Civil Protection Orders in Brown County

Where to File: Brown County Court of Common Pleas — General & Domestic Relations Division (Clerk of Courts, 1st floor)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Brown County Probate & Juvenile Court (Juvenile Division)
510 East State Street, Georgetown, OH 45121, Georgetown, OH 45121
Phone: (937) 378-6726
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• Someone has harmed, threatened, or stalked you and you need court-ordered protection.
• You can identify whether the person is a family/household member (DVCPO) or not (SSOOPO).
• You know the respondent's correct physical address so the order can be served.
• You live in Brown County (file where the petitioner resides, regardless of where the conduct occurred).

Filing Fees

No cost to the petitioner — R.C. 3113.31 (DVCPO) and R.C. 2903.214 (SSOOPO) · file with the Clerk by 3:15 p.m. while court is in session (Local Rule 40) · juvenile-respondent CPOs are filed in the Juvenile Division, also free

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Brown County

1. Choose DVCPO or SSOOPO. If the person is a family or household member or your co-parent, file a DVCPO; otherwise file a SSOOPO. If they are under 18, file in the Juvenile Division.
2. Complete the petition. Fill out the Ohio Supreme Court standardized protection-order petition and gather the respondent's correct physical address for service.
3. File with the Clerk by 3:15 p.m.. File on the 1st floor of the Clerk of Courts, 101 S. Main St., Georgetown, by 3:15 p.m. while court is in session — there is no filing fee (Local Rule 40).
4. Attend the hearings. The court holds an ex parte hearing and can issue a temporary order, then sets a full hearing within 7–10 court days; a final order can last up to five years.

Brown County Practice Notes

• Same procedure, fast hearings (Local Rule 40). Both DVCPO and SSOOPO follow the same procedure under Local Rule 40. The Clerk accepts petitions until 3:15 p.m. while court is in session. A domestic-violence petition not heard by 4:00 p.m. is heard within 24 hours of filing; a civil stalking petition by the next session day. When the court issues an ex parte order it sets a full hearing — within 7 court days if the order makes the respondent vacate the home, otherwise within 10 court days (R.C. 3113.31(D)). A final order can last up to five years.
• Civil, free, and no appointed counsel. A CPO case is civil, so no one is arrested at the hearing and no attorney is appointed (the Prosecutor and Public Defender do not participate) — you may hire your own. There is no filing fee for the petitioner. File in Brown County if you live here, regardless of where the conduct occurred. Violating the order later can bring criminal charges — call local police to report a violation. Brown County Victims Advocate: (937) 378-4151; National DV Hotline: (800) 799-7233.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a protection order cost anything in Brown County?

No. There is no filing fee for the petitioner of a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (R.C. 3113.31) or a Stalking/Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (R.C. 2903.214). File the petition with the Clerk of Courts, 1st floor, 101 S. Main St., Georgetown (Local Rule 40). Juvenile civil protection orders (when the respondent is under 18) are filed in the Juvenile Division and also carry no fee.

How fast are the protection-order hearings in Brown County?

Under Local Rule 40, the Clerk accepts a CPO petition until 3:15 p.m. while court is in session. A domestic-violence petition not heard by 4:00 p.m. is heard within 24 hours of filing; a civil stalking petition is heard the next day court is in session. When the court issues an ex parte order it sets a full hearing — under R.C. 3113.31(D) within 7 court days if the order makes the respondent vacate the home, otherwise within 10 court days. A final order after the full hearing can last up to five years.

Where do I file a protection order if the incident happened in another county?

In Brown County, if you live here — protection orders are filed in the petitioner's county of residence, regardless of where the conduct occurred. File with the Clerk of Courts on the 1st floor at 101 S. Main St., Georgetown. A CPO case is civil, so no one is arrested at the hearing and no attorney is appointed (you may hire your own); but violating the order later can bring criminal charges — call local police to report a violation.

Do I file in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Brown County?

If you are or were married to the other parent, custody, parenting time, and support are decided in your divorce, dissolution, or legal separation in the General & Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas, 101 S. Main St., Georgetown ((937) 378-3233). If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are handled in the combined Probate & Juvenile Court at 510 E. State St., Georgetown ((937) 378-6726). Non-parent (grandparent/relative) custody is always filed in the Juvenile Division.

Free Local Resources in Brown County

• Brown County Clerk of Courts (Common Pleas / Domestic Relations). Court House Square, 101 S. Main St., Georgetown — Civil and Domestic filings on the 1st floor. Main (937) 378-3100; verified record line (937) 378-4740; fax/electronic-transmission filing (937) 378-1753. Payment by cash, money order, personal check, or certified check — no credit cards.
• Brown County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Director Deborah Forsythe. 510 E. State St., Georgetown, OH 45121. Phone (937) 378-6414; fax (937) 378-2552; hours Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–4:00 PM. Establishes, modifies, and enforces support and can establish paternity administratively (free genetic testing if ordered).
• Helping Children Cope with Family Separation (parenting program). Mandatory $60 online (Zoom) class for any divorce, dissolution, or legal separation with minor children (Local Rule 31.5), run with Lifespan Solutions. Register and pay by card at 513-324-3999, or mail a $60 money order to Lifespan Solutions, 7672 Montgomery Road #153, Cincinnati, OH 45236 at least two weeks before the class.
• Brown County Law Library / Georgetown Public Library. Public legal research at the Georgetown Public Library, 200 West Grant Ave., Georgetown (court staff cannot give legal advice). Ohio statewide child-abuse hotline (855) 642-4453 routes to the Brown County Public Children Services Agency.

Other Family-Law Topics in Brown County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Brown County custody 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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