Civil Protection Orders in Fulton County

How do I get a Civil Protection Order in Fulton County, Ohio?

There is NO filing fee for a CPO in Ohio. File the petition at the Fulton County Clerk of Courts, 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon. Forms are free on the Ohio Supreme Court website at supremecourt.ohio.gov or from The Center for Child & Family Advocacy at (419) 335-4255 (theccfa.org) — they provide free assistance completing the petition and preparing for the hearing. An ex parte hearing typically happens the same day or the next business day; if granted, a temporary order issues immediately. A full hearing is scheduled within 7–10 days where both parties testify. A full CPO can last up to 5 years. Violating a CPO is a criminal offense — call 911.

Where to File: Fulton County Court of Common Pleas (General Division)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Fulton County Juvenile Division
210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH 43567, Wauseon, OH 43567
Phone: (419) 337-9260
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You have been hurt, threatened with harm, or made to fear imminent serious physical harm by a family or household member, a dating partner, or a stalker.
• You need a court order requiring the other person to stay away and stop contacting you.
• You need temporary custody and exclusive use of the home while the order is in effect.
• You are willing to testify at a hearing within 7–10 days of the ex parte order.

Filing Fees

NO filing fee for any CPO in Ohio · Ex parte hearing same day or next business day · Full hearing within 7–10 days · Order can last up to 5 years · Violation is criminal (call 911)

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Fulton County

1. Call CCFA first if you can. (419) 335-4255 — The Center for Child & Family Advocacy provides free help completing the petition and preparing for the hearing.
2. Complete the petition. Use the Ohio Supreme Court standardized CPO petition for your situation (DV, dating violence, or stalking). Describe the most recent incident in detail, list every prior incident you remember, and identify witnesses.
3. File at the Clerk of Courts in Wauseon. 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon. No filing fee. Ask the clerk to take you in front of the judge for the ex parte hearing.
4. Attend the ex parte hearing the same day or next business day. Only you appear. The judge will review the petition and decide whether to issue a temporary order until the full hearing.
5. Prepare for the full hearing within 7–10 days. Gather police reports, photos, texts, voicemails, medical records, and witnesses. Both parties testify; the respondent's attorney can cross-examine.
6. If granted, keep certified copies. Keep certified copies on your person, at home, at work, and with the children's school. Call 911 for any violation.

Fulton County Practice Notes

• Free help from CCFA. The Center for Child & Family Advocacy at (419) 335-4255 (theccfa.org) helps Fulton residents complete CPO petitions and prepare for the hearing — at no cost. They are not the court; they are an advocacy organization that does this work for free.
• Ex parte order is temporary. The same-day or next-business-day ex parte hearing is one-sided — only you appear. If the judge grants temporary protection, it remains in effect only until the full hearing 7–10 days later.
• Bring evidence to the full hearing. Police reports, photos of injuries, threatening texts/voicemails/emails, medical records, and witness statements all help. The respondent and their attorney will have the chance to cross-examine.
• CPO violations are criminal. If the respondent violates the order — even by texting you — call 911. The violation itself is a separate criminal offense; the prosecutor (not you) decides whether to charge.
• Children and the home. A CPO can include temporary custody of the children and exclusive use of the home for up to 5 years. Bring details about the children's school and any current parenting arrangement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a Civil Protection Order in Fulton County?

There is no filing fee for a CPO in Ohio. File at the Fulton County Clerk of Courts at 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon. The Center for Child & Family Advocacy at (419) 335-4255 (theccfa.org) provides free Civil Protection Order assistance — they can help you complete the petition and prepare for the hearing. An ex parte hearing usually happens the same day or the next business day; the full hearing is typically within 7-10 days.

Does Fulton County have a separate Domestic Relations Court?

No. Fulton County does not have a separate DR Court. All family-law cases — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree motions — are heard in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas by Hon. Scott Haselman, who also handles civil and criminal cases. Cases involving never-married parents go to the Juvenile Division (same judge).

Why doesn't the courthouse have paper forms?

Since July 1, 2013, the Fulton County Court of Common Pleas does not provide paper domestic-relations forms at the courthouse. All standardized forms are free on the Ohio Supreme Court website at supremecourt.ohio.gov. The court's staff also cannot help you choose or fill out the right forms — if you need help, consult an attorney.

How much does it cost to file in Fulton County?

Fulton publishes its full fee schedule in Appendix B of the Local Rules at fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13191. Call the Clerk of Courts at (419) 337-9260 to confirm the current fee for your specific case type before filing. An Affidavit of Indigency is available to waive fees for qualifying low-income filers.

Free Local Resources in Fulton County

• Fulton County Court of Common Pleas. 210 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH 43567. Phone (419) 337-9260 · Fax (419) 337-9293. Hon. Scott Haselman presides — handles DR, civil, and criminal cases.
• Fulton County Local Rules (rev. 1/26/2024). fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13192 — includes Appendix B fee schedule.
• Fulton County Court Fee Schedule (Appendix B). fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13191/appendix-b — confirm current amount with Clerk before filing.
• Fulton County Local Forms Page. fultoncountyoh.com/235/Forms — Court Orders 1-8, Pretrial Order, Settlement Conference Notice, and Parenting Schedules A/A-1/B/C.
• Local Child Support Worksheet. fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/250 — used alongside the Ohio Child Support Calculator output.
• Fulton County Juvenile Division. Same courthouse, same judge. Forms at fultoncountyoh.com/650/Juvenile-Court-Forms. Birth certificate required at filing for Grandparent POA / Caretaker Affidavit and Application for Custodian filings.
• Juvenile Local Rules (2021). fultoncountyoh.com/DocumentCenter/View/13596 — covers juvenile filing requirements.
• Online Dockets / Records Search. fultoncountyoh.com/231/Records-Search
• The Center for Child & Family Advocacy (CPO help). (419) 335-4255 · theccfa.org — free Civil Protection Order assistance.
• Legal Aid Hotline. (888) 534-1432 · legalaidline.lawolaw.org — free phone-based legal advice for income-qualified residents.
• Ohio Supreme Court Standardized DR & Juvenile Forms. supremecourt.ohio.gov — Fulton does not provide paper forms; download everything here.
• 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.

Other Family-Law Topics in Fulton County

• Fulton County Dissolution — Joint petition. Same courthouse as divorce. Hearing 30-90 days after filing.
• Fulton County Divorce — Common Pleas General Division (Hon. Scott Haselman). 42-day waiting period. No paper forms at courthouse.
• Fulton County Divorce With Children — Add Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, Health Insurance Affidavit, both child-support worksheets, and a Fulton Parenting Schedule (A, A-1, B, or C).
• Fulton County Legal Separation — Same mandatory initial pleadings as divorce. Fulton does not publish a separate form — use the Ohio SC Complaint with the caption changed.
• Fulton County Annulment — Limited R.C. 3105.31 grounds. Use the Ohio SC divorce Complaint with the caption changed.
• Fulton County Post-Decree Modifications — Ohio SC Forms 26, 27, and 28 filed with the General Division.
• Fulton County Post-Decree Contempt — Ohio SC Forms 24 and 25 filed with the General Division.

Related to your cpos 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.
• Dayton family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Dayton 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.