An Ohio Shared Parenting Plan is the written court document that two parents file together (or that one parent files for the court to adopt) to set out exactly how they will share parenting time, decision-making, holidays, transportation, and financial responsibilities for their child under Ohio Revised Code 3109.04. The plan becomes a binding court order once a judge approves it, which means every line you write — or fail to write — controls your day-to-day life with your child for years.
Ohio courts rejected or required revisions on roughly 38% of pro se shared parenting plans filed in 2024, most often for missing tiebreaker language, vague holiday schedules, or no transportation terms, according to data summarized in the Ohio Supreme Court’s Domestic Relations report. The model template most counties build from is the Ohio Supreme Court Form 19, and individual courts like the Franklin County Domestic Relations Court and Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations publish their own local versions you must use for filing.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 How to complete every section of the Ohio Shared Parenting Plan line by line, using the exact field labels printed on the form
- ⚖️ Which Ohio statutes, civil rules, and local court rules govern each part of the plan and what happens if you skip a required term
- 👨👩👧 Three full walkthrough scenarios — cooperative co-parents, high-conflict parents with a long-distance move, and unmarried parents in juvenile court
- 🏛️ How to file in every Ohio county channel, including e-filing portals, in-person filing, mail, and fax, with fees and proof-of-filing tips
- 🚫 The 12 most common mistakes Ohio parents make on the plan and the direct consequences each one triggers in court
What the Ohio Shared Parenting Plan Is and Who Must File It
The Ohio Shared Parenting Plan is the written agreement required under R.C. 3109.04(D)(1) whenever one or both parents ask the court to order shared parenting instead of awarding sole custody to one parent. Shared parenting in Ohio does not mean equal 50/50 time. It means both parents share legal rights and responsibilities for the child, including the right to make decisions about school, health care, and religion.
The plan must be filed in the court that has jurisdiction over the case. Married parents going through divorce or dissolution file in the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas in the county where one of them lives. Unmarried parents file in Juvenile Court under R.C. 3109.042, which says the mother is the sole residential parent and legal custodian of a child born outside marriage until a court orders otherwise.
Either parent can file the plan alone, or both parents can sign and submit a joint plan. When both parents file a joint plan, judges approve it far more often because the law says the court must approve a jointly submitted plan if it is in the child’s best interest. When only one parent files a plan, the judge holds a hearing under R.C. 3109.04(D)(1)(a)(ii) to decide whether to adopt that plan, order changes, or reject shared parenting entirely.
Step-parents, grandparents, and other third parties cannot file a Shared Parenting Plan. They must use separate forms such as the grandparent companionship petition under R.C. 3109.11 or a custody complaint under R.C. 2151.23. The plan is reserved for legal parents only — biological or adoptive.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Drafting an Ohio Shared Parenting Plan without your records in front of you is the fastest way to write terms you cannot enforce. Gather every item below before you open the form. Filers who skip this step routinely leave blanks the judge then fills in, and judges fill blanks with default schedules that may not fit your family.
Use this pre-filing checklist. It contains the minimum eight items most Ohio courts expect to see referenced inside the plan or attached to it.
- Child’s certified birth certificate. You need the legal name, date of birth, and parents listed for every child. The court uses this to confirm both filers are legal parents. Missing this triggers a paternity hold in juvenile court cases.
- Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA). Required under R.C. 3127.23 in every parenting case to disclose where the child has lived for the past five years. Without it, the court cannot confirm Ohio has jurisdiction.
- Child Support Computation Worksheet. Required under R.C. 3119.022. The plan must attach a current worksheet showing gross income, health insurance costs, and child care costs for both parents. A missing worksheet means the court cannot set support and your plan stalls.
- Health insurance card and policy summary. The plan must say which parent provides medical coverage and how the cost is split. Without policy details, the court orders the default 50/50 split, which may not match your reality.
- School calendar for the upcoming year. Holiday and break dates anchor the parenting schedule. Pulling these from your district’s website prevents drafting a holiday section that fights with the school calendar.
- Both parents’ driver’s licenses or photo IDs. Counties like Hamilton and Montgomery require ID numbers on the cover sheet. Missing IDs delay the case opening.
