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.

Reviewed by Stephanie Green, Esq. · Managing Partner, Gavvl Law · Last updated June 3, 2026

For someone facing domestic violence, the legal system's ordinary pace is dangerous. A civil protection order (CPO) is Ohio's fast-acting remedy — a court order designed to provide immediate, enforceable protection from a family or household member who has committed or threatened violence. This guide explains who can get a CPO, how the process works, what protection it provides, and how long it lasts. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 first.

CPOs are governed by R.C. 3113.31. Because protection orders often arise alongside custody disputes, they connect closely to the emergency remedies we describe in emergency custody in Ohio.

Who Can Get a CPO

A civil protection order is available to protect family or household members from domestic violence. That category is broad and includes current and former spouses, people who live together or used to, people who share a child, and certain relatives. The petitioner must allege domestic violence — which under Ohio law includes causing or attempting to cause physical harm, placing someone in fear of imminent serious physical harm, and certain other conduct. (Protection from someone who is not a family or household member is pursued through a different kind of order.)

The Two-Step Process

Step 1: The Ex Parte Order

Speed is the entire point of a CPO. When you file a petition, you can ask the court for an ex parte order — one issued based on your testimony alone, without the other party present, when the court finds you are in immediate danger. An ex parte hearing is often held the same day or the next business day. If granted, the ex parte order provides immediate protection until the full hearing.

Step 2: The Full Hearing

Because the ex parte order is issued without the other side present, due process requires a prompt full hearing where the respondent can appear and be heard. Ohio schedules that full hearing quickly — generally within about seven to ten days of the ex parte order. At the full hearing, both parties present evidence and testimony, and the court decides whether to issue a longer-term protection order. Coming to that hearing prepared — with documentation, photos, messages, medical records, police reports, and witnesses — is critical.

What a CPO Can Do

A civil protection order is powerful and flexible. Depending on the circumstances, a CPO can:

• Order the respondent to have no contact with you and to stay away from your home, work, and school;
• Grant you exclusive use of the shared residence, requiring the respondent to move out;
• Establish temporary custody and parenting time for children;
• Order temporary support;
• Require the respondent to surrender firearms in appropriate cases;
• Order counseling or other protective conditions.

Because a CPO can address custody and support, it often overlaps with family-law cases — which is why coordinating a CPO with any pending divorce or custody matter is so important. Our child custody service page explains how protection and parenting issues fit together.

How Long a CPO Lasts

An ex parte order lasts only until the full hearing. A full civil protection order issued after that hearing can last for an extended period — up to five years — and can be renewed if the danger persists. The order is enforceable statewide, and violating it is a crime that can result in arrest.

Enforcing a CPO

A protection order is only useful if it is enforced. If the respondent violates a CPO — by making contact, returning to the home, or otherwise breaching its terms — call law enforcement. Violating a protection order is a criminal offense, separate from the civil case, and can lead to arrest and prosecution. Keep a copy of the order with you and document any violations.

For Respondents

If a CPO has been filed against you, take it seriously. A protection order can remove you from your home, limit contact with your children, and carry long-term consequences, and violating even an ex parte order is a crime. The full hearing is your opportunity to present your side, and appearing with counsel and evidence is far wiser than ignoring the process.

Getting Help

Protection-order cases move fast and carry high stakes for everyone involved. Our consultants and attorneys, including Niva Elgin, who has extensive experience with domestic violence civil protection orders, help Ohio clients seek protection and navigate related custody issues. For Columbus-area families, our Columbus family law page and our Franklin County page offer local guidance. Above all: your safety comes first — use 911 in an emergency, and let the CPO process provide the longer-term protection the law allows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a CPO different from a restraining order in a divorce?

A civil protection order is a standalone court order addressing domestic violence between family or household members, and it can include no-contact terms, exclusive use of the home, and temporary custody and support. The restraining orders issued within a divorce case are generally narrower — often aimed at preserving assets or maintaining the status quo — and are tied to that case. A CPO can be sought whether or not a divorce is pending.

Can a protection order include my children?

Yes. A CPO can establish temporary custody and parenting time and can order the respondent to stay away from the children, their school, and daycare. Because a CPO can touch custody, it often overlaps with family-law cases — and if a custody case follows, an emergency custody request may also be appropriate, as we explain in emergency custody in Ohio.

What happens if the other person violates the order?

Call law enforcement. Violating a protection order — including an ex parte order — is a criminal offense separate from the civil case and can lead to arrest and prosecution. Keep a copy of the order with you, and document every violation in case further enforcement is needed.

How long does a civil protection order last in Ohio?

An ex parte protection order is temporary and bridges the gap until the full hearing, which the court holds soon after. After that hearing, a full civil protection order can last for a substantial fixed period — up to five years in domestic violence cases — and the court sets the exact length based on the circumstances. Before it expires, the protected person may ask the court to renew it. The order can also be modified or terminated by the court if circumstances change.

Does it cost money to file for a protection order?

Ohio is designed so that cost is not a barrier to safety. Petitioners generally are not required to pay filing fees or service costs to seek a domestic violence civil protection order, and many courts have advocates or self-help resources to assist with the paperwork. You do not need a lawyer to file, although having one helps — especially when custody, support, or a contested hearing is involved. The priority is getting protection in place quickly; the financial details should not stand in the way.

How long does an Ohio domestic violence protection order last?

A domestic violence civil protection order issued under R.C. 3113.31 can remain in effect for a fixed period set by the court, up to a maximum of five years. The process typically begins with an ex parte order — granted quickly, often the same day, based on the petitioner's sworn statements — which provides immediate but short-term protection. The court then holds a full hearing, usually within a short window, where both the petitioner and the respondent can present evidence before the judge or magistrate decides whether to issue a longer-term order and on what terms. A final order can do far more than direct someone to stay away; it can address temporary custody and parenting time, set who may use a residence, and prohibit contact. Before a protection order expires, a petitioner who still faces a credible threat can ask the court to renew it. Because these orders carry serious consequences and can intersect with custody and support, getting the facts and paperwork right at the full hearing matters a great deal — for petitioners seeking lasting protection and respondents facing significant restrictions alike.

Disclaimer: This guide is general legal information about Ohio family law, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes, filing fees, and local court rules change and vary by county. For advice about your specific situation, speak with a licensed Ohio family law attorney.

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