFR) helps an unmarried father find out if his child might be adopted. This brochure explains how the registry works and what steps a possible father should take.

Allowing Your Spouse to Visit Your Child

This brochure explains visitation issues with your child when you and your spouse have separated.

Change of Custody Fact Sheet

This brochure explains the court process for changing the custody of a child, including the factors the judge looks at when deciding whether custody should be changed.

How to Change or Enforce an Existing Parenting Time Order

This brochure explains the process to follow to change or enforce a current parenting time order.

How Does the Court Decide Custody?

This brochure explains the process the Court uses when deciding which parent will be granted custody of the minor child and what information is important to tell the court for their decision.

How to Handle Witnesses When Representing Yourself

This brochure explains what witnesses you should bring to court with you and how to ask them questions when they are testifying.

How to Present Evidence in Court

This brochure explains what evidence you can use in your hearing and how to present the evidence to the court.

Establishing Paternity

This brochure explains how paternity is established and why paternity is important.

Establishing Child Support

This brochure explains the basics of child support, including how to establish child support and how the state determines child support amounts.

Modifying Child Support Orders

This brochure explains the process for having a current child support order modified

Packet with Forms: How to Lower Your Arrears Payment on a Current Child Support Order

This packet and forms are for current child support orders.

Packet with Forms: How to Lower Your Arrears Payment on a Terminated Child Support Order

This packet and forms are for terminated child support orders. 

Packet with Forms: Establishing or Modifying Child Support Order When Obligor Is Incarcerated

This packet explains how to establish or modify a child support order when the obligor (person who would pay or is paying child support) is in jail or prison and includes a form to request a review of a child support order. 

Packet with Forms: How to Waive the Amount of Arrears You Owe with the Approval of the Person Receiving Support

This packet explains how to waive the amount of back child support owed with the approval of the obligee (person who receives the child support) and includes a form to request the waiver.

Forms to Object to Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) Child Support Order

Forms to Object to a Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) Modification of Support

Your Legal Options When Ending a Relationship

This document outlines the various ways to end relationships with a partner.

This page has videos that walk you through completing divorce forms on your own.

Temporary Orders in a Divorce Case

This brochure explains how you can request temporary orders in your divorce case for custody, support, and payment of debts and/or expenses.

Spousal Support

This brochure explains how spousal support is awarded in a divorce case.

Real Estate and Divorce

This brochure explains how the Court will address real estate in a divorce action.

Pension or Retirement Plan and Divorce

This brochure explains how the Court will address a pension or retirement plan in a divorce action.

Grandparent’s Visitation and Custody Rights

This brochure explains a grandparent’s rights with their grandchildren. The brochure talks about when a grandparent has a right to visitation and when a grandparent can receive child support for a grandchild.

Kinship Caregivers – Financial Options

This brochure provides some financial options for grandparents and other kinship caregivers who are caring for minor children whose parents are unable or unwilling to do so, including kinds of cash and food assistance, medical coverage, and childcare.

Kinship Caregivers – Legal Options

This brochure provides some legal options for grandparents and other kinship caregivers who are caring for minor children whose parents are unable or unwilling to do so, including finding a lawyer, potential options for free or reduced-cost legal help, and filing for legal custody.

Kinship Caregivers – Education Options

This brochure provides some education options for grandparents and other kinship caregivers who are caring for minor children whose parents are unable or unwilling to do so, including special education options, Head Start, grants and scholarships for higher education, and kinship care support programs.

Kinship Caregivers – Medical Services

This brochure provides some medical options for grandparents and other kinship caregivers who are caring for minor children whose parents are unable or unwilling to do so, including Healthy Start and Healthy Families Programs, nutritional assistance, and early intervention services for kids with developmental delays.

Forms Related to Kinship Caregivers: 

Important note: In addition to the forms provided below, your county may have specific forms that must be filed for their county. You should review the Local Forms section of “Court Forms” below to see if your county is listed.

Power of Attorney Forms: 

Grandparent Power of Attorney (with Parents Agreeing)

This packet has fill-in-the-blank forms for when parents agree to allow a grandparent to make school and medical decisions for a child.

Grandparent Power of Attorney (with Parents Unavailable)

This packet has fill-in-the-blank forms for when a grandparent wants to make school and medical decisions for a child, but the parents are not available to agree to this.

