Enforcing Orders by Contempt in Knox County

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

Knox County, Ohio · Mount Vernon

When the other party ignores a court order — missed support, withheld parenting time, or unpaid property-division terms — contempt is how you ask the court to enforce it. In Knox County, you file a Motion to Show Cause in the case that issued the order, and the court can order make-up time, fees, a purge condition, and even jail for willful violations.

How do I enforce a Knox County, Ohio order with contempt?

File a Motion to Show Cause (the standard contempt motion) in the Domestic Relations case that issued the order, pay the $300 post-decree deposit, and label the motion in the caption under the case number (Rule 27.4). The court issues a show-cause order and sets a hearing. Remedies under R.C. 2705.02/2705.031 can include a purge condition, make-up parenting time, attorney fees, and, for willful violations, jail. Keep DR contempt separate from Juvenile contempt, which enforces orders entered in the Probate & Juvenile Court.

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)

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party is violating a Knox County order — unpaid support, withheld parenting time, or unpaid property-division terms.
The order is clear and you can show the other party knew about it and didn't comply.
You want the court to compel compliance and possibly award make-up time or attorney fees.
You're filing in the same court that issued the order (Domestic Relations for DR-case orders).

Filing Fees

$300 post-decree motion (DR) + computerization fees. Remedies under R.C. 2705.02/2705.031 may include a purge condition, make-up parenting time, fees, and jail for willful violations. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 393-6788.

Forms & Filing Packets

File a Motion to Show Cause — $300 post-decree motion

Used to enforce support, parenting time, or property-division terms from the divorce/dissolution case. The court issues a show-cause order and sets a hearing.

Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Asks the court for temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Tip: Attach a current Financial Affidavit (Affidavit 1) and Affidavit 2 (Property).
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).
Representing Yourself in Court — Knox County guide — The court's plain-language guide for self-represented filers — what the Clerk can and cannot help with, and how a DR case moves.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Knox County

Confirm the violation. Identify the specific order term that was violated and gather proof the other party knew about it and didn't comply (payment records, a parenting-time log, messages).
Prepare the Motion to Show Cause. Draft the contempt motion describing the violation and the relief you want (make-up time, fees, enforcement).
File and label it. File in the case that issued the order, pay the $300 deposit, and label the motion in the caption under the case number (Rule 27.4).
Attend the hearing. The court issues a show-cause order and sets a hearing; remedies under R.C. 2705.02/2705.031 can include a purge condition, make-up parenting time, fees, and jail for willful violations.

Knox County Practice Notes

Label the contempt motion in the caption. Under DR Rule 27.4, post-decree motions — including a Motion to Show Cause — must be clearly identified in the caption just under the case number, or the motion may be dismissed.
Keep DR contempt separate from Juvenile contempt. Use DR contempt to enforce obligations set in the divorce/dissolution case (spousal support, property division, child support, and parenting time ordered there). Orders entered in the Probate & Juvenile Court are enforced by contempt in that court instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enforce a Knox County support or parenting-time order?: File a Motion to Show Cause (the standard contempt motion) in the case that issued the order. The court issues a show-cause order and sets a hearing; remedies under R.C. 2705.02/2705.031 can include a purge condition, make-up parenting time, attorney fees, and, for willful violations, jail. The post-decree motion deposit is $300, and the motion must be labeled in the caption under the case number (Rule 27.4).
How do I change custody after my Knox County divorce?: File a post-decree motion to reallocate parental rights in the Domestic Relations case. The court will not change a prior custody decree unless there has been a change in circumstances of the child or residential parent since the last order AND modification is in the child's best interest (R.C. 3109.04(E)) — a high standard. The deposit is $300, and post-decree motions must be clearly labeled in the caption just under the case number (Rule 27.4) or they may be dismissed. (Adjusting only the parenting-time schedule uses a best-interest standard and does not require a change in circumstances.)
How do I change child support in Knox County?: File a motion to modify support under R.C. 3119.79 — generally, a recalculation must show at least a 10% change from the existing order (or another qualifying basis). The post-decree motion deposit in the Domestic Relations Division is $300. Knox County Child Support Services can also conduct an administrative review of an existing order through the CSEA.
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.

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 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.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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