Enforcing Orders Through Contempt in Delaware County

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

File a Motion for Contempt with a supporting affidavit (Uniform DR Form 24) in the Delaware County DR Division at 117 N. Union Street, Level 400, Delaware, OH 43015, and pay the $200 post-decree reactivation deposit. The affidavit must state the specific facts showing the violation (Local Rule 13.01). The court issues a Show Cause Order and Notice (Form 25) on a preliminary finding, with the required R.C. 2705.031(C) and R.C. 3109.051(K) notices when parenting interference is alleged. The motion must be personally served on the alleged contemnor under Civ.R. 4–4.6 — service on counsel alone is not enough. Civil contempt can carry up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

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

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Delaware County Juvenile Court
145 N. Union Street, Delaware, OH 43015, Delaware, OH 43015
Phone: (740) 833-2600
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

• The other party is violating a custody, parenting-time, or support order.
• You have specific dates and facts showing the violations.
• Informal requests to comply have failed.
• You can serve the other party personally under Civ.R. 4.

Filing Fees

$200 post-decree reactivation deposit · Civil contempt up to 90 days jail and $1,000 fine

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Delaware County

1. Document every violation. List specific dates and facts showing the other party disobeyed the order — denied parenting time, missed payments, or ignored the decree.
2. Prepare the motion and affidavit. Complete Form 24 with a detailed affidavit and the show-cause order (Form 25).
3. File and pay the reactivation deposit. File in the original DR case at 117 N. Union Street and pay the $200 deposit.
4. Serve the other party personally. Arrange personal service under Civ.R. 4–4.6 — service on counsel alone will not support a contempt finding.

Delaware County Practice Notes

• Personal service is mandatory. Local Rule 13.03 requires service on the alleged contemnor under Civ.R. 4–4.6. Serving only their attorney is not proper service in a contempt action.
• Be specific in the affidavit. Local Rule 13.01 requires an affidavit with specific facts — list each violation with dates. CSEA support-enforcement charges are exempt from the affidavit requirement.
• Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to file in the Delaware County DR Court?

Clerk of Courts deposits are: divorce $385 without children / $485 with children; dissolution $355 without children / $455 with children; parentage complaint $200; post-decree reactivation $200. Counterclaims and amended complaints are $150 each. If you cannot afford the deposit, file the Fee Waiver Affidavit (Local Rule 4.03).

How long does a Delaware County case usually take?

Dissolution: 30–90 days — Local Rule 7.03 sets the final hearing between 30 and 90 days after filing. Uncontested (default) divorce: roughly 4–6 months, with the uncontested final hearing held at least 42 days after service is completed (Local Rule 8.01). Contested divorce: 6–18 months depending on discovery, custody disputes, and trial scheduling.

How do temporary orders work in Delaware County?

Under Local Rule 9, temporary-orders motions are considered 14 days after service and are generally decided on the filed affidavits (capped at 10 pages without prior approval). If a Civ.R. 75 oral hearing is held, each party is allotted 20 minutes and initial discovery must be exchanged first. File the Affidavit for Temporary Orders Without Oral Hearing (Uniform DR Affidavit 5) to request support, parenting time, or use of the home now.

How is child support handled in Delaware County?

Support is set with the legislatively adopted Ohio Child Support Worksheet and collected through the Delaware County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA); direct payments to the other parent are treated as gifts, not support. File the JFS 07076 Application for Child Support Services when a support order is established. CSEA generally reviews orders every 36 months, and a court will modify when a recalculation differs by more than 10%. A standard parenting-time schedule triggers an automatic 10% support reduction (Local Rule 17.01(E), R.C. 3119.051).

Free Local Resources in Delaware County

• Delaware County DR Court Forms Page. Every Domestic Relations form, the case-type ZIP packets (divorce, dissolution, parentage, modification, CPO), and the filing checklists are posted free at domestic.co.delaware.oh.us/forms.
• Delaware County DR Virtual Resource Center. The DR Division's self-help hub links the general-information pages, FAQs, common-terms glossary, the For the Children parenting seminar, and the Co-Parenting Program at domestic.co.delaware.oh.us/virtual-resource-center.
• Delaware County eAccess / E-Services Portal. Self-represented and represented parties can e-file and check dockets at court.co.delaware.oh.us/eservices. Payment is processed through LexisNexis — confirm the amount before authorizing.

Other Family-Law Topics in Delaware County

• Delaware County Divorce — Contested and default divorce filing guide for the DR Division.
• Delaware County Dissolution — Both-parties-agree route — faster and cheaper than divorce.
• Delaware County Custody — Married parents file inside divorce; never-married parents file parentage in the DR Division.

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.