Post-Decree Contempt in Guernsey County

Where to File: Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

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

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

• The other party isn't paying child support or spousal support as the order requires.
• The other party isn't following the parenting-time schedule in the order.
• The other party hasn't transferred property the decree awarded you.
• The other party let court-ordered health insurance for the children lapse.

If your circumstances have changed and you need the order itself changed going forward, you may want a modification instead — or alongside the contempt motion. See post-decree modifications.

Filing Fees

Contempt / post-decree motion fee not published online — call the Clerk · CSEA administrative enforcement (income withholding) is free · fee waiver available (Local Form D-18)

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Guernsey County

1. Identify the violated provision. Find the specific paragraph of the order the other party is violating.
2. Document the violations. Gather payment history, a parenting-time log, or proof a property transfer never happened, plus texts and emails.
3. Draft the Motion for Contempt (Show Cause). Allege the specific violation and ask the court to order the other party to show cause why they should not be held in contempt.
4. File in the issuing court and confirm the fee. File in the same Guernsey County court that entered the order; call the Clerk to confirm the motion fee. The other party must be served.
5. Attend the show-cause hearing. Bring your exhibits and any witnesses. If the court finds contempt, expect fines, make-up parenting time, an attorney-fee award, or a suspended jail sentence with purge conditions.

Guernsey County Practice Notes

• Pull the exact order language. Identify the specific paragraph of the decree or post-decree entry the other party is violating. Vague orders rarely support contempt — if the language is fuzzy, you may need a modification to clarify it first.
• Document the violations. For support, attach the CSEA payment history or your own ledger. For parenting time, keep a dated log of what was denied. For property, attach proof the transfer never happened.
• Remedies can include jail. A contempt finding can result in fines, make-up parenting time, attorney-fee awards, and — for willful violations — jail.
• CSEA can enforce support too. For unpaid support, Guernsey County CSEA can enforce administratively through income withholding alongside or instead of a court contempt motion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can the court do if the other party violates a Guernsey County order?

File a Motion for Contempt (also called a "Show Cause" motion) in the same court that issued the order. The court schedules a hearing where the other party must explain why they should not be held in contempt. Remedies can include fines, make-up parenting time, attorney-fee awards, and — for willful violations — jail. The post-decree/contempt motion fee is not published online, so call the Clerk to confirm it.

What is the IV-D / CSEA application and why do I need it?

Guernsey County CSEA is operated through the county Department of Job and Family Services. In any case involving child support you file the Title IV-D forms — Local Form D-4 (Notice of Filing) and Local Form D-5 (Application & Release for Title IV-D Services, JFS 07076). This enrolls your case with CSEA for income withholding, payment processing, and enforcement.

How much does it cost to file for divorce or dissolution in Guernsey County?

The Guernsey County Clerk of Courts charges a flat $250.00 filing fee for ALL divorce and dissolution complaints — there is no difference between cases with children and cases without. The fee is due at the time of filing. Protection orders (DV CPO and civil stalking/SOOPO) have no filing fee by Ohio statute. Some other fees (legal separation, parentage, post-decree motions, and the separate Juvenile Court fee schedule) are not published online — call the Clerk before filing. If you can't afford the $250, file Form D-18 (Application for Waiver of Filing Fee).

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 afford the filing fee in Guernsey County?

File Local Form D-18 (Application for Waiver of Filing Fee & Financial Disclosure) along with your case. It requires a financial disclosure that the court reviews. If granted, the court defers the cost — note that a deferral is not always a permanent waiver; the court may order payment from a property settlement or at the end of the case.

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.

Other Family-Law Topics in Guernsey County

• Statewide Divorce Overview — How divorce and dissolution work across Ohio at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Guernsey County family-law attorney for help with your case.

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.

Keep exploring

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