Emergency & Temporary Orders in Carroll County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Carroll County, Ohio · Carrollton

When a child is at risk or you need to hold the status quo, Carroll County offers temporary and ex parte orders while a case is pending. In the General & DR Division you can request temporary custody/parenting time, child and spousal support, and use of the home; these motions are scheduled for hearing by the court (Local Rule 10.04(A)). In urgent situations a party may seek an ex parte order on a sworn affidavit. These are not final custody determinations — they hold things steady until a full hearing.

How do I get an emergency custody order in Carroll County, Ohio?

In a General & DR Division case, file a motion for temporary orders; the court schedules these motions for hearing (Local Rule 10.04(A)). Motions affecting child support must include a child-support worksheet, and motions concerning support must be supported by a Financial Affidavit and a Private Health Insurance Affidavit (Local Rule 10.08(C)); a motion for allocation of parental rights must include the moving party's affidavit stating facts sufficient to support the relief. For ex parte relief the court uses the Ohio Supreme Court uniform temporary-orders form, and how quickly it rules depends on the timing of the filing. For never-married parents, the same urgent relief is sought in the Probate & Juvenile Division. If you need protection from abuse rather than a custody order, a DVCPO may be the faster tool.

Ohio Custody by the Numbers

Best interest The single standard that governs every Ohio custody decision Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04
No set age There is no age a child can choose a parent — the judge weighs a mature child's wishes Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(B)
Change in circumstances Required, plus a best-interest finding, before the residential parent can be changed Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(E)(1)
Shared parenting Either parent may ask the court for a joint parenting plan Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(G)

Compare Types of Custody in Ohio

Custody type	Who makes major decisions	Where the child lives	Best when
Shared parenting	Both parents jointly, under a written plan	Time is split per the plan (not always 50/50)	Parents can communicate and cooperate on decisions
Sole legal & residential	One parent	Primarily with that parent	One parent is unable or unwilling to co-parent
Split custody	Each parent for the child in their care	Siblings are divided between the two homes	Rare — only when it serves each child's best interest
Legal custody to a non-parent	The relative or caregiver granted custody	With the non-parent caregiver	Neither parent can safely care for the child

Where to File: Carroll County Court of Common Pleas, General & Domestic Relations Division

119 S. Lisbon St., Suite 401, Carrollton, OH 44615, Carrollton, OH 44615
Phone: (330) 627-4886
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Website: carrollcountyohio.us/agencies-and-departments/court
e-Filing: https://carrollcountyclerk.org/eservices

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Carroll County Probate & Juvenile Division
119 S. Lisbon St., Suite 202, Carrollton, OH 44615, Carrollton, OH 44615
Phone: (330) 627-2323
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Emergency Custody is the right path if…

A child faces immediate danger or a serious risk of harm.
You need temporary custody/parenting time, support, or use of the home right now.
You can swear to specific facts showing why the relief can't wait for a full hearing.
There is a pending or newly filed case the temporary orders can attach to.

Filing Fees

Temporary-orders motions are scheduled for hearing by the court (Local Rule 10.04(A)) · ex parte relief uses the Ohio Supreme Court uniform form on a sworn affidavit — domestic-violence emergencies are handled through a DVCPO. Confirm current requirements with the Clerk at (330) 627-4886

Forms & Filing Packets

Motion for temporary / ex parte orders

File a motion for temporary orders with a supporting affidavit. The court schedules these motions for hearing (Local Rule 10.04(A)); for ex parte relief it uses the Ohio Supreme Court uniform form.

Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Asks the court for temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Tip: Attach a current Financial Affidavit (Affidavit 1) and Affidavit 2 (Property).
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Affidavit of Property (Ohio SC Affidavit 2) — Lists every asset and debt. Required at filing.

Add child-related affidavits

In any case involving children, attach the UCCJEA Parenting Proceeding Affidavit and the child-support worksheet so the court can address temporary parenting time and support.

Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time the court sets or changes support.
Verified Motion for Temporary Orders Ex Parte (self-help packet) — A library-hosted self-help packet (instructions, a notarized verification, Instructions for Service, and a proposed Judgment Entry). It is a generic Ohio template, not an official court-issued form — confirm current requirements with the Clerk before relying on it.

How to File Emergency Custody in Carroll County

Confirm it's truly urgent. Identify the immediate risk to the child or the need to preserve support, parenting time, or use of the home while the case is pending.
Prepare the motion and affidavit. Complete the motion for temporary orders with a sworn affidavit setting out specific facts; add the child-support worksheet and Financial/Health Insurance affidavits where support is at issue.
File in the right division. File in the General & DR Division (married parents) or the Probate & Juvenile Division (never-married parents), within an existing or newly filed case.
Attend the hearing. The court schedules temporary-orders motions for hearing; if an ex parte order is granted, it holds things steady until the full hearing replaces it.

Carroll County Practice Notes

Temporary-orders motions are set for hearing. Under Local Rule 10.04(A), motions for temporary orders are scheduled for hearing by the court. Motions affecting child support must include a child-support worksheet, and motions concerning support need a Financial Affidavit and a Private Health Insurance Affidavit (Local Rule 10.08(C)). A motion for allocation of parental rights must be accompanied by the moving party's supporting affidavit.
Temporary orders are not permanent. Temporary and ex parte orders govern only while the case is pending and are replaced by the final decree. The court uses the Ohio Supreme Court uniform temporary-orders form rather than a separate local ex parte form, and how quickly it rules on an ex parte request depends on the docket and timing of the filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get an emergency or temporary order in Carroll County while my case is pending?: Yes. In a General & DR Division case you can file a motion for temporary orders for interim custody/parenting time, support, or use of the home; these motions are scheduled for hearing by the court (Local Rule 10.04(A)). In urgent situations a party may seek an ex parte order using the Ohio Supreme Court uniform temporary-orders form; how quickly the court rules depends on the timing of the filing. A temporary or ex parte order is not a final determination.
Do I file in the General & DR Division or the Probate & Juvenile Division in Carroll County?: If you are or were married to the other parent, custody, parenting time, and support are decided inside your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in the General & Domestic Relations Division (Clerk of Courts, Suite 401). If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are handled by the combined Probate & Juvenile Division (Suite 202, (330) 627-2323). Non-parent (grandparent/relative) custody and companionship are always filed in the Probate & Juvenile Division.
Where do I file a domestic violence protection order in Carroll County?: For an adult DVCPO (R.C. 3113.31), start with the Carroll County Victims Assistance Program, which assists petitioners with the process; the case then proceeds in the General & Domestic Relations Division. Protection orders involving a juvenile are handled by the Probate & Juvenile Division. Civil Protection Order pleadings (Domestic Violence, Stalking, Dating) are excluded from the e-filing portal and must be filed on paper.
Does Carroll County use a standard parenting-time schedule?: Yes. The General & DR Division publishes a detailed, age-based Standard Parenting Order and Rules Governing Companionship Time that the court applies unless the parents agree otherwise or the judge orders differently. It presumes equal parenting time for children ages 3–13 absent clearly defined special circumstances, with separate schedules for infants/toddlers and teens, plus a Long-Distance Parenting Order when parents live more than 100 miles apart.

Free Local Resources in Carroll County

Carroll County Clerk of Courts. Provides current filing fees, local forms, and filing instructions for custody, divorce, and dissolution cases. Call (330) 627-2450 or visit https://carrollcountyohio.us/agencies-and-departments/courts/court-of-common-pleas/ before filing to confirm deposits and packet requirements.
Carroll County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Carroll County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.

Related to your emergency custody case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Grandparents' Rights — Seek visitation or custody when it serves the child's best interest.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on emergency custody and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Emergency Custody guide — Statewide overview of emergency custody in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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