Crawford County Contempt & Enforcement Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Crawford County contempt case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Crawford County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start (flat fees from $950).

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

Enforce your Crawford County order with Gavvl Law

When the other party withholds parenting time, stops paying support, or ignores the decree, you can ask the court to hold them in contempt. In Crawford County you file the contempt motion in the court that issued the order, and Gavvl Law builds the motion with specific proof, presses for purge conditions and make-up time, and asks for attorney fees — all on a flat fee.

• A motion backed by specific proof. Contempt under R.C. 2705.02 and 2705.031 has to identify the exact order and how it was violated. We assemble the CSEA payment history, records of missed exchanges, or written messages that turn a vague complaint into an enforceable motion.
• Purge conditions, make-up time, and fees. Ohio contempt is usually civil and coercive: the court sets purge conditions the other side can satisfy, and can order make-up parenting time, fees, and in serious cases jail. We ask for the remedies that actually fix the violation, not just a finding.
• The right docket, plus a CSEA option. A DR order is enforced by reopening the Common Pleas case for a $200 deposit; a never-married order is enforced in the Juvenile Court. A support violation can also go through CSEA at (419) 562-0773. We file where it counts and quote a flat fee.

Because the party found in contempt can be ordered to pay your attorney fees and costs, enforcing a Crawford County order often does not have to fall on you financially. We file in the issuing court — Common Pleas or Juvenile — and pursue that fee award as part of the case.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the motion for contempt / show cause to enforce an order the other party is violating. You appear at any hearing.

• Contempt (single issue): $950
• Contempt (multiple issues): $1,450

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, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your contempt case or see payment plans & financing.

Where to File: Crawford County Court of Common Pleas

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

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

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

• The other party is violating a current court order — withholding parenting time, not paying support, or ignoring decree terms.
• You can identify the specific order and how it was violated, with supporting proof.
• You know which court issued the order — Common Pleas or the Juvenile Court.
• You want enforcement (purge conditions, make-up time, fees) rather than to change the order itself.

Filing Fees

DR contempt motion deposit $200 · Juvenile contempt deposit (verify) · the court may award attorney fees and costs against the party found in contempt; a support violation can also go through CSEA. 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

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Crawford County

1. Identify the violated order. Locate the specific order — decree, support order, or parenting-time order — and note exactly how it was violated.
2. Gather proof. Collect a CSEA payment history, records of missed parenting time, or messages showing the violation.
3. Prepare the contempt motion. Complete the motion for contempt with the supporting affidavit, quoting the order and describing the violation.
4. File in the issuing court. Reopen the Common Pleas case (DR) or file in the Juvenile Court (never married), pay the deposit, and arrange service.
5. Attend the hearing. The court can set purge conditions, order make-up time or payment, award fees, and impose sanctions for noncompliance.

Crawford County Practice Notes

• File contempt where the order was issued. A DR order is enforced by reopening the original Common Pleas case; a never-married order is enforced in the Juvenile Court that issued it.
• Purge conditions and graduated sanctions. Contempt in Ohio is usually civil and coercive: the court sets purge conditions the contemnor can satisfy to avoid the penalty. Sanctions can include fees, make-up parenting time, and, in serious cases, a jail term with a purge.
• Bring specific proof of the violation. Identify the exact order and how it was violated (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031). A CSEA payment history, a record of missed exchanges, or written messages make a contempt motion far stronger.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change or enforce a Crawford County order?

Post-decree motions stay in the same Common Pleas case that issued your decree. To change custody or support, or to enforce an order, file a motion to reopen the closed case for a $200 deposit; an agreed judgment entry is $50. A support change can also start through the county agency (CSEA) at (419) 562-0773. If a matter set for a hearing settles, tell the court promptly.

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.

How does the Crawford County CSEA help with child support?

The Crawford County child support agency (CSEA) handles support; reach it at (419) 562-0773. Support is set under Ohio's guidelines, collected by income withholding, and paid through the state. A support change can also start through CSEA's review process.

Do I file custody in Common Pleas or Juvenile Court in Crawford County?

If you are married to (or divorcing) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce, dissolution, or legal separation at the Court of Common Pleas before Judge Leuthold. If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are handled by the Crawford County Juvenile Court before Judge Murphy — in the same courthouse at 112 E. Mansfield Street.

How much does it cost to file a family law case in Crawford County?

Common deposits are: divorce $300, dissolution $200, a QDRO to divide a retirement account $50, a post-decree motion $200, and an agreed judgment entry $50. A new Juvenile filing (custody or parentage) is about $250, and a modification about $200. An adoption deposit is $170, and a civil protection order has no fee. Pay by cash, check, money order, or card (3% card fee); a poverty affidavit waives the deposit. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (419) 562-2766 or the Juvenile Court at (419) 562-1896.

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.

Other Family-Law Topics in Crawford County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Crawford County family-law attorney for help with your case.

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.

Related guides

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

• Contempt Motions in Ohio Family Court: Enforcing Your Order — When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding the children or refusing to pay support — a contempt motion is how Ohio courts enforce it. Here's how the process works.
• Post-Decree Modifications in Ohio: Changing Your Order After Divorce — Your divorce decree isn't carved in stone. When life changes, Ohio lets you modify custody, parenting time, and support — but each requires meeting a specific legal standard. Here's how.

More Crawford County family-law resources

• Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
• Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
• Crawford County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Crawford County guide.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.