Enforcing Orders Through Contempt in Carroll County

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

Carroll County, Ohio · Carrollton

When the other party ignores a court order, contempt is how Carroll County enforces it. General & DR contempt enforces obligations in a divorce, dissolution, legal-separation, or annulment decree — support, property division, parenting time, and similar terms. Probate & Juvenile contempt enforces orders entered between unmarried parents or non-parent custodians. File in the division that issued the order, and keep the two tracks separate.

How do I file for contempt in Carroll County, Ohio?

File a motion to show cause in the division that issued the order — the General & DR Division for divorce/dissolution/legal-separation/annulment decrees, or the Probate & Juvenile Division for orders between unmarried parents. In the General & DR Division, the motion must reference the prior order by the date of its entry and state the express term alleged to have been violated (Local Rule 10.10), and motions to show cause are set for an oral hearing where all parties must be prepared to present their case on the merits (Local Rule 10.04(B)). A General & DR post-decree motion deposit is $150; the Probate & Juvenile equivalent is $100. For unpaid support, you can also pursue CSEA enforcement.

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

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

There is a clear Carroll County court order the other party is violating.
The other party is able to comply but is choosing not to.
You can point to the exact decree or order provision being disobeyed.
Earlier informal attempts to get compliance haven't worked.

Filing Fees

General & DR contempt rides the $150 post-decree motion deposit; Probate & Juvenile contempt $100 · unpaid support can also be pursued through CSEA enforcement — confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (330) 627-4886

Forms & Filing Packets

General & DR contempt (divorce / dissolution decree) — $150 General & DR post-decree motion

Draft a motion to show cause that references the prior order's entry date and names the violated term (Local Rule 10.10); the court sets it for an oral hearing (Local Rule 10.04(B)).

Domestic Relations Case Designation Form (Carroll County) — Required county cover sheet filed with every new Domestic Relations case. You choose the filing category (A–K), list any open or closed cases involving the children, and flag whether the case is appropriate for mediation.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.

Probate & Juvenile contempt (unmarried parents) — $100 Probate & Juvenile motion

Enforce a Probate & Juvenile custody, parenting-time, or support order with a motion to show cause. Contact the deputy clerk for a hearing date before filing.

Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction over custody under the UCCJEA. Required in any case involving minor children.
Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio SC Form 28) — The Ohio uniform motion to change child support, medical support, or the tax exemption after a change of circumstances. File in the division that issued the order.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Carroll County

Pinpoint the violation. Identify the exact decree or order provision the other party is disobeying — support, parenting time, property transfer, or another term.
Draft the motion to show cause. Prepare a motion that references the prior order's entry date and states the express term violated, with a supporting affidavit of the facts and dates.
File in the issuing division. File the General & DR contempt motion ($150) in the General & DR Division, or the Probate & Juvenile contempt motion ($100) in the Probate & Juvenile Division.
Attend the show-cause hearing. The court holds an oral hearing; possible outcomes include fines, attorney fees, makeup parenting time, and jail subject to purge conditions. Unpaid support can also go through CSEA enforcement.

Carroll County Practice Notes

Keep the two contempt tracks separate. General & DR contempt enforces decree obligations between (former) spouses and is filed in the General & DR Division; Probate & Juvenile contempt enforces orders involving unmarried parents or non-parent custodians and is filed in the Probate & Juvenile Division. They live in different divisions.
Show-cause motions get an oral hearing. In the General & DR Division, motions to show cause are set for an oral hearing and all parties must be prepared to present their case on the merits (Local Rule 10.04(B)). The motion must reference the prior order by the date of its entry and state the express term alleged to have been violated (Local Rule 10.10).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enforce a Carroll County family-law order through contempt?: File a motion to show cause in the division that issued the order. In the General & DR Division, motions to show cause are set for an oral hearing and all parties must be prepared to present their case on the merits (Local Rule 10.04(B)); the motion must reference the prior order by the date of its entry and state the express term alleged to have been violated (Local Rule 10.10). Contempt of a Probate/Juvenile order is handled in that division instead.
Where do I file a post-decree motion in Carroll County?: File in the division that issued the order. Divorce, dissolution, legal-separation, and annulment decrees are modified or enforced in the General & DR Division; orders entered between unmarried parents are modified or enforced in the Probate & Juvenile Division. Continuing jurisdiction matters: if a married couple's decree already allocates parental rights, later modification stays in the General & DR Division case. A General & DR post-decree motion costs $150 (or $100 with an agreed judgment entry); the Probate/Juvenile equivalent is $100.
Who handles child support in Carroll County, and is there a processing charge?: The Carroll County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 55 East Main Street, Carrollton ((330) 627-5357; toll-free 800-567-5357; Director Shelley A. Martin), collects and enforces support. All support ordered in General & DR cases must be paid through the CSEA — direct payments to the other party are treated as gifts and earn no credit — and a 2% processing charge is assessed on the obligation. Cases with minor children must include an application for IV-D services with the CSEA.
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.

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 contempt case

Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Related guides

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

Contempt Motions in Ohio Family Court: Enforcing Your Order — When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding the children or refusing to pay support — a contempt motion is how Ohio courts enforce it. Here's how the process works.
Post-Decree Modifications in Ohio: Changing Your Order After Divorce — Your divorce decree isn't carved in stone. When life changes, Ohio lets you modify custody, parenting time, and support — but each requires meeting a specific legal standard. Here's how.

Keep exploring

Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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