Ohio Guardianship by County: Local Forms and Fees for Major Counties

Ohio's 88 counties each run their own Probate and Juvenile courts with local rules, supplemental forms, and filing procedures that vary significantly from one county to the next. The statewide Supreme Court forms are just the starting point — your county will almost certainly require additional paperwork. Here is what four of Ohio's largest counties require beyond the standard forms.

Franklin County (Columbus)

Probate Court guardianship filing deposit is $114 for a minor guardianship application. Franklin County uses mandatory electronic filing through the eFlex portal — paper filings are not accepted for most case types.

Local supplemental forms include Form 591 (Notice of Hearing) and DR-89 (Service Instructions). These are in addition to the statewide Application for Appointment of Guardian and UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit.

Juvenile Court custody complaints are filed through the Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court, with a filing fee of approximately $140. The Juvenile Division has its own forms and procedures separate from Probate.

If you need help navigating the eFlex system, the Franklin County Probate Court has a self-service center. Court staff can show you how to use the electronic filing system, though they cannot advise you on which forms to file or how to fill them out.

Cuyahoga County (Cleveland)

Juvenile Court is the primary venue for nonparent custody complaints in Cuyahoga County. Filing deposits vary by docket type. The court requires electronic filing through its own portal.

Local supplements include a county-specific Custody Packet and Income Worksheet. The Income Worksheet is required whenever child support is part of the case.

Probate Court handles minor guardianship applications with its own set of local forms. Guardianship of the person and estate forms are available on the Cuyahoga County Probate Court website. BCI background check results must be submitted promptly after filing.

Cuyahoga County serves a large population with high case volumes. Expect longer processing times than smaller counties. Filing early and filing completely — with no missing documents — avoids delays in getting a hearing date.

Summit County (Akron)

Probate Court filing deposit for minor guardianship is approximately $280. Summit County requires a Party Information Form as a local supplement.

Summit County has detailed guardianship packets available from the Probate Court that walk applicants through the local filing process. The BCI background check requirement is strictly enforced, and the court expects BCI results on file before scheduling a hearing.

Juvenile Court for custody complaints requires its own filing packet, including a local ex parte inquiry form for emergency temporary custody motions. Summit County's Juvenile Court has a Grandparent Power of Attorney instruction packet that is among the most detailed in the state, covering certified mail service rules and the five-day filing deadline step by step.

Hamilton County (Cincinnati)

Probate Court and Juvenile Court both handle kinship-related cases in Hamilton County, with deposits varying by case type. The court has local trust and custody addenda that supplement the statewide forms.

Local filing system — Hamilton County uses its own clerk e-file system. Check with the clerk's office for current filing options and any paper-filing alternatives.

Hamilton County covers a major metropolitan area and borders Kentucky. If the child or a parent has lived across state lines recently, the UCCJEA jurisdictional analysis becomes critical — Ohio may or may not be the proper "home state" for filing purposes.

What Every County Has in Common

Regardless of which county you file in, the core requirements are consistent across Ohio:

• UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit is mandatory in every county
• BCI fingerprint background check (plus FBI if you lived outside Ohio in the past five years) is required everywhere
• Service of process on both parents must comply with Ohio Civil Rules 4.1 through 4.6
• The Affidavit of Indigency for fee waivers uses the same statewide form, though judges in different counties may apply different standards

Finding Your County's Requirements

For counties not listed above, contact your county Probate Court or Juvenile Court clerk directly. Ask for the complete filing packet for minor guardianship (Probate) or nonparent custody complaint (Juvenile). Many county courts now post packets on their websites, but printed packets from the clerk's office are often more current.

The Ohio Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide maps out county-specific filing variations across Ohio, with checklists that include local supplements so you can prepare the complete packet before your first trip to the courthouse.

See more Ohio guides →