Enforcing a Henry County Family Order

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

Henry County, Ohio · Napoleon

When the other party violates a court order — withholding parenting time, not paying support, or refusing to transfer property — you can ask the court to enforce it with a Motion to Show Cause / for Contempt (R.C. 2705.031) in the original case. For support arrears, the Henry County CSEA can also pursue enforcement.

How do I enforce a Henry County court order when my ex won't comply?

File a Motion to Show Cause / for Contempt (R.C. 2705.031) in the original case — the Domestic Relations Division for a divorce/dissolution order or the Juvenile Division for an unmarried-parent order. Describe each violation and the order it breaks; the court sets a hearing and orders the other party to appear and explain. Remedies can include make-up parenting time, a payment or purge order, attorney fees, and — for willful violations — jail. For unpaid support, the Henry County CSEA, (419) 592-4633, can also enforce through wage withholding, license suspension, and tax intercept.

Where to File: Henry County Family Court (Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division)

660 N. Perry St., Suite 401, Napoleon, OH 43545
Phone: (419) 599-5951
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk)
Website: henrycountyfamilycourt.com/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Henry County Family Court (Juvenile Division)
660 N. Perry St., Suite 401, Napoleon, OH 43545
Phone: (419) 599-5951
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk)

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party is violating a current Henry County court order.
They are withholding parenting time, not paying support, or refusing to transfer property.
Informal requests to comply have not worked.
You can document the specific violations and the order they break.

Filing Fees

A post-judgment motion with children carries a $280 deposit; a motion with a consent judgment entry is $50 · a juvenile motion to re-open is $150 · CSEA enforcement is available for support · confirm current amounts at (419) 599-5951 or the CSEA (419) 592-4633

Forms & Filing Packets

Motion to Show Cause / for Contempt

File the contempt motion in the original case, identifying each violation. The court issues a show-cause order requiring the other party to appear and explain, and can order make-up parenting time, a payment/purge plan, attorney fees, or — for willful violations — jail.

Ohio Uniform Domestic Relations / Juvenile Forms (DR-1 – DR-4) — Henry County's Family Court uses the Ohio Supreme Court Uniform standardized forms (its four-county local rules label them DR-1 through DR-4 = Affidavits 1–4); it does not publish a separate county DR forms set. Download the complaint/petition, affidavits, separation agreement, parenting plan, and decree here.
Self-Represented (Pro-Se) Resources — Henry County Family Court — The Family Court's self-help page with the Pro-Se Clinic ((419) 599-5951 for Legal Aid-eligible filers), an unbundled-services attorney list, and a link to Ohio Legal Help.

Support enforcement through the CSEA

For unpaid child support, the Henry County CSEA, (419) 592-4633, can enforce through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals — alongside or instead of a court contempt motion.

Henry County Family Court — Court Costs (deposit schedule) — The Family Court's published deposit schedule for divorce, dissolution, juvenile, post-decree, and protection-order filings. Confirm the current amount before filing.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Henry County

Document the violations. Keep a written record of each missed exchange, missed payment, or refusal, with dates and the specific order term violated.
Prepare the contempt motion. Draft a Motion to Show Cause / for Contempt (R.C. 2705.031) describing each violation and the relief you want.
File in the original case. File in the Domestic Relations or Juvenile Division that issued the order; the court sets a show-cause hearing and orders the other party to appear.
Use CSEA enforcement for support. For support arrears, ask the Henry County CSEA, (419) 592-4633, to enforce through wage withholding, license suspension, and tax intercept.

Henry County Practice Notes

Henry County's combined Family Court. Henry County has a combined Family Court (Judge Melissa Peper Firestone; Magistrate Steve Callejas) at 660 N. Perry St., Suite 401, Napoleon, (419) 599-5951. The Domestic Relations Division (3rd floor) hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment; the Juvenile Division (4th floor) hears parentage, custody, and support for never-married parents. Adoptions, name changes, and marriage licenses are handled by the separate Probate Division (Judge Amy C. Rosebrook, Suite 203, (419) 592-7771).
Support handled through the Henry County CSEA. Child support is established, reviewed, and enforced through the Henry County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 104 E. Washington St., Hahn Center Suite 202, Napoleon, (419) 592-4633 (toll-free 888-844-9783). The CSEA can order genetic testing, set support administratively, and enforce orders through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals.
No e-filing — file in person or by mail; pay online. The Henry County Family Court does not offer e-filing. File your documents in person or by mail at 660 N. Perry St., Suite 401, Napoleon. You can pay the filing deposit and court costs online through LexisNexis (payments.lexisnexis.com/oh/co/henry/familycourt) or by phone at (888) 562-9935.

