Post-Decree Contempt in Crawford County

Where to File: Crawford County Court of Common Pleas

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Crawford County Juvenile and Probate Court
112 East Mansfield Street, Bucyrus, OH 44820, Bucyrus, OH 44820
Phone: (419) 562-5771
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

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.
• The other party hasn't transferred property or paid debts as ordered.
• There is any willful violation of a clear court 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

Filed at the Court of Common Pleas · Ohio SC Forms 24 and 25 · Post-decree motion — bring to the DR Case Manager (ext. 1145) before filing

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Crawford County

1. Identify the order and the violation. Pinpoint the specific order being violated — support, parenting time, or property — and how it was violated.
2. Complete Forms 24 and 25. Fill out the Motion for Contempt (Form 24) and the Show Cause Order and Notice (Form 25).
3. Bring it to the DR Case Manager. Before filing, take the motion to the Domestic Relations Case Manager (Brook Scheffler, ext. 1145) to be assigned a hearing date.
4. File with the Clerk and serve the other party. File at 112 East Mansfield Street, Suite 200, Bucyrus, and arrange service. Call (419) 562-5771 to confirm requirements.
5. Attend the hearing. Bring documentation of the violation — payment records, a parenting-time log, or proof of the unmet obligation.

Crawford County Practice Notes

• What contempt can address. Failure to pay child support or spousal support, violation of parenting-time orders, failure to transfer property or pay debts as ordered, and any willful violation of a court order.
• Use Forms 24 and 25. Crawford County uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms — the Motion for Contempt (Form 24) and the Show Cause Order and Notice (Form 25), which orders the other party to appear and explain why they should not be held in contempt.
• Route through the DR Case Manager. Because contempt is a post-decree motion, it must be brought to the Domestic Relations Case Manager (Brook Scheffler, ext. 1145) before filing to be assigned a hearing date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start a post-decree motion in Crawford County?

Post-decree motions must be brought to the Domestic Relations Case Manager — Brook Scheffler, ext. 1145 — before filing, so the case can be assigned a hearing date. The initial hearing on a post-decree motion may serve as both a pretrial conference and a final hearing if the other party does not appear or does not object to the requested relief.

Does Crawford County have its own divorce and dissolution forms?

No. Crawford County uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized domestic relations forms for all filings, and no local form packets are provided beyond the state forms. The only Crawford County local forms are the Affidavit and Counter-Affidavit for Temporary Orders and the Medical Support (Form 26.1) and Child Support (Form 26.2) provisions.

Where do I file a family law case in Crawford County?

All family law matters — domestic relations, juvenile, and probate — are handled in the same courthouse: the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas at 112 East Mansfield Street, Suite 200, Bucyrus, OH 44820. The phone number is (419) 562-5771 and the court is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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

Crawford County's filing fees are: dissolution $200, divorce $300, post-decree motion $200, Answer and Cross-Complaint with service $100, service by publication $500, QDRO $50, agreed judgment entry $50, and CPO petitions are free. Confirm the current amounts with the Clerk at (419) 562-5771 before filing.

Free Local Resources in Crawford County

• Ohio Legal Help. ohiolegalhelp.org — free legal information and interactive court forms for Ohio family law cases.
• Legal Aid of Western Ohio. Serves Crawford County. Call 1-888-534-1432 for income-qualified legal help.
• Crawford County Law Library. Located in the Courthouse at 112 East Mansfield Street, Bucyrus.
• Crawford County DR Case Manager. Brook Scheffler, ext. 1145. Post-decree motions must be brought to the case manager before filing to be assigned a hearing date. Call (419) 562-5771.
• Crawford County Common Pleas Court. crawfordcocpcourt.org — local court rules, Guardian ad Litem information, and the aspirational parenting guidelines.

Other Family-Law Topics in Crawford County

• Crawford County Divorce — Full filing guide with forms, fees, and the affidavit-based temporary orders system.
• Crawford County Dissolution — Cooperative path — both spouses agree first. $200 filing fee.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator — Run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself.
• Ohio family-law resources — 88-county directory of courts and legal aid.

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.
• Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus 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.