Enforcing Orders in Lake County

How do I file for contempt in Lake County, Ohio?

File a Motion for Contempt with a supporting affidavit identifying the violated order, its date, and the noncompliance, plus an Order to Appear and Show Cause and service instructions (DR Local Rule 3.05). File in the division that issued the order — the DR Division at 47 North Park Place, 2nd Floor, Painesville, OH 44077, or the separate Juvenile Division for never-married parents. A post-decree motion deposit applies ($175, or $200 for a reallocation/support/parenting-time motion). If no show-cause order appears on the docket within 21 days, you must notify the court.

Where to File: Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division
53 East Erie Street, Painesville, OH 44077, Painesville, OH 44077
Phone: (440) 350-3000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (filings by 4:00 p.m.)

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

• The other party is violating a custody, parenting time, or support order.
• You have a final order that clearly states what was required.
• You can document the specific dates and conduct that violated the order.
• Informal attempts to resolve the violation haven't worked.

Filing Fees

Post-decree deposit set by the Clerk ($175, or $200 for reallocation/support/parenting-time) · Enforcement may include fines, attorney fees, makeup time, or jail

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Lake County

1. Document the violation. Gather dates, messages, payment records, and a log showing exactly how the order was violated.
2. File the contempt and show-cause motion. File the Motion for Contempt with an affidavit and the Order to Appear and Show Cause in the division that issued the order.
3. Serve the show-cause order. The court orders the other party to appear and explain why they should not be held in contempt.
4. Attend the hearing. Present your evidence. The court can impose fines, attorney fees, makeup parenting time, or jail for willful violations.

Lake County Practice Notes

• Be specific about each violation. Identify the exact order, the date, and the conduct that violated it. Vague contempt motions are hard to prove. Keep a log of missed parenting time or payments and attach documentation. If no show-cause order appears on the docket within 21 days, notify the court (DR Local Rule 3.05).
• CSEA can enforce support in parallel. For unpaid support, the Lake County DJFS Child Support Enforcement Division (177 Main Street, Painesville, (440) 918-4000) can pursue wage withholding, license suspension, federal tax intercept, and contempt referrals alongside your motion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I file in the Domestic Relations or Juvenile Division in Lake County?

Lake County runs two separate courts. The Domestic Relations Division (47 North Park Place, 2nd Floor, Painesville, Judge Colleen A. Falkowski, (440) 350-2708) handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody, parenting time, and support that travel with them for married or divorcing parents. The separate Juvenile Division (53 East Erie Street, Painesville, Judge Michael L. DeLeone, (440) 350-3000) handles paternity and custody for never-married parents, and grandparent / non-parent custody.

What does Lake County CSEA do?

The Lake County Department of Job and Family Services – Child Support Enforcement Division opens IV-D cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support by wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and enforces orders. Correspondence goes to 177 Main Street, Painesville, OH 44077, (440) 918-4000. Under DR Local Rule 19, a party seeking support completes an IV-D Application mailed to Lake County DJFS — it is not filed with the Clerk. The court's IV-D Division handles support modifications.

How much does it cost to file in Lake County?

Lake County Domestic Relations deposits: divorce, dissolution, or legal separation $326 with minor children and $306 without; annulment $276; a counterclaim $200; a Petition to Accept Jurisdiction or Register a Foreign Decree $226; a post-decree Motion for Reallocation, Child Support, or Parenting Time $200; all other post-decree motions $175; and a post-decree QDRO or DOPO $50. A Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order has no filing fee (Local Rule 24). Pay deposits at the Lake County Clerk of Courts, 25 North Park Place, Painesville, (440) 350-2657.

What is a IV-D application and why do I need one?

A IV-D Application opens a child-support case with your county's Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Once opened, CSEA collects support through automatic wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and can enforce the order through license suspension, federal tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. Filing a IV-D Application is standard whenever a child-support order is issued.

Free Local Resources in Lake County

• Lake County DR Forms & Filings. Fillable PDFs, affidavits, checklists, and judgment entries for divorce, dissolution, custody, support, and protection orders at lcdrct.org/forms-filings. The court also links to the Ohio Supreme Court uniform forms for the core divorce and dissolution pleadings. Court staff cannot help complete forms or give legal advice.
• Lake County Mediation Department. Free in-house mediation for parties with a case pending in or divorced through the Lake County Domestic Relations Court. Program page at lcdrct.org/programs/mediation. Mediation is not used for domestic-violence adjudication or protection-order terms, and children may not attend.
• Children in Between (online parenting class). The court's required online parenting class for parents of minor children, completed before the final hearing. A Parenting Seminar Certificate is required when any child is under 16.
• Forbes House Domestic Violence Shelter. Shelter, counseling, and advocacy in Painesville for those fleeing domestic violence. 24-hour helpline 440-357-1018; office 440-953-9779. WomenSafe in Chesterland also serves NE Ohio at (440) 729-2780.

Other Family-Law Topics in Lake County

• Lake County Divorce — Full filing guide for contested divorce in the Lake County DR Division.
• Lake County Dissolution — Both-parties-agree route — faster and cheaper than a divorce.
• Lake County Custody — Married parents file inside divorce; never-married parents file in the Juvenile Division.

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.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
• Cleveland family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cleveland metro.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.