Civil Protection Orders in Butler County

How do I file for a civil protection order in Butler County, Ohio?

File a Petition for a Domestic Violence (or Dating Violence) Civil Protection Order on a walk-in basis at the Butler County Domestic Relations Court, 315 High Street, 2nd Floor, Hamilton, Monday–Friday from 8:30–10:30 a.m. or 1:00–3:00 p.m. There are no filing fees (R.C. 3113.31). Bring a photo ID and expect the process to take several hours. The court tries to hold an ex parte hearing the same day and sets the full hearing in 7–10 business days; the respondent must be served by law enforcement before that hearing.

Where to File: Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Butler County Juvenile Justice Center
280 N. Fair Ave., Hamilton, OH 45011, Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: (513) 887-3317
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (Clerk 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You have been threatened, harmed, or stalked by a family or household member or a dating partner.
• You are related by blood or marriage and have lived together, are married, share a child, or had a dating relationship within 5 years.
• You or the respondent live in Butler County, or the violence happened in Butler County.
• You need the court to order no-contact, stay-away, or residence-exclusion terms.

Filing Fees

No filing fee (R.C. 3113.31) · Walk-in Mon–Fri 8:30–10:30 a.m. or 1:00–3:00 p.m. · Same-day ex parte hearing · Full hearing in 7–10 business days

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Butler County

1. Confirm eligibility and venue. You must have a qualifying relationship (family/household member or dating partner) and a Butler County connection. Choose the DV or Dating Violence petition accordingly.
2. Go to the DR Court on the walk-in schedule. Arrive early during 8:30–10:30 a.m. or 1:00–3:00 p.m. with a photo ID. The process can take several hours, and there is no filing fee.
3. Attend the ex parte hearing. A hearing officer hears your testimony the same day and can issue an ex parte order, then sets the full hearing in 7–10 business days.
4. Ensure service and attend the full hearing. The Sheriff must serve the respondent before the full hearing. You must appear at all hearings, or the case may be dismissed. A final CPO can last up to five years.

Butler County Practice Notes

• CPO is separate from divorce's mutual restraining order. A CPO is a stand-alone protection order issued only on a finding of domestic violence. It is different from the Mutual Temporary Restraining Order that attaches automatically to a divorce complaint. A CPO can also run alongside a divorce or criminal case.
• File through Document Submission, not E-Submission. DV/CPO filings cannot use the E-Submission portal. File in person on the walk-in schedule or through the Document Submission portal. A final CPO can last up to five years; if the hearing will exceed 15 minutes, request a continuance and more time.
• Victim advocates can help. Women Helping Women (24-hour hotline (513) 381-5610) and the Butler County Sheriff's Victim Assistance Program ((513) 887-3430) can support petitioners through the process. No childcare is provided at the court — arrange care for minor children.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Civil Protection Order the same as criminal charges?

No. A Civil Protection Order is civil — it orders the respondent to stay away and, when needed, leave the home, but it is not a criminal conviction. There are no filing fees for a CPO petition. File on a walk-in basis at the DR Court Monday–Friday, 8:30–10:30 a.m. or 1:00–3:00 p.m.; bring a photo ID and expect the process to take several hours. Violating a CPO is a separate criminal offense, and a CPO can run alongside criminal charges.

Does Butler County issue an automatic restraining order at filing?

Yes — unlike many Ohio counties, Butler County automatically attaches a Mutual Temporary Restraining Order to every divorce, annulment, and legal separation complaint (DR Local Rule 22). It restrains both spouses from hiding or wasting assets, removing children from Ohio, changing insurance or retirement beneficiaries, and running up joint debt. It is not a no-contact order and does not restrain wages, ordinary living expenses, or attorney fees.

How long does a case take in Butler County?

Dissolution: about 30–90 days — Butler County requires the final hearing within 90 days of filing or the petition is dismissed. Uncontested (default) divorce: roughly 4–6 months once the 28-day answer window passes with no Answer filed. Contested divorce: 6–18 months depending on temporary-orders activity and the trial calendar. Civil Protection Orders: an ex parte order can issue the same day, with the full hearing in 7–10 business days.

Is mediation available in Butler County?

Yes. Butler County DR offers mediation for custody and parenting-time disputes. Pre-decree mediation in divorces with children is often scheduled before the temporary-orders hearing and is free when handled by court staff; a private mediator charges their own fee. Post-decree, you can use a court magistrate or a community mediator from the court's approved list. Mediation is screened out and not used where domestic violence is alleged or a CPO is involved.

Free Local Resources in Butler County

• Butler County DR Court Forms & E-Submission. All Domestic Relations forms, instructions, and completed packets are posted at drcourt.bcohio.gov/forms. Non-DV documents are submitted through the E-Submission portal at drcsubmit.bcohio.gov; DV/CPO documents use the Document Submission portal.
• Butler County Juvenile Justice Center Forms. Custody, visitation, support, contempt, and emergency-custody complaints and motions (PDF and DOC) are at juvenilejusticecenter.bcohio.gov/forms___downloads. CSEA e-filing is at bcjjcefile.bcohio.gov/EFile.
• Butler County Bar Association. Attorney referral and general legal information at (513) 896-6671 / butlercountybar.org. Court staff cannot give legal advice.
• Women Helping Women (24-hour DV hotline). Confidential domestic-violence support and victim advocacy at (513) 381-5610. The Butler County Sheriff's Victim Assistance Program is at (513) 887-3430.

Other Family-Law Topics in Butler County

• Butler County Divorce — Contested and uncontested divorce filing at the Domestic Relations Court.
• Butler County Dissolution — The both-parties-agree path — faster and cheaper than divorce.
• Butler County Custody — Married parents file at DR; never-married parents at the Juvenile Justice Center.
• Butler County Civil Protection Orders — Walk-in DV/CPO filing with same-day ex parte review.

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.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Civil Protection Orders guide — Statewide overview of civil protection orders in Ohio.
• Cincinnati family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cincinnati metro.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.