DR 23: Build the Whole Frame
DR 23 is Ohio's standardized complaint lane for parentage, allocation of parental rights and responsibilities, and parenting time. Parents misunderstand it when they treat it like a single-issue schedule fight. This form family is doing three jobs at once: legal parentage questions, who holds decision authority, and how time divides. If you are only trying to adjust an existing order's calendar, you are probably staring at the wrong DR number.
Parentage
Legal relationship and orders that depend on it.
Allocation
Rights and duties: school, health, religion-shaped decisions.
Parenting time
The week grid that makes allocation real in a calendar.
| Wrong-lane signal | Better DR neighbor |
|---|---|
| "We have a final order; only the schedule broke" | DR 26 |
| "We need to redo legal custody and major decisions" | DR 27 |
Paper that matches DR 23
This page stays close to the DR 23 packet and wrong-lane checks. For statewide modification or enforcement doctrine, use the Ohio hub and forms index once you know which DR lane fits.
Related guides
General support (not Ohio-specific)
Official sources
- Ohio Supreme Court DR 23 (PDF): https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/JCS/CFC/DRForms/Form23.pdf
- Ohio standardized forms (parentage): https://supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/services-to-courts/children-families/dom-rel-juvenile-forms/parentage/
DR 23 FAQs
Why does DR 23 bundle parentage, allocation, and parenting time?
Because Ohio uses this lane to establish the full domestic-relations scaffolding: who is a legal parent, how rights and duties split, and what the week looks like. It is not the same as a later motion that only tweaks Tuesdays.
I already have an order. Is DR 23 my next form?
Usually no. Post-order schedule fights often belong in DR 26; broader rights fights in DR 27. DR 23 is the opening architecture lane for many cases, not the change-order lane.
What do courts read first besides labels?
Whether your requested terms match the child lived reality: school, care, and stability. Bring a short dated timeline and neutral proof, not a novel.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-03
MyCustodyCoach is not a law firm. Court rules, fees, and form versions change by county; confirm what applies to your case with official court resources or counsel you hire.