Ross County Court of Common Pleas
Probate Division

2 N. Paint St, Suite A
Chillicothe, OH  45601

Phone (740) 774-1179                   Fax (740) 774-3711

Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday
8:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m.
Closed on all legal holidays

R.C. 2105.25 states the Probate Court has authority to establish paternity between an adult child and the father of the adult child if

1. the man alleging himself to be the father of the adult child, the adult child’s mother, and adult child appear jointly before the Probate judge in the county in which the man resides and jointly file a declaration stating that the man is the adult child’s father;
1. the man alleging himself to be the child’s father and the adult child may appear before the Court without the adult child’s mother and file the declaration if the mother is deceased or has been adjudicated incompetent.
2. if the man alleging himself to be the adult child’s father is not a resident of this state, appearance under this section may be made before a probate judge of any county of this state
2. the declaration must state that the adult child’s birth certificate does not designate anyone as the adult child’s father;
3. the request for the order must be made freely and voluntarily by all parties appearing before the Court;
4. genetic test results show the man to be the adult child’s father; and
5. the adult child must be a person born in this state who is at least twenty-three years old.

Note:    All paperwork must be typed. All filings must be single-sided 

The Probate Court does not have the authority to determine paternity in any other circumstance, other than that described in R.C. 2105.26. Other issues involving paternity should be addressed to the Juvenile Court, Vital Statistics, or the Child Support Enforcement Agency in your county of residence or county of residence of the child.

Instructions for Declaration of Paternity (ADULT)

50.1 Joint Declaration of Paternity

50.2 Order Setting Hearing on Joint Declaration