Enforcing Orders by Contempt in Hamilton County

How do I file for contempt in Hamilton County, Ohio?

File a contempt motion in the court that issued the order. At the Hamilton County Court of Domestic Relations, 800 Broadway, Cincinnati, file the Motion (Form 3.8 — serve CSEA for support matters) together with the Affidavit for Citation (Form 13.1); the deposit is $125. The Clerk issues a summons and the court sets a hearing. Never-married parents file the Hamilton County Juvenile Court's Motion for Contempt packet. Be ready to show the specific order and exactly how it was violated.

Where to File: Hamilton County Court of Domestic Relations

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Hamilton County Juvenile Court
800 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 946-9431
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

• There is a clear, final court order in place.
• The other party has violated it — missed support payments or denied parenting time.
• You can document the specific violations (dates, amounts, missed exchanges).
• You want the court to compel compliance and possibly impose penalties.

Filing Fees

DR contempt motion: $125 · Juvenile contempt of custody: $150 · Juvenile contempt of support: $100 · The Clerk issues a summons and the court sets a hearing

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Hamilton County

1. Confirm a clear order exists. Contempt enforces an existing order. Have a copy of the specific custody, parenting-time, or support order you say was violated.
2. Prepare the motion and affidavit. DR: Form 3.8 motion plus the Affidavit for Citation (Form 13.1). Juvenile: the Motion for Contempt packet. List each violation with dates and amounts.
3. File and have the summons issued. File at the issuing court and pay the deposit ($125 DR; $150/$100 Juvenile). The Clerk issues a summons so the other party is served and ordered to appear.
4. Attend the contempt hearing. Present your evidence at the hearing. The court can order compliance, set a purge condition, award fees, or impose penalties for willful violations.

Hamilton County Practice Notes

• Document each violation precisely. Contempt requires proving a clear order and a specific violation. Bring exact dates, amounts, and records of missed payments or denied parenting time. Vague allegations rarely succeed.
• Serve CSEA on support contempt. Support contempt motions at Domestic Relations must be served on CSEA (use the Form 3.8 CSEA version). The agency's payment records are key evidence of arrears.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

At the Court of Domestic Relations: a divorce or dissolution deposit is $325 without children and $375 with children; establishing custody or support for married parents whose case is not part of a divorce (Section 10) is $350; and post-decree motions are $125. In the Juvenile Court, custody runs $200 for a new case or $150 for an existing one, child support is $100, and paternity is $115. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk before filing.

Do I file in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Hamilton County?

If you are married to the other parent (or were married when the children were born), custody, parenting time, and child support travel with your divorce or dissolution at the Court of Domestic Relations. If you were never married, paternity and custody go to the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. Both branches sit at 800 Broadway in Cincinnati but are separate divisions. Grandparent and non-parent custody is always filed in Juvenile Court.

What does the Hamilton County child-support agency (CSEA) do?

Hamilton County Job & Family Services runs the county's IV-D child-support program (CSEA). It opens cases, sets up wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File the IV-D Application (Form HC7076 at Domestic Relations, or the IV-D Application in a Juvenile case) when you establish or modify support. Learn more at hcjfs.org/services/child_support.

How long does a Hamilton County family-law case take?

An agreed dissolution can finish in about 30–90 days once both spouses sign. A contested divorce typically runs 6–18 months depending on issues and discovery. A domestic-violence civil protection order (Track H) moves on a four-week schedule — an ex parte order the first week and a full hearing around week four. Juvenile custody cases usually involve a pretrial first, then a merit hearing if the case does not settle.

Free Local Resources in Hamilton County

• Hamilton County Domestic Relations Self-Help Resources. Complete listing of all Domestic Relations forms, dissolution merit instructions (Form 9.0), the decree checklist, and the Accept/Reject/Resubmit e-filing guidance at hamiltoncountyohio.gov.
• Hamilton County Clerk of Courts E-Filing. Self-represented and represented parties can e-file Domestic Relations cases at efiling.hamiltoncountycourts.org. Pro se registration is available; credit cards accepted with a convenience fee. Help line (513) 946-5612.
• Hamilton County Job & Family Services — Child Support (CSEA). Hamilton County's IV-D child-support agency. Opens cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File the IV-D Application (HC7076) when establishing or modifying support.
• Hamilton County Juvenile Court Help Center. A partnership with the UC College of Law offering low-income residents free education and limited legal advice on custody, parenting time, companionship, and support in Juvenile Court. 800 Broadway, 1st Floor; (513) 946-9440.
• Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati. Free civil legal aid for low-income Hamilton County families, including help with custody, support, and domestic-violence protection orders.

Other Family-Law Topics in Hamilton County

• Hamilton County Divorce — Full filing guide for contested divorce in Hamilton DR.
• Hamilton County Dissolution — Both-parties-agree track with the Hamilton form system.
• Hamilton County Custody — Allocation of parental rights for married and never-married parents.
• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody works at a high level.

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.
• Cincinnati family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cincinnati 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.