Filing a Civil Protection Order in Clermont County

How do I file a Civil Protection Order in Clermont County, Ohio?

File a Petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Supreme Court Form 10.01-D) at the Clermont County Domestic Relations Court, 2340 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 200, Batavia. There is no filing fee, but the Clerk does not accept CPO petitions after 2:30 p.m. After filing, you wait for a same-day ex parte hearing; if granted, the ex parte order lists a hearing date and an expiration date. The full hearing is set within 7–10 business days, and a final CPO can last up to 5 years. Use the with-children packet if you need temporary custody terms.

Where to File: Clermont County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Clermont County Juvenile Court
2340 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 100, Batavia, OH 45103, Batavia, OH 45103
Phone: (513) 732-7696
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• A family or household member, or a dating partner, has caused or threatened physical harm.
• You need the other person ordered to stay away, leave the home, or surrender firearms.
• You may need temporary custody or support included in the order.
• You can file before the 2:30 p.m. daily cutoff.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for CPO petitions · Filing hours 8:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. · Same-day ex parte order · Full hearing in 7–10 business days · Final order up to 5 years

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Clermont County

1. Choose the right packet. Use the with-children packet for temporary custody terms, the without-children packet otherwise, or the dating-violence packet for a dating partner.
2. File at the DR Court before 2:30 p.m.. File the petition (Form 10.01-D) at 2340 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 200, Batavia. There is no filing fee.
3. Attend the same-day ex parte hearing. Explain the most recent and most serious incidents to the Judge or Magistrate, who may issue an ex parte order.
4. Return for the full hearing. The full hearing is set within 7–10 business days; bring evidence and witnesses. A final order can last up to 5 years or resolve by consent agreement.

Clermont County Practice Notes

• File by 2:30 p.m. — there is no fee. The Clerk's Office does not accept DVCPO petitions after 2:30 p.m. There is no filing fee. After filing you provide a service address and wait for a same-day ex parte hearing, which often takes an hour or more.
• Two dates on the ex parte order. An ex parte CPO lists both a hearing date and an expiration date. The full hearing is set within 7–10 business days. If the respondent isn't served, the hearing is continued and the ex parte order stays in effect; service can be obtained by posting.
• A CPO is civil, not criminal. A CPO orders stay-away, firearm surrender, and (when needed) residence exclusion, but it is not a criminal conviction. Violating it is a separate crime — call police and you can also file contempt in DR Court. CPOs are never set through mediation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Civil Protection Order the same as criminal charges in Clermont County?

No. A CPO is a civil order that can require the respondent to stay away, surrender firearms, and (when needed) leave the home, but it is not a criminal conviction. The DR Clerk does not accept CPO petitions after 2:30 p.m., and there is no filing fee. Violating a CPO is a separate criminal offense — call police, and you can also file a contempt motion in DR Court.

How long does a Clermont County case take?

Dissolution: the hearing must be set at least 30 days and no more than 90 days after filing. Uncontested divorce: roughly 4–6 months. Contested divorce: 6–18 months. After a Magistrate's Decision, either party has 14 days to file Objections. Civil Protection Orders: an ex parte order the same day, with the full hearing scheduled within 7–10 business days and a final order lasting up to 5 years.

Do I file in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Clermont County?

If you are married to the other parent (or were married when the children were born), custody, parenting time, and child support travel with your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment at the Domestic Relations Court, Suite 200. If you were never married, paternity and custody go to the Clermont County Juvenile Court, Suite 100 — both at 2340 Clermont Center Drive in Batavia. Grandparent and non-parent custody is always Juvenile. Civil Protection Orders are filed in Domestic Relations.

Is mediation available in Clermont County?

Yes. The DR Court offers mediation for parenting and property disputes at no charge for sessions held at the courthouse (DR Local Rule 30). Sessions run about 2 hours and most cases finish in 1–3 sessions. Agreements are not binding until signed by both parties and approved by the court. Mediation is screened for domestic violence and is never used to set CPO terms.

Free Local Resources in Clermont County

• Clermont County Domestic Relations Court Forms & Self-Help. All DR Court forms organized by number and by name, filing checklists (Appendix A), the costs-and-filing-fees schedule, and the 'Can I Talk to a Judge?' guide are posted at domesticcourt.org/organized-by-form-name.
• Domestic Court Law Clinic & Legal Aid Help Clinic. A monthly volunteer-attorney clinic (9 a.m.–noon at the Clermont County Library, 326 Broadway Street, Batavia) reviews documents before filing, and the Legal Aid Society Legal Help Clinic runs the 3rd and 4th Wednesday each month, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., at the DR Court for divorce, dissolution, and post-decree matters (no CPO advice).
• Ohio Justice Bus at the DR Court. The mobile legal-aid office parks in the DR Court lot the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., offering free DR legal advice and forms help — no appointment needed (domesticcourt.org/the-ohio-justice-bus).
• Clermont Supports Kids (CSEA). Clermont County's IV-D child-support agency at 2400 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 107, Batavia, (513) 732-7248. Opens support cases, runs the Income Shares calculation, and enforces orders. Payments through Ohio SMART e-Pay at oh.smartchildsupport.com (clermontsupportskids.org).

Other Family-Law Topics in Clermont County

• Clermont County Divorce — Full filing guide for contested divorce in Clermont DR.
• Clermont County Dissolution — Both-parties-agree route — faster and cheaper than divorce.
• Clermont County Custody — Married parents file inside divorce; never-married parents file at Juvenile Court.
• Clermont County Child Support — Set or enforce support through the DR Court or Clermont Supports Kids.

Related to your protection orders 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.
• Cincinnati family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cincinnati 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.