Visitation Forms:

Complaint for Visitation

Use this packet if you are a grandparent or other relative of the child, you are asking the Court to grant you visitation with the child, the child was born to an unmarried mother OR one of the child’s parents is deceased, and no other court action has been filed regarding this child.

Motion for Visitation in Domestic Relations Court

Use this packet if you are a grandparent or other relative of the child, you are asking the Court to grant you visitation with the child, and the parents of the child were married and are going through a divorce/have been through a divorce or other action in domestic relations court involving the child.

Motion for Visitation in Juvenile Court

Use this packet if you are a grandparent or other relative of the child, you are asking the Court to grant you visitation with the child, and there is a current or prior case in juvenile court regarding this child.

Custody Forms:

Non-parent Complaint for Custody in Domestic Relations Court

Use this packet if you are a non-parent who wants to file for custody of a minor child and the parents are married and there has never been a case filed regarding this child.

Non-parent Complaint for Custody in Juvenile Court

Use this packet if you are a non-parent who wants to file for custody of a minor child and there has never been a case filed before regarding this child.

Non-parent Complaint for Custody and Motion to Intervene in Domestic Relations Court

Use this packet if you are a non-parent who wants to file for custody of a minor child, the parents of the child are married, and there is a divorce case pending regarding this child or a case has been filed in the past.

Non-parent Complaint for Custody and Motion to Intervene in Juvenile Court

Use this packet if you are a non-parent who wants to file for custody of a minor child, the parents of the child are not married, and there is a case pending regarding this child or a case has been filed in the past.

Acknowledgement, Consent, and Waiver

If you and the parent(s) agree for you to have custody, have the parent(s) sign this form and submit with your Complaint packet. Each parent should sign their own form.

Children Service’s Cases Forms:

Complaint for Custody in Children Services with a Filed Case

Use this packet if you are a non-parent who wants to file for custody of a minor child and there is a case pending regarding this child that has been filed by Child Protective Services/Children Services Board.

Notice Form for Foster or Kinship Caregiver

If Child Protective Services has placed the child in your care, either as a foster caregiver or a kinship caregiver, you have the right to be given notice and the right to be heard in the ongoing court case regarding that child. If you are not receiving notices, fill out this form and submit to the Juvenile Court that is hearing your case.

Additional Resources: 

Ohio KAN (Kinship & Adoption Navigator)

Ohio Resource Guide for Relatives Caring for Children

Ohio Legal Help

Where do I file?

Divorce: 

You can file for a divorce in Ohio once you have lived in the state for 6 months. You will file your divorce packet in the county where you have lived for 90 days OR where the other party has lived for 90 days. Any post-divorce matters must be filed in the court that granted your divorce.

Custody:

• If you are married, you will file any original action regarding parental rights and responsibilities in the Court of Common Pleas, general division or domestic relations division, where the child is found or last known to be. If there has already been a case filed regarding this child, you must file in that court.
• If you are not married, you will file any original action regarding parental rights and responsibilities in the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, where the child is found or last known to be. If there has already been a case filed regarding this child, you must file in that court.

Will Legal Aid represent me if I use these forms?

The forms on this website are for you to use to file on your own behalf. You will complete these documents on your own, file them, and represent yourself. By providing these forms, Legal Aid and the attorneys who are on its staff have not agreed to represent you and will not be available to answer your questions regarding these forms. If you need an attorney, please call LASCO at 888-246-4420 so we can see if you are eligible for our services. If you are not, most of our counties have a local clinic where you can get legal information or legal advice about these forms from a Legal Aid staff attorney or a volunteer attorney. Our phone intake specialist can give you this information.

What do I do when I am finished filling out the packet of forms?

Make sure all documents are signed where required and notarized if required. When you are finished filling out your packet, you are ready to file your forms with the Clerk of Courts at your local Court of Common Pleas. You should bring copies when you file (one for each party of the case, including yourself), or the Clerk may charge you for making copies. You should keep a copy of everything you file, and everything your spouse files.

