Civil Protection Orders in Clark County
Reviewed by Stephanie Green, Esq. · Managing Partner, Gavvl Law · Last updated May 27, 2026
Clark County, Ohio · Springfield
A Civil Protection Order (CPO) is the fastest legal protection Ohio offers from domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. In Clark County, CPO petitions are NOT filed at the main courthouse — they are filed at the Clark County Title Office in the A.B. Graham Building, 55 East Columbia Street, Springfield. There is no filing fee, and the court can grant an ex parte order the same day.
How do I file a Civil Protection Order in Clark County, Ohio?
Pick the right packet — Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, or Civil Stalking — and file it at the Clark County Title Office in the A.B. Graham Building, 55 East Columbia Street, Springfield. There is no filing fee. If you show immediate and present danger, the court can issue an ex parte (temporary) order the same day, before the respondent appears. A full hearing is scheduled within 7 to 10 days, where both sides present evidence. If the court finds protection is warranted, it can issue a CPO lasting up to 5 years.
Where to File: Clark County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Adult Section)
101 North Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502, Springfield, OH 45502Phone: (937) 521-1753
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: www.clarkcountyohio.gov/
Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…
- You are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking and need court protection.
- You need immediate protection — a stay-away, no-contact, residence exclusion, or surrender-of-weapons order.
- You can describe specific incidents with dates and details in a sworn petition.
- You want protection that can last up to 5 years after a full hearing.
Filing Fees
No filing fee for CPO petitions · Filed at the Clark County Title Office, A.B. Graham Building, 55 E. Columbia Street, Springfield · Ex parte order possible the same day; full hearing within 7-10 days.
Forms & Filing Packets
Domestic Violence Protection Order — No filing fee for CPO petitions
For victims of domestic violence by a family or household member. Filed at the Clark County Title Office.
- Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order Packet — Clark County petition packet for a Domestic Violence CPO. Filed at the Clark County Title Office, A.B. Graham Building, 55 E. Columbia Street, Springfield. No filing fee.
Dating Violence Protection Order — No filing fee for CPO petitions
For victims in a dating relationship who are not family or household members.
- Dating Violence Civil Protection Order Packet — Clark County petition packet for a Dating Violence CPO — for petitioners in a dating relationship who are not family or household members. Filed at the Title Office; no filing fee.
Civil Stalking Protection Order — No filing fee for CPO petitions
For victims of stalking, whether or not there is a family or dating relationship.
- Civil Stalking Protection Order Packet — Clark County petition packet for a Civil Stalking Protection Order. Filed at the Clark County Title Office, A.B. Graham Building, 55 E. Columbia Street, Springfield. No filing fee.
How to File Civil Protection Orders in Clark County
- Choose the right packet. Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, or Civil Stalking — based on your relationship to the respondent. All three are available from Clark County.
- Write specific facts in the petition. Include dates, locations, what happened, and any witnesses. Specific, recent facts support an ex parte order.
- File at the Clark County Title Office. File at the A.B. Graham Building, 55 East Columbia Street, Springfield. There is no filing fee.
- Get same-day ex parte review. If you show immediate and present danger, the court can issue an ex parte order the same day. It takes effect when the respondent is served.
- Attend the full hearing. A full hearing is set within 7 to 10 days. Bring your evidence and witnesses. The court can issue a final CPO lasting up to 5 years.
Clark County Practice Notes
- Filed at the Title Office, not the courthouse. Clark County CPO petitions are filed at the Clark County Title Office in the A.B. Graham Building, 55 East Columbia Street, Springfield — not at the Domestic Relations Court at 101 N. Limestone Street.
- Same-day ex parte protection. If you show immediate and present danger, the court can issue an ex parte (temporary) order the same day, protecting you before the respondent has a chance to appear.
- Full hearing and up to a 5-year order. A full hearing is scheduled within 7 to 10 days, and the respondent is served with notice. At the hearing both sides present evidence; the court can then issue a CPO lasting up to 5 years.
- What a CPO can order. A CPO can order the respondent to stay away from you, leave a shared residence, have no contact with you or your children, surrender firearms, and follow other protective provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where do I file a Civil Protection Order in Clark County?
- CPO petitions are NOT filed at the main courthouse. File at the Clark County Title Office in the A.B. Graham Building, 55 East Columbia Street, Springfield. There is no filing fee. The court can issue an ex parte order the same day if you show immediate and present danger; a full hearing is scheduled within 7 to 10 days.
- What types of protection orders can I file in Clark County?
- Clark County provides three petition packets: a Domestic Violence Protection Order, a Dating Violence Protection Order, and a Civil Stalking Protection Order. All three are filed at the Clark County Title Office in the A.B. Graham Building, 55 East Columbia Street, Springfield, and there is no filing fee.
- What can a Clark County Civil Protection Order require?
- A CPO can order the respondent to stay away from you, leave a shared residence, have no contact with you or your children, surrender firearms, and follow other protective terms. After a full hearing — scheduled within 7 to 10 days of filing — the court can issue a CPO lasting up to 5 years.
- What should I do if I'm in immediate danger in Clark County?
- Call 911. You can also reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, and contact United Way 2-1-1 for local shelter and advocacy services in Clark County. A Civil Protection Order petition can be filed at the Clark County Title Office at no cost, and the court can issue an ex parte order the same day if you show immediate and present danger.
Free Local Resources in Clark County
- Clark County DR Clerk. 101 N. Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502. Phone (937) 521-1753 for filing-fee deposits, copy requirements, and procedural questions.
- Ohio Supreme Court Standardized Forms. Clark County uses these forms for every DR case type — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree modifications. Available at supremecourt.ohio.gov.
- Clark County Public Library (Main Branch, S. Fountain Ave.). LawPak Ohio Dissolution forms at the Reference Desk and access to the Cengage Legal Forms Database (library card required).
- Clark County Mediation Referral. Court-connected mediation for custody, parenting time, and post-decree disputes. Referral form linked from clarkcountyohio.gov DR forms page.
- Legal Aid of Western Ohio. Free civil legal assistance for income-qualifying Clark County residents. Call (877) 894-4599.
- Clark County Bar Association. Lawyer referral service. clarkcobar.com.
- United Way 2-1-1 (Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties). Free 24/7 referral line for local shelter, advocacy, and social services.
Other Family-Law Topics in Clark County
- Clark County Dissolution — Cooperative path — $350 deposit, 30-90 days to final hearing.
- Clark County Divorce — Full filing guide with Ohio SC standardized forms and the 42-day waiting period.
- Clark County Legal Separation — Same forms as divorce — marriage stays legally intact at the end.
- Clark County Annulment — Limited grounds under R.C. 3105.31 — treats the marriage as if it never happened.
- Clark County Post-Decree Modifications — Change child support, custody, or parenting time after the decree.
- Clark County Post-Decree Contempt — Enforce an order the other party is violating.
- Clark County Custody — Allocation of parental rights — Adult Section or Juvenile Section, with the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest test.
- Clark County Child Support — Set, modify, or enforce support under the Ohio 2024 Income Shares Model.
- Clark County Paternity — Establish a father, custody, and support for never-married parents with Form 23.
- Clark County Shared Parenting — Both parents as residential parent under a notarized Form 20 plan.
- Clark County Civil Protection Orders — Same-day ex parte protection — no filing fee, filed at the Title Office.
Related to your cpo 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.
- Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton 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.
Call (513) 643-1969 or email support@gavvl.com.
