Changing an Order from a Different County or State
If you want to change your order for child support, parenting time or custody, but your order was issued in a different county or state, you must take additional steps to ask for the change you want.
An order that was issued in a different county or state is called a “foreign” order in the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court.
If you want to ask the Court to change a foreign order, you must file an additional set of forms and pay an additional filing fee.
Before you take those steps, you may want to consider the following questions:
- Should you go back to the original court? In some cases, it is easier to go back to the court that issued the original order and ask that court for the change you want. You also may want to find a lawyer to discuss your options.
- Do you qualify for the change? On this site, you can learn about changing child support, changing parenting time, and changing custody in Cuyahoga County. Make sure you meet the requirements for the change you want.
If you think you meet the requirements and want to ask the Court to change your foreign order, you will need to file 2 sets of paperwork:
- A petition to register your existing order. You must file a form asking the Court to register your order since it was issued by a different court. You can use the Form Assistant on this site to fill out the forms you need to create a Petition to Register a Foreign Order. File your completed petition with the Clerk of Courts. There is a $200 fee to file the petition.
- A motion for the change you want. In addition to the petition to register your existing order, you will need to file a motion asking the Court for the change you want. You can use the Form Assistants on this site to fill out the forms you need to create a Motion to Change Child Support, Motion for Custody Change or Motion for a Parenting Time Change. There is also a fee to file the motion — $50 if you are asking for a change in child support or parenting time and $200 if you are asking for a change in custody as of March 1st, 2024.
You may file both sets of forms at the same time, or you may file the Petition to Register a Foreign Order first.
Complete and file the paperwork
You can use the Form Assistants on this site to fill out the forms you need to file with the Court. Use the forms that apply to you:
- Petition to Register a Foreign Order
- Motion to Change Child Support
- Motion for Custody Change
- Motion for a Parenting Time Change
The Form Assistants have the information you need to include in your petition and motion.
You also can find information about foreign orders for custody or parenting time in Local Rule 30 and foreign orders for support in Local Rule 31.
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 fees at this time. As of March 1st, 2024, the cost to file the petition to register a foreign order is $200. The cost to file a motion to change child support or parenting time is $50 and the cost to file a motion to change custody 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 fees, 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 your petition or motion, you can contact the Help Center at (216) 443-8880.
“Serve” the papers
The Court has to tell the other parent about the papers you have filed. This is called "serving" the court papers.
One of the forms you will have to fill out asks how you want the forms to be served. In Cuyahoga County, the preferred method of service is certified mail. Learn more about serving court papers.
Follow up with the Clerk of Court's office after about 10 business days to make sure that service has been completed.
Wait for the other parent's response
Once service is complete, the other parent will have a chance to challenge or “contest” your petition. The time to challenge a Petition to Register a Foreign Order is:
- 20 days for child support, or
- 30 days for custody or parenting time.
If the other parent does not challenge the petition in time, the Court may register the foreign order, as long as you have met the legal requirements.
You can find more information about challenging a Petition to Register a Foreign Order in Local Rule 30 and Local Rule 31.
Go to the hearing
If the other parent challenges your petition in time, the Court will schedule a hearing.
You must go to the hearing. Otherwise, the Court will likely rule for the other parent. Learn about getting ready for Court, including virtual hearing do's and don'ts.
At the hearing, you must explain why the Court has the authority to make the changes you want.