Enforcing Orders in Athens County

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

Athens County, Ohio · Athens

When the other party ignores a court order — unpaid support, withheld parenting time, or violated property terms — contempt asks the court to enforce it. In Athens County, you file the contempt in the court that issued the order: the Domestic Relations Division for divorce/dissolution decree terms, or the Probate/Juvenile Court for Juvenile orders.

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

File a Motion for Contempt in the court that issued the order. Use it to enforce spousal support, property division, and the child support or parenting time set in your DR case (DR re-open/contempt deposit $175), or to enforce a Juvenile-Court custody, parenting-time, or support order (Juvenile motion $66). The general contempt authority is R.C. 2705.02 and 2705.031. If the motion involves a support order, you must give the Athens County CSEA a copy (Local Rule 26.03(B)). The motion is heard by the Magistrate, who issues a proposed decision with a 14-day objection window (LR 24.07).

Where to File: Athens County Court of Common Pleas, General Division — Domestic Relations Division

Athens County Courthouse, 1 S. Court Street, 4th Floor, Athens, OH 45701, Athens, OH 45701
Phone: (740) 592-3242
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
Website: www.co.athensoh.org/government/common_pleas_court/domestic_relations_division.php
e-Filing: https://eservices.athenscommonpleas.com/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Athens County Probate/Juvenile Court
Athens County Courthouse, 1 S. Court Street, 2nd Floor, Athens, OH 45701, Athens, OH 45701
Phone: (740) 592-3256
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party has violated a clear, existing court order (support, parenting time, property, or medical terms).
You can identify the specific order term that was violated and how.
You are filing in the court that issued the order (Domestic Relations Division or Probate/Juvenile Court).
You understand the order can be enforced through purge conditions, make-up time, fees, or jail for willful violation.

Filing Fees

DR contempt/re-open deposit $175 · Juvenile motion $66 · support contempt requires giving the Athens County CSEA a copy (LR 26.03(B)) · heard by the Magistrate with a 14-day objection window (LR 24.07). Confirm current amounts with the Clerk's Legal Department at (740) 592-3242, option 5, before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Enforce a divorce/dissolution decree (Domestic Relations Division) — $175 (DR re-open/contempt deposit, Local Rule 24.01)

File the Motion for Contempt to enforce spousal support, property division, or the child support and parenting time set in your DR case.

Motion for Contempt, Affidavit & Instructions for Service (Ohio SC Form 24) — Opens a contempt action to enforce decree obligations — spousal support, property division, and the child support or parenting time set in the DR case (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031). The Clerk's General Motion may also be used.
General Motion (Athens County Clerk of Courts) — The Clerk's fill-in general motion used for post-decree and in-case requests in the Domestic Relations Division. Under LR 24.11 a motion must quote the exact order being changed (or attach it), state the change requested, and give the reasons.

Enforce a support order (notify the CSEA) — $175 (DR) · $66 (Juvenile motion)

When the contempt is on a support order, give the Athens County CSEA a copy of the motion (LR 26.03(B)). A Juvenile-order contempt is a $66 motion.

Motion for Contempt, Affidavit & Instructions for Service (Ohio SC Form 24) — Opens a contempt action to enforce decree obligations — spousal support, property division, and the child support or parenting time set in the DR case (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031). The Clerk's General Motion may also be used.
IV-D Application for Child Support Services — Opens or links your case with the Athens County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), (740) 593-5046, so support is collected by wage withholding and enforced. Required with any filing that establishes or changes support; request the application from the CSEA.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Athens County

Pinpoint the violated term. Identify the exact order provision that was violated — the support amount, the parenting-time schedule, or a property term.
File in the issuing court. File the Motion for Contempt in the Domestic Relations Division (DR decrees) or the Probate/Juvenile Court (Juvenile orders).
Notify the CSEA for support. If the contempt involves support, give the Athens County CSEA a copy (LR 26.03(B)).
Attend the hearing. The Magistrate hears the motion and issues a proposed decision; objections are due within 14 days (LR 24.07).

Athens County Practice Notes

Contempt enforces; it does not change the order. Contempt asks the court to enforce an existing order through purge conditions, make-up parenting time, attorney fees, or — for willful violation — jail. To change the order itself, file a modification instead (see Post-Decree Modifications).
Give the CSEA a copy on support matters. A party filing a contempt on a support order must give the Athens County CSEA a copy (Local Rule 26.03(B)). The general contempt authority is R.C. 2705.02 and 2705.031.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I use contempt in Athens County?: Use contempt to enforce an existing order — spousal support, property division, and the child support or parenting time set in your DR case, or a Juvenile-Court custody, parenting-time, or support order (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031). Contempt enforces the order; to change it, file a modification instead. The DR re-open/contempt deposit is $175 and a Juvenile motion is $66.
Do I have to notify the CSEA for a support contempt in Athens County?: Yes. A party filing a motion that could modify support, or a contempt on a support order, must give the Athens County CSEA a copy (Local Rule 26.03(B)). The motion is heard by the Domestic Relations Magistrate, with a 14-day objection window (Local Rule 24.07).
What are the post-decree filing fees in Athens County?: In the Domestic Relations Division, a custody modification is $275, and a support modification or contempt re-open is $175 (Local Rule 24.01). In the Probate/Juvenile Court, a motion is $66. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk's Legal Department at (740) 592-3242, option 5.

Free Local Resources in Athens County

Athens County Clerk of Courts — Legal Department. 1 S. Court Street, 4th Floor, Athens, OH 45701; (740) 592-3242. Confirms current filing deposits, hosts the Domestic Relations forms page, and runs the CourtView online docket and e-file (https://eservices.athenscommonpleas.com/). Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Athens County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Under Athens County Job & Family Services, 13183 St. Rte. 13, Millfield, OH 45761; (740) 593-5046 or 1-800-436-8933 (https://jfs.athensoh.org/). Opens IV-D cases, sets and collects support by wage withholding, and can establish paternity administratively.
Parent-education seminar (Athens County Children Services). Required within 60 days in every Domestic Relations case with minor children (Local Rule 24.02(D)). Register with the Director of Preventive Services at (740) 592-3061 ext. 305; the class is no more than $10 per person.
Athens County Probate/Juvenile Court. 1 S. Court Street, 2nd Floor, Athens, OH 45701; Juvenile (740) 592-3256, Probate (740) 592-3251 (https://www.athenscountypjcourt.com/). Hears never-married parentage and custody, non-parent custody, and companionship. No e-filing portal — fax filing of non-fee documents to (740) 592-3268 is permitted.

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.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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