Civil Protection Orders in Knox County

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

Knox County, Ohio · Mount Vernon

A Civil Protection Order protects you from someone who has harmed or threatened you. In Knox County, the Domestic Relations Division hears all four types under DR Local Rule 6.0 — domestic-violence, dating-violence, civil-stalking, and sexually-oriented-offense protection orders. There is no filing fee for the petitioner.

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

File a petition with the Clerk of Courts for the Domestic Relations Division (117 East High Street, Suite 201, Mount Vernon) — there is no filing fee for the petitioner. For a same-day ex parte order, the petition must be accompanied by a notarized affidavit, and you must stay reachable in person or by phone that day (DR Rule 6.2–6.3); any ex parte petition filed at or after 3:00 p.m. is heard the next business day. A full hearing follows under R.C. 3113.31, and a final order can last up to five years. CPO documents are paper-only — they cannot be e-filed.

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

111 East High Street, 2nd Floor, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Phone: (740) 393-6777
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the Clerk of Courts at (740) 393-6788)
Website: co.knox.oh.us/common-pleas/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Knox County Probate & Juvenile Court
111 East High Street, 1st Floor, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Phone: (740) 393-6798
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current hours with the court at (740) 393-6798)

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

Someone has harmed, threatened, or stalked you, or committed a sexually oriented offense against you.
You need the court to order the other person to stay away and stop contact right away.
You can complete and notarize the affidavit and stay reachable for a same-day ex parte hearing.
You understand CPO papers are filed on paper (not e-filed) and there is no filing fee.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for the petitioner. Ex parte order needs a notarized affidavit; petitions filed at/after 3:00 p.m. are heard the next business day. Final order up to 5 years. CPO documents are paper-only. File with the Clerk at (740) 393-6788.

Forms & Filing Packets

File a Civil Protection Order petition — No filing fee for the petitioner

Filed with the Clerk for the Domestic Relations Division. An ex parte (same-day) request needs a notarized affidavit; the first-stage hearing may be ex parte, followed by a full hearing under R.C. 3113.31.

DR Local Rule 6.0 — Civil Protection Orders (with Motion to Dismiss) — Knox's full Civil Protection Order rule — how ex parte and full hearings work, the notarized-affidavit requirement, the 3:00 p.m. cutoff, service rules, and the Motion to Dismiss form at the end. Tip: The protection-order petition itself is the Ohio Supreme Court R.C. 3113.31 / 2903.214 form — CPO filings are paper-only, not e-filed.
Knox County Domestic Relations Rules of Court (Amended 8/9/2023) — The local DR rules — including Rule 7.10.1 (emergency/ex parte orders and the Immediate Hearing Request), Rule 8 (temporary orders + Standard TRO), Rule 16 (Knox County Parenting Schedule), and Rule 27.4 (post-decree caption labeling).

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Knox County

Prepare the petition and affidavit. Complete the protection-order petition and, for a same-day order, a notarized affidavit describing the harm or threats (DR Rule 6.2).
File on paper with the Clerk. File with the Clerk for the Domestic Relations Division (117 East High Street, Suite 201, Mount Vernon) — there is no filing fee. File before 3:00 p.m. for same-day ex parte consideration.
Stay reachable for the ex parte hearing. Be available in person or by phone the same day; if the court can't reach you, it may deny the ex parte request.
Attend the full hearing. A full hearing follows under R.C. 3113.31; the respondent must be served first. A final order can last up to five years.

Knox County Practice Notes

Ex parte needs a notarized affidavit and a 3:00 p.m. cutoff. For a same-day ex parte order, the petition must be accompanied by a notarized affidavit with a jurat (the Clerk won't file an ex parte request without it), and you must be reachable in person or by phone that day (DR Rule 6.2–6.3). Any ex parte petition filed at or after 3:00 p.m. is not considered until the next business day.
Paper-only, up to five years, no mediation. CPO filings are paper-only — e-filing of protection-order documents is prohibited (Administrative Order-I). A final order issued after the full hearing lasts up to five years (DR Rule 6.7), and mediation may not be used to decide protection-order terms (Rule 11.3). Any custody/visitation/support terms end at the earliest of 120 days after a divorce is filed, or when temporary orders or a decree issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a protection order cost in Knox County, and can I get one the same day?: There is no filing fee for the petitioner to seek a Civil Protection Order. The first-stage hearing can be ex parte (same day), but the petition must be accompanied by a notarized affidavit and you must stay reachable in person or by phone that day (DR Rule 6.2–6.3). Any ex parte petition filed at or after 3:00 p.m. is not considered until the next business day. CPO documents are filed on paper, not e-filed.
How long does a Knox County protection order last?: A Civil Protection Order issued after the full hearing is effective for up to five years unless the order states otherwise (DR Rule 6.7). Any custody, visitation, or support terms in the CPO end at the earliest of 120 days after a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation is filed, or when temporary orders or a decree are issued. Mediation may not be used to decide protection-order terms (Rule 11.3).
Can I get the filing fee waived in Knox County?: Yes. If you cannot afford the Clerk's deposit, file a Financial Disclosure / Fee Waiver Affidavit (DR Rule 27.2; R.C. 2323.311) in place of the deposit. For Civil Protection Orders there is no filing fee for the petitioner at all. The court also maintains an Indigent GAL Fund that can cover a Guardian ad Litem deposit when a party qualifies.
Which Knox County court hears my family-law case?: If you are (or were) married to the other parent, divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, post-decree matters, and civil protection orders are heard in the Domestic Relations Division of the Knox County Court of Common Pleas (Judge Richard D. Wetzel; Magistrate Natasha Plumly), and filed with the Clerk of Courts at 117 East High Street, Suite 201, Mount Vernon. If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support — and all non-parent custody requests — are heard in the Knox County Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Jay W. Nixon), 111 East High Street, 1st Floor, (740) 393-6798.
Can I e-file my Knox County family-law case?: E-filing is discretionary for attorneys (with paper courtesy copies to the court); self-represented (pro se) filers file on paper with the Clerk of Courts at 117 East High Street, Suite 201, Mount Vernon. Civil Protection Order documents are paper-only for everyone — e-filing of protection-order papers is prohibited.

Free Local Resources in Knox County

Knox County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Where divorce, dissolution, legal-separation, and post-decree filings are made — 117 East High Street, Suite 201, Mount Vernon, (740) 393-6788. The Clerk confirms current deposits and packet requirements; the Fee Schedule (effective 9/26/2025) and DR Rules are posted at https://co.knox.oh.us/common-pleas/.
Knox County Probate & Juvenile Court. Hears never-married parentage, custody, support, and non-parent custody, plus adoption — 111 East High Street, 1st Floor, Mount Vernon, (740) 393-6798. New parentage/custody/support case $300; reopen $200. Local rules at https://knoxpjcourt.com/.
Knox County Child Support Services (CSEA). The IV-D agency that establishes, collects, and enforces child support by income withholding. Apply for services at https://co.knox.oh.us/jfs/child-support/ or call (740) 397-7177 ext. 3040 or (800) 298-2223.
Parenting Wisely seminar. The court-ordered parenting-education seminar for any divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment with minor children — about 2 hours, $30 cash or money order payable to the Knox County Treasurer, due within 45 days of filing (DR Rule 12).
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.

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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Civil Protection Orders guide — Statewide overview of civil protection orders in Ohio.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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