Civil Protection Orders in Fairfield County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green, Esq. · Managing Partner, Gavvl Law · Last updated June 9, 2026

Fairfield County, Ohio · Lancaster

A Civil Protection Order under R.C. 3113.31 is the fastest legal protection Ohio offers from domestic or dating violence. In Fairfield County, petitions are filed in the DR Division on the 4th Floor of the Hall of Justice, 224 East Main Street, Lancaster. There is no filing fee, and the court reviews the petition ex parte the same day when you file by 3:00 p.m.

How do I file for a civil protection order in Fairfield County, Ohio?

Complete the Ohio Supreme Court protection-order petition and file it in the Fairfield County DR Division (4th Floor, Hall of Justice, 224 East Main Street, Lancaster). There is no filing fee for the petitioner. Petitions are accepted starting at 8:00 a.m.; file by 3:00 p.m. so there is time for the same-day ex parte hearing and any temporary order. You must have the respondent's name, address, and date of birth. After a temporary order, a full hearing is held under R.C. 3113.31 once the respondent is served; if children are involved, include proposed visitation guidelines. A full-hearing order can last up to five years. Mediation may not be used to grant, modify, or terminate a protection order (Local Rule 11).

Where to File: Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

Hall of Justice, 224 East Main Street, 4th Floor, Lancaster, OH 43130, Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 652-7440
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (closed midday)
Website: www.co.fairfield.oh.us/dr/
e-Filing: https://eservices.fairfieldcountycpcourt.org/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Fairfield County Juvenile and Probate Court
Hall of Justice, 224 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Lancaster, OH 43130, Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 652-7463
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

You need protection from a family or household member (DVCPO) or a current/former dating partner (Dating Violence CPO).
The respondent has harmed, attempted, or threatened you, or committed stalking or a sexual offense.
You know the respondent's name, address, and date of birth.
You can describe specific incidents with dates in a sworn petition.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for the petitioner · file by 3:00 p.m. for same-day processing · respondent's name, address, and DOB required · full-hearing order up to 5 years · mediation not permitted (Local Rule 11)

Forms & Filing Packets

Ex parte petition (same-day review) — No filing fee for the petitioner

File by 3:00 p.m. for the same-day ex parte hearing. A temporary order may issue immediately upon service.

Petition for Domestic Violence / Dating Violence Civil Protection Order (Ohio SC protection-order forms) — The R.C. 3113.31 petition filed in the Fairfield DR Division. No filing fee. You must have the respondent's name, address, and date of birth.
Personal Identifier Form (Fairfield local) — Lists SSNs, DOBs, and other personal identifiers separately from the public docket — required at filing.

Full-hearing petition (no immediate danger) — No filing fee for the petitioner

The petition still goes to a full hearing under R.C. 3113.31 once the respondent is served.

Petition for Domestic Violence / Dating Violence Civil Protection Order (Ohio SC protection-order forms) — The R.C. 3113.31 petition filed in the Fairfield DR Division. No filing fee. You must have the respondent's name, address, and date of birth.
Personal Identifier Form (Fairfield local) — Lists SSNs, DOBs, and other personal identifiers separately from the public docket — required at filing.

Add: children-related terms

When the parties have children together, include proposed visitation guidelines (or the reasons visitation should be denied) so the court can address custody and parenting time. Omitting them can result in denial of those terms.

Standard Parenting Time Order (Local Rule 17, rev. March 1, 2023) — Fairfield's Standard Parenting Time Order — applies unless the parties agree to a different schedule.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign.

After the order: modify, terminate, or dismiss

Either party can ask the court to change or end an existing order; the petitioner may also withdraw the petition. Mediation may not be used to grant, modify, or terminate a protection order (Local Rule 11).

Notice of Dismissal (Fairfield local) — Use to withdraw a pending DR case before final hearing.

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Fairfield County

Confirm the relationship qualifies. A DVCPO covers family or household members under R.C. 3113.31; a Dating Violence CPO covers current or former dating partners. Both are heard in the Fairfield DR Division.
Gather the respondent's identifying details. You must have the respondent's name, address, and date of birth before you file.
Complete the Ohio protection-order petition with specific facts. State dates, locations, what happened, and witnesses, and attach corroboration. Vague allegations are denied ex parte.
File by 3:00 p.m. at the DR Division (4th Floor) — no fee. Petitions are accepted from 8:00 a.m.; file by 3:00 p.m. for the same-day ex parte review. There is no filing fee. A free advocate through The Lighthouse, Inc. can help.
Attend the full hearing prepared. Once the respondent is served, attend the full hearing under R.C. 3113.31 with witnesses and exhibits. A final order can last up to five years.

