Ohio Uniform Juvenile Form 7, also numbered Uniform Domestic Relations Form 28, is the Motion for Change of Child Support, Medical Support, Tax Exemption, or Other Child-Related Expenses, and it is the document a parent or caretaker files in a county Juvenile Court to ask a judge to change an existing child support order. You file it when something real has changed since the last order, like a new job, a lost job, a move, or a shift in who covers the child’s health insurance. The form is short, but the rules around it are strict, and a small slip can cost you weeks of delay or a dismissed motion.
This guide walks you through the current version of the form, which was approved under Ohio Civil Rule 84 and Ohio Juvenile Rule 46 and carries a revision date of September 21, 2020 printed at the bottom of each page. You can pull the official template from the Supreme Court of Ohio forms page. Roughly every 36 months a parent in Ohio may also ask the Child Support Enforcement Agency for a review without proving any change at all, so this motion is one of two doors to a new support number, as explained by the Lorain County legal help guide.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📄 What Form 7 does and who is allowed to file it in Juvenile Court
- 🗂️ Every document and number you must gather before you start writing
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of each box, with sample wording you can copy
- 👨👩👧 Three full filled-out examples following real parents through the form
- ⚖️ The filing steps, fees, service rules, and mistakes that get motions tossed
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form 7 is a motion, which is a formal written request asking a judge to change something. Here it asks the court to change an existing child support or child-related order. The form lets you ask to change the support amount, who pays for health insurance, how unpaid medical bills get split, who claims the child on taxes, or other child-related costs. It does not start a brand-new case; it reopens a case the court already has on file under a case number.
The Juvenile Court version is used when the child support order came out of a Juvenile Court, which is common when the parents were never married. The matching Domestic Relations version, Form 28, is used when the order came from a divorce or dissolution case. Both forms are identical in wording, and the Supreme Court of Ohio prints them as one shared template so the rules stay consistent statewide.
Who can file it? The obligor (the parent who pays support) or the obligee (the parent or caretaker who receives it) may file. A grandparent or other legal custodian who holds a support order can also file. The person filing is called the Movant throughout the form, and that label matters because the form speaks in the third person about “the Movant.”
You file this motion because Ohio law does not let a judge change support just because someone wants it. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3119.79, the court must find a change in circumstances, and the most common test is the 10% rule: if the recalculated support amount is more than ten percent higher or lower than the current order, that usually counts as a change big enough to justify a new order. The Supreme Court of Ohio confirmed this standard again in its 2025 Dauer v. Dauer decision, which restated that a change exists when the new figure is ten percent greater or lesser than the original award. If you file without a real change, the judge can deny the motion and you still owe the filing fee.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form, because two companion documents must be filed at the same time, and missing paperwork is the top reason a clerk rejects a filing at the counter. The form itself says a Request for Service (Uniform Juvenile Form 10) and an Affidavit of Basic Information, Income, and Expenses (Uniform Domestic Relations Form Affidavit 1) must both be filed with the motion.
Here is your pre-filing checklist:
- Your current support order. You need the case number and the exact terms you want changed; without it the clerk cannot match your motion to a case and it will not be docketed.
- The case number. This sits on your existing order; entering the wrong number files your motion into the wrong case or none at all.
- Full legal names and addresses of both parents. The court mails notice to the other side, so a wrong address means service fails and your hearing gets pushed.
- The child’s full name and birth date. The motion concerns a specific minor, and leaving this out makes the motion vague and open to challenge.
- Your three most recent years of tax returns, W-2s, and 1099s. The child support calculation pulls from verified income, and missing records let the court impute income against you.
- Recent pay stubs, including year-to-date totals. These prove your current income for the Affidavit 1; without them the court may use old numbers.
- Proof of health insurance premiums for the child. If you want to change who insures the child, you must show the cost; no proof means no change on that line.
- Childcare and uninsured medical cost records. These support requests to shift those expenses, and undocumented claims get ignored.
