Domestic Violence Civil Protection Orders in Lawrence County

Where to File: Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas (General Division)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Lawrence County Probate & Juvenile Court
111 South 4th Street, Ironton, OH 45638
Phone: (740) 533-4372
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You are a family or household member who has been abused, threatened, or harmed.
• You need court protection such as no-contact, exclusive use of the home, or weapons restrictions.
• You may also need temporary parenting time or support as part of the order.
• For a dating relationship that is not 'family or household,' a civil stalking protection order may fit instead.

Filing Fees

There is no filing fee for a DVCPO petitioner (R.C. 3113.31). The court reviews the petition the same day or promptly for an ex parte order and sets a full hearing generally within 7–10 court days; a CPO can last up to five years. Lawrence County does not fix family-law filing fees in its local rules — the deposit is set on the Clerk's cost schedule (Local Rule 4), so confirm the current amount with the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts before filing (case search / e-services at https://eservices.lawrencecountyclerk.com; domestic-relations office (740) 533-4329). A poverty (indigency) affidavit can substitute for the deposit, but costs must be paid in full before a final decree is accepted, and a publication deposit is required in all cases (even with an indigency affidavit) when service is by publication. For never-married-parent and juvenile cases, confirm the current deposit with the Probate & Juvenile Court at (740) 533-4372.

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Lawrence County

1. Get the forms. Use the Ohio Supreme Court domestic-violence protection-order forms (Petition Form 10.01-D); the court's domestic-relations page has a Civil Protection Orders section to start.
2. File at the Clerk's office. File at the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts, 111 South 4th Street, Ironton — there is no filing fee for the petitioner.
3. Attend the ex parte review. The court reviews the petition the same day or promptly and, if the standard is met, issues a temporary ex parte CPO and sets a full hearing.
4. Attend the full hearing. After the Sheriff serves the respondent, both sides testify at a hearing (generally within 7–10 court days); the court can issue a CPO valid for up to five years.

Lawrence County Practice Notes

• A CPO is a separate civil case. A DVCPO is a separate civil case from any divorce or custody case, filed in the General Division and handled on the Domestic Track (Local Rule 21, which expressly covers domestic violence and civil protection/stalking actions). Parenting and support terms in a CPO can be superseded by later orders in a domestic-relations or juvenile case.
• Help and emergency contacts. Help with a petition may be available through victim-advocacy resources; ask the Clerk or the Prosecutor's office. In an emergency, call 911 (Sheriff (740) 532-3575). Lawrence County's posted rules do not set county-specific ex parte timing beyond the statute, so confirm same-day filing cutoffs with the Domestic Track office at (740) 533-4329.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a protection order in Lawrence County, and does it cost anything?

File a petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order at the Clerk of Courts (Common Pleas General Division, 111 South 4th Street, Ironton) using the Ohio Supreme Court forms (Petition Form 10.01-D). There is no filing fee for the petitioner. The court reviews the petition the same day or promptly and, if the standard is met, issues a temporary ex parte order and sets a full hearing. Confirm same-day filing cutoffs with the Domestic Track office at (740) 533-4329.

How long can a protection order last in Lawrence County?

A Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order can last up to five years under R.C. 3113.31. After an ex parte order, the court sets a full hearing (generally within 7–10 court days); at that hearing the court may issue a CPO with terms such as no-contact, exclusive use of the home, temporary parenting time and support, counseling, and weapons restrictions. Parenting and support terms in a CPO can be superseded by later orders in a divorce or juvenile case.

Which court handles family law in Lawrence County?

Lawrence County (seat: Ironton) has no separate Domestic Relations division. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, spousal support, property division, married-parent custody, domestic-relations post-decree matters, and domestic violence civil protection orders are heard in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas before Hon. Andrew Ballard or Hon. Christen Finley (Magistrate D.L. McWhorter) on its Domestic Track, (740) 533-4329. Cases for unmarried parents (custody, parentage, companionship, support), non-parent custody, and abuse/neglect/dependency are heard in the Probate & Juvenile Court (Juvenile Division) before Hon. Patricia Sanders, (740) 533-4372. Adoptions, name changes, and marriage licenses are Probate matters (also Judge Sanders), (740) 533-4343. File with the Clerk of Courts at 111 South 4th Street, Ironton, OH 45638.

How do I get an emergency custody order in Lawrence County?

In a pending divorce or domestic case, file a motion for temporary orders under Civ.R. 75 with an affidavit; the court can set temporary custody, parenting time, and support, and any judge may sign a temporary restraining order to preserve the status quo. Lawrence County's posted rules do not set detailed local procedure for ex parte emergency custody beyond this, so confirm the current procedure with the Domestic Track office at (740) 533-4329. Where there is abuse, a DVCPO (no filing fee) may be the better tool; if a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

Free Local Resources in Lawrence County

• Lawrence County Clerk of Courts. The Clerk handles filing, fees, and the docket for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, DVCPOs, and domestic-relations post-decree matters in the General Division. File at 111 South 4th Street, Ironton; case search and e-services at https://eservices.lawrencecountyclerk.com. Confirm the current deposit on the Clerk's cost schedule and packet requirements before filing (domestic-relations office (740) 533-4329).
• Lawrence County Probate & Juvenile Court. The Probate & Juvenile Court (Hon. Patricia Sanders) handles never-married parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support, plus non-parent custody and adoption. Confirm juvenile filing deposits and procedures at (740) 533-4372 or https://lawrenceohiopjc.org/juvenile.php.
• Lawrence County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). The CSEA, part of the Department of Job & Family Services at 1100 South 7th Street, Ironton ((740) 533-4338), establishes paternity, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, and can review existing orders. Support payments run through the Ohio Child Support Payment Central. More at https://www.lawrencecountydjfs.com/child-support.htm.
• Common Pleas Rules of Practice (Local Rules). The Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas Rules of Practice set the cost schedule (Rule 4), Domestic Track (Rule 21), magistrate/objection rules (Rules 35, 40), mediation (Rule 37), custody investigations (Rule 52), and the Standard Visitation Guidelines (Rule 53). Read them through the Law Library at https://lawrencelawlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Rules-of-Practice-Common-Pleas-2013-to-Print-web.pdf.
• Lawrence County Law Library. The Law Library offers online resources and the local rules for self-represented parties and attorneys at https://lawrencelawlibrary.org.
• 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 Lawrence County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Lawrence 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.

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.
• 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.