Protection Orders in Fayette County

Hire Gavvl for your Fayette County protection orders case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Fayette County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

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Hire Gavvl Law for your Fayette County protection order

A civil protection order can limit contact and protect you and your children quickly, and in Fayette County there is no filing fee for the person seeking protection. Petitions are handled on the General & Domestic Relations Division side, and the county directs petitioners to the Prosecutor's Victim Witness Division for help preparing them; the court can hold an ex parte hearing for temporary protection with a full hearing to follow. Gavvl Law prepares a petition that states the danger clearly and represents you through both hearings, on a flat fee approved up front.

• A petition that states the danger clearly. A domestic-violence CPO under R.C. 3113.31 or a civil-stalking / sexually-oriented-offense order under R.C. 2903.214 turns on how specifically the petition describes the threats or harm. We work with the facts — dates, incidents, and any risk to your children — so the court has enough to issue temporary protection at the ex parte stage.
• Both hearings covered, from ex parte to full. Fayette directs petitioners to the Prosecutor's Victim Witness Division for help filing, and the process runs from an ex parte hearing to a later full hearing where both sides are heard. We prepare you and your evidence for the full hearing, where a longer-term order is decided and the respondent will have counsel.
• No petitioner fee, flat fee for representation. There is no filing fee for the person seeking protection, and our representation is a flat fee approved up front with payment plans available. If you are instead the respondent answering a CPO — where a motion carries a $100 deposit — we can defend that side too, so both parties can get counsel.

Because Fayette handles protection orders on the General & Domestic Relations Division side and channels petitioners through the Prosecutor's Victim Witness Division, we coordinate with that process instead of working around it. Pairing the county's no-fee filing for petitioners with an attorney at both the ex parte and full hearings means safety planning and the legal case move together.

Flat-fee options

Flat fee: we file your DV civil protection order petition and represent you at the ex parte and full hearings — or, if you are the responding party, defend you at the full hearing.

• Defend a protection order (full hearing): $2,900
• File a DV protection order (petition + hearings): $3,500

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. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your protection orders case or see payment plans & financing.

Where to File: Fayette County Court of Common Pleas — General & Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Fayette County Probate-Juvenile Court
110 East Court Street, 2nd Floor, Washington Court House, OH 43160
Phone: (740) 335-0640
Hours: Monday–Friday

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You've been threatened, harmed, or stalked by a family or household member.
• You need a court order limiting contact right away.
• You want temporary protection while a full hearing is scheduled.
• You need protection terms that can include your children.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for the person seeking protection · petitions handled on the General & Domestic Relations Division side · Prosecutor's Victim Witness Division helps prepare the petition · a respondent's motion on a CPO carries a $100 deposit · confirm details with the Clerk at (740) 335-6371

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Fayette County

1. Get help preparing the petition. Contact the Prosecutor's Victim Witness Division, which Fayette County directs petitioners to for eligibility and petition preparation.
2. File on the Domestic Relations side. File the domestic-violence or civil-stalking CPO petition on the General & Domestic Relations Division side; there is no petitioner filing fee.
3. Attend the ex parte hearing. The court can hold an ex parte hearing and issue temporary protection right away based on your sworn petition.
4. Return for the full hearing. A full hearing follows, where both sides are heard before a longer-term order issues.

Fayette County Practice Notes

• Protection orders have no petitioner filing fee. A civil protection order is filed on the General & Domestic Relations Division side, and there is no filing fee for the person seeking protection. Fayette County directs petitioners to the Prosecutor's Victim Witness Division for help determining eligibility and preparing the petition. A respondent's motion on a CPO carries a $100 deposit.
• Divorce is heard by the General & Domestic Relations Division. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the General & Domestic Relations Division of the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas under Judge David B. Bender, 110 East Court Street, 3rd Floor, Washington Court House. The Division shares the General Division's judge, clerk, local rules, and fee schedule. File through the Clerk of Courts, (740) 335-6371; the Division can be reached at (740) 335-4750, option #6.
• Never-married parents file in the Probate-Juvenile Court. If the parents were never married, custody, parenting time, support, and parentage are decided by the separate combined Probate-Juvenile Court under Judge Mary E. King, 110 East Court Street, 2nd Floor, (740) 335-0640 — not the Domestic Relations Division. The Juvenile deposit for a new custody, support, visitation, or paternity matter is $100, not the Domestic Relations fee schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a protection order in Fayette County, and does it cost anything?

