Enforcing a Geauga County Order (Contempt)

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Geauga County, Ohio · Chardon

When the other party violates a court order — withholds parenting time, won't pay support, or won't transfer property — you can ask the General Division to hold them in contempt. The motion is filed in the original case with the $250 post-decree motion deposit (1–5 defendants) or $350 (6 or more).

How do I enforce a Geauga County family-court order?

File a Motion to Show Cause / for Contempt (R.C. 2705.031) in your original General Division case with the post-decree motion deposit ($250 for 1–5 defendants / $350 for 6+). State the specific order and how it was violated; the court sets a hearing and the other party must show cause why they should not be held in contempt. Remedies can include make-up parenting time, a payment or purge order, attorney fees, and — for willful violations — jail. For support arrears, the Geauga County CSEA can also pursue enforcement.

Where to File: Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Domestic Relations)

100 Short Court Street, Chardon, OH 44024
Phone: (440) 279-1960
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
Website: courts.geauga.oh.gov/general-division/domestic-relations/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, Probate & Juvenile Divisions
Courthouse Annex, 231 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Chardon, OH 44024
Phone: (440) 226-4446
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed legal holidays)

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party is violating a current Geauga County (or registered) court order.
They are withholding parenting time, not paying support, or refusing to transfer property.
You have given the order a fair chance and the violations are continuing.
You want the court to order compliance, make-up time, or other remedies.

Filing Fees

$250 post-decree motion deposit (1–5 defendants) / $350 (6+), effective 11/01/2025 · CSEA enforcement available for support arrears · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (440) 279-1960

Forms & Filing Packets

Motion to Show Cause / for Contempt — $250 deposit (1–5 defendants) / $350 (6+)

File the contempt motion in the original General Division case, identifying the order and the violation. The court sets a hearing for the other party to show cause.

Domestic Relations Forms Page (Geauga County General Division) — The General Division's central forms page. The General Division of the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court.
Domestic Case Designation Sheet (Geauga County) — Filed with every new Domestic Relations case to identify the case type and parties. Required intake document under General Division Local Rule 11.

Support enforcement add-on

For unpaid support, the Geauga County CSEA (GCCSED) can enforce through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals in addition to a court contempt motion.

Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you ask the court to set or change support.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Geauga County

Document the violations. Keep a clear record of missed parenting time, unpaid support, or unmet property terms, with dates.
Prepare the contempt motion. Draft a Motion to Show Cause / for Contempt (R.C. 2705.031) identifying the exact order and how it was violated.
File in the original case. File in your original General Division case with the post-decree deposit ($250 / $350) and arrange service on the other party.
Attend the show-cause hearing. The court holds a hearing where the other party must show cause; remedies can include make-up time, a purge order, attorney fees, or jail for willful violations.

Geauga County Practice Notes

Support routed through CSPC and the Geauga CSEA. Support is collected and paid through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (CSPC). Establishing, reviewing, and enforcing support runs through the Geauga County CSEA (GCCSED) at Geauga County Job & Family Services, (440) 285-9141.
No separate Domestic Relations court. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the General Division of the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas — there is no separate Domestic Relations division. Judges Carolyn J. Paschke and Matthew Rambo preside, with Magistrates Lee, Powell, and Starrett hearing many domestic matters. File through the Clerk of Courts, Sheila M. Bevington, 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, (440) 279-1960.
Relocation limited to Geauga and contiguous counties. Under Local Rule 11(G)(7), a residential parent who intends to move must immediately file a Notice of Intent to Relocate and serve the other parent and the CSEA. Neither parent may permanently remove a child from Geauga or its contiguous counties — Cuyahoga, Summit, Lake, Ashtabula, Trumbull, and Portage — without consent or a court order.

Frequently Asked Questions

My ex won't follow our Geauga County order — what can I do?: File a Motion to Show Cause / for Contempt (R.C. 2705.031) in the original General Division case, paying the post-decree motion deposit ($250 for 1–5 defendants / $350 for 6+). Remedies can include make-up parenting time, a payment or purge order, attorney fees, and — for willful violations — jail. For support arrears, the CSEA can also pursue enforcement.
What does it cost to file a post-decree motion in Geauga County?: A post-decree motion in the original General Division case carries a deposit of $250 for 1–5 defendants and $350 for 6 or more (effective November 1, 2025). Registering a foreign (out-of-state) decree carries a $200 deposit. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (440) 279-1960.
How is child support paid and enforced in Geauga County?: Support is collected and paid through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (CSPC). Child-support services — establishing, reviewing, and enforcing orders — run through the Geauga County CSEA (GCCSED) at Geauga County Job & Family Services, (440) 285-9141. The CSEA can enforce orders through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals.
Which court handles family-law cases in Geauga County?: The General Division of the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas (100 Short Court Street, Chardon) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The combined Probate & Juvenile Court (Courthouse Annex, 231 Main Street, 2nd Floor) handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, under R.C. 2151.23) and non-parent custody. Domestic Relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts, Sheila M. Bevington, at (440) 279-1960.

Free Local Resources in Geauga County

Geauga County Clerk of Courts (files Common Pleas / Domestic Relations cases). 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, OH 44024; (440) 279-1960. Clerk Sheila M. Bevington files all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases, posts the filing-fee schedule, and confirms current deposits. Geauga uses mandatory e-filing for Common Pleas cases, with payment by PayPal checkout (guest checkout available). Forms: https://courts.geauga.oh.gov/forms/.
Geauga County Probate & Juvenile Court. Courthouse Annex, 231 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Chardon, OH 44024; (440) 226-4446 (https://geaugapjcourt.org/). The combined Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Timothy J. Grendell) hears unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting-time cases. Self-represented filers can use the Juvenile Help Center: https://geaugapjcourt.org/help-center/.
Geauga County Child Support Enforcement (GCCSED). Housed at Geauga County Job & Family Services, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, OH 44024; (440) 285-9141 (https://www.geaugajfs.org/). The county IV-D agency establishes, calculates, collects, and enforces child support. Support payments are processed through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (CSPC), not the local court (Local Rule 8(C)).
Geauga County CASA / Court Appointed Special Advocates. https://www.geaugacountycasa.org/. Trained volunteer advocates appointed in abuse, neglect, and dependency cases to represent the child's best interest. The Probate & Juvenile Court may also appoint a Guardian ad Litem in contested custody matters.
General Division Mediation Program. Mediation Coordinator (440) 279-1996. The General Division offers mediation to help divorcing and post-decree parents resolve parenting and property disputes without a contested hearing. Ask the Court or your attorney whether your case qualifies.

Related to your contempt case

Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Related guides

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

Contempt Motions in Ohio Family Court: Enforcing Your Order — When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding the children or refusing to pay support — a contempt motion is how Ohio courts enforce it. Here's how the process works.
Post-Decree Modifications in Ohio: Changing Your Order After Divorce — Your divorce decree isn't carved in stone. When life changes, Ohio lets you modify custody, parenting time, and support — but each requires meeting a specific legal standard. Here's how.

Keep exploring

Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
Cleveland family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cleveland metro.
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