Clark County Protection Order Attorneys

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · 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.

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Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Clark County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

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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.

Clark County protection orders — get counsel fast

A Civil Protection Order is the fastest legal shield Ohio offers against domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. In Clark County you do not go to the main courthouse — petitions are filed at the Clark County Title Office in the A.B. Graham Building at 55 East Columbia Street in Springfield, with no filing fee, and the court can grant a same-day ex parte order if you show immediate and present danger. A full hearing follows within 7 to 10 days. Gavvl Law prepares the petition and represents you at that hearing, where a final order can last up to five years.

The right packet, filed at the right place. Clark offers three petitions — Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Civil Stalking — matched to your relationship with the respondent, and all are filed at the Title Office in the A.B. Graham Building, not at 101 N. Limestone. We pick the correct packet and file it where the county actually accepts it.
A petition specific enough for an ex parte order. Same-day ex parte protection turns on showing immediate and present danger with specific, recent facts — dates, locations, and what happened. We help you set out those incidents clearly so the court has grounds to protect you before the respondent is ever served.
Ready for the full hearing within 7 to 10 days. The ex parte order is temporary; the respondent is served and a full hearing is set within 7 to 10 days, where both sides present evidence. We organize your exhibits and witnesses so the court can enter a final CPO — one that can run up to five years.

There is no filing fee for a Clark County CPO petition, and in an emergency you should call 911; the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and United Way 2-1-1 connect you to local shelter and advocacy. We stand with you from the Title Office petition through the full hearing so the order holds.

Flat-fee options

Flat fee: we file your DV civil protection order petition and represent you at the ex parte and full hearings — or, if you are the responding party, defend you at the full hearing.

Defend a protection order (full hearing): $2,900
File a DV protection order (petition + hearings): $3,500

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. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

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Where to File: Clark County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Adult Section)

101 North Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502
Phone: (937) 521-1753
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: Court website

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.

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Related guides

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

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.
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.