File a civil protection order on the General & Domestic Relations Division side — there is no filing fee for the person seeking protection. Fayette County directs petitioners to the Prosecutor's Victim Witness Division for help determining eligibility and preparing the petition. A respondent's motion on a CPO carries a $100 deposit.

How do I get an emergency custody order in Fayette County?

When a child faces immediate risk, you can ask for emergency (ex parte) temporary orders — in the Domestic Relations case if it arises in a divorce/dissolution (Civ.R. 75(N)), or in the Probate-Juvenile Court if the parents were never married. Bring an affidavit describing the specific danger. The court can issue temporary orders quickly and set a prompt follow-up hearing. If there is violence or threats, a protection order (no petitioner filing fee) may be the better tool.

Which court handles family-law cases in Fayette County?

Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the General & Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas under Judge David B. Bender (110 East Court Street, 3rd Floor, Washington Court House). If the parents were never married, custody, support, visitation, and parentage are decided by the separate combined Probate-Juvenile Court under Judge Mary E. King (2nd Floor, (740) 335-0640). Domestic Relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts, (740) 335-6371.

How much does a guardian ad litem cost in Fayette County?

In Domestic Relations cases, a GAL is $100/hour up to $1,500 per case unless the court approves more (Local Rule 11.13). In Juvenile private cases, the requesting party pays, with a $500 county cap before extraordinary fees require a motion.

Free Local Resources in Fayette County

• Fayette County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Current filing fees, deposit amounts, and case filing for divorce ($400), dissolution ($350), legal separation, annulment, and post-decree motions ($200). Clerk of Courts, 3rd Floor, 110 East Court Street, Washington Court House; (740) 335-6371; https://courts.fayette-co-oh.com/. Attorneys must e-file via Henschen (https://www.fayette-co-oh.com/341/eFiling-Henschen); pro se filers are exempt.
• Fayette County Probate-Juvenile Court. Judge Mary E. King, 2nd Floor, (740) 335-0640. Handles never-married-parent custody, parenting time, support, and parentage, plus non-parent custody, and runs a mediation program (Local Rule 18). All new juvenile family matters are a $100 deposit. There is no e-filing. Self-help: https://www.fayette-co-oh.com/269/Juvenile-Court.
• Fayette County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Arranges genetic testing, opens IV-D cases, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, and reviews existing orders. Contact (740) 335-0745.
• Prosecutor's Victim Witness Division. Fayette County directs people seeking a civil protection order to the Prosecutor's Victim Witness Division for help determining eligibility and preparing the petition. There is no filing fee for the person seeking protection.
• Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Online. Fayette County promotes Triple P Online as a free parent/caregiver resource: https://octf.ohio.gov/what-we-do/statewide-initiatives/triple-p-online. A parenting class is not a standard DR requirement, but the court may order one case by case.
• 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.

Other Family-Law Topics in Fayette County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Fayette County family-law attorney for help with your case.

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.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on protection orders and related Ohio family law topics.

• Civil Protection Orders in Ohio: How to Get a CPO — An Ohio civil protection order can provide fast, court-ordered protection from domestic violence — including no-contact terms, exclusive home use, and temporary custody. Here's how to get one.
• Emergency Custody in Ohio: When and How to Get an Ex Parte Order — When a child faces immediate danger, Ohio courts can grant emergency custody on short notice through an ex parte order. Here's what qualifies and what happens next.

More Fayette County family-law resources

• Ohio Civil Protection Orders guide — Statewide overview of civil protection orders in Ohio.
• Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
• Fayette County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Fayette 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.