- The filing fee, in the amount your county charges. Fees vary, so confirm the number before you go; arriving short means you leave without filing.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official, fill-in version lives on the Supreme Court of Ohio standardized forms page under “Change in Child Support, Medical Support, Tax Exemption, or Other Child-Related Expenses.” Download the PDF labeled DR Form 28 / Juvenile Form 7, because that single PDF serves both court divisions. The page also notes that Microsoft Word versions are available to courts and legal aid organizations on request.
Many counties post their own copy of the same form pre-stamped with their court name. Holmes County, for example, hosts the motion for change of support already labeled for its juvenile division. Using a county copy can save a step because the caption is partly filled for you, but always confirm the revision date matches the September 21, 2020 version so you are not using a retired form.
You can complete the PDF on a computer by typing into the fields, then printing it, or you can print it blank and write by hand in black ink. The Lorain County guide reminds filers to print forms single-sided because courts often reject double-sided pages. If you do not own a printer, public libraries let you print for about ten cents a page.
A key rule: the Supreme Court provides the template, but you do not file it with the Supreme Court. You file it with the Clerk of Courts in the county Juvenile Court that issued your order. The form warns it is not a substitute for legal advice and recommends you consult an attorney, which matters most when income is hard to document or custody is also in dispute.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Uniform Juvenile Form 7 Line by Line
The form is two pages. Page one is the case caption that identifies the court, the child, and both parents. Page two is the body of the motion plus the signature block. Work top to bottom and do not skip the companion forms.
Court of Common Pleas, Division, and County
What it asks in plain English. The top lines ask which court will hear your motion: the Court of Common Pleas, the division, and the county.
How to answer it. Write JUVENILE on the division line and your county name on the county line, in capital letters to match the printed style. The Court of Common Pleas line is already printed, so you only fill the division and county.
A specific example answer. Maria Lopez files in Franklin County, so she writes JUVENILE on the division line and FRANKLIN on the county line.
A nuance or edge case. If your original order came from a Domestic Relations divorce case, you should be using Form 28 with DOMESTIC RELATIONS on the division line instead; the wording is the same, but the division must match the court that holds your case.
A common mistake and its consequence. Filers sometimes write the county where they now live instead of the county that issued the order, which sends the motion to a court with no power over the case and forces a refile.
A misconception about this field. Many believe any nearby juvenile court can hear the motion, but only the court that issued the order, or the juvenile court in the same county as the issuing agency, has authority under the venue rules.
In the Matter Of (Child’s Name) and Case Number
What it asks in plain English. This block asks for the minor child’s name and the existing case number.
How to answer it. Print the child’s full legal name on the “In the Matter of” line and copy the case number from your current order into the Case No. box exactly as it appears.
A specific example answer. For her son, Maria writes Diego Lopez on the matter line and DR-2019-1234 in the Case No. box, copied letter for letter from her order.
A nuance or edge case. If the order covers more than one child, list every child by name; the form refers to “child(ren)” so it expects all minors under the order.
A common mistake and its consequence. Transposing digits in the case number is the single most frequent counter error, and it can file your motion into a stranger’s case or leave it unmatched and undocketed.
A misconception about this field. People think the case number is optional for a “new” request, but this is not a new case; without the original number the clerk cannot reopen your matter.
Plaintiff/Petitioner 1 (First Party Name and Address)
What it asks in plain English. This block identifies the first party in the case and their mailing address.
How to answer it. Enter the first party’s full legal name, street address, and city, state, and ZIP exactly as the case was originally captioned, even if you are the second party.
A specific example answer. The case was opened by the mother, so Maria writes Maria Lopez, 742 Bryden Road, and Columbus, OH 43205 in this block.
A nuance or edge case. Keep the original caption order from your existing order; do not flip the parties just because you are now the one filing the motion.
A common mistake and its consequence. Using an old address triggers failed service and a wasted hearing date, so update the clerk in writing if your address has changed, as the form’s warning instructs.
