Post-Decree Contempt in Clark County

Clark County, Ohio · Springfield

If the other party isn't following the Clark County DR's order — not paying support, not following the parenting schedule, not transferring property as ordered — you can file a Motion for Contempt at 101 N. Limestone Street in Springfield. Contempt can be civil (designed to force compliance) or criminal (designed to punish the violation). The court can order fines, jail, purge conditions, attorney fees, and make-up parenting time.

How do I file a contempt motion in Clark County, Ohio?

File a Motion for Contempt (Show Cause) at the Clark County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, 101 North Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502. Clark County does not publish a fill-in contempt form — call the Clerk at (937) 521-1753 for the local caption requirements. The motion must describe the specific court order being violated and how it was violated, attach a certified copy of the order and a sworn affidavit of facts, and request a show-cause hearing. The other party must be served and given the chance to respond. Possible remedies include fines, jail, purge conditions, attorney fees, and make-up parenting time.

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

101 North Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45502, Springfield, OH 45502
Phone: (937) 521-1753
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: www.clarkcountyohio.gov/

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party isn't paying child support or spousal support as ordered.
The other party isn't following the parenting-time schedule in the decree.
The other party hasn't transferred property (house, vehicle, retirement, account) as ordered.
The other party let court-ordered health insurance lapse.
Any willful violation of any clear, specific provision in the court's order.

If circumstances have changed and you need a new order going forward, you may want a modification motion instead — or alongside. See post-decree modifications.

Filing Fees

Filing fee set by Clerk · Civil contempt purge conditions can include payment plans, make-up parenting time, or property transfer · Criminal contempt carries fines and possible jail

Forms & Filing Packets

Core contempt motion packet — Filing fee set by Clerk — call (937) 521-1753

Required in every Clark County contempt filing.

Motion for Contempt (Show Cause) — Asks the court to enforce an existing order against a party who willfully violated it. Must describe the specific order, the specific violation, and request a show-cause hearing. Clark County does not publish a fill-in form — call the Clerk at (937) 521-1753 for the local caption requirements. Tip: Attach the certified copy of the order being violated and a sworn affidavit of facts.
Clark DR Notice of Hearing (local form) — Local DOCX template the moving party uses to notify the other side of any scheduled hearing date on a post-decree motion.

Support enforcement add-on

Attach when the violation is unpaid child support or spousal support. Include payment history from CSEA's case management system (or your own records if private-pay).

Affidavit of Income, Expenses & Financial Disclosure (Affidavit 1) — Must be notarized. Required at filing in every Clark DR case. Both parties file their own.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, sign. Required any time the court is being asked to set support.

Parenting-time enforcement add-on

Attach when the violation is parenting-time interference or custody-exchange refusal. A contemporaneous log of denied parenting time helps the Magistrate enter make-up time.

Clark County Mediation Referral Form — Either party (or the Magistrate sua sponte) can refer the case to court-connected mediation for custody, parenting time, or post-decree disputes.

If you need a continuance

Clark County requires the local Motion to Continue for any DR hearing continuance.

Clark DR Motion to Continue (local form) — Clark County local form. Required to formally request continuance of any DR hearing. Include opposing counsel's position if known.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Clark County

Pull the specific order language. Find the exact paragraph in the decree (or post-decree entry) the other party is violating. Vague orders rarely support contempt.
Document the violations. For support, attach the CSEA payment history or your own ledger. For parenting time, attach a contemporaneous log (date, time, what was denied, how). For property, attach proof the transfer didn't happen.
Draft the Motion for Contempt. Identify the specific order, the specific violation, and the relief sought. Attach a certified copy of the order and a sworn affidavit of facts. Call (937) 521-1753 for the Clark County caption requirements.
File at 101 N. Limestone Street and pay the filing fee. Once the court sets a hearing, complete and serve the Clark DR Notice of Hearing local form on the other party.
Attend the show-cause hearing prepared with exhibits. Bring marked exhibits (payment history, parenting log, transfer documents) and any witnesses. If the court finds contempt, expect purge conditions, fines, attorney-fee award, or — in serious cases — a suspended jail sentence with purge.

Clark County Practice Notes

The order must be clear and specific. Clark County DR will not hold a party in contempt for violating a vague or ambiguous order. If the decree language is fuzzy, you may need a modification motion to clarify it first.
Purge conditions are the heart of civil contempt. Civil contempt is coercive — the court usually finds the violator in contempt but stays the penalty if they comply with specific purge conditions (pay the arrears, restore missed parenting time, transfer the asset). Failure to purge triggers the suspended sentence.
Attorney fees are recoverable. Ohio law allows the prevailing party in a successful family-law contempt action to recover reasonable attorney fees. Keep contemporaneous billing records and a clear timeline of the violations.
Consider mediation for parenting disputes. For repeated parenting-time conflicts that don't rise to clear contempt, Clark County's mediation referral can be more effective than contempt — especially when both sides have communication breakdowns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Modification versus contempt — which one do I file?: File a modification motion (Forms 26, 27, or 28) when circumstances have changed and you want a new order going forward. File a Motion for Contempt when the existing order is being violated and you want the court to enforce it — possible remedies include fines, jail, purge conditions, attorney fees, and make-up parenting time. The two motions can be filed together when both apply.
Where do hearings actually take place?: Cases are assigned to Hon. Thomas J. Capper at 101 N. Limestone Street, but Magistrates Ann Ringler and Patrick Phillips hold most hearings in the A.B. Graham Building at 31 N. Limestone Street (a separate building one block away). Confirm your location on the hearing notice before you arrive.
Is mediation available in Clark County?: Yes. Clark County offers court-connected mediation for custody, parenting time, and other family-law disputes — including post-decree motions. Either party can request a referral using the Clark County Mediation Referral Form, or the Magistrate can refer sua sponte. Mediation is generally not used in CPO cases involving domestic violence.
How much does it cost to file in Clark County DR?: Dissolution is a $350 deposit (not a flat fee — the balance is refunded after costs). For divorce, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree motions, deposits are set by the Clerk — call (937) 521-1753 for the current amount before filing. CPO petitions are free. Juvenile court charges a $25 non-refundable application fee for court-appointed counsel.
When do I file in the Juvenile Section instead of DR?: If you were never married to the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are filed in the Clark County Juvenile Section (clarkohiojuvcourt.us), not in DR. If you were married, those issues travel with the divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in DR at 101 N. Limestone Street.

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.

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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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