Parentage (Never married)
If you are seeking to establish or change legal or custodial rights of your child, in relation to the other parent or guardian, then you are seeking a Parentage Case. Below are helpful links for all the form you may need to present your case.
For more information: Ohio Legal Help, 2023
Forms for Never Married Parents
General:
- LOCAL FORM 130 – NEW CASE DESIGNATION FORM
- Affidavit 1 AFFIDAVIT OF BASIC INFORMATION, INCOME, AND EXPENSES
- Affidavit 4 – HEALTH INSURANCE AFFIDAVIT
- Affidavit 3 – PARENTING PROCEEDING AFFIDAVIT
- Form 31 – SERVICE REQUEST (For additional information on service click here)
- Local Form 115 – Application for Child Support Services, Non-public Assistance Applicant
- Form 23 – COMPLAINT FOR PARENTAGE, ALLOCATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND PARENTING TIME
- Form 20 – SHARED PARENTING PLAN
- Form 21 – PARENTING PLAN
Parenting Time Schedules:
- READ FIRST BEFORE PROCEEDING: Parenting Time Schedules Instruction Sheet
- Schedule A – Parenting Time Schedule A
- Schedule B – Parenting Time Schedule B
- Schedule C – Parenting Time Schedule C
- Schedule D – Parenting Time Schedule D
- Schedule E – Parenting Time Schedule E
- Schedule 1 – Parenting Time Schedule Additional Provisions
- Schedule H1 – Vacation and Holiday Parenting Time Schedule (Short form)
- Schedule H2 – Vacation and Holiday Parenting Time Scheduled (Long)
Third-Party Legal Custody
Third-party legal custody in Ohio refers to a legal status granted by a court to an individual or entity other than the child’s parents, which vests the custodian with the right to have physical care and control of the child. This includes determining where and with whom the child shall live, as well as the right and duty to protect, train, and discipline the child, and to provide the child with food, shelter, education, and medical care. These rights and duties are subject to any residual parental rights, privileges, and responsibilities retained by the child’s parents, such as reasonable visitation and the privilege to consent to adoption or determine the child’s religious affiliation.
Legal custody to a third party is distinct from permanent custody, as it does not terminate the parents’ residual rights and allows for the possibility of the parents regaining custody in the future. The court’s decision to grant legal custody to a third party is based on the best interests of the child and requires a finding by a preponderance of the evidence, rather than the higher standard of clear and convincing evidence required for termination of parental rights. In order for the Court to grant a third party, non-parent, legal custody the third party needs to have the agreement of the parent or prove that the parent is an unsuitable custodian.
- INSTRUCTION 4 – Instructions Filing for Legal Custody
- Affidavit 3 – PARENTING PROCEEDING AFFIDAVIT
- Local Form 128 – Complaint for Legal Custody
- Form 31 – SERVICE REQUEST (For additional information on service click here)
- Local Form 127 – New Case Designation Form (Legal Custody)