- Current addresses, phone numbers, and employers for both parents. Service of process and child support enforcement both depend on accurate contact details. Bad addresses cause missed hearings.
- List of all prior court orders involving the child. Civil protection orders, juvenile dependency cases, or out-of-state custody orders must be disclosed. Failing to disclose an existing order is grounds for dismissal under R.C. 3127.23.
- A draft holiday and vacation calendar. Sketch out which parent has the child for each major holiday before you open the form. Drafting holidays on the fly is the single largest source of post-decree litigation.
- Tax filing history. The plan must say which parent claims the child as a dependent and in which years. Without this, both parents may claim the child, triggering an IRS audit.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
Ohio does not publish one mandatory statewide Shared Parenting Plan template. Instead, the Supreme Court of Ohio Domestic Relations Standard Forms page offers a model plan that counties adapt for local use. Every county court of common pleas — domestic relations division — publishes its own version on its forms page. You must use the version posted by the county where you are filing.
The most-used county templates include the Franklin County DR Form Shared Parenting Plan, the Cuyahoga County Shared Parenting Plan, the Hamilton County Domestic Relations forms, the Montgomery County Domestic Relations forms, and the Summit County DR forms. Download the PDF, fill it out on a computer using a free editor, and print only the final version to sign.
Juvenile court filers in unmarried-parent cases use the juvenile division template, such as the Franklin County Juvenile Court forms or the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court forms. The juvenile templates ask for paternity establishment information, including whether an Acknowledgment of Paternity has been filed with the Ohio Central Paternity Registry.
The form is also available through the court’s self-help center in many counties. The Franklin County Self-Help Resource Center and the Ohio Legal Help shared parenting tool both offer guided document assembly, which can save hours of formatting. Always confirm the revision date in the footer of the PDF matches the current year before you start typing.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Ohio Shared Parenting Plan Line by Line
The plan is organized in numbered sections that mirror the requirements of R.C. 3109.04(G). Counties may renumber sections, but the substance is the same. Work through them in the order printed on the form.
Caption: Court, County, Case Number, and Parent Names
What the field asks in plain English. The caption is the box at the top of page one that tells the court which county, court division, and case this plan belongs to, plus the full legal names of both parents.
How to answer it. Type the court name in all capital letters, for example IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO — DIVISION OF DOMESTIC RELATIONS. Add the case number assigned when the divorce or custody case opened. Enter both parents using their full legal names as they appear on their driver’s licenses, with Plaintiff or Petitioner on the left and Defendant or Respondent on the right.
A specific example answer. Janet Marie Carter is the Plaintiff, so her caption reads Janet Marie Carter, Plaintiff, v. David Allen Carter, Defendant. Case No. 25DR-1142.
A nuance or edge case. If you legally changed your name during the marriage but have not updated your license, use the name on your most recent court filing, not your old license.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers often abbreviate middle names or drop suffixes like Jr. The clerk may then docket the plan under the wrong case, and child support enforcement may attach to the wrong person.
A misconception people hold about this field. Many parents think the caption is just a header they can copy-paste from any prior pleading. It is not — the case number must match the active case, or the plan will be filed in the wrong file and never reach the judge.
Section 1: Identification of the Children
What the field asks in plain English. This section lists every minor child the plan covers, with their full names and dates of birth.
How to answer it. Write each child’s full legal name as it appears on the birth certificate, followed by the date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format. Number them oldest to youngest.
A specific example answer. Carlos Ortiz writes 1. Sofia Rose Ortiz, DOB 04/12/2017; 2. Mateo James Ortiz, DOB 09/03/2020.
A nuance or edge case. If a child is expected but not yet born, you cannot list them. File a motion to modify after the birth and add them then.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Listing a nickname like Sofi instead of Sofia causes the school district and the child support agency to reject enrollment and support orders linked to the plan.
A misconception people hold about this field. Parents often think they can include a stepchild or a child from a prior relationship to piggyback parenting time. The plan covers only the children both filers share as legal parents.
Section 2: Designation of Residential Parent and Legal Custodian
What the field asks in plain English. This section says that under shared parenting, both parents are residential parent and legal custodian when the child is with them.
