Guernsey County Protection Order Attorneys

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 9, 2026

Guernsey County, Ohio · Cambridge

If you're in danger, a Civil Protection Order can order someone to stay away from you. In Guernsey County you file the petition with the Clerk of Courts — there is no filing fee for any protection order. A judge or magistrate reviews it the same day or next business day and can issue an ex parte (temporary) order; a full hearing follows within about 7–10 days.

Hire Gavvl for your Guernsey County protection orders case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Guernsey 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.

How do I get a civil protection order in Guernsey County, Ohio?

Go to the Guernsey County Clerk of Courts and complete the right Ohio Supreme Court petition: Form 10.01-D for a Domestic Violence CPO (family or household members, R.C. 3113.31), Form 10.01-P for a Dating Violence CPO, or Form 10.03-D for a Civil Stalking / SOOPO order against a non-household member (R.C. 2903.214). There is no filing fee. A judge or magistrate reviews your petition the same day or next business day and may issue an ex parte (temporary) order. A full hearing is scheduled within about 7–10 days, where the respondent can appear and contest. A granted order can last up to 5 years.

Guernsey County protection orders, with Gavvl Law beside you

If you are in danger, a Civil Protection Order can order someone to stay away, and in Guernsey County you file the petition at the Clerk of Courts with no filing fee. A judge or magistrate reviews it the same day or next business day and can grant an ex parte order right away, with a full hearing set within about 7 to 10 days where the respondent can appear and contest. Gavvl Law helps you write a petition specific enough to be granted and stands with you at that full hearing.

A petition specific enough to be granted. Ex parte relief turns on concrete facts — dates, what was said, what was done — not general fear, so we help you set out the incidents clearly on the correct Ohio Supreme Court petition and gather the texts, photos, and records that corroborate them.
The right petition for the relationship. Guernsey uses Form 10.01-D for a family or household member (R.C. 3113.31), Form 10.01-P for a dating relationship, and Form 10.03-D for a non-household stalker or sexually oriented offense (R.C. 2903.214). We choose the petition that matches your situation so the case is not dismissed on a technicality.
Ready for the full hearing. The temporary order only holds until the full hearing about 7 to 10 days out, where the respondent can fight it and a granted order can last up to 5 years. We prepare your witnesses and exhibits so the protection actually sticks past the ex parte stage.

There is never a filing fee for any protection order in Guernsey County, and if the respondent is a minor the petition goes through the Juvenile Court at (740) 432-9266. When your safety case overlaps with custody, support, or a divorce, we can represent you across all of it so the protection order and the family case work 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: Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

801 East Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 432-9230
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the Clerk of Courts to confirm current hours)
Website: Court website
e-Filing: Online e-filing portal

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Guernsey County Juvenile Court
801 East Wheeling Avenue, Suite 101-D (Second Floor), Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 432-9266
Hours: Monday–Friday (call (740) 432-9266 to confirm current hours)

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

You're in immediate danger or have been threatened, harassed, or harmed.
The person is a family or household member (DV CPO) or someone you dated (dating-violence CPO).
The person is not a household member but is stalking you or committed a sexually oriented offense (civil stalking/SOOPO).
You need a court order requiring the person to stay away from you.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for any protection order (by Ohio statute) · ex parte review the same day or next business day · full hearing within about 7–10 days · a granted order can last up to 5 years

Forms & Filing Packets

Domestic Violence CPO (family or household members) — No filing fee (by Ohio statute)

Use when the respondent is a family or household member (R.C. 3113.31). There is no filing fee.

Civil Protection Orders (Guernsey County Clerk of Courts) — The Clerk's CPO page with petition instructions; there is no filing fee for protection orders.
Petition for Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Ohio Supreme Court Form 10.01-D) — Petition for a CPO between family or household members (R.C. 3113.31).

Dating Violence CPO — No filing fee (by Ohio statute)

Use when you and the respondent are or were in a dating relationship.

Petition for Dating Violence Civil Protection Order (Ohio Supreme Court Form 10.01-P) — Petition for a CPO between people in a dating relationship.

Civil Stalking / SOOPO (non-household members) — No filing fee (by Ohio statute)

Use when the respondent is not a household member but is stalking you or committed a sexually oriented offense (R.C. 2903.214).

