Emergency & Temporary Orders in Crawford County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Crawford County, Ohio · Bucyrus

A divorce can take months. Temporary orders set the rules in the meantime — things like temporary support or a parenting schedule. Crawford County decides temporary orders from written affidavits: you file a Proposal for Temporary Orders, and the magistrate sets the orders on the paperwork. Ex parte (no-notice) orders are reserved for true emergencies.

How do I get emergency or temporary orders in Crawford County, Ohio?

The normal route is affidavit-based: file a Proposal for Temporary Orders with a financial affidavit and a child-support worksheet, and the magistrate sets temporary orders on the paperwork. Either party can request an oral hearing, generally held within 28 days. The emergency route is narrow — Crawford County treats ex parte orders as an emergency-only tool that requires a sworn affidavit and an attorney certification; after an emergency order, the other party gets a hearing within 10 days. A false statement made to get an ex parte order can bring sanctions, including dismissal and a fee award. If your situation involves violence, a protection order may be the better tool, and if anyone is in danger now, call 911.

Ohio Custody by the Numbers

Best interest The single standard that governs every Ohio custody decision Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04
No set age There is no age a child can choose a parent — the judge weighs a mature child's wishes Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(B)
Change in circumstances Required, plus a best-interest finding, before the residential parent can be changed Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(E)(1)
Shared parenting Either parent may ask the court for a joint parenting plan Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(G)

Compare Types of Custody in Ohio

Custody type	Who makes major decisions	Where the child lives	Best when
Shared parenting	Both parents jointly, under a written plan	Time is split per the plan (not always 50/50)	Parents can communicate and cooperate on decisions
Sole legal & residential	One parent	Primarily with that parent	One parent is unable or unwilling to co-parent
Split custody	Each parent for the child in their care	Siblings are divided between the two homes	Rare — only when it serves each child's best interest
Legal custody to a non-parent	The relative or caregiver granted custody	With the non-parent caregiver	Neither parent can safely care for the child

Where to File: Crawford County Court of Common Pleas

112 E. Mansfield Street, Bucyrus, OH 44820
Phone: (419) 562-5771
Hours: Monday–Friday
Website: crawfordcocpcourt.org/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Crawford County Juvenile & Probate Court
112 E. Mansfield Street, Bucyrus, OH 44820
Phone: (419) 562-1896
Hours: Monday–Friday

Emergency & Temporary Orders is the right path if…

You have a pending divorce, legal separation, or other DR case and need interim support or a parenting schedule.
You can complete a financial affidavit and (with children) a child-support worksheet.
For an emergency order, you can show a true emergency with a sworn affidavit.
You understand ex parte relief is disfavored and carries sanctions for false statements.

Filing Fees

Temporary and emergency orders are requested inside a pending DR case, so there is no separate filing deposit beyond the case deposit. Court fees and deposits change — confirm the current amount with the Crawford County Clerk of Courts at (419) 562-2766 (Domestic Relations) or the Juvenile Court at (419) 562-1896 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Standard temporary orders (the affidavit route) — Filed within the pending DR case (no separate deposit)

File a Proposal for Temporary Orders with a financial affidavit and a child-support worksheet. The magistrate sets temporary orders on the paperwork; either party can ask for an oral hearing, generally held within 28 days.

Proposal for Temporary Orders (Crawford DR forms) — The Crawford County local form used to request temporary support, a temporary parenting schedule, or other interim relief while a case is pending. File it with a financial affidavit and a child-support worksheet; the magistrate sets temporary orders on the paperwork. Tip: Attach a current Affidavit of Income & Expenses and, when children are involved, the Ohio child-support worksheet.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time the court sets or changes support.

Emergency (ex parte) order — Filed within the pending DR case (no separate deposit)

Reserved for true emergencies. You need a sworn affidavit and an attorney certification. After an emergency order, the other party gets a hearing within 10 days. False statements can bring sanctions, including dismissal and a fee award.

Proposal for Temporary Orders (Crawford DR forms) — The Crawford County local form used to request temporary support, a temporary parenting schedule, or other interim relief while a case is pending. File it with a financial affidavit and a child-support worksheet; the magistrate sets temporary orders on the paperwork. Tip: Attach a current Affidavit of Income & Expenses and, when children are involved, the Ohio child-support worksheet.
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.