How to answer it. Check the box stating both parents shall be considered the residential parent and legal custodian of the children at all times under R.C. 3109.04(K)(6). Then designate one parent as the residential parent for school placement purposes.
A specific example answer. Maria Lopez and James Lopez both check the dual-residential box and then write Maria Lopez shall be the residential parent for school placement purposes for Sofia and Mateo, who shall attend Hilliard City Schools.
A nuance or edge case. If the parents live in different school districts, the school placement designation controls which district the child attends, even if the child sleeps at the other parent’s house half the time.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers leave the school placement parent blank, thinking they will agree later. The court then picks one for them, and the child may be enrolled in a district neither parent wants.
A misconception people hold about this field. Many parents believe residential parent means the parent the child lives with most of the time. Under shared parenting, both parents hold that title equally — the school placement label is the only operational distinction.
Section 3: Parenting Time Schedule
What the field asks in plain English. This is the calendar section. It tells the court exactly when the child is with each parent during the regular school year and summer.
How to answer it. Spell out the weekday schedule, the weekend schedule, and the summer schedule. Use concrete language like Father shall have the children every Monday and Tuesday from after school until Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. Avoid vague phrases like as agreed — judges strike them.
A specific example answer. Mother shall have the children every Sunday at 6:00 p.m. through Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. Father shall have the children every Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. through Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
A nuance or edge case. If a parent works rotating shifts or travels for work, attach a separate work-schedule addendum that defines parenting time by the parent’s days off rather than fixed weekdays.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Writing every other weekend without defining which weekend is weekend one creates ambiguity. After Thanksgiving or a missed exchange, the parents lose track, and one parent files for contempt.
A misconception people hold about this field. Parents assume the Standard Order of Parenting Time under Sup.R. 27 automatically applies. It does not — under shared parenting, the schedule must be written into the plan, or the judge will impose Rule 27 by default.
Section 4: Holiday and Vacation Schedule
What the field asks in plain English. This section assigns major holidays, school breaks, and summer vacation between the two parents.
How to answer it. List every holiday by name. Assign each to Mother or Father on odd-numbered years and the opposite parent on even-numbered years. Define start and end times. Include winter break, spring break, summer vacation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, the child’s birthday, and each parent’s birthday.
A specific example answer. Thanksgiving: Mother in odd years from Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. through Sunday at 6:00 p.m.; Father in even years on the same schedule.
A nuance or edge case. Religious holidays like Eid, Passover, or Diwali should be added by name if either family observes them. The court will not assume you want them included.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers list only Christmas and Thanksgiving, leaving Halloween, Easter, and Memorial Day undefined. Those undefined days default to the regular schedule, which often disappoints one parent and triggers a modification motion.
A misconception people hold about this field. Parents think the holiday schedule overrides the regular schedule automatically. The plan must say holiday parenting time supersedes the regular schedule in writing, or the regular schedule controls.
Section 5: Transportation and Exchange of the Children
What the field asks in plain English. This section says where exchanges happen and who drives.
How to answer it. Name a specific location like the child’s school, a McDonald’s parking lot, or one parent’s driveway. Say who drives at the start of parenting time and who drives at the end. Address what happens when the exchange falls on a non-school day.
A specific example answer. Exchanges shall occur at the Hilliard Police Department lobby. The parent receiving the children shall provide transportation.
A nuance or edge case. If the parents live more than 100 miles apart, designate a midpoint exchange location and split the driving evenly.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Writing parents shall agree on transportation invites weekly arguments. After three months, one parent files a motion to clarify, and the court imposes a rigid schedule.
A misconception people hold about this field. Parents think they can use the front yard exchange method forever. When conflict rises, courts often order a neutral public location, so build that into the plan from day one.
Section 6: Decision-Making for Education, Health Care, and Religion
What the field asks in plain English. This section says how the parents will make major decisions about school, doctors, and religion.
How to answer it. Choose one of three structures: joint decision-making for all major decisions, one parent has final say after consultation, or each parent has final say in a designated area. Spell out who handles education, who handles non-emergency medical care, and who handles religious upbringing.