Frequently Asked Questions

My ex won't follow our Henry County order — what can I do?: File a Motion to Show Cause / for Contempt (R.C. 2705.031) in the original case — the Domestic Relations Division for a divorce/dissolution order, or the Juvenile Division for an unmarried-parent order. Remedies can include make-up parenting time, a payment or purge order, attorney fees, and — for willful violations — jail. For support arrears, the Henry County CSEA can also pursue enforcement.
How is child support paid and enforced in Henry County?: Child support is set under the Ohio guidelines (2024 Income Shares, R.C. Chapter 3119) and administered with the Henry County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 104 E. Washington St., Hahn Center Suite 202, Napoleon, (419) 592-4633 (toll-free 888-844-9783). The CSEA can order genetic testing, establish or review support administratively, and enforce orders through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals.
Which court handles divorce, custody, and support in Henry County?: The Henry County Family Court at 660 N. Perry St., Suite 401, Napoleon, (419) 599-5951 — a combined court under Judge Melissa Peper Firestone (Magistrate Steve Callejas). Its Domestic Relations Division (3rd floor) hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment for married spouses; its Juvenile Division (4th floor) hears parentage, custody, and support for never-married parents. Adoptions, name changes, and marriage licenses are handled by the separate Probate Division (Judge Amy C. Rosebrook, Suite 203, (419) 592-7771).
What does it cost to file a post-decree motion in Henry County?: A post-judgment motion with children carries a $280 deposit; a motion accompanied by a consent judgment entry is $50; a Notice of Intent to Relocate is $25; a QDRO/DPRO is $100. In the Juvenile Division, a motion to re-open a case is $150. Confirm current amounts on the court-costs page or with the Family Court at (419) 599-5951.

Free Local Resources in Henry County

Henry County Clerk of Courts (record custodian). 660 N. Perry St., Suite 302, Napoleon, OH 43545; (419) 592-5886. The Clerk is the record custodian for Family Court filings, posts the filing-fee schedule, and confirms current deposits and copy counts. There is no general e-filing portal — file in person or by mail. Court costs can be paid online at https://payments.lexisnexis.com/oh/co/henry/familycourt or by phone at (888) 562-9935.
Henry County Family Court (Domestic Relations & Juvenile Divisions). 660 N. Perry St., Suite 401, Napoleon, OH 43545; (419) 599-5951 (https://henrycountyfamilycourt.com/). One combined Family Court — Judge Melissa Peper Firestone and Magistrate Steve Callejas hear both Domestic Relations (3rd floor) and Juvenile (4th floor) cases, including divorce, dissolution, custody, parenting time, support, paternity, and non-parent custody.
Henry County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 104 E. Washington St., Hahn Center Suite 202, Napoleon, OH 43545; (419) 592-4633 (toll-free 888-844-9783). The county IV-D agency establishes, calculates, collects, and enforces child support. Open a IV-D case to set up automatic wage withholding and enforcement.
Henry County Family, Adult & Children's Services (FACS). (419) 592-4210. The county children-services agency investigates child abuse, neglect, and dependency. For an emergency call 911; the statewide child-abuse hotline is 855-642-4453 (855-OH-CHILD).
Henry County Probate Division (adoption, name change, marriage). 660 N. Perry St., 2nd Floor (Suite 203), Napoleon, OH 43545; (419) 592-7771 (https://www.henrycountyohio.gov/261/Probate-Division). Judge Amy C. Rosebrook's separate Probate Division handles stepparent and kinship adoptions, name changes, and marriage licenses — not divorce or custody.

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.
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