Civil Protection Orders in Fayette County

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

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Fayette County Juvenile Court
Fayette County Courthouse, 110 East Court Street, Washington Court House, OH 43160, Washington Court House, OH 43160
Phone: (740) 333-3501
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You have been threatened, harmed, or stalked by another person.
• You need a court order requiring the other person to stay away.
• Your situation is domestic violence (CPO) or stalking (CSPO).
• You want help from the county Victim Witness office to file.

Filing Fees

The Domestic Relations Court hears CPO and CSPO petitions. Contact the Clerk at (740) 335-6371 about any costs; an Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) is available under Ohio Civ.R. 3(E).

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Fayette County

1. Get help from the Victim Witness office. Contact the Fayette County Victim Witness office and review its Domestic Violence and Protection Orders resources for help completing your petition.
2. Complete the Ohio Supreme Court petition forms. Use the statewide standardized protection order forms published by the Ohio Supreme Court for a CPO (domestic violence) or CSPO (stalking).
3. File at the courthouse. File your petition with the Domestic Relations Court at 110 East Court Street, Washington Court House. Contact the Clerk at (740) 335-6371 with questions about costs.
4. Attend the hearing. Attend the hearing the court sets so a judge can decide whether to issue the protection order.

Fayette County Practice Notes

• CPO vs. CSPO. A Civil Protection Order (CPO) is for domestic violence between family or household members; a Civil Stalking Protection Order (CSPO) is for stalking by someone who is not a family or household member. Both are heard by the Fayette County Domestic Relations Court.
• The Victim Witness office can help. The Fayette County Victim Witness office provides resources for petitioners, including a downloadable Domestic Violence brochure, Protection Orders information, and a Teens, Dating Violence & Sexual Assaults page.
• Use the Ohio Supreme Court forms. The protection order petition forms are the statewide standardized forms published by the Ohio Supreme Court rather than a local Fayette County form packet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file in Fayette County?

Domestic Relations cases (divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree motions, and protection orders) run through the Domestic Relations Division on the 1st floor of the Fayette County Courthouse, 110 East Court Street, Washington Court House. You file your paperwork with the Clerk of Courts on the 3rd floor of the same building, or eFile through the Henschen system. Custody, support, and paternity for never-married parents are filed in the Juvenile Court at the same address.

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

The Fayette County Clerk of Courts publishes a Fee Schedule (PDF) on the Clerk's website rather than a single flat number — call the Clerk at (740) 335-6371 for the current amount for your case type before you file. If you cannot afford the deposit, an Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) is available for qualifying low-income filers under Ohio Civil Rule 3(E). All three court divisions accept payment online through the BridgePayment portal.

Who decides family law cases in Fayette County?

The Honorable David B. Bender presides over all divisions of the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas — General, Domestic Relations, and Juvenile. Having one judge across every division is common in smaller Ohio counties and means scheduling, local rules, and court culture stay very consistent from one case type to the next.

What if I can't locate the other party to serve them in Fayette County?

Under Fayette County Juvenile Court Local Rule 21, when service by publication is not perfected by mailing, the Clerk posts notices in three locations — the Fayette County Courthouse, the Fayette County Department of Job and Family Services, and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Washington Court House. This posting method is an alternative to traditional newspaper publication.

Free Local Resources in Fayette County

• Fayette County Clerk of Courts. Publishes the Fee Schedule, the six pro se filing checklists, and eFiling (Henschen) instructions. Located on the 3rd floor of the courthouse, 110 East Court Street; call (740) 335-6371 to confirm current fees before filing. Online payments are accepted through BridgePayment.
• Pro Se Checklists & Juvenile Self-Help Forms. Fayette County posts Divorce, Dissolution, and Custody checklists plus a Juvenile Self-Help/Forms page (including the Self-Help Custody Info sheet and a Motion to Continue / Blank Motion form) for people filing without an attorney.
• Fayette County Victim Witness Office. Provides domestic violence and protection order resources, including a downloadable Domestic Violence brochure, Protection Orders information, and a Teens, Dating Violence & Sexual Assaults page.
• Triple P Positive Parenting Program. Free, evidence-based parenting tools through the Ohio Children's Trust Fund's Triple P Online program, linked by the Fayette County Juvenile Court.
• Ohio Legal Help & Fayette County Law Library. Ohio Legal Help (ohiolegalhelp.org) offers free plain-language guides and form help, and the Fayette County Law Library provides legal research resources and forms.

Other Family-Law Topics in Fayette County

• Fayette County Divorce — Grounds, the Divorce Checklist, and the Complaint forms filed in the Domestic Relations Division.
• Fayette County Dissolution — The both-spouses-agree path with a 30–90 day hearing before Judge Bender.
• Fayette County Legal Separation — Divide property and set support while staying legally married — same pleadings as divorce.
• Fayette County Custody — Married parents file inside a divorce; never-married parents file in Juvenile Court.
• Fayette County Modifications — Change a custody, parenting-time, or support order with the Post-Decree Motion Checklist.
• Fayette County Contempt — Enforce an order with a Motion for Contempt (Form 24) and Show Cause Order (Form 25).
• Fayette County Protection Orders — The DR Court hears CPO and CSPO petitions; the Victim Witness office can help.

Related to your protection orders 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.