Emergency & Temporary Orders in Lawrence County
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026
Lawrence County, Ohio · Ironton
While a divorce, legal separation, annulment, or post-decree case is pending, the General Division can issue temporary orders to hold things in place — for support, who lives in the home, and parenting — and, in limited situations, temporary restraining orders. These last until the court orders otherwise.
How do I get a temporary or emergency order in Lawrence County, Ohio?
In a pending divorce or other domestic case, file a motion for temporary orders under Civ.R. 75 with a supporting affidavit (income/expenses); the court can set temporary support, parenting time, or use of the home. Any judge of the General Division may sign a temporary restraining order in a divorce case, commonly to preserve property and the status quo, including when the assigned judge is unavailable. Temporary orders are handled on the Domestic Track (Local Rule 21). Lawrence County's posted rules do not set detailed local procedure for ex parte emergency custody beyond this TRO authority and Civ.R. 75, so confirm current temporary-orders and any emergency-custody procedure with the Domestic Track office at (740) 533-4329. If your concern is safety from abuse, a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order is a separate case with its own forms; if a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
Ohio Custody by the Numbers
- Best interest The single standard that governs every Ohio custody decision Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04
- No set age There is no age a child can choose a parent — the judge weighs a mature child's wishes Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(B)
- Change in circumstances Required, plus a best-interest finding, before the residential parent can be changed Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(E)(1)
- Shared parenting Either parent may ask the court for a joint parenting plan Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(G)
Compare Types of Custody in Ohio
| Custody type | Who makes major decisions | Where the child lives | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared parenting | Both parents jointly, under a written plan | Time is split per the plan (not always 50/50) | Parents can communicate and cooperate on decisions |
| Sole legal & residential | One parent | Primarily with that parent | One parent is unable or unwilling to co-parent |
| Split custody | Each parent for the child in their care | Siblings are divided between the two homes | Rare — only when it serves each child's best interest |
| Legal custody to a non-parent | The relative or caregiver granted custody | With the non-parent caregiver | Neither parent can safely care for the child |
Where to File: Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas (General Division)
3rd Floor Annex Building, 111 South 4th Street, Ironton, OH 45638Phone: (740) 533-4329
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: www.lawcocp.us
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.
Emergency & Temporary Orders is the right path if…
- You have a pending (or about-to-be-filed) divorce or other domestic-relations case in Lawrence County.
- You need a temporary order for support, parenting time, or use of the home while the case runs.
- You want to preserve property or the status quo with a temporary restraining order.
- Your situation is not primarily about safety from abuse (which is handled by a DVCPO).
Filing Fees
Temporary orders are requested within a pending domestic case, so the cost follows that case — confirm any motion deposit with the Clerk. A DVCPO (if abuse is the concern) has no filing fee for the petitioner. 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
Request temporary orders in a pending case — Filed within the pending case — confirm any motion deposit with the Clerk; a DVCPO petition has no filing fee
File a motion for temporary orders under Civ.R. 75 with a supporting financial affidavit in the pending divorce or domestic case. The court can set temporary support, parenting time, or use of the home; any judge may sign a temporary restraining order to preserve property and the status quo.
- 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).
- Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
How to File Emergency & Temporary Orders in Lawrence County
- Decide the right tool. If the concern is safety from abuse, use a DVCPO; otherwise, request temporary orders inside the pending domestic case (call 911 in an emergency).
- Prepare the motion. Complete a motion for temporary orders under Civ.R. 75 with a supporting financial affidavit, and a proposed entry.
- File in the pending case. File with the Clerk in the pending divorce or domestic case and contact the Domestic Track office at (740) 533-4329 about scheduling.
- Seek a TRO if needed. Ask the court to sign a temporary restraining order to preserve property and the status quo; any judge of the General Division may sign one in a divorce case.
Lawrence County Practice Notes
- Any judge can sign a temporary restraining order in a divorce. Under the General Division rules, any judge of the court may sign temporary restraining orders in divorce cases, including when the assigned judge is unavailable. TROs commonly preserve property and the status quo during a divorce; for temporary support or parenting time, file a motion under Civ.R. 75 with the required affidavits.
- Confirm local emergency-custody procedure. Lawrence County's posted rules do not set detailed local procedure for ex parte emergency custody in a divorce beyond the TRO authority and Civ.R. 75. Confirm the current temporary-orders and any emergency-custody procedure with the Domestic Track office at (740) 533-4329 before relying on it. A DVCPO is a separate case (see Civil Protection Orders).
Frequently Asked Questions
- 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.
- Can I get temporary orders while my Lawrence County case is pending?
- Yes. In a pending divorce or other domestic case, file a motion for temporary orders under Civ.R. 75 with a supporting financial affidavit; the court can set temporary support, parenting time, or use of the home. Any judge of the General Division may sign a temporary restraining order in a divorce case, commonly to preserve property and the status quo, including when the assigned judge is unavailable. Temporary orders last until the court issues a further or final order. Confirm scheduling with the Domestic Track office at (740) 533-4329.
- 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.
- Will a magistrate hear my case in Lawrence County, and what is the 14-day rule?
- Magistrate D.L. McWhorter may hear domestic matters in the General Division and issues a Magistrate's Report. A judgment entry based on that report is not delivered to the judge until 14 days after the report is filed, and it is effective only when the judge signs it (Local Rules 35, 40). That 14-day window is the time to file objections to the magistrate's decision.
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 emergency orders case
- Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
- Grandparents' Rights — Seek visitation or custody when it serves the child's best interest.
- Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
Related guides
In-depth, attorney-written guides on emergency orders and related Ohio family law topics.
- 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.
- Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
- 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.
Keep exploring
- Ohio Emergency Custody guide — Statewide overview of emergency custody in Ohio.
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