How do I change or enforce a Darke County family-law order?

Post-decree matters stay in the same court that issued the order under its continuing jurisdiction — the Common Pleas DR case for a divorce decree, or the Juvenile case for a Juvenile order. To change an order going forward you file a modification; to enforce a violation you file a motion to show cause (contempt). The first post-decree DR filing must include current addresses and an updated IV-D Application (Rule 7(H)).

How does the Darke County CSEA help with child support?

The Darke County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 631 Wagner Ave, Greenville, (937) 548-4132 option 4 or (800) 501-5635, opens IV-D cases, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects it by income withholding, and pays it through the state. It can also review and enforce existing orders.

Does Darke County have a separate divorce (Domestic Relations) court?

No. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and domestic violence protection orders are heard by the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas before Judge Travis L. Fliehman, with filings at the Darke County Clerk of Courts, 504 South Broadway, Greenville, (937) 547-7335. Never-married parentage, custody, parenting time, support, and non-parent custody are heard in the Probate/Juvenile Court before Judge Jason R. Aslinger, 300 Garst Ave, Greenville, (937) 547-7350.

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

The Domestic Relations deposit is $300 for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, or registration of a foreign order. In the Probate/Juvenile Court, a new private custody, parenting-time, or companionship filing is $175 ($150 to reopen an established case). Post-decree DR motion deposits vary — call the Clerk at (937) 547-7335. A fee waiver is available via a Financial Disclosure / Fee Waiver Affidavit.

Darke County Contempt & Enforcement Attorneys

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

Darke County, Ohio · Greenville

When the other parent ignores a court order — stops paying support, withholds the children, or refuses to follow a property term — contempt is how you enforce it. In Darke County, you file a motion to show cause in the same case that issued the order: the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas for DR orders, or the Probate/Juvenile Court for Juvenile orders. Contempt enforces the existing order; it is different from modification, which changes the order going forward.

Hire Gavvl for your Darke County contempt case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Darke 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.

How do I enforce a Darke County court order through contempt?

File a motion to show cause (contempt) in the same court that issued the order — the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas for a divorce decree, or the Probate/Juvenile Court for a Juvenile order. Contempt is used when a party violates an order: nonpayment of support, withholding parenting time, or ignoring a property term. The court can order the violator to comply, pay what is owed, and cover fees, and can impose penalties for continued violations. In the Juvenile Division, related adult charges carry set fees (Nonsupport $112; Contempt for Child Support $108). You can also enforce unpaid support through the Darke County CSEA, (937) 548-4132 option 4. Contempt enforces an existing order; modification changes it going forward.

Enforce your Darke County order with Gavvl Law

When the other parent stops paying support, withholds the children, or ignores a property term, contempt is how you make the existing order stick. In Darke County you file a motion to show cause in the same court that issued the order — the Domestic Relations Division for a divorce decree or the Probate/Juvenile Court for a Juvenile order — and the court can order compliance, payment of arrears, attorney fees, and penalties for continued violations. Gavvl Law documents the violation and files the show-cause motion for a flat fee with payment plans, and presses it to a full hearing when the other side digs in.

A show-cause motion that proves the violation. Contempt lives and dies on a clean record of what was ordered and how it was broken — missed payments, denied exchanges, an ignored deed transfer. We assemble that proof with the Ohio Form 24 contempt motion and affidavit so the court has what it needs to find a willful violation.
Filed in the court that issued the order. A Juvenile-order violation is enforced in the Probate/Juvenile Court, where related adult charges carry set fees — Nonsupport $112, Contempt for Child Support $108 — while a DR decree is enforced in the Domestic Relations Division. We file where your order actually lives so the motion is heard, not transferred.
Court contempt plus the CSEA together. Unpaid support can be pursued in two lanes at once: a contempt motion and the Darke County CSEA's income withholding, license suspension, and tax intercept. We use both where it helps so arrears are collected instead of just acknowledged.

Contempt enforces the order you already have; a modification changes it going forward, and confusing the two costs a filing. We keep them separate, coordinate with the Darke County CSEA at (937) 548-4132 option 4 on support arrears, and confirm the current DR contempt deposit with the Clerk at (937) 547-7335 before filing so nothing stalls at the counter.

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: Darke County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Darke County Courthouse, Second Floor, 504 South Broadway, Greenville, OH 45331
Phone: (937) 547-7335
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Darke County Probate/Juvenile Court, Juvenile Division
300 Garst Ave, Greenville, OH 45331
Phone: (937) 547-7350
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

You have a court order the other party is not following.
The other party stopped paying support, withheld the children, or ignored a property or support term.
You want the existing order enforced, not changed.
You can file in the same Darke County court that issued the order.

Filing Fees

DR contempt motion deposits vary — call the Clerk at (937) 547-7335. In the Juvenile Division, related adult charges are set: Nonsupport $112; Contempt for Child Support $108; Contributing $108; Failure to Send $108. Court fees and deposits change — confirm the current amount with the Darke County Clerk of Courts at (937) 547-7335 (Domestic Relations) or the Probate/Juvenile Court at (937) 547-7350 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

Enforce unpaid support — DR deposit varies — call the Clerk; Juvenile Nonsupport $112 / Contempt for Child Support $108

File a motion for contempt (show cause) when support goes unpaid. The court can order payment of arrears and fees and impose penalties for continued nonpayment; you can also work through the Darke County CSEA.

