Gallia County Protection Order Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Gallia County protection orders case

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

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

Gallia County protection orders with Gavvl Law at your side

A Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order under R.C. 3113.31 protects a family or household member from violence, threats, or stalking, and in Gallia County these petitions are heard in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas with no filing fee for the petitioner. Gavvl Law helps you complete the Ohio DV Task Force standard petition (Form 10.01-D) with enough detail for the court to act, and stands with you through both the ex parte hearing and the full hearing where the other side can appear. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 first.

• A petition detailed enough to move the court. The court acts on the specific incidents you describe, so we help you set out dates, threats, and patterns clearly on the Form 10.01-D petition. A vague petition risks a weaker order; a detailed one supports the relief you actually need.
• Prepared for both hearings, not just the first. The court can issue a temporary ex parte order the same or next business day, then sets a full hearing generally within 7 to 10 court days where both sides present evidence. We prepare your testimony and exhibits for the full hearing, where the order is really won or lost.
• Representation that fits a protective case. There is no filing fee for the petitioner under R.C. 3113.31, and we offer flat-fee representation, with payment plans and financing, so cost is not what keeps you from having counsel at the hearing that decides your safety.

A DVCPO is a separate case from any divorce or custody matter, though it can carry temporary parenting or support terms, and a full order can last up to five years and be renewed — we make sure any children's terms line up with a completed Health Insurance Disclosure Affidavit under Loc. R. 4.39 when custody or support is requested.

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: Gallia County Court of Common Pleas (General Division)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Gallia County Juvenile & Probate Court
18 Locust Street, Room 1293, Gallipolis, OH 45631
Phone: (740) 446-4612
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You are a family or household member who needs protection from violence, threats, or stalking.
• You can describe the incidents with enough detail for the court to act.
• You can complete the standard DV Task Force forms (Form 10.01-D) and file them with the Clerk.
• You understand a DVCPO is separate from a divorce or custody case (though it can include temporary parenting/support terms).

Filing Fees

There is no filing fee for a DVCPO petitioner (R.C. 3113.31); the court may later allocate costs to the respondent · the ex parte order can issue the same or next business day · the full hearing is generally within 7–10 court days · a full order can last up to 5 years. Court fees and deposits change — confirm the current amount with the Gallia County Clerk of Courts at (740) 446-4612 before filing. For never-married-parent and juvenile cases, confirm deposits with the Gallia County Juvenile & Probate Court at (740) 446-4612. A fee can be waived or spread over up to three monthly installments with a Poverty Affidavit and Payment Plan (Exhibit D).

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Gallia County

1. Get to safety. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Statewide help is available from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233).
2. Complete the forms. Fill in the Ohio DV Task Force standard petition (Form 10.01-D) with enough detail for the court to proceed; the Clerk provides the forms on request.
3. File with the Clerk. File the petition with the Clerk of Courts. There is no filing fee for the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31).
4. Attend the hearings. Attend the ex parte hearing (the same or next business day) and the assigned full hearing (generally within 7–10 court days), where both sides present evidence.

Gallia County Practice Notes

• No filing fee for the petitioner, with ex parte relief the same or next business day. A DVCPO petition (Form 10.01-D) has no filing fee for the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31). The court can issue a temporary ex parte order the same or next business day. A full hearing is then assigned generally within 7–10 court days where both sides present evidence; a full order can last up to 5 years and can be renewed.
• A protection order is a separate case — and can include children's terms. A DVCPO is a separate civil case from any divorce or custody matter, and parenting-time or support terms in the CPO can be superseded by later orders in a domestic-relations case. If you and the respondent have children together and you ask for custody or support in the CPO, the court requires a completed CSEA Health Insurance Disclosure Affidavit (Loc. R. 4.39). Violations of a protection order are criminal; if you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a civil protection order in Gallia County?

File a petition using the Ohio DV Task Force standard forms (the petition is Form 10.01-D) with the Clerk of Courts; there is no filing fee for the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31). The court can issue a temporary ex parte order the same or next business day if there is immediate danger, and sets a full hearing generally within 7–10 court days where both sides present evidence. A full order can last up to 5 years and can be renewed. If you are in danger now, call 911.

How fast can I get an emergency order in Gallia County?

For a domestic violence civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31), the court can issue a temporary ex parte order the same or next business day if there is immediate danger, and sets a full hearing generally within 7–10 court days. In divorce and allocation cases, ex parte relief is disfavored under Local Rule 4.24 — the court generally rules after notice, and a party can object to a temporary order within 28 days. If a child or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 911.

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

Under Local Rule 4.01, the deposit to start a domestic-relations case is $450 for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment without minor children and $500 with minor children, plus $250 for a post-decree motion or contempt. A guardian ad litem appointment carries a separate $250 deposit (waivable; Loc. R. 4.10(C), 4.27), and a juvenile filing has a $102 minimum in Juvenile & Probate court costs. A DVCPO petition has no filing fee for the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31). A Poverty Affidavit and Payment Plan (Exhibit D) can waive the deposit or spread it over up to three monthly installments. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 446-4612 before filing.

Free Local Resources in Gallia County

• Gallia County Clerk of Courts. The Clerk (Noreen M. Saunders) handles filing, fees, and the docket for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and domestic-relations post-decree matters. File in person or by mail at 18 Locust Street, Gallipolis, or electronically through the eAccess portal. Confirm current deposits and packet requirements at (740) 446-4612 (ext. 1221–1224) or https://www.galliacountycommonpleascourt.gov.
• Gallia County Juvenile & Probate Court. The combined Juvenile & Probate Court (Hon. Thomas S. Moulton, Jr., Room 1293) handles never-married parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support, plus non-parent custody and adoption. Confirm juvenile filing deposits and procedures at (740) 446-4612.
• Gallia County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). The CSEA, part of Gallia County Job & Family Services at 848 Third Avenue (PO Box 449), Gallipolis ((740) 446-3222, Option 2), opens the IV-D case, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, distributes payments, and can review existing orders. Open a IV-D case whenever support is established or changed.
• Domestic Relations Local Rules (Rules 4.01–4.47). The Gallia County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Local Rules set the fee schedule, parenting seminar, mediation, GAL, and parenting-time procedures. Read them at https://www.galliacountycommonpleascourt.gov/_files/ugd/ab95c8_054a7f91260c4199b3ab33d2b8baf314.pdf.
• 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 Gallia County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Gallia 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.

Continue your Gallia County research

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