Fairfield County Practice Notes

File by 3:00 p.m.. The DR Division accepts protection-order petitions starting at 8:00 a.m. and the court closes at 4:00 p.m. File by 3:00 p.m. so there is time for the same-day ex parte review and to prepare any temporary order.
You need the respondent's identifying details. Bring the respondent's name, address, and date of birth — the court needs them to issue and serve the order. The full-hearing order cannot take effect until the respondent is served.
Include the children. If you share children with the respondent, include proposed visitation guidelines (or the reasons visitation should be denied). Leaving them out can result in the court denying child-related terms.
Dating partners use the Dating Violence CPO. A standard DVCPO under R.C. 3113.31 covers family or household members. Fairfield's DR Division also hears Dating Violence Civil Protection Orders for current or former dating partners who are not family or household members, with the same same-day ex parte review.
No mediation; free advocacy available. Local Rule 11 bars mediation for protection orders. The Lighthouse, Inc. provides a free CPO advocate (136 West Main Street, 2nd Floor; (740) 687-6778 ext. 3027) to help with the petition and hearings — they cannot give legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost anything to file for a protection order in Fairfield County?: No — there is no filing fee for the petitioner of a Domestic Violence or Dating Violence Civil Protection Order. File the Ohio Supreme Court protection-order petition in the DR Division (4th Floor) by 3:00 p.m. for the best chance of same-day processing, and bring the respondent's name, address, and date of birth. Mediation may not be used to grant, modify, or terminate a protection order (Local Rule 11). The Lighthouse, Inc. at (740) 687-6778 ext. 3027 provides free CPO advocacy (not legal advice).
What time do I need to file a domestic violence petition?: DV/CPO petitions are accepted starting at 8:00 a.m. To allow enough time for paperwork, a hearing, and preparation of an order the same day, file no later than 3:00 p.m. If you file after 3:00 p.m., you may be asked to return the next business day. You must have the name, address, and date of birth of the person you are filing against. The Lighthouse, Inc. at (740) 687-6778 ext. 3027 provides free CPO advocacy (not legal advice).
What are the DR Court hours in Fairfield County?: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. AND 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. — the Clerk closes for one hour in the middle of the day. Plan your visit for the morning (8:00–12:00) or afternoon (1:00–4:00) session.
Are the forms available in any format other than PDF?: Yes — Fairfield County publishes accessible HTML versions of nearly every local form alongside the printable PDFs. It's an accessibility feature few Ohio courts offer. You can find both versions side-by-side on the DR Forms hub at co.fairfield.oh.us/dr/DR-Court-Forms-FC.html.

Free Local Resources in Fairfield County

Fairfield County DR Division. Hall of Justice, 224 East Main Street, 4th Floor, Lancaster, OH 43130. DR Division (740) 652-7440 · Clerk filing line (740) 652-7357 · Fax (740) 652-7399. Hon. Laura B. Smith presides; Magistrates Lora H. Cleary and Sandra S. Miller. Clerk of Courts: Branden C. Meyer.
Fairfield County e-Filing Portal. eservices.fairfieldcountycpcourt.org — the Common Pleas e-filing system for Domestic Relations cases.
Fairfield County Clerk Fee Schedule. fairfieldcountyclerk.com/filing-fees-costs.html — the official, current Clerk of Courts filing-fee schedule by case type.
Fairfield County DR Forms Hub (HTML + PDF). co.fairfield.oh.us/dr/DR-Court-Forms-FC.html — accessible HTML and printable PDF versions of every local DR form.
Fairfield County DR Local Rules. co.fairfield.oh.us/dr/FC-Local-Rules-of-Court-DR.html — including Local Rule 17 Standard Parenting Time Order.
Local Rule 17 — Standard Parenting Time Order (rev. 2023). co.fairfield.oh.us/dr/pdf/Local-Rule-17-rev-2023.03.01.pdf — current standard order.
Children In Between® (online, $25). divorce-education.com/OH/fairfield — required parent-education for parents with minor children. 24/7 online; 30-day account.
Dissolution & Divorce Document Checklist. co.fairfield.oh.us/dr/documents/Dissolution-and-Divorce-Document-Checklist.pdf — work through it before filing.
Standard Mutual Restraining Order (auto-effective on filing). co.fairfield.oh.us/dr/documents/restraining_order.pdf
Fairfield County Visitation Center. 407 East Main Street, Lancaster — supervised visitation and exchange services.
Fairfield County Juvenile & Probate Court. Hall of Justice, 224 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Lancaster. Juvenile (740) 652-7463 · Probate (740) 652-7485. Hon. Terre L. Vandervoort (also serves as Clerk). Magistrates Michelle L. Edgar and Troy M. Sitzmann.
Juvenile Resource Center (Connexion West). 625 Garfield Avenue, Lancaster · (740) 652-7374 — diversion services, behavioral health, and youth programming.
The Lighthouse, Inc. (CPO advocacy). 136 West Main Street, 2nd Floor, Lancaster · (740) 687-6778 ext. 3027 — free CPO advocacy (not legal advice).
SEOLS Virtual Legal Clinics. 4th Tuesday of every month, 5:00–7:00 p.m. Call 844-302-1800 Mon–Fri to register.
Court Appointed Counsel Application (Ohio OPD). opd.ohio.gov/appointed-counsel/reimbursement/05-financial-disclosure-form-opd-206r
Ohio Supreme Court Standardized Forms. supremecourt.ohio.gov — Fairfield DR uses Ohio SC standardized forms alongside Fairfield locals.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the worksheet and print it for filing.
Ohio Legal Help. ohiolegalhelp.org — plain-language guides and interactive court forms.

Related to your cpo case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable dissolution.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.

Keep exploring

Ohio Civil Protection Orders guide — Statewide overview of civil protection orders 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.

Call (380) 205-3899 or email support@gavvl.com.