Civil Protection Orders in Belmont County

Where to File: Belmont County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court
101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Phone: (740) 699-2141
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You've been threatened, harmed, or placed in fear by the other person.
• You need an enforceable order to make them stay away from you, your home, or your work.
• The abuser is a family/household member, a dating partner, or someone stalking you.
• You want protection without a filing fee and, if needed, a same-day temporary order.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for any civil protection order · ex parte order can issue the same day · full hearing generally within about 7–10 days · order can last up to 5 years · mediation is not used in domestic-violence cases · in an emergency, call 911

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Belmont County

1. Get to safety first. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. A protection order is a legal tool, not a substitute for emergency help.
2. Choose the right petition. Use Form 10.01-D for a family or household member, Form 10.01-P for a dating partner, or Form 10.03-D when the respondent is not a family or household member (stalking).
3. File in the General Division. File through the Clerk of Courts, (740) 699-2169. There is no filing fee. Ask the Court's Civil Protection Order information page for help with the petition.
4. Get the ex parte order and attend the full hearing. An ex parte order can issue the same day; a full hearing follows — generally within about 7 to 10 days — for an order that can last up to five years.

Belmont County Practice Notes

• Protection orders filed in the General Division (no fee). A domestic-violence (Form 10.01-D), dating-violence (Form 10.01-P), or civil-stalking (Form 10.03-D) protection order is filed in the General Division with no filing fee. An ex parte order can issue the same day, and a full hearing follows — generally within about 7 to 10 days — for an order up to 5 years. In an emergency, call 911.
• Mediation under Local Rule 20. The Court may refer contested custody and parenting-time issues to mediation (Mediation Office (740) 695-2121 ext. 1043). Mediation is not used in domestic-violence cases, and it is voluntary and confidential — it does not replace the Court's final decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a protection order in Belmont County, and is there a fee?

An adult domestic-violence civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31) is filed in the General Division through the Clerk of Courts, (740) 699-2169. There is no filing fee, an ex parte order can issue the same day, and a full hearing follows — generally within about 7 to 10 days — for an order that can last up to five years. If the abuser is a dating partner, use the Dating Violence CPO (Form 10.01-P); if the respondent is not a family or household member, use a civil stalking protection order. In an emergency, call 911.

Is mediation used in Belmont County family cases?

Yes. Under Local Rule 20 the Court may refer contested custody and parenting-time issues to mediation (the Mediation Office line is (740) 695-2121 ext. 1043). Mediation is not used in domestic-violence cases. It is voluntary and confidential and does not replace the Court's final decision.

Which court handles family-law cases in Belmont County?

The General Division of the Belmont County Court of Common Pleas (101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The General Division Magistrate runs the divorce docket (Local Rule 12.4 / 12.6). The combined Probate & Juvenile Court handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, under R.C. 2151.23) and non-parent custody, (740) 699-2141. Domestic Relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts, Laura Zupko, Legal Division (3rd floor), (740) 699-2169.

Who are the family-law judges in Belmont County?

The General Division is presided over by Judges Frank A. Fregiato ((740) 699-2137) and John A. Vavra ((740) 699-2138); a General Division Magistrate (Magistrate Office (740) 695-2121 ext. 1082) hears much of the divorce docket. The combined Probate & Juvenile Court is presided over by Hon. Albert E. Davies, Juvenile (740) 699-2141 and Probate (740) 699-2144.

Free Local Resources in Belmont County

• Belmont County Clerk of Courts (General Division). Current filing deposits, the Local Rule 12 divorce forms (101, 103/104, 105), and filing instructions for divorce, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matters. File with the Legal Division on the 3rd floor, 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville; (740) 699-2169. Local rules at https://belmontcountycoc.org/local-rules and the cost schedule at https://belmontcountycoc.org/costs-and-fees.
• Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court. Handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time, plus the Belmont Grandparent Power of Attorney. Forms at https://www.belmontcountyohiocourts.com/forms/; Juvenile (740) 699-2141, Probate (740) 699-2144.
• Belmont County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Belmont County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Belmont County DJFS, 68145 Hammond Road, St. Clairsville; (740) 695-1075 option 8; https://belmontcdjfs.com/.
• Belmont County Children Services. Investigates child abuse and neglect and supports kinship caregivers. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or Children Services at (740) 695-3813.
• Representing Yourself in Belmont County. The Clerk's self-represented-litigant resources and filing guidance for the General Division at https://belmontcountycoc.org/representing-yourself. The Clerk cannot give legal advice but can explain what a complete filing requires.

Other Family-Law Topics in Belmont County

• Statewide Divorce Overview — How Ohio divorce, residency, and property division work at a high level.
• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Belmont County family-law 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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