A misconception about this field. Filers assume the Movant always goes in the top block, but the top block is whoever was Plaintiff or Petitioner 1 in the original case, not whoever files today.
Defendant/Petitioner 2/Respondent (Second Party Name and Address)
What it asks in plain English. This block identifies the other parent and their current mailing address.
How to answer it. Write the other party’s full legal name and current street address, city, state, and ZIP so the court can mail them notice of your motion.
A specific example answer. Maria lists the father as Daniel Reyes, 88 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, OH 43206.
A nuance or edge case. If the other parent is incarcerated, include the institution name and inmate number, as the Hamilton County instructions require for service.
A common mistake and its consequence. Listing an old or guessed address means service fails, and the court cannot rule on a motion the other side never received.
A misconception about this field. Some think the court already has the other parent’s current address on file, but you are responsible for providing a valid one each time you file.
Movant Name (the “Now Comes” Line)
What it asks in plain English. This line asks who is bringing the motion; the blank in “Now comes ____ (name), the Movant” is for your name.
How to answer it. Print your own full legal name in the blank, because you are the Movant asking for the change.
A specific example answer. Maria writes Maria Lopez in the blank so it reads “Now comes Maria Lopez, the Movant.”
A nuance or edge case. If an attorney files for you, the attorney still writes the client’s name here, not the attorney’s name; the Movant is the party, not the lawyer.
A common mistake and its consequence. Leaving this blank makes the motion read as if no one is asking for anything, and a judge can deny a motion with no identified Movant.
A misconception about this field. People think this should be the child’s name because the case is “about” the child, but the Movant is the adult requesting the change.
What You Want Changed (First Checkbox Group)
What it asks in plain English. This group asks what part of the order you want changed, with five checkboxes to pick from.
How to answer it. Check all that apply: the amount of child support or cash medical support, the person responsible for providing health insurance, the division of non-insured health care expenses, the person who can claim the child(ren) as dependents for tax purposes, or other child-related expenses.
A specific example answer. Maria checks the first box for the support amount and the fourth box for the tax dependency claim, since she wants both changed.
A nuance or edge case. If you check “other child-related expenses,” be ready to name the expense later in the motion, such as private school tuition or daycare.
A common mistake and its consequence. Checking nothing leaves the court guessing what you want, and a motion that requests no specific change can be dismissed as defective.
A misconception about this field. Filers assume checking one box opens the whole order to review, but the court generally addresses only what you check and explain.
Since the Court Issued the Existing Order, Circumstances Have Changed As Follows
What it asks in plain English. This is a write-in section asking what changed since the last order.
How to answer it. State the change in plain, specific facts: what changed, when, and by how much, focusing on income or insurance shifts that drive the 10% rule.
A specific example answer. Maria writes: Since the order, the father’s income rose from $38,000 to $61,000 per year, which raises the guideline support by more than 10%.
A nuance or edge case. A child aging out, a job loss, incarceration, or insurance becoming available or unavailable are all recognized changes per the Cathy Cook Law overview.
A common mistake and its consequence. Writing something vague like “things are different now” gives the judge nothing to measure against the ten percent threshold, and the motion can fail.
A misconception about this field. Many believe they must prove the child’s needs grew, but the Lorain County guide notes proving changed needs is not required; a 10% calculation change is enough.
Movant Requests That the Court Change the Existing Order As Follows
What it asks in plain English. This write-in section asks exactly what new order you want.
How to answer it. State the specific result you seek, such as a new monthly amount, who should insure the child, or who should claim the tax exemption.
A specific example answer. Maria writes: Recalculate support under the current guidelines and award the federal tax dependency exemption for Diego to the Movant in even-numbered years.
A nuance or edge case. You do not need to name an exact dollar figure, because the court runs the guideline worksheet, but you should state the direction and basis of the change.
A common mistake and its consequence. Asking for relief you did not check above creates a mismatch, and the court may only grant what is both checked and explained.