How to File Emergency & Temporary Orders in Crawford County

Confirm you have a pending case. Temporary orders are requested inside a pending divorce, legal separation, or other DR case.
Complete the affidavits. Prepare a financial affidavit and, with children, a child-support worksheet to attach to the Proposal for Temporary Orders.
File the Proposal for Temporary Orders. File the local form; the magistrate sets temporary orders on the paperwork.
Request an oral hearing if needed. Either party can ask for an oral hearing, generally held within 28 days of a timely request.
Use the emergency path only for true emergencies. For an ex parte order, file a sworn affidavit and attorney certification; the other party gets a hearing within 10 days.

Crawford County Practice Notes

Temporary orders run on affidavits. Crawford County does not schedule an automatic hearing. You file a Proposal for Temporary Orders with a financial affidavit and child-support worksheet, and the magistrate sets temporary orders on the paperwork. Either party can request an oral hearing, generally held within 28 days.
Ex parte orders are emergency-only and disfavored. An ex parte order requires a sworn affidavit and an attorney certification. After an emergency order, the other party gets a hearing within 10 days. A false statement made to get one can bring sanctions, including dismissal and a fee award.
Violence may call for a protection order instead. If your situation involves violence, a civil protection order may be the better tool than a DR emergency order. If anyone is in danger now, call 911 — a court order is not an emergency response.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do temporary orders work in Crawford County?: Crawford County decides temporary orders from written affidavits. You file a Proposal for Temporary Orders with a financial affidavit and a child-support worksheet, and the magistrate sets temporary orders on the paperwork. Either party can request an oral hearing, generally held within 28 days.
Are emergency (ex parte) orders easy to get in Crawford County?: No. Crawford County treats ex parte orders as an emergency-only tool. You need a sworn affidavit and an attorney certification. After an emergency order, the other party gets a hearing within 10 days. A false statement made to get an ex parte order can bring sanctions, including dismissal and a fee award. If your situation involves violence, a protection order may be the better tool.
How do I get a civil protection order in Crawford County?: File a petition with the Common Pleas Clerk under R.C. 3113.31; there is no filing fee. The court runs a dedicated protection-order docket and can issue a same-day ex parte order if you show immediate danger. A full hearing follows in about 7 to 10 court days, and a final order can last up to five years and can cover custody, support, and firearms. Family or household members and people in a dating relationship can file. If you are in danger now, call 911.
Which court handles family law in Crawford County?: All family law runs through the Court of Common Pleas at 112 E. Mansfield Street in Bucyrus. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, spousal support, property division, and civil protection orders are heard before Judge Sean E. Leuthold, (419) 562-5771. Custody, parenting time, and child support for never-married parents are heard in the Juvenile Court before Judge Patrick T. Murphy, (419) 562-1896. Adoption is handled by the Probate Court before Judge Murphy, Suite 103, (419) 562-5876.
Can I e-file a family law case in Crawford County?: No. Crawford County does not have e-filing yet, so you file in person at the Clerk of Courts in Suite 204. Fax filing is reserved for emergencies. You can pay by cash, check, money order, or card, and cards add a 3% fee.

Free Local Resources in Crawford County

Crawford County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Current filing fees, deposit amounts, and case filing for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matters. File in person in Suite 204 at 112 E. Mansfield Street, Bucyrus; (419) 562-2766. No e-filing yet; fax is reserved for emergencies. Local court rules and the Proposal for Temporary Orders are at https://crawfordcocpcourt.org/local-court-rules/.
Crawford County Juvenile & Probate Court. Handles never-married-parent parentage, custody, parenting time, and support, plus non-parent custody, abuse/neglect/dependency (CPS), and adoption. Juvenile (419) 562-1896; Probate Suite 103 (419) 562-5876. Judge Patrick T. Murphy presides over both.
Crawford County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, and pays through the state. Opens IV-D cases and can review existing orders. Contact (419) 562-0773.
Crawford County Children Services hotline. To report a concern about a child's safety, call (419) 563-1570, which runs 24 hours. In an emergency, call 911.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.

Related to your emergency orders case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Grandparents' Rights — Seek visitation or custody when it serves the child's best interest.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.

Related guides

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

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.
Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Emergency Custody guide — Statewide overview of emergency custody in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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