Civil Protection Orders in Adams County

Where to File: Adams County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Adams County Juvenile Court
110 West Main Street, West Union, OH 45693, West Union, OH 45693
Phone: (937) 544-2921
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed legal holidays)

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You need protection from a family or household member (DVCPO) or from someone who is not (CSPO).
• You can describe recent acts of domestic violence or threats in a sworn petition.
• You can file in person with the Clerk between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Monday–Friday.
• You understand a Victim Advocate must be present and hearings are before the Magistrate.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for a domestic violence civil protection order in Adams County · petitions accepted only 8:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Monday–Friday · all hearings before the Magistrate with a Victim Advocate present — confirm details with the Clerk.

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Adams County

1. Identify the right order. Use a DVCPO (R.C. 3113.31, Domestic Relations) for a family or household member, or a CSPO (R.C. 2903.214, General Division) for someone who is not.
2. Complete the petition. Use the statewide Supreme Court protection-order forms gathered on the county's DVCPO page, describing recent acts of domestic violence or threats. Disclose all other cases involving the children.
3. File within filing hours. File in person with the Clerk between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Monday–Friday — there is no filing fee for a DV CPO.
4. Attend the hearing with a Victim Advocate. All hearings are before the Magistrate; a Victim Advocate must be present with you. The ex parte order generally will not include parenting time or support.
5. Arrange service. If the respondent must be served by posting, file AC-212 (Affidavit for Posting) and AC-213 (Legal Notice for Posting).

Adams County Practice Notes

• No filing fee — and strict filing hours. There is no filing fee for a DV CPO petition in Adams County (consistent with R.C. 3113.31). The Clerk accepts DV CPO petitions only between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Monday–Friday when court is in session; petitions presented later may not be processed until the next court day.
• Magistrate hears all CPOs; Victim Advocate required. Under Local Rule 029 (Civ.R. 65.1), all CPO hearings — ex parte and full — are referred to Magistrate David M. Hunter (or the Judge if he is unavailable), and a Victim Advocate must be present with the petitioner at every hearing.
• Children are handled cautiously in DV orders. The court generally will not issue parenting-time or child-support orders in an ex parte DV order. The petition must disclose every other case involving the parties' children, and child-risk allegations are referred to Adams County Children Services for investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a domestic violence civil protection order work in Adams County?

DVCPOs under R.C. 3113.31 are filed in the Domestic Relations Division. Under Local Rule 029 (Civ.R. 65.1), all hearings — ex parte and full — are referred to Magistrate David M. Hunter (or the Judge if he is unavailable), and a Victim Advocate must be present with the petitioner at every hearing. The Clerk accepts DV CPO petitions only between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Monday–Friday when court is in session; petitions presented later may not be processed until the next court day. The petition must disclose every other case in any court involving the parties' children.

Is there a filing fee for a protection order in Adams County?

No. There is no filing fee for a domestic violence civil protection order in Adams County — a petitioner is not charged a court-cost deposit to file a DV CPO petition, consistent with R.C. 3113.31.

What's the difference between a DVCPO and a CSPO in Adams County?

A domestic violence civil protection order (DVCPO, R.C. 3113.31) is for family or household members and is handled in the Domestic Relations Division. A civil stalking or sexually-oriented-offense protection order (CSPO, R.C. 2903.214) is for people who are not family or household members and is handled under the General Division, on a separate forms page. The court generally will not issue parenting-time or child-support orders in an ex parte DV order; if there are allegations of risk to a child, the matter is referred to Adams County Children Services for investigation.

Is there a separate domestic relations court in Adams County?

No. Adams County operates a single Court of Common Pleas that handles all divisions — General, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate — under the same judge (Brett M. Spencer). Under Local Rule 037 the court is scheduled to split into two elected judgeships by February 9, 2029, but until then one judge presides over every division.

Free Local Resources in Adams County

• Adams County Clerk of Courts (Larry Heller). Legal division on the top floor of the Courthouse, 110 West Main Street, Room 207, West Union, OH 45693. Accepts filings and provides current fees and instructions. Call (937) 544-2344 (lheller@adamscountycourts.com) before filing to confirm deposits and packet requirements.
• Adams County Common Pleas forms & local rules portal. sites.google.com/view/adamscountycommonpleas/home — county AC-### forms, Ohio Supreme Court SC forms, checklists, the local rules (dated 2/3/2026), and pro-se/indigency pages.
• Adams County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Director Angie Malott. 482 Rice Drive, P.O. Box 386, West Union, OH 45693. Phone (937) 544-5155 or toll-free (800) 840-5711 — establishes/modifies support, paternity, wage withholding, and payment distribution. Set up a court account with Form AC-202.
• Adams County Children Services. 300 North Wilson Drive, West Union, OH 45693. Phone (937) 544-2511 for abuse/neglect concerns and emergency child-safety. Call 911 in an emergency.
• Adams County CASA / GAL program. Volunteer and contact line (937) 618-0189. Court Appointed Special Advocates carry only 1–2 cases at a time and advocate for a child's best interest in contested and abuse/neglect matters.
• Fee waiver (indigency). File the AC-012 Financial Disclosure / Fee-Waiver Affidavit & Order with a motion to waive the court-cost deposit if you meet federal poverty guidelines. See sites.google.com/view/adamscountycommonpleas/indigency.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet, print, and sign it for filing.

Other Family-Law Topics in Adams County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Adams County custody attorney for help with your case.

Related to your protection orders case

• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable dissolution.
• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on protection orders and related Ohio family law topics.

• Civil Protection Orders in Ohio: How to Get a CPO — An Ohio civil protection order can provide fast, court-ordered protection from domestic violence — including no-contact terms, exclusive home use, and temporary custody. Here's how to get one.
• Emergency Custody in Ohio: When and How to Get an Ex Parte Order — When a child faces immediate danger, Ohio courts can grant emergency custody on short notice through an ex parte order. Here's what qualifies and what happens next.

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