Enforcing Orders by Contempt in Ashland County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Ashland County, Ohio · Ashland

When the other parent ignores a support, parenting-time, property, or medical-expense term of an Ashland County decree, a contempt motion asks the court to enforce it. Ashland has firm procedural rules: you secure the hearing date from the court BEFORE filing, you must personally serve the alleged contemnor (serving their old lawyer is not enough), and if you win a support or parenting-time contempt an attorney-fee award is mandatory.

How do I file a contempt motion in Ashland County, Ohio?

Obtain the hearing date from the court first, then file a Motion for Contempt with affidavit and instructions for service (UDRF Form 24), a memorandum and supporting affidavits, and a Show Cause Order and Contempt Summons (UDRF Form 25) carrying that hearing date, plus Form 18.00 (and Form 2.00 if reopening a closed case). You must personally serve the alleged contemnor — serving their old attorney is not enough — and serve CSEA with any support-related materials. If you win a child-support, spousal-support, or parenting-time contempt, an attorney-fee award is mandatory: up to $500 is presumed reasonable on the Domestic Relations side, $250 in the Juvenile Division. The post-decree motion deposit ($250) applies. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk's Legal Division at (419) 282-4242.

Where to File: Ashland County Common Pleas Court - Domestic Relations Division

142 W 2nd St, Ashland, OH 44805, Ashland, OH 44805
Phone: (419) 282-4242
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the Clerk to confirm current hours)
Website: ashlandcommonpleas.com

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party is violating a court order — missed support, denied parenting time, unpaid medical bills, or ignored property terms.
You can document specific violations with dates and records.
You can secure a hearing date from the court and arrange personal service on the alleged contemnor.
Your contempt involves support or parenting time, where an attorney-fee award is mandatory if you prevail.

Filing Fees

Post-decree motion deposit $250 (DR) / $125 (Juvenile) · get the hearing date BEFORE filing · personal service required · attorney fees mandatory on support & parenting-time contempt (up to $500 DR / $250 Juvenile presumed reasonable) · confirm at (419) 282-4242

Forms & Filing Packets

Enforce a Domestic Relations order — $250 post-decree motion — confirm with the Clerk

File UDRF Form 24 (motion) and Form 25 (show cause / contempt summons) with the hearing date you secured from the court. Personal service on the alleged contemnor is required.

Motion for Contempt, Affidavit & Instructions for Service (Ohio SC Form 24) — Opens a DR contempt action to enforce support, parenting time, property, or medical-expense terms of the decree (UDRF 24).
Show Cause Order & Contempt Summons (Ohio SC Form 25) — Filed with the contempt motion. In Ashland you must obtain the hearing date from the court BEFORE filing and put it on this order; personal service on the alleged contemnor is required (UDRF 25).
Personal Identifier Disclosure Form (Local Form 18.00) — Required (and kept non-public) in every new or reopened DR case and every post-decree motion. Lists SSNs and other identifiers off the public record.
Case Designation Sheet — Domestic (Local Form 2.00) — Required with every new or reopened domestic-relations case in the General and Domestic Relations Divisions (Local Rule 20).

Enforce a Juvenile Division order — $125 Juvenile motion — confirm with the Juvenile Clerk

Use the Supreme Court Enforcement of a Court Order packet in the Juvenile Division; attorney fees up to $250 are presumed reasonable on a support or parenting-time contempt.

Enforcement of a Court Order — Juvenile (Ohio SC packet) — The dual-numbered UDRF/Juvenile contempt forms used to enforce a Juvenile-Division custody, parenting-time, or support order.
IV-D Application for Child Support Services (JFS-07076) — Required with any DR or Juvenile filing involving custody or support. In DR cases it is EMAILED to hadkins@ashlandcommonpleas.com — never filed with the Clerk.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Ashland County

Document the violations. Gather dates, records, and proof of each missed payment or denied parenting-time period you want the court to address.
Get the hearing date from the court. Obtain the date first and put it on the Show Cause Order/Contempt Summons (UDRF 25) before filing.
File the contempt packet. UDRF Form 24 (motion, affidavit, instructions for service), a memorandum, Form 25, Form 18.00, and Form 2.00 if reopening a closed case.
Personally serve and prepare for fees. Arrange personal service on the alleged contemnor (and serve CSEA on support matters); if you prevail on a support or parenting-time contempt, request your mandatory attorney-fee award.

Ashland County Practice Notes

Secure the hearing date before filing. Ashland requires you to obtain the hearing date from the court first and put it on the Show Cause Order/Contempt Summons (UDRF 25). Filing without a secured date stalls the case (LR 20.05).
Personal service is mandatory. You must personally serve the alleged contemnor — serving their old lawyer is not enough. Serve CSEA with any support-related objection materials. Reopening a closed case requires Form 2.00; Form 18.00 is always required.
Attorney fees are mandatory if you win. For child-support, spousal-support, and parenting-time contempt, fee awards are mandatory (R.C. 3109.05, 3109.051, 3105.18). Up to $500 is presumed reasonable without evidence on the DR side (up to $250 in the Juvenile Division); larger awards need itemized proof (LR 20.17; Juvenile LR 29).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enforce an Ashland County order when my ex won't comply?: File a Motion for Contempt (UDRF 24) with a Show Cause Order and Contempt Summons (UDRF 25) in the same case. You must get the hearing date from the court before filing and personally serve the alleged contemnor — serving their old lawyer is not enough (LR 20.05).
Will my attorney fees be covered if I win a contempt in Ashland County?: Yes, for support and parenting-time contempt fee awards are mandatory. On the Domestic Relations side, awards up to $500 are presumed reasonable without detailed fee evidence; the Juvenile Division presumes up to $250. Larger awards require itemized proof (LR 20.17; Juvenile LR 29).
Does a contempt motion have to be personally served in Ashland County?: Yes. Personal service on the alleged contemnor is required for a DR contempt — mailing it to old counsel is not enough. The Show Cause Order/Contempt Summons (UDRF 25) carries the hearing date you secured from the court before filing (LR 20.05).

Free Local Resources in Ashland County

Ashland County Clerk of Courts. Provides current filing fees, local forms, and filing instructions for custody, divorce, and dissolution cases. Call (419) 282-4242 or visit https://ashlandcommonpleas.com before filing to confirm deposits and packet requirements.
Ashland County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Ashland County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.

Related to your contempt case

Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Related guides

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

Contempt Motions in Ohio Family Court: Enforcing Your Order — When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding the children or refusing to pay support — a contempt motion is how Ohio courts enforce it. Here's how the process works.
Post-Decree Modifications in Ohio: Changing Your Order After Divorce — Your divorce decree isn't carved in stone. When life changes, Ohio lets you modify custody, parenting time, and support — but each requires meeting a specific legal standard. Here's how.

Keep exploring

Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
Medina family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Medina metro.
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