A misconception about this field. Filers think the court will figure out the best outcome for them, but the judge rules on what you actually ask for, so be clear.
Best Interest Statement and Second Checkbox Group (Fees and Costs)
What it asks in plain English. The form states the change is in the child’s best interest, then offers two checkboxes asking the court to assess attorney fees and court costs.
How to answer it. Leave the best-interest sentence as printed, then check Assessing reasonable attorney fees or Assessing Court costs of the proceedings only if you want the other party ordered to pay them.
A specific example answer. Maria checks Assessing Court costs of the proceedings but leaves the attorney-fee box blank because she is self-represented and has no attorney bill.
A nuance or edge case. A self-represented filer usually skips the attorney-fee box, since there are no attorney fees to recover.
A common mistake and its consequence. Checking attorney fees when you have no lawyer can confuse the court and earns nothing, since there is no fee to assess.
A misconception about this field. People assume the losing side always pays costs, but the court decides fees and costs at its discretion, so checking the box is only a request.
Signature Block
What it asks in plain English. The bottom of page two asks for your signature and contact details.
How to answer it. Sign on the Attorney or Self Represented Party Signature line, then print your name, address, city, state, ZIP, phone, fax if any, and e-mail; enter your Supreme Court Reg. No. only if you are a licensed attorney.
A specific example answer. Maria signs, prints Maria Lopez, lists her address and (614) 555-0142 and mlopez@email.com, and leaves the Reg. No. line blank.
A nuance or edge case. A non-lawyer always leaves the Supreme Court Reg. No. line blank, because that number is only for licensed attorneys.
A common mistake and its consequence. Filing without a signature voids the motion, because an unsigned filing is not a valid request and the clerk can reject it.
A misconception about this field. Some think every signature needs a notary, but this motion is signed, not sworn; the Affidavit 1 is the document that usually requires notarization.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common fact patterns. Each follows one filer through the most important parts of the form so you can see what real entries look like.
Scenario 1: Maria asks for an increase after the other parent’s raise. Maria Lopez receives support for her son Diego and learns the father’s pay jumped from $38,000 to $61,000.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Division and County | JUVENILE and FRANKLIN |
| In the Matter of | Diego Lopez |
| Case No. | DR-2019-1234 |
| Plaintiff/Petitioner 1 | Maria Lopez, 742 Bryden Road, Columbus, OH 43205 |
| Defendant/Respondent | Daniel Reyes, 88 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, OH 43206 |
| What you want changed | Checks amount of child support and tax dependency |
| Circumstances changed | Father’s income rose from $38,000 to $61,000, raising guideline support over 10% |
| Change requested | Recalculate support; award tax exemption to Movant in even years |
| Signature | Maria Lopez, Reg. No. left blank |
Scenario 2: Marcus asks for a decrease after a layoff. Marcus Bell pays support for his daughter and lost his factory job, cutting his income in half.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Division and County | JUVENILE and MONTGOMERY |
| In the Matter of | Olivia Bell |
| Case No. | JV-2021-0456 |
| Plaintiff/Petitioner 1 | Tanya Carter, 15 Salem Avenue, Dayton, OH 45406 |
| Defendant/Respondent | Marcus Bell, 320 Wayne Avenue, Dayton, OH 45410 |
| What you want changed | Checks amount of child support |
| Circumstances changed | Movant was laid off on 02/10/2026; income dropped from $52,000 to $24,000, lowering guideline support over 10% |
| Change requested | Recalculate support under current income and lower the monthly obligation |
| Other relief | Checks Assessing Court costs |
| Signature | Marcus Bell, Reg. No. left blank |
Scenario 3: Janet, a grandmother and legal custodian, shifts insurance and tax claims. Janet Powell has custody of her grandson and now provides his health insurance through her employer.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Division and County | JUVENILE and CUYAHOGA |
| In the Matter of | Ethan Powell |
| Case No. | JV-2018-7788 |
| Plaintiff/Petitioner 1 | Janet Powell, 1200 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114 |
| Defendant/Respondent | Brian Powell, 60 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113 |
| What you want changed | Checks person responsible for health insurance and tax dependency |
| Circumstances changed | Movant now insures Ethan through her employer at $180/month; father no longer carries coverage |
| Change requested | Order father to reimburse insurance cost and grant tax exemption to Movant |
| Best interest / costs | Checks Assessing Court costs |
| Signature | Janet Powell, Reg. No. left blank |
How to File the Completed Form
You file with the Clerk of the county Juvenile Court that issued your order, and you must bring the motion plus the two companion forms together. Below are the channels most Ohio counties offer; confirm your county’s specifics before you go.