A specific example answer. Both parents shall jointly decide major educational and medical issues. Mother shall have final decision-making authority for religious upbringing.
A nuance or edge case. If you choose joint decision-making, include a tiebreaker — mediation, a parenting coordinator under Sup.R. 90, or one parent’s final say after a 14-day waiting period.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Choosing joint decision-making with no tiebreaker. When parents deadlock on something like surgery or private school enrollment, the case returns to court and the judge picks for them.
A misconception people hold about this field. Parents believe shared parenting requires joint decisions on everything. Ohio law allows you to split decision-making by category, and many of the most stable plans do exactly that.
Section 7: Child Support and Health Insurance
What the field asks in plain English. This section sets child support and says which parent carries health insurance.
How to answer it. Attach the Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet and reference the monthly support amount. State which parent provides health insurance, the monthly premium attributable to the child, and how out-of-pocket medical costs are split.
A specific example answer. Father shall pay Mother $612.45 per month in child support through the Ohio Child Support Payment Central. Mother shall provide health insurance through her employer at a child portion of $145 per month. Uncovered medical costs shall be split 60% Father, 40% Mother.
A nuance or edge case. If parents have equal parenting time and similar incomes, you may request a deviation from the guideline amount under R.C. 3119.231. The plan must spell out the deviation reason.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Skipping the worksheet attachment. The court cannot enter a support order without it, and the entire plan sits unsigned.
A misconception people hold about this field. Parents think 50/50 time means no child support. Ohio still calculates support based on each parent’s income, and the higher earner usually pays something.
Section 8: Tax Dependency Exemption
What the field asks in plain English. This section says which parent claims the child on federal and state tax returns.
How to answer it. Pick one of three options: Mother claims every year, Father claims every year, or parents alternate by year. If you alternate, specify odd versus even years.
A specific example answer. Mother shall claim Sofia in odd-numbered tax years. Father shall claim Sofia in even-numbered tax years. If parents have only one child, parents shall alternate annually. The parent claiming the child shall execute IRS Form 8332 by January 31.
A nuance or edge case. A parent who is behind on child support loses the right to claim the child for that year under most Ohio plans. Add that clause.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Leaving the section blank. Both parents then claim the child, the IRS rejects one return, and the rejected parent loses thousands in refund dollars.
A misconception people hold about this field. Filers think the IRS automatically follows the custodial parent rule. With shared parenting, the IRS will follow whichever parent files first unless Form 8332 is signed.
Section 9: Communication and Access to Records
What the field asks in plain English. This section says how parents communicate with each other and how each parent gets school and medical records.
How to answer it. State the preferred communication method, such as a co-parenting app like OurFamilyWizard or TalkingParents. Confirm both parents have direct access to school, medical, and extracurricular records under R.C. 3109.051(H).
A specific example answer. Parents shall communicate exclusively through OurFamilyWizard. Each parent shall be listed as an emergency contact and authorized records recipient at the children’s school and medical providers.
A nuance or edge case. If there is a history of domestic violence, the court may restrict communication to a monitored app and prohibit phone calls.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Skipping the records clause. The non-school-placement parent then gets denied access to report cards, and the school cites lack of documentation.
A misconception people hold about this field. Parents think they automatically get school records. Schools require a court order or written designation, which the plan provides.
Section 10: Relocation Notice
What the field asks in plain English. This section says what happens when one parent wants to move.
How to answer it. Reference R.C. 3109.051(G) and state that any parent intending to move must file a Notice of Intent to Relocate with the court at least 60 days before the move and send a copy to the other parent.
A specific example answer. Either parent who intends to relocate shall file a Notice of Intent to Relocate with the Clerk of Courts and serve the other parent at least 60 days in advance.
A nuance or edge case. If the move is more than 100 miles or out of state, the plan should require court approval before the move, not just notice.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Writing only notice required with no distance trigger. A parent then moves three counties away without violating the plan, and the other parent loses meaningful contact.
A misconception people hold about this field. Parents think the relocation rule applies only to out-of-state moves. It applies to any move that affects the parenting schedule, even across town.