Petition for Civil Stalking / SOOPO Protection Order (Ohio Supreme Court Form 10.03-D) — Petition for a protection order against someone who is not a household member (R.C. 2903.214).

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Guernsey County

Go to the Clerk of Courts. Visit the Guernsey County Clerk of Courts at 801 East Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge, or the Clerk's Civil Protection Orders page.
Complete the right petition. Use Form 10.01-D (DV), Form 10.01-P (dating violence), or Form 10.03-D (civil stalking/SOOPO) depending on your relationship to the respondent.
File for free. There is no filing fee for any protection order.
Get the ex parte review. A judge or magistrate reviews your petition the same day or next business day and may issue a temporary protection order effective on service.
Attend the full hearing. A full hearing is scheduled within about 7–10 days, where the respondent can appear and contest. A granted order can last up to 5 years.

Guernsey County Practice Notes

Always free to file. By Ohio statute there is no filing fee for any civil protection order — DV CPO (R.C. 3113.31), dating-violence CPO, or civil stalking/SOOPO (R.C. 2903.214).
Pick the right petition for the relationship. Use Form 10.01-D for family/household members, Form 10.01-P for a dating relationship, and Form 10.03-D for a non-household stalker or sexually oriented offense.
Ex parte first, full hearing soon after. A judge or magistrate reviews your petition the same day or next business day and may issue a temporary (ex parte) order; a full hearing follows within about 7–10 days where the respondent can contest.
Juvenile respondents go through Juvenile Court. If the respondent is a minor, the CPO is filed through the Guernsey County Juvenile Court at (740) 432-9266.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a filing fee for a protection order in Guernsey County?: No. By Ohio statute there is no filing fee for any civil protection order — Domestic Violence CPO (R.C. 3113.31), Dating Violence CPO, or Civil Stalking/SOOPO (R.C. 2903.214). File the petition at the Clerk of Courts. A judge or magistrate reviews it the same day or next business day and may issue an ex parte (temporary) order; a full hearing follows within about 7–10 days, and a granted order can last up to 5 years.
Do I file in the General Division or the Juvenile Court in Guernsey County?: Both divisions sit in the same building — the Common Pleas Courthouse at 801 East Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge — but they are separate courts with different staff and procedures. Divorce, dissolution, and legal separation are filed with the Clerk of Courts in the General Division. The Guernsey County Juvenile Court (Suite 101-D, Second Floor, (740) 432-9266) handles juvenile matters. Notably, the parentage/custody complaint packet for never-married parents is made available through the Clerk of Courts — confirm with the Clerk which division will docket your filing.
What if I can't locate my spouse to serve them in Guernsey County?: Standard service is by certified mail through the Clerk, or by personal service through the sheriff. If your spouse cannot be located, you can ask the court for service by posting/publication using Local Form D-19 (Motion, Affidavit, Order & Instruction for Service by Posting of Notice). The Clerk also has a dedicated Service by Posting page describing the procedure.
Where can I get free legal help in Guernsey County?: Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS) is the legal-aid provider for the Guernsey County area, with the nearest office in New Philadelphia. Call (330) 339-3998 or toll-free 1-800-686-3670. SEOLS provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income residents in family-law matters including divorce, custody, protection orders, and child support. Apply early — capacity is limited. Ohio Legal Help (ohiolegalhelp.org) also offers free guided interviews to complete Ohio Supreme Court family-law forms.

Free Local Resources in Guernsey County

Guernsey County Clerk of Courts. Provides the pre-assembled divorce, dissolution, and parentage packets, the local D-series forms, the e-filing portal, and online cost payment. The Clerk cannot give legal advice but can hand you forms and accept filings. Confirm the $250 fee and copy requirements before filing.
Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS). The free legal-aid provider for the Guernsey County area (nearest office in New Philadelphia). Call (330) 339-3998 or 1-800-686-3670 for help with divorce, custody, protection orders, and child support if you qualify.
Guernsey County CSEA (through County Job & Family Services). Opens IV-D child-support cases, runs income withholding, distributes payments, and handles administrative reviews of existing orders (JFS 01849). File Local Forms D-4 and D-5 when establishing or modifying support.
Ohio Legal Help. Statewide self-help portal at ohiolegalhelp.org with free guided interviews that complete the Ohio Supreme Court family-law forms used in Guernsey County.

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.