DR 27: Change Authority, Not Just the Weekend Grid
DR 27 is Ohio's lane for a change of parental rights and responsibilities. Parents mix it with DR 26 because both feel urgent. If the pain is commute math, school-night sleep needs, or holiday rotation after a move, stay in the schedule lane. If you need new legal custody labels, medical or school enrollment authority, or a different tie-breaker when parents deadlock, you are in DR 27 territory.
For the Ohio-wide custody modification overview (rights and responsibilities framing, not just the DR 27 PDF), start here:
Ohio custody modification (overview)| Parents say | Likely form lane |
|---|---|
| "The week cannot work after the move." | Often DR 26 if authority can stay stable. |
| "They enrolled without consent / blocked care." | Often DR 27 because decision power is the fight. |
| "I want sole because I do not trust them." | DR 27 only if facts support a rights change, not just distrust. |
Signals you belong in DR 27
- -Legal custody labels or shared versus sole authority is the dispute core.
- -Medical, dental, or school placement decisions keep colliding with written rules.
- -You need a new tie-breaker or decision matrix, not just another overnight.
Foundational parentage and allocation packet: DR 23.
Related guides
More Ohio forms
State guides (overview)
General support (not Ohio-specific)
Official sources
- Ohio Supreme Court DR 27 (PDF): https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/JCS/CFC/DRForms/Form27.pdf
- Ohio standardized forms (parental rights): https://supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/services-to-courts/children-families/dom-rel-juvenile-forms/parental-rights/
DR 27 questions
Why is DR 27 heavier than DR 26?
DR 27 targets parental rights and responsibilities, not just the calendar. Legal custody, decision categories, and who holds authority are different moves than swapping Friday pickup windows.
Are more weekends enough for DR 27?
Often no. Additional overnights can be a DR 26 story when the dispute is schedule-shaped. DR 27 shows up when authority, safety logistics, or major decision control is the real fight.
What makes a DR 27 filing look unfocused?
Long character attacks without dated child-impact lines and without a clear request for how rights should read after the change.
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.