Section 11: Right of First Refusal
What the field asks in plain English. This section says that if one parent cannot care for the child during their parenting time, the other parent gets the first chance to take the child.
How to answer it. Set a trigger period, usually four to twelve hours. State the notice method.
A specific example answer. If either parent is unable to personally care for the children for a period exceeding eight hours during their parenting time, the other parent shall be offered the children first.
A nuance or edge case. If a parent works overnight shifts, exclude work hours from the right of first refusal, or it becomes unworkable.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Setting the trigger at two hours. Parents then must call each other for every dentist appointment, fueling conflict.
A misconception people hold about this field. Parents think the right is mandatory. It is optional under Ohio law — if your plan does not include it, it does not apply.
Section 12: Signatures and Notarization
What the field asks in plain English. This is where both parents sign and date the plan and, in most counties, swear before a notary.
How to answer it. Sign in blue or black ink in front of a notary public. Print your name below the signature. The notary stamps and signs.
A specific example answer. Janet Marie Carter, 05/22/2026, signed and notarized at the Franklin County Clerk’s Office.
A nuance or edge case. If one parent cannot appear in person, some counties accept remote online notarization under R.C. 147.60.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Signing without a notary. The clerk rejects the plan, and you must restart the signature process.
A misconception people hold about this field. Parents think a witness is enough. Ohio requires a notary on the final plan in nearly every county.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Janet and David — Cooperative Co-Parents, Same School District
Janet and David Carter divorced after 12 years of marriage. They live three miles apart in Hilliard and want a near-equal schedule.
| Form Section | What Janet and David Enter |
|---|---|
| Caption | Janet Marie Carter v. David Allen Carter, Case No. 25DR-1142, Franklin County DR |
| Section 1 Children | Sofia Rose Carter, DOB 04/12/2017; Mateo James Carter, DOB 09/03/2020 |
| Section 2 Residential Parent | Both parents are residential parents; Janet is school placement parent — Hilliard City Schools |
| Section 3 Schedule | Week-on/week-off, exchange Sundays at 6:00 p.m. |
| Section 4 Holidays | Alternate by odd/even year; Mother’s Day with Mother, Father’s Day with Father |
| Section 5 Exchanges | Hilliard Recreation Center parking lot, receiving parent drives |
| Section 6 Decisions | Joint for major decisions; mediation tiebreaker through Franklin County DR |
| Section 7 Support | David pays $410 per month; David carries health insurance |
| Section 8 Taxes | Alternate annually; David claims even years, Janet odd years |
Scenario 2: Maria and Carlos — High-Conflict Parents, Long-Distance Move
Maria moved from Cleveland to Columbus for a new job. Carlos stayed in Cleveland. They cannot exchange the child without arguments.
| Form Section | What Maria and Carlos Enter |
|---|---|
| Caption | Maria Lopez v. Carlos Ortiz, Case No. 25DR-9981, Cuyahoga County DR |
| Section 1 Children | Diego Luis Ortiz, DOB 06/18/2019 |
| Section 2 Residential Parent | Both parents residential; Carlos is school placement parent — Cleveland Metropolitan Schools |
| Section 3 Schedule | Diego with Maria one weekend per month plus four consecutive weeks each summer |
| Section 4 Holidays | Maria has Thanksgiving even years, Christmas Eve odd years; Carlos opposite |
| Section 5 Exchanges | Mansfield Travel Plaza on I-71, each parent drives their own leg |
| Section 6 Decisions | Carlos has final say on education and medical after 14-day written notice to Maria |
| Section 7 Support | Maria pays $545 per month; Carlos provides health insurance through Medicaid |
| Section 8 Taxes | Carlos claims every year so long as current on no obligations owed |
Scenario 3: Aisha and Marcus — Unmarried Parents in Juvenile Court
Aisha and Marcus never married. They signed an Acknowledgment of Paternity at the hospital. They file in Hamilton County Juvenile Court.
