Civil Protection Orders in Huron County

Where to File: Huron County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Domestic Relations)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Huron County Common Pleas Court, Probate & Juvenile Divisions — Juvenile
2 East Main Street, Room 101, Norwalk, OH 44857
Phone: (419) 668-1616
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• Someone has harmed, threatened, or stalked you or your children.
• You need a court order requiring no contact and to stay away.
• You may need temporary parenting-time or support terms while protected.
• You want immediate, fee-free protection while a case is decided.

Filing Fees

There is no filing fee for a civil protection order in Huron County (Local Rule 68). Domestic- and dating-violence petitions can get a same-day ex parte order; stalking/SOOPO petitions are typically reviewed by the next business day; a full hearing follows within 7–10 business days and may be continued once for the respondent to get an attorney. The Prosecutor's Victim Assistance program can help. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Huron County

1. Go to the General Division. File your protection-order petition in the Huron County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, 2 East Main Street, Norwalk. There is no filing fee (Local Rule 68).
2. Choose the right petition. Use a DVCPO petition for a family/household member or dating partner, or a CSPO/SOOPO petition for stalking or a sexually-oriented offense by a non-household member.
3. Describe the incidents. Set out the most recent and most serious incidents — dates, threats, injuries — so the court can decide whether to grant immediate (ex parte) protection.
4. Get the ex parte order. In a domestic/dating-violence case the court can grant same-day protection; stalking/SOOPO petitions are usually reviewed by the next business day.
5. Attend the full hearing. A full hearing follows within 7–10 business days (continued once if the respondent needs an attorney). The Prosecutor's Victim Assistance program can help you prepare.

Huron County Practice Notes

• Two tracks: DVCPO vs. CSPO/SOOPO. A DVCPO (R.C. 3113.31) protects against a family or household member or a dating partner and can include same-day ex parte relief plus temporary parenting-time and support terms. A CSPO/SOOPO (R.C. 2903.214) covers stalking or sexually-oriented offenses by someone who is not a household member; ex parte timing is typically the next business day.
• A protection order is about safety, not final custody. A DVCPO can include temporary parenting-time and support terms while it is in effect, but it does not permanently decide custody. For lasting custody and support, pair the protection order with a divorce or a Juvenile custody case. Confirm current procedures with the court — there is no filing fee under Local Rule 68.
• All divorce cases go to the General Division. Huron County has no separate Domestic Relations division — the Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Judge James W. Conway; Domestic Relations Magistrate Bradley E. Sales), 2 East Main Street, Suite 202, Norwalk, hears every divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matter. The Clerk of Courts (Suite 207, (419) 668-5113) files the case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a protection order in Huron County?

Domestic-violence and dating-violence civil protection orders (DVCPO, R.C. 3113.31) and stalking / sexually-oriented-offense protection orders (CSPO/SOOPO, R.C. 2903.214) are filed in the General Division. Under Local Rule 68 there is no filing fee. In a domestic- or dating-violence petition the court can grant a same-day ex parte order; stalking/SOOPO petitions are typically reviewed by the next business day. A full hearing follows within 7–10 business days. The Prosecutor's Victim Assistance program can help.

Can a protection order include custody or support in Huron County?

A domestic-violence civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31) can include temporary parenting-time and support terms while it is in effect, but it does not permanently decide custody — that is decided in a divorce or a Juvenile custody case. A protection order is about safety; pair it with a divorce or custody filing for lasting custody and support orders. There is no filing fee for the protection order itself (Local Rule 68).

How do I ask for emergency custody in Huron County?

In a pending General Division case, ask for ex parte temporary orders on a showing of extraordinary hardship under Local Rule 69.23. For never-married parents, the Juvenile Division has a Request for Emergency Hearing pro se form to seek an expedited hearing when a child is at immediate risk. Where there is violence, a domestic-violence civil protection order can provide same-day relief. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or the statewide child-abuse hotline at 1-855-642-4453.

Which Huron County court handles my family-law case?

If you are married or divorcing, your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree matter, or protection order is filed in the Huron County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Judge James W. Conway; Domestic Relations Magistrate Bradley E. Sales), 2 East Main Street, Suite 202, Norwalk, through the Clerk of Courts at (419) 668-5113. If you were never married, custody, parenting time, parentage, and support are handled by the combined Probate & Juvenile Court, Juvenile Division, Room 101, at (419) 668-1616. Grandparent and other non-parent custody is always filed in the Juvenile Division.

Free Local Resources in Huron County

• Huron County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Domestic Relations). The court that hears every divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree matter, and protection order (Judge James W. Conway; Domestic Relations Magistrate Bradley E. Sales), 2 East Main Street, Suite 202, Norwalk; (419) 668-6162. The Clerk of Courts (Gina M. Hartman, Suite 207; (419) 668-5113) files the cases. There is no public e-filing; file in person, by mail, or by fax under Local Rule 16. Court information and rules are at https://www.huroncountycommonpleas.org/.
• Huron County Domestic Relations Court Forms. Huron County uses its own local DR Court Forms (and accepts the equivalent Ohio Supreme Court Uniform forms): Court Form 2 (Affidavit of Income, Expenses & Property), Court Form 2 Supplement (Health Insurance), Court Form 3 (Proposal for Temporary Orders), Court Form 4 (Child Custody/UCCJEA Affidavit), Court Form 1A (Child Support Computation), Court Form 1B (shared-parenting order), and the parenting-time Appendices B and C. Download them at https://www.huroncountycommonpleas.org/forms.php; the local rules are at https://www.huroncountycommonpleas.org/forms/courtrules.pdf.
• Huron County Probate & Juvenile Court. The combined Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Timothy L. Cardwell; Juvenile Magistrate Gina M. McNea) handles never-married-parent custody, parentage, CPS, and adoption, Juvenile Division at 2 East Main Street, Room 101, Norwalk; (419) 668-1616. It has its own clerks and pro se forms at https://www.hcjpc.com/clerk.php?id=48 (https://www.hcjpc.com/).
• Huron County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Opens IV-D child-support cases, calculates support under Ohio's 2024 Income Shares guidelines, collects by income withholding, and enforces orders. 185 Shady Lane Drive, Norwalk; (419) 668-9152 (toll-free (800) 668-9152). All Huron County support payments run through the CSEA (Local Rule 69.12).
• Parenting Education — C.O.P.E. and K.I.D.D.S.. Under Local Rule 69.22, each parent must complete C.O.P.E. ($30.00) and each child aged 5–17 must complete K.I.D.D.S. ($20.00) within 45 days of temporary orders; the class may be taken in Huron or Sandusky County. Details are at https://www.huroncountycommonpleas.org/cope.php.
• 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.

Other Family-Law Topics in Huron County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Huron County family-law attorney for help with your case.

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.

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