- In person at the Clerk of Courts. This is the most common channel. In Lorain County, for example, you file at the Justice Center on Court Street in Elyria, bring at least two copies for the court plus one for your records, single-sided, and pay the fee at the counter. Keep your file-stamped copy as proof of filing.
- By mail. Many clerks accept mailed filings with a check or money order for the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope so they can return a stamped copy. Call first to confirm the mailing address and accepted payment methods, because a mailed filing without the correct fee is returned unfiled.
- County e-filing portal. Some larger counties run an electronic filing portal that accepts the motion and fee by card. Availability varies, so check your county Clerk’s website; your proof of filing is the system’s electronic confirmation receipt.
Fees vary by county and division. Hamilton County Juvenile Court lists a $100.00 fee for modification of support, while Lorain County notes the cost is usually $150 in Juvenile Court as of February 2025. Accepted payment methods are usually cash, check, money order, or card, depending on the office. Processing time to set a hearing ranges from a few weeks to a couple of months, so follow up with the Clerk about ten business days after filing to confirm service is moving.
What Happens After You File
After you file, the Clerk dockets the motion and the court arranges to serve the other parent using the Request for Service you filed. Service is the legal step that notifies the other side, and nothing moves forward until it is complete, which is why the Lorain County guide tells filers to check on service after about ten business days. If service fails because of a bad address, you may need to provide a new address or request an alternate service method.
Once served, the court sets a hearing before a magistrate or judge. Both parents must exchange updated financial information, including pay stubs, tax returns, and insurance documents, so the court can run the guideline worksheet. Then a magistrate recalculates support under R.C. 3119.79 and checks whether the new number clears the ten percent threshold.
If the court agrees there is a change, it issues a new order of support reflecting your updated figures, and the new amount generally takes effect from the date you filed, which is one reason filing promptly matters. If the court finds no qualifying change, it denies the motion and the current order stays in place. Either way, you should attend every hearing the court schedules, because missing a hearing can lead to dismissal of your motion.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Filing without Affidavit 1. The income affidavit is mandatory, and the clerk can reject your packet if it is missing.
- Skipping the Request for Service form. Without it the other parent is never served, and the court cannot rule.
- Using the wrong case number. A wrong number files your motion into the wrong case or none at all, forcing a refile.
- Naming the wrong court. Filing in your home county instead of the issuing county sends the motion to a court with no authority.
- Leaving the “circumstances changed” box vague. A vague entry gives the judge nothing to measure against the ten percent rule.
- Checking no boxes for what you want changed. A motion that requests nothing specific can be dismissed as defective.
- Listing an outdated address for the other parent. Bad addresses cause failed service and wasted hearing dates.
- Forgetting to sign. An unsigned motion is not valid and can be rejected at the counter.
- Filing double-sided pages. Many clerks reject double-sided filings, so print single-sided.
- Arriving without the correct fee. A short or missing fee means the clerk will not accept the filing.
- Assuming you proved a change just by wanting one. Without a 10% calculation shift or other recognized change, the motion can be denied.
- Not keeping a file-stamped copy. Without proof of filing, you may struggle to show when your effective date began.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do confirm the form’s September 21, 2020 revision date so you are using the current version the court accepts.