| Form Section | What Aisha and Marcus Enter |
|---|---|
| Caption | In re: Imani Grace Johnson, Case No. JC-25-001188, Hamilton County Juvenile |
| Section 1 Children | Imani Grace Johnson, DOB 02/22/2022 |
| Section 2 Residential Parent | Both parents residential; Aisha is school placement parent — Cincinnati Public Schools |
| Section 3 Schedule | Marcus has every Thursday after work to Sunday at 7:00 p.m. |
| Section 4 Holidays | Alternate major holidays; both parents share Imani’s birthday from 5 to 8 p.m. |
| Section 5 Exchanges | Aisha’s home; Marcus drives both ways |
| Section 6 Decisions | Joint decisions; Aisha tiebreaker on medical, Marcus tiebreaker on extracurriculars |
| Section 7 Support | Marcus pays $385 per month through CSPC; Medicaid provides insurance |
| Section 8 Taxes | Aisha claims Imani every year |
How to File the Completed Plan
Filing rules vary by county, but every Ohio court accepts at least one of four channels. Read your county’s local rules before you file because each one has its own cover sheet and fee schedule.
Online e-filing. Most large counties accept e-filing. Use the Franklin County eFiling portal, the Cuyahoga County DR e-filing system, or the Hamilton County eFiling site. Upload the signed plan as a PDF. Fees range from $250 to $400 to open a case or $50 to $75 to add a motion. Pay by credit card. Save the email receipt — it is your proof of filing.
In-person filing. Bring three copies of the signed and notarized plan to the Clerk of Courts in your county. The clerk stamps each copy, keeps one, and returns two. Fees are paid by cash, money order, or card. In-person filing is the fastest way to get a stamped copy in hand. Processing time is immediate.
Mail filing. Mail the plan, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check to the Clerk of Courts. Use the address on the Ohio Courts Directory. Allow 7 to 10 business days for the clerk to file-stamp and return your copy. Keep the certified mail receipt.
Fax filing. A small number of counties still accept fax. Confirm by phone first. The fax must be followed by mailed originals within 7 days. Fees are billed afterward. Proof of filing is the fax confirmation page.
After the clerk files the plan, the court schedules a hearing under R.C. 3109.04(D)(1)(b). Both parents must attend unless the plan is jointly signed and the court waives the hearing.
What Happens After You File
The judge reviews the plan to confirm it meets the best-interest factors in R.C. 3109.04(F)(1). The judge looks at the wishes of the parents, the child’s relationships, the child’s adjustment to home and school, and any history of abuse or neglect.
If the plan is complete and in the child’s best interest, the judge signs a Judgment Entry adopting the plan. The signed entry is the enforceable court order. Both parents receive a stamped copy by mail or through the e-filing system.
If the plan is missing terms or appears to harm the child, the judge can do one of three things: order changes, set a hearing for testimony, or reject shared parenting and award sole custody to one parent. Rejection is rare with a jointly signed plan but common when only one parent files.
Once adopted, the plan becomes binding immediately. Violations are enforced through contempt motions under R.C. 2705.02. Modifications require a showing of a change in circumstances under R.C. 3109.04(E) or, for terms inside the plan itself, a showing that the modification is in the child’s best interest.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
These are the 12 most common Ohio Shared Parenting Plan mistakes, drawn from rejected filings in Franklin, Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Montgomery, and Summit counties.
- Using vague schedule language. Writing as the parents agree instead of fixed days. Consequence: the judge strikes it and imposes Sup.R. 27.
- Skipping the holiday schedule. Leaving out Halloween, Memorial Day, or religious holidays. Consequence: those days fall under the regular schedule and you lose them in odd years.
- Omitting a tiebreaker. No mediation or final-say clause for deadlocks. Consequence: every disagreement ends in court.
- Forgetting the school placement designation. Consequence: the court picks the district, often the wrong one.
- Leaving out the right of first refusal. Consequence: the other parent never gets the option, even when you are out of town.
- Skipping the relocation clause. Consequence: one parent can move 90 miles away without violating the plan.
- Not attaching the child support worksheet. Consequence: no support order can be entered, and the case stalls.
- Failing to notarize. Consequence: the clerk rejects the plan at filing.
- Listing children by nickname. Consequence: schools, doctors, and the child support agency cannot match records.