Motion for Contempt, Affidavit & Instructions for Service (Ohio SC Form 24) — Opens a contempt (show-cause) action to enforce existing orders — support, property division, and the parenting time or child support set in your case (R.C. 2705.02 / 2705.031).
Affidavit of Income, Expenses, and Financial Disclosures (Darke County) — Lists your income, expenses, and basic financial information so the court can address support and temporary orders. Each party files their own; it must be notarized.

Enforce parenting time — Post-decree deposit varies — call the Clerk at (937) 547-7335

File a motion to show cause when the other parent withholds the children or refuses to follow the parenting-time order. The court can enforce the schedule, award make-up time, and assign fees.

Motion for Contempt, Affidavit & Instructions for Service (Ohio SC Form 24) — Opens a contempt (show-cause) action to enforce existing orders — support, property division, and the parenting time or child support set in your case (R.C. 2705.02 / 2705.031).
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA) (Darke County) — Required in any DR case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Darke County

Confirm the order and the court. File in the same court that issued the order — the Common Pleas DR Division or the Probate/Juvenile Court.
Document the violation. Gather proof of what was ordered and how it was violated — missed payments, denied parenting time, or an ignored property term.
Prepare the motion to show cause. Use the Ohio Form 24 contempt motion and affidavit to open the enforcement action.
File and arrange service. File with the Clerk at (937) 547-7335 (DR) or the Juvenile Court at (937) 547-7350 and have the other party served.
Attend the hearing. At the hearing, the court can order compliance, payment of arrears and fees, and penalties for continued violations.

Darke County Practice Notes

Contempt enforces; modification changes. A motion to show cause makes a party comply with the order already in place. To change support or custody going forward, you file a modification instead (see post-decree modifications).
Juvenile contempt is handled in the Juvenile Court. Violations of a Juvenile Division order are enforced there, where related adult charges (Nonsupport $112; Contempt for Child Support $108; Contributing $108; Failure to Send $108) carry set fees — separate from Common Pleas DR contempt.
Unpaid support can also go through the CSEA. Beyond a court contempt motion, the Darke County CSEA, (937) 548-4132 option 4, can enforce support by income withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referral.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enforce unpaid support or withheld parenting time in Darke County?: File a motion to show cause (contempt) in the court that issued the order; the court can order compliance, payment of arrears, and fees, and impose penalties for continued violations. In the Juvenile Division, related adult charges carry set fees (Nonsupport $112; Contempt for Child Support $108). Unpaid support can also be enforced through the Darke County CSEA at (937) 548-4132 option 4. Contempt enforces an existing order; modification changes it going forward.
How do I change or enforce a Darke County family-law order?: Post-decree matters stay in the same court that issued the order under its continuing jurisdiction — the Common Pleas DR case for a divorce decree, or the Juvenile case for a Juvenile order. To change an order going forward you file a modification; to enforce a violation you file a motion to show cause (contempt). The first post-decree DR filing must include current addresses and an updated IV-D Application (Rule 7(H)).
How does the Darke County CSEA help with child support?: The Darke County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 631 Wagner Ave, Greenville, (937) 548-4132 option 4 or (800) 501-5635, opens IV-D cases, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects it by income withholding, and pays it through the state. It can also review and enforce existing orders.
Does Darke County have a separate divorce (Domestic Relations) court?: No. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and domestic violence protection orders are heard by the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas before Judge Travis L. Fliehman, with filings at the Darke County Clerk of Courts, 504 South Broadway, Greenville, (937) 547-7335. Never-married parentage, custody, parenting time, support, and non-parent custody are heard in the Probate/Juvenile Court before Judge Jason R. Aslinger, 300 Garst Ave, Greenville, (937) 547-7350.
How much does it cost to file a family-law case in Darke County?: The Domestic Relations deposit is $300 for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, or registration of a foreign order. In the Probate/Juvenile Court, a new private custody, parenting-time, or companionship filing is $175 ($150 to reopen an established case). Post-decree DR motion deposits vary — call the Clerk at (937) 547-7335. A fee waiver is available via a Financial Disclosure / Fee Waiver Affidavit.

Free Local Resources in Darke County

Darke County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Current filing fees, deposits, and case filing for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matters. File at the Darke County Courthouse, Second Floor, 504 South Broadway, Greenville; Clerk Cindy Pike, (937) 547-7335. The yellow Questionnaire is required with every DR complaint. Local court rules are at https://darkecountycommonpleas.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Local-Rules-effective-February-1-2026.pdf and downloadable DR forms are at https://darkecountycommonpleas.com/court-forms/.
Darke County Probate/Juvenile Court. Handles never-married-parent parentage, custody, parenting time, and support, plus non-parent custody, abuse/neglect/dependency, and adoption. 300 Garst Ave, Greenville; Juvenile (937) 547-7350, Probate (937) 547-7345; Judge Jason R. Aslinger presides. Self-help forms and the Pro-Se Filing Packet are at https://www.darkeprobatejuvenile.org/juvForms.php.
Darke County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Opens IV-D cases, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, pays through the state, and can review or enforce existing orders. 631 Wagner Ave, Greenville; (937) 548-4132 option 4 or (800) 501-5635.
Darke County Children Services (report child abuse). To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call Darke County JFS Child Protective Services at (937) 548-4132 Option 5; after hours (937) 548-2020; statewide hotline 1-855-642-4453. In an emergency, call 911.
Parenting seminar — "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce" (OSU Extension). The court-approved parenting seminar required in DR cases with minor children (DR Local Rule 7(G)); about $45 per person. Register at https://scponline.osu.edu/.
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 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 Darke County family-law resources

Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton metro.
Darke County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Darke 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.

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.