OH HB256

Amends Ohio Revised Code section 3109.042 to change the mother's sole custody of a child born to unmarried parents from an absolute rule to a rebuttable presumption

Allows the father to rebut the presumption by establishing paternity through legally recognized methods or by being named on a lawfully executed birth certificate

Once paternity is established, both parents automatically become equal residential parents with equal parenting time rights without requiring a court proceeding, though the mother retains sole legal custodianship

Either parent may initiate a judicial proceeding if they cannot agree on physical custody arrangements or if one parent fails to exercise parental responsibilities

Courts must consider whether either parent failed to exercise or obstructed the other parent's rights when allocating parental responsibilities in any resulting custody dispute