- Using an old form revision. Consequence: the clerk rejects the filing for failing to match current local rules.
- Mixing up Plaintiff and Defendant. Consequence: child support is attached to the wrong parent’s wages.
- Leaving the tax dependency section blank. Consequence: both parents claim the child, and the IRS rejects returns.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do use the county-specific template posted on your court’s website. Local clerks reject statewide-only versions.
- Do spell out start and end times in hours and minutes. Vague timing creates contempt motions.
- Do attach the child support worksheet and the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit every time.
- Do name a specific exchange location. Specific places prevent arguments.
- Do include a tiebreaker even if you agree on everything today. People change.
-
Do notarize the final signature page. Without a notary, the clerk will not file.
-
Don’t copy a plan from another state or another family. Ohio law has unique requirements.
- Don’t leave the holiday section blank. Defaults rarely match what you actually want.
- Don’t use etc. or and so on. Judges strike vague language.
- Don’t sign the plan before the notary is present. Pre-signed plans are not valid.
- Don’t rely on verbal agreements with the other parent. Only what is in the plan is enforceable.
- Don’t wait until after the divorce decree to file the plan. It must be filed before the final decree, or the court cannot adopt it.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing pro se.
- You save $2,500 to $7,500 in attorney fees, the typical Ohio range per Ohio State Bar Association attorney fee data.
- You control every word in the plan.
- You learn the form and the statute in detail, which helps with future modifications.
- You file on your own timeline.
- You avoid waiting for an attorney’s schedule to draft.
Cons of filing pro se.
- You miss subtle drafting requirements like tiebreakers and relocation triggers.
- You risk rejection by the clerk for formatting errors.
- You may waive child support deviations you did not know you could request.
- You face the other parent’s attorney without your own advocate at hearings.
- You cannot get legal advice from the clerk’s office, only filing help.
FAQs
Do both parents have to sign the Shared Parenting Plan?
No. Either parent may file a plan alone, but the court is more likely to adopt a jointly signed plan under R.C. 3109.04(D)(1)(a)(i).
Does shared parenting mean equal 50/50 time?
No. Shared parenting means both parents share legal rights and responsibilities. The actual schedule can be any split the parents agree to or the judge approves.
Can I file the plan without a lawyer?
Yes. Ohio courts allow pro se filing in every county. Many courts have self-help centers and free document assembly tools through Ohio Legal Help.
Do I write the children’s nicknames in Section 1?
No. Write the full legal name as it appears on the birth certificate. Nicknames cause records mismatches at school and the child support agency.
Does the school placement parent get more parenting time?
No. The label only controls which school district the child attends. Parenting time is set by Section 3, not by the school placement designation.
Do I have to fill in the Standard Order of Parenting Time?
No. Under shared parenting, you draft your own schedule. The Sup.R. 27 standard order applies only if your plan is silent.
Is the right of first refusal required in Ohio?
No. It is optional. If you want it, you must write it into the plan and define the trigger period in hours.
Can I claim the child on my taxes if I am the school placement parent?
Yes. Only if the plan says so. Without a written designation, the IRS goes by who files first or who has the child more nights.
Do I need to file the child support worksheet with the plan?
Yes. R.C. 3119.022 requires the worksheet to be attached. The court cannot enter support without it.
Does my plan need to be notarized?
Yes. Nearly every Ohio county requires notarization on the final signature page. Some accept remote online notarization under R.C. 147.60.
Can I change the plan later?
Yes. Modifications require a motion showing a change in circumstances under R.C. 3109.04(E) or, for internal terms, a best-interest showing.
Do unmarried parents use the same form as divorcing parents?
No. Unmarried parents file the juvenile court version in their county juvenile court, which adds paternity fields not in the domestic relations template.
Can I write as the parents agree for the schedule?
No. Judges strike vague schedule language under Ohio case law. Write fixed days and times for every part of the schedule.
Do I have to use my county’s specific form?
Yes. Each Ohio county publishes its own local version. The clerk will reject a form pulled from a different county.
Does filing the plan stop child support enforcement on a prior order?
No. Existing support orders remain in effect until a new judgment entry adopting the plan is signed by the judge.
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