Supreme Court forms and packets:

• Dissolution without Children
• Dissolution with Children 
• Divorce without Children
• Divorce with Children
• Divorce Answer without Children 
• Divorce Answer with Children
• Complaint for Parentage, Allocation of Parental Rights and Responsibilities (Custody), and Parenting Time (Visitation)
• Motion for Change of Parental Rights and Responsibilities
• Defend Against a Complaint for Custody or Motion to Modify Custody
• Motion for Change of Parenting Time
• Motion for Change of Child Support, Medical Support, Tax Exemption, or Other Child-Related Expenses
• Motion for Contempt

Forms for if you reach an agreement:

• Separation Agreement
• Shared Parenting Plan with Parenting Time Schedule Form
• Parenting Plan with Parenting Time Schedule Form
• Parenting Plan Entry

Miscellaneous forms:

• Entry
• Motion for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem
• Motion to Interview Child in Chambers
• Motion for Mediation
• Notice of Intent to Relocate
• Subpoenaing a Witness to Court
• Service by Posting and Mail

Local forms:

Once you have chosen a packet from the Supreme Court Forms section above, check the below list to see if your local county court has additional forms that must be filed. If your county is listed below, please click on the link for your additional forms. 

NOTE: This packet of local forms does not include everything you need to file. You MUST also choose a packet under Supreme Court Forms packets that fits your legal need. 

Adams County Domestic Relations Court

• Dissolution with Children
• Dissolution without Children
• Divorce Complaint or Divorce Answer with Children
• Divorce Complaint or Divorce Answer without Children
• Motion for Change in Parental Rights
• Motion for Change in Parenting Time
• Motion for Change in Child Support, Medical Support, Tax Exemption, or Other Child-Related Expenses
• Motion for Contempt

Adams County Juvenile Court

• Complaint for Parentage or Custody 
• Defendant Complaint for Parentage or Defendant Complaint for Custody
• Motion for Change in Child Support
• Motion for Change of Parental Rights or Defending Motion
• Motion for Contempt
• Motion to Change Visitation

Athens County Domestic Relations Court

• Divorce with Children
• Divorce without Children

Delaware County Domestic Relations Court

• Dissolution with Children
• Dissolution without Children
• Divorce Answer with Children
• Divorce Answer without Children
• Divorce with Children
• Divorce without Children 
• Motions

Delaware County Juvenile Court

• Complaint
• Motions

Fairfield County Domestic Relations Court

• Divorce with or without children
• Answer/Counterclaim Divorce without children
• Dissolution with or without children
• Complaint or Answer to establish parentage or custody
• Change prior custody order or parenting time order
• Change in child support, medical support, tax exemption, or other child related expenses 
• Contempt

Guernsey County Domestic Relations Court

• Forms for filing an action in the Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division

Holmes County Domestic Relations Court

• Forms for filing an action in the Holmes County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division

Jefferson County Domestic Relations Court 

• Forms for filing an action in the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division

Marion County Domestic Relations Court

• Dissolution with Children
• Dissolution without Children
• Divorce Answer with Children
• Divorce Answer without Children
• Divorce with Children
• Divorce without Children
• Motions

Marion County Juvenile Court

• Complaint
• Motions

Monroe County Domestic Relations Court

• Forms for filing an action in the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division

Morrow County Domestic Relations Court

• Dissolution with Children
• Dissolution without Children
• Divorce answer with Children
• Divorce Answer without Children
• Divorce with Children
• Divorce without Children

Morrow County Juvenile Court

• Complaint
• Motions

Scioto County Domestic Relations Court

• Divorce Answer
• Complaint for Parentage
• Divorce or Dissolution with Children
• Divorce or Dissolution without Children
• Motion for Change of Child Support
• Motion for Change of Parental Rights and Defend Against Motion for Change of Parental Rights
• Motion for Change of Parenting Time
• Motion for Contempt

Scioto County Juvenile Court

• Motion to Modify Custody
• Petition for Custody

Tuscarawas County Domestic Court

• Forms for filing an action in the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division

Union County Domestic Relations Court

• Dissolution with Children
• Dissolution without Children 
• Divorce Answer without Children
• Divorce with Children
• Divorce without Children 
• Motions

Union County Juvenile Court

• Complaint
• Motions

Washington County Domestic Relations Court

• Forms for filing an action in the Washington County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division