Athens County Contempt & Enforcement Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Athens County contempt case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Athens County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

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Athens County contempt and enforcement, handled by Gavvl Law

When the other side ignores a decree — unpaid support, withheld parenting time, a violated property term — contempt asks the court to enforce it. In Athens County you file the Motion for Contempt in the court that issued the order: the Domestic Relations Division on a $175 re-open deposit for divorce and dissolution terms, or the Probate/Juvenile Court on a $66 motion for Juvenile orders, under the R.C. 2705.02 and 2705.031 contempt authority. A magistrate hears it and issues a proposed decision with a 14-day objection window (Local Rule 24.07). Gavvl Law builds the record and pursues purge terms, make-up time, or fees on a flat fee, with full representation for contested hearings.

• Pinpointing the exact term that was violated. Contempt succeeds when you can show a clear order provision and a willful violation of it. We identify the precise support figure, parenting-time block, or property term that was breached and document how, so the court has a clean basis to act rather than a general complaint about the other parent.
• Enforce now, modify separately. Contempt enforces an order through purge conditions, make-up parenting time, attorney fees, or jail for willful violation — it does not rewrite the order. If the terms themselves need to change, that is a separate modification, and we tell you up front which one your situation actually calls for so you are not filing the wrong motion.
• The CSEA copy on any support contempt. When the violation involves child support, Local Rule 26.03(B) requires giving the Athens County CSEA a copy of the motion — a step that trips up self-filers and delays hearings. We handle that notice and calendar the 14-day window to object to the magistrate's proposed decision under Local Rule 24.07.

We file contempt and enforcement motions in both Athens County divisions routinely, so the $175 DR re-open deposit versus the $66 Juvenile motion, the LR 26.03(B) CSEA-notice rule, and the magistrate's objection timeline are settled ground for us.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the motion for contempt / show cause to enforce an order the other party is violating. You appear at any hearing.

• Contempt (single issue): $950
• Contempt (multiple issues): $1,450

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your contempt case or see payment plans & financing.

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

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Athens County Probate/Juvenile Court
Athens County Courthouse, 1 S. Court Street, 2nd Floor, 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

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Athens County

1. Pinpoint the violated term. Identify the exact order provision that was violated — the support amount, the parenting-time schedule, or a property term.
2. File in the issuing court. File the Motion for Contempt in the Domestic Relations Division (DR decrees) or the Probate/Juvenile Court (Juvenile orders).
3. Notify the CSEA for support. If the contempt involves support, give the Athens County CSEA a copy (LR 26.03(B)).
4. 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.

Other Family-Law Topics in Athens County

• Athens County Divorce — Full filing guide with forms, fees, and the parenting class.
• Athens County Custody — Where to file when parents are married vs. never married.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator — Run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself.
• Ohio family-law resources — 88-county directory of courts and legal aid.

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.

Other Athens family-law topics & tools

• Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
• Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
• Athens County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Athens County guide.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.