Establish a Family Case Form Assistant

This interview will help you fill out the forms to file for establishment of a family case in the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court. 

This form for is for cases where:

  • There is no existing Court custody order for one or more children
  • The case is between two biological or adoptive parents
    AND
  • The parents are either 1) currently married or 2) got a divorce or dissolution in Cuyahoga Domestic Relations Court AND had a minor child together at the time of the divorce or dissolution. 

You will need to:

  • Register for an account. Registering will allow you to save and complete this form on your own schedule.  
  • Start with Step 1 do not skip ahead. The Steps must be completed in order. 
  • Enter your information completely and correctly. 
  • Pace yourself and take breaks. All the information you fill out will be saved. You can click "Save & Exit" and return to complete your form.   
Start This Form (registration required)

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After You Finish

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Once you have completed the forms and are ready to file:

  • Print your completed forms. You can print your forms at any Cleveland Public Library for .10 per page. On Wednesdays, you can also print your forms at the Law Library, which is located on the fourth floor of the Cuyahoga County Court House at 1 W. Lakeside Ave.  You can print up to 25 pages for free at the Law Library. There is a fee of .20 per additional page. You should make at least one extra copy of your forms for your records.
  • After you print your forms, you will need to sign your documents in front of a notary. The Law Library has staff who can notarize your forms for you. You also can find a notary by searching on your browser for “a notary near me.” The Help Center at the Domestic Relations Court also has staff who can notarize your forms for you.
  • Bring your completed, signed and notarized forms to the Clerk of Court. The Domestic Relations Clerk of Court is located on the ground floor of the Cuyahoga County Court House at 1 W. Lakeside Ave.
  • Give the clerk your forms to file. You also will need to pay the filing fee.
  • Complete service. You must serve papers to the other parent. Follow up with the Clerk of Court's office after about 10 business days to make sure that service has been completed. 
  • Attend the hearing. Once the other parent is served, the Court will schedule a hearing. Make sure to check your mail and respond promptly to any letters sent to you by the Court. You must go to any hearing or meeting the Court schedules. Learn about getting ready for Court, including virtual hearing do's and don'ts.

As of March 1st, 2024, the cost to file an Application to Establish a Family Case in Cuyahoga County is $200.

You also have the option to efile your forms. Learn more about efiling from the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts.

If you have a low income and can’t afford the filing fee, you can choose to add a Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit, or Poverty Affidavit, to create an additional form to file with your packet of documents. This form asks that you be allowed to file without paying a fee upfront. You may still be responsible for paying the fee at the end of the case.

If you have questions about the process of filing this case, you can contact the Help Center at (216) 443-8880.

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