Protection Orders in Hancock County

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

Hancock County, Ohio · Findlay

A civil protection order can quickly limit contact and protect you and your children. There is no filing fee for the petitioner. File with the Clerk of Courts (handled by the Domestic Relations Court) if the respondent is 18 or older, or in the Juvenile Court if the respondent is under 18.

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

File a petition for a domestic-violence civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31) or a civil-stalking / sexually-oriented-offense protection order (R.C. 2903.214) — there is no filing fee for the petitioner. File with the Clerk of Courts (handled by the Domestic Relations Court) if the respondent is 18 or older, or in the Juvenile Court if the respondent is under 18. An ex parte hearing is held the day you file or the next day, and a full hearing follows within about two weeks. Open Arms advocates (419-420-9261 / 419-422-4766) can help you prepare.

Where to File: Hancock County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

300 South Main Street, Findlay, OH 45840
Phone: (419) 424-7818
Hours: Monday–Friday
Website: Court website

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Hancock County Probate/Juvenile Court (Allan H. Davis Judicial Center)
209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay, OH 45840
Phone: (419) 424-7066
Hours: Monday–Friday

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

  • You've been threatened, harmed, or stalked by a family or household member.
  • You need a court order limiting contact right away.
  • You want temporary protection while a full hearing is scheduled.
  • You need protection terms that can include your children.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for the petitioner of a civil protection order · file with the Clerk of Courts (DR Court) if the respondent is 18+, or the Juvenile Court if under 18 · ex parte hearing same or next day, full hearing within about two weeks · Open Arms advocates 419-420-9261 / 419-422-4766

Forms & Filing Packets

Domestic-violence CPO (respondent 18+)

File the Petition for Domestic Violence CPO with the Clerk of Courts (handled by the Domestic Relations Court); add the parenting affidavit if you ask for temporary parenting terms. The ex parte hearing is held the same or next day.

Civil-stalking / sexually-oriented-offense protection order

When the parties are not family or household members, file the Petition for Civil Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (R.C. 2903.214).

Juvenile CPO (respondent under 18)

If the person you need protection from is under 18, file the juvenile civil protection order petition (Forms 10.05-A/B) in the Juvenile Court.

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Hancock County

  1. Prepare the petition. Complete the domestic-violence CPO petition (or civil-stalking petition), describing the most recent and most serious incidents; add the parenting affidavit if children are involved.
  2. File in the right court. File with the Clerk of Courts (handled by the Domestic Relations Court) if the respondent is 18 or older, or in the Juvenile Court if the respondent is under 18. There is no petitioner filing fee.
  3. Attend the ex parte hearing. The court holds an ex parte hearing the day you file or the next day and can issue temporary protection immediately.
  4. Return for the full hearing. A full hearing follows within about two weeks, where both sides are heard before a longer-term order issues.

Hancock County Practice Notes

  • Protection orders have no petitioner filing fee. There is no filing fee for the petitioner of a civil protection order. File with the Clerk of Courts (handled by the Domestic Relations Court) if the respondent is 18 or older, or in the Juvenile Court if the respondent is under 18. An ex parte hearing is held the day you file or the next day, with a full hearing within about two weeks. Open Arms advocates (419-420-9261 / 419-422-4766) can help.
  • A separate Domestic Relations Division hears divorce. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the Domestic Relations Division of the Hancock County Court of Common Pleas at the Hancock County Courthouse, 300 South Main Street, Findlay. Most matters are heard by a magistrate. File through the Clerk of Courts (3rd floor), (419) 424-7037; the DR offices can be reached at (419) 424-7818.
  • Never-married parents file in Juvenile Court. If the parents were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are decided by the Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23) at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay, (419) 424-7066 — the county calls these 'Paternity & Custody' cases. The Juvenile deposit is $125 for a new complaint and $100 for a new motion, not the Domestic Relations fee schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a protection order in Hancock County, and does it cost anything?
File a CPO petition (domestic violence, or civil stalking / sexually oriented offense) — there is no filing fee for the petitioner. File with the Clerk of Courts (handled by the Domestic Relations Court) if the respondent is 18 or older, or in the Juvenile Court if the respondent is under 18. An ex parte hearing is held the day you file or the next day, with a full hearing within about two weeks. Open Arms advocates (419-420-9261 / 419-422-4766) can help.
How do I get an emergency custody order in Hancock County?
When a child faces immediate risk, you can ask for emergency (ex parte) temporary orders — in the Domestic Relations case if it arises in a divorce/dissolution (Civ.R. 75(N)), or in the Juvenile Court if the parents were never married. Bring an affidavit describing the specific danger. The court can issue temporary orders quickly and set a prompt follow-up hearing. A protection order may be the better tool if there is violence or threats.
Which court handles family-law cases in Hancock County?
Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the Domestic Relations Division of the Hancock County Court of Common Pleas at the Hancock County Courthouse, 300 South Main Street, Findlay — a separate division from the General Division. If the parents were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are decided by the combined Probate/Juvenile Court at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street (the county calls these 'Paternity & Custody' cases). Domestic Relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts, (419) 424-7037.
If we were never married, where do I file for custody in Hancock County?
In the Juvenile Court (R.C. 2151.23), part of the combined Probate/Juvenile Court at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay, (419) 424-7066. The county lists these on its 'Paternity & Custody' page. New complaints are a $125 deposit; new motions are $100.

Free Local Resources in Hancock County

  • Hancock County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Current filing fees, deposit amounts, and case filing for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matters. Clerk of Courts, 3rd floor, 300 South Main Street, Findlay; (419) 424-7037. Hancock County publishes two overlapping DR fee lists, so confirm the controlling amount before filing. Forms are at https://www.co.hancock.oh.us/210/Forms; there is no public family-law e-filing.
  • Hancock County Probate/Juvenile Court. Handles never-married-parent parentage, custody, parenting time, and support, plus non-parent custody, at the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center, 209 West Main Cross Street, Findlay. Juvenile (419) 424-7066; Probate (419) 424-7079. New complaints are a $125 deposit; new motions $100. Paternity & Custody forms: https://www.co.hancock.oh.us/187/Paternity-Custody.
  • Hancock County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Establishes parentage administratively, opens IV-D cases, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, and reviews existing orders. Contact (419) 424-1365.
  • Free Pro Se Divorce Clinic. A free clinic runs monthly (1:00–4:00 p.m., First-Floor Conference Rooms of the Courthouse) for people without an attorney who qualify for Legal Aid — by appointment through the Legal Aid Line, 888-534-1432. LAWO and the Findlay-Hancock County Bar Association also hold a monthly Domestic Relations clinic.
  • Parenting Education (DR Rule 2.22). Cases with minor children require an approved online parenting class. Providers include A-OK ($30), Children in Between ($45.95 + $3), and Online Parenting Programs ($30). Program page: https://www.co.hancock.oh.us/212/Parenting-Education. File the certificate with the Clerk; questions (419) 424-7818.
  • Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.
  • Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services. Advocates can help with safety planning and protection-order petitions (no petitioner filing fee). Contact 419-420-9261 or 419-422-4766.

Other Family-Law Topics in Hancock 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.

Keep exploring Hancock County family law

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.