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.

Carroll County Contempt & Enforcement Attorneys

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.

Hire Gavvl for your Carroll County contempt case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Carroll County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start (flat fees from $950).

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

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.

Enforce your Carroll County order with Gavvl Law

When someone ignores a Carroll County decree, contempt is how you enforce it — a motion to show cause filed in the division that issued the order. In the General & DR Division the motion has to reference the prior order by the date of its entry and state the express term that was violated (Local Rule 10.10), and show-cause motions are set for an oral hearing where every party must be ready on the merits (Local Rule 10.04(B)). Gavvl Law drafts a motion that meets those requirements and presents your evidence at the hearing. Flat-fee filing with full representation through resolution.

Drafted to Local Rule 10.10. Carroll County requires the show-cause motion to name the prior order by its entry date and quote the exact term disobeyed. We draft to Local Rule 10.10 so the motion is specific enough to enforce rather than vulnerable to dismissal.
Ready for an oral hearing on the merits. Under Local Rule 10.04(B), a General & DR show-cause motion goes straight to an oral hearing where all parties must be prepared to prove their case. We come ready with the affidavit, records, and dates instead of expecting a paper ruling.
Two tracks, plus CSEA enforcement. General & DR contempt rides a $150 post-decree motion; Probate & Juvenile contempt is $100 — and unpaid support can also be pursued through CSEA enforcement. We keep the two tracks separate, file in the issuing division, and price the enforcement as a flat fee.

Because the two contempt tracks live in different divisions — decree obligations between former spouses in the General & DR Division, unmarried-parent orders in Probate & Juvenile — filing in the wrong one wastes a deposit and time. We route your motion correctly at the Carroll County courthouse and can layer CSEA enforcement on a support arrearage.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the motion for contempt / show cause to enforce an order the other party is violating. You appear at any hearing.

Contempt (single issue): $950
Contempt (multiple issues): $1,450

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your contempt case or see payment plans & financing.

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

119 S. Lisbon St., Suite 401, Carrollton, OH 44615
Phone: (330) 627-4886
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Website: Court website
e-Filing: Online e-filing portal

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Carroll County Probate & Juvenile Division
119 S. Lisbon St., Suite 202, 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) 627-4886 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.

More Carroll County family-law resources

Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
Carroll County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Carroll County guide.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
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Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.