- Do file all three documents together because the motion, Affidavit 1, and Request for Service are a package.
- Do state your change in specific numbers so the court can apply the ten percent test.
- Do update the Clerk if your address changes, since the form’s warning makes this your duty.
- Do keep copies of everything, because your file-stamped copy proves your filing date.
- Do check your county’s fee and rules before you go, as both vary by county.
Don’t:
- Don’t file in the wrong county, because only the issuing court has authority.
- Don’t guess the other parent’s address, since a bad address kills service.
- Don’t leave the Movant line blank, or the motion reads as if no one is asking.
- Don’t fill in the Supreme Court Reg. No. line unless you are a licensed attorney.
- Don’t skip the hearing, because missing it can get your motion dismissed.
- Don’t expect the form alone to change support; a judge must order it after review.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
| Filing on Your Own (Pro Se) | Filing With an Attorney or CSEA Help |
|---|---|
| Saves money, because you avoid attorney fees beyond the court filing fee | Costs more, but a lawyer handles the worksheet and hearing strategy |
| You control the timing and file the moment your circumstances change | Some delay while you retain counsel, but filings are usually cleaner |
| The standardized form is plain-language and built for self-filers | An attorney spots issues like imputed income before they hurt you |
| You learn your own case and stay close to every detail | You offload stress, which helps emotionally charged custody disputes |
| Good fit for a clear-cut change like a documented raise or layoff | Better fit when income is hard to document or custody is also disputed |
| Risk of small errors that delay or sink the motion | Lower error risk, since professionals know local rules and service steps |
FAQs
Do I file Ohio Juvenile Form 7 with the Supreme Court of Ohio?
No. The Supreme Court only provides the template. You file the completed motion with the Clerk of the county Juvenile Court that issued your existing child support order.
Is Uniform Juvenile Form 7 the same as Domestic Relations Form 28?
Yes. They are the identical motion printed as one shared template; you use the Juvenile label for orders from Juvenile Court and the Domestic Relations label for divorce-based orders.
Do I have to prove my child’s needs grew to change support?
No. Ohio law does not require proving changed needs; a recalculated amount that differs by more than ten percent from the current order usually qualifies under R.C. 3119.79.
Do I write JUVENILE or my county name on the division line?
No county name there. The division line takes the word JUVENILE, while your county name goes on the separate county line just below it.
Do I put my own name on the “Now comes ____ (name)” line?
Yes. That blank is for the Movant, which is you, the person asking for the change, even if an attorney files the motion on your behalf.
Do I check the attorney-fee box if I represent myself?
No. Leave the Assessing reasonable attorney fees box blank when self-represented, because you have no attorney fees for the court to assess.
Do I need to file other forms with this motion?
Yes. You must file a Request for Service (Juvenile Form 10) and an Affidavit of Basic Information, Income, and Expenses (Affidavit 1) along with the motion.
Do I need a notary to sign Form 7 itself?
No. The motion is signed, not sworn, so it needs no notary; the companion Affidavit 1 is the document that usually requires notarization.
Do I have to list a specific dollar amount I want?
No. You state the direction and basis of the change, and the court runs the guideline worksheet to set the exact number.
Does it cost money to file this motion?
Yes. Counties charge a filing fee, commonly around $100 to $150 for a support modification, so confirm your county’s amount before filing.
Do I list both parents even if only one filed the original case?
Yes. Keep the original caption order, listing the first party on top and the other parent below, with current addresses for service.
Does my new support amount start from the hearing or the filing date?
No, usually not from the hearing. A new order generally takes effect from the date you filed the motion, which is why filing promptly protects you.
Can a grandparent or legal custodian file this motion?
Yes. Any party who holds the support order, including a grandparent or other legal custodian, may file as the Movant to request a change.
Do I file in the county where I live now if I moved?
No. File in the county Juvenile Court that issued your order, not your new home county, unless the case is properly transferred.
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