Post-Decree Contempt in Gallia County

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

Gallia County, Ohio · Gallipolis

When an ex-spouse or co-parent won't follow the court's orders — not paying support, withholding parenting time, refusing to transfer property — you can ask the court to enforce the order with a Motion to Show Cause (a contempt motion) under Local Rule 4.25. File in the court that issued the order: the Domestic Relations Division (Room 1290) for married-couple decrees, or the Probate/Juvenile Court (Room 1293) for never-married orders, at 18 Locust Street in Gallipolis.

How do I file a contempt motion in Gallia County, Ohio?

File a Motion to Show Cause (contempt motion) under Local Rule 4.25 in the court that issued the order, with a detailed Affidavit in Support stating the facts of the violation, and a Personal Identifier Form if needed. The Domestic Relations deposit is $250.00. The Clerk schedules a hearing and the other party is served with a Notice of Hearing. At the hearing you present evidence of the violation; if the court finds contempt, penalties can include suspended jail time, fines, make-up parenting time, wage garnishment for unpaid support, and payment of the other side's attorney fees and court costs. If you are the one facing jail on a contempt motion, you have the right to court-appointed counsel if you can't afford an attorney.

Where to File: Gallia County Court of Common Pleas, General & Domestic Relations Division

18 Locust Street, Room 1290, Gallipolis, OH 45631, Gallipolis, OH 45631
Phone: (740) 209-1115
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Website: www.galliacountycommonpleascourt.gov/
e-Filing: https://eaccess.gallianet.net/eservices/login.page

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

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

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party is willfully not following a court order — support, parenting time, property, or insurance.
You have a specific, provable violation (missed payments, denied parenting time, an unsigned transfer).
You want the court to compel compliance and possibly award fees and costs.
Informal requests to comply have not worked.

Filing Fees

$250 deposit for a Domestic Relations contempt motion · Probate/Juvenile enforcement uses the $200 civil schedule · Poverty Affidavit can waive the deposit if you qualify.

Forms & Filing Packets

Motion to Show Cause (Domestic Relations order) — $250.00 deposit (Local Rule 2.03)

Filed in the Domestic Relations Division (Room 1290) under Local Rule 4.25 with a sworn affidavit of the facts.

Affidavit of Basic Information, Income & Expenses (Affidavit 1) — Use to document financial facts when the contempt involves unpaid support or fees.
Personal Identifier Form (Gallia County local) — Required since July 1, 2009 on nearly every Gallia County filing — it lists Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and account numbers on a separate, non-public form, and the Clerk will not accept your filing without it.

Enforcement of a never-married Juvenile order

If the violated order came from the Probate/Juvenile Court, file there (not in the DR Division) — that court has jurisdiction to enforce its own order. Use the Pro Se Motion — Adult form as a starting template.

Pro Se Motion — Adult — The Probate/Juvenile Court motion used as a template to ask the court to enforce its custody, parenting-time, or support order.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Gallia County

Document the violation. Gather specific proof — missed payment records, a parenting-time log, an unsigned deed or title — showing the other party willfully violated the order.
Prepare the motion and affidavit. Draft the Motion to Show Cause under Local Rule 4.25 with a detailed Affidavit in Support of the facts (use the Juvenile Pro Se Motion if the order came from that court).
File and pay the deposit. File in the issuing court and pay the $250 DR deposit (or the Juvenile civil fee), or file a Poverty Affidavit.
Serve the other party. The Clerk schedules a hearing and the other party is served with the Notice of Hearing, personally or by certified mail.
Prove the violation at the hearing. Present your evidence. If the court finds contempt, it can order suspended jail, fines, make-up parenting time, wage garnishment, and payment of your attorney fees and costs.

Gallia County Practice Notes

File contempt in the court that issued the order. If the violated order came from the Probate/Juvenile Court, file the contempt motion there — not in the Common Pleas DR Division. The court that issued the order has jurisdiction to enforce it.
Right to counsel if you face jail. If you're facing jail time on a contempt motion filed against you, you have the right to court-appointed counsel if you can't afford an attorney — the Sixth Amendment applies even in civil contempt cases that carry the possibility of incarceration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a court-appointed attorney for a Gallia County contempt case?: If you are facing jail time on a contempt motion filed against you, you have the right to court-appointed counsel if you can't afford an attorney — the Sixth Amendment applies even in civil contempt cases that carry the possibility of incarceration. Ask the court about an Affidavit of Indigency for the appointment of counsel.
How much does it cost to file a family law case in Gallia County?: In the Domestic Relations Division (set by Local Rule 2.03), a divorce, dissolution, or annulment is $500.00 with minor children and $450.00 without. A motion to vacate, revive, change, or modify a judgment — used for post-decree modification and contempt — is $250.00. In the Probate/Juvenile Court, civil cases (custody, support, paternity) and guardianships are $200.00. Domestic violence and stalking protection-order petitions have no filing fee. If you can't afford the deposit, file a Poverty Affidavit with a sworn Affidavit of Income, Expenses, and Financial Disclosure and the Clerk will decide whether you qualify.
Which Gallia County court handles my family law case?: Gallia County splits family law between two separate divisions inside the same building at 18 Locust Street in Gallipolis. The Court of Common Pleas, General & Domestic Relations Division (Room 1290, Judge Margaret Evans) handles cases where the parties are or were married — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree motions, and civil protection orders. The Probate/Juvenile Court (Room 1293, Judge Thomas S. Moulton, Jr.) handles never-married parents — custody, parenting time, child support, paternity, and guardianship. Unusually, the same magistrate, Thomas E. Saunders, hears contested matters in both divisions.
Can I object to Magistrate Saunders's decision in Gallia County?: Yes. When a case is heard by Magistrate Thomas E. Saunders, he issues a written decision. Under Local Rule 4.15 and Civ.R. 53, you have 14 days to file written objections. Objections must be specific and reference the transcript. The transcript must be ordered within 3 days of filing objections and filed with the court within 30 days.
How is child support handled in Gallia County?: Child support runs through the Gallia County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Under Local Rule 4.34, all support payments must be made through CSEA unless the court orders otherwise — direct payments between parents are not credited as support. Support is calculated on the Ohio Child Support Worksheet (JFS) and the statewide Ohio Child Support Calculator. File the Application for Child Support Services (IV-D) to open or enforce a case.

Free Local Resources in Gallia County

Gallia County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Confirms current DR filing fees, accepts filings in Room 1290, and answers e-filing questions for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree motions. Call (740) 446-4612 (ext. 1221–1224) or (740) 209-1115 for the court.
Gallia County Probate/Juvenile Court — Forms Library. Free Pro Se Motion forms, the IV-D application, relocation, caretaker, and guardianship forms for never-married custody and support cases are posted at jaccess.gallianet.net/forms.php; file in Room 1293 or through Henschen eFile.
Gallia County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Gallia County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File the Application for Child Support Services (IV-D) when establishing, modifying, or enforcing support.
Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS). Free civil legal services for income-eligible Gallia County residents. Call 1-800-686-3668.
Domestic violence help (Serenity House & hotlines). Gallia County is served by the Serenity House domestic violence shelter. Call the Gallia County Sheriff's Office at (740) 446-1221 for the current crisis line and shelter referrals, or the Ohio Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-934-9840 (24/7).

Keep exploring

Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt 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.

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