Enforcing Orders Through Contempt in Clermont County

Clermont County, Ohio · Batavia

When the other party ignores a court order — withholding the children, skipping support, or refusing to follow the decree — a contempt motion asks the court to enforce it. In Clermont County, file in the court that issued the order. The filer pays a $165 deposit, which the court can order the violating party to reimburse if contempt is found.

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

File a Post-Decree Motion for Contempt with the court that issued your order — the Clermont County Domestic Relations Court at 2340 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 200, Batavia (Form 302), or the Juvenile Court at Suite 100. The filer pays a $165 deposit (cash, check, or money order at DR), which the court can order the contemnor to reimburse. Penalties for contempt include jail, fines, attorney fees, and court costs. The alleged contemnor must appear in person at the contempt pretrial (DR Local Rule 15) and may request appointed counsel if indigent.

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

2340 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 200, Batavia, OH 45103, Batavia, OH 45103
Phone: (513) 732-7327
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Website: domesticcourt.org/

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.

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party is violating a custody, parenting-time, or support order.
You have a clear, final order that spells out the obligation being ignored.
Informal efforts to get compliance haven't worked.
You can document the violations (dates, missed payments, denied parenting time).

Filing Fees

$165 deposit at DR (cash, check, or money order), reimbursable if contempt is found · Juvenile filing per the cost schedule · Penalties: jail, fines, attorney fees, court costs

Forms & Filing Packets

Contempt through Domestic Relations (divorced parents) — $165 deposit (reimbursable if contempt is found)

Filed at the DR Court, Suite 200, where your divorce or dissolution decree was issued.

Post-Decree Motion for Contempt and Affidavit (Clermont Form 302) — Clermont's motion and supporting affidavit asking the DR Court to hold the other party in contempt for violating the decree.
Motion for Contempt (Supreme Court Form 24) — The Ohio standardized contempt motion for failure to follow a parenting or support order.
Motion for Appointed Counsel to Defend Against Contempt (Clermont Form 114) — Used by an alleged contemnor who is indigent to request appointed counsel (DR Local Rule 50).

Contempt through Juvenile Court (never-married parents) — Per the Juvenile Court cost schedule

Filed at the Juvenile Court, Suite 100, where your custody or support order was issued.

Motion for Contempt (Clermont Juvenile) — Juvenile Court motion asking the court to enforce a custody, parenting-time, or support order against a violating party.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Clermont County

Confirm the order and the violation. Identify the specific order term being violated and gather proof — missed payments, denied parenting time, or non-compliance dates.
File in the issuing court. DR Form 302 (or Form 24) in Domestic Relations; the Juvenile contempt motion otherwise. Pay the $165 DR deposit.
Serve the other party. The contemnor must be served and must appear in person at the contempt pretrial.
Present evidence at the hearing. Show the violations; if contempt is found, the court can order purge conditions, fees, costs, and your deposit reimbursed.

Clermont County Practice Notes

The alleged contemnor must appear in person. Under DR Local Rule 15, the alleged contemnor must appear in person at the contempt pretrial — phone appearance isn't allowed. If the moving party fails to appear, the motion is dismissed for lack of prosecution (DR Local Rule 16).
Appointed counsel for indigent contemnors. Because contempt can carry jail time, an indigent alleged contemnor can request appointed counsel (Form 114). The DR indigency threshold is 187.5% of the Ohio Public Defender guidelines, at $75/hour up to $300 (DR Local Rule 50).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to file in Clermont County?: Domestic Relations deposits: divorce, legal separation, or annulment $325 without minor children / $400 with minor children; dissolution $300 without children / $350 with children; Complaint for Custody $215; Complaint for Support $215; post-decree motion $165 per motion. The DR Clerk takes cash, check, or money order only — no credit cards. Confirm current amounts at https://domesticcourt.org/costs-and-filing-fees/.
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.
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.

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).

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.
Cincinnati family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cincinnati metro.
Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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