Post-Decree Contempt in Lucas County

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

Lucas County, Ohio · Toledo

If the other party isn't following the Lucas County Domestic Relations Division's order — not paying support, ignoring the parenting-time schedule, or refusing to transfer property — you can ask the court to hold them in contempt. Lucas DR is strictly schedule- and form-driven: under Local Rule 7 you must schedule the motion with the Assignment Commissioner BEFORE filing it, then e-file through the DR portal. Contempt can be civil (coercive — designed to force compliance through purge conditions) or criminal (punitive). The court can order fines, jail, purge conditions, attorney fees, and make-up parenting time.

How do I file a contempt motion in Lucas County, Ohio?

Draft a Motion to Show Cause / Motion for Contempt that identifies the exact provision of the Domestic Relations Division order being violated, attach a certified copy of the order and a sworn affidavit of facts, and request a show-cause hearing. Schedule the motion with the Assignment Commissioner before filing (Local Rule 7), then e-file through courtaccess.co.lucas.oh.us. File at the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, 429 N. Michigan Street, Toledo, OH 43604; the Clerk is at (419) 213-6901. A post-decree enforcement motion carries a $200 deposit under Rule 2.03; a show-cause support motion must include an ODJFS arrearage statement no more than 45 days old. Remedies include fines, jail, purge conditions, attorney fees, and make-up parenting time.

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

Family Court Center, 429 N. Michigan Street, Toledo, OH 43604, Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 213-6901
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: www.co.lucas.oh.us/178/Domestic-Relations-Division
e-Filing: https://www.co.lucas.oh.us/99/Domestic-Relations-Online-Dockets

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division (Juvenile Justice Center)
1801 Spielbusch Avenue, Toledo, OH 43604, Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 213-6722
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party isn't paying child support or spousal support as ordered.
The other party isn't following the parenting-time schedule in the decree.
The other party hasn't transferred property (house, vehicle, retirement account) as ordered.
The other party let court-ordered health insurance lapse.
Any willful violation of a clear, specific provision in the Lucas County DR order.

If circumstances have changed and you need a new order going forward, you may want a modification motion instead — or alongside. See post-decree modifications.

Filing Fees

$200 deposit to enforce a residential-parent / parenting-time order · $150 to vacate/revise/modify · excess costs taxed to the movant (Rule 2.09) · Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit available · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (419) 213-6901

Forms & Filing Packets

Core contempt motion packet — $200 deposit for enforcement of a residential-parent / parenting-time order (Rule 2.03)

Required in every Lucas County contempt filing. Schedule the motion with the Assignment Commissioner before filing, then e-file through the DR portal.

Motion to Show Cause / Motion for Contempt (drafted) — Lucas DR does not publish a fill-in contempt form. Draft the motion under the Local Rules — identify the exact decree or order provision being violated, attach a sworn affidavit of the facts, and request a show-cause hearing. Schedule the motion with the Assignment Commissioner BEFORE filing (Rule 7), then e-file through the DR e-filing portal. Tip: The $200 post-decree deposit applies to motions to enforce a residential-parent or parenting-time order (Rule 2.03). Confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (419) 213-6901.

Support enforcement add-on

Attach when the violation is unpaid child support or spousal support. A show-cause support motion needs an ODJFS arrearage statement no more than 45 days old (Rule 7.09).

Schedule I — Affidavit of Income (Lucas local) — Lucas's local income affidavit. Required with any support motion under Rule 7. Schedule I contains your SSN and is kept in a privacy envelope (Rule 23) — the Clerk redacts SSNs from public filings.
IV-D Application for Child Support Services (Lucas local) — Required whenever a support matter is established, modified, or enforced. A lump-sum or show-cause support motion must also be supported by an ODJFS arrearage statement no more than 45 days old (Rule 7.09).

Parenting-time enforcement add-on

Attach when the violation is parenting-time interference or custody-exchange refusal. Lucas requires Schedule II with any parenting motion. A contemporaneous log of denied parenting time helps the court enter make-up time.

Schedule II — UCCJEA / Parenting Affidavit (Lucas local) — Lucas's local parenting/custody-jurisdiction affidavit. Required with any parenting motion under Rule 7 — a parenting-time enforcement motion filed without Schedule II is subject to dismissal.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Lucas County

Identify the specific order being violated. Quote the paragraph and page of the decree or post-decree order the other party is not following. Lucas will not hold a party in contempt for violating a vague or ambiguous order.
Document the violations in writing. Keep a contemporaneous log: dates, missed payments, denied parenting time, missed exchanges. Save texts, emails, and CSEA payment histories. For support, pull an ODJFS arrearage statement no more than 45 days old.
Schedule the motion with the Assignment Commissioner. Local Rule 7 requires you to schedule the motion before filing. For support, attach Schedule I and the IV-D Application; for parenting, attach Schedule II.
E-file the Motion to Show Cause through the DR portal. Upload the motion, a certified copy of the order, and a sworn affidavit of facts at courtaccess.co.lucas.oh.us. Pay the $200 post-decree deposit (or file the Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit) — confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (419) 213-6901.
Attend the show-cause hearing. The other party will be served and ordered to appear. Bring your documentation. The court may find civil contempt, set purge conditions, impose fines or jail (often suspended), order make-up parenting time, and award attorney fees.

Lucas County Practice Notes

Schedule the motion before you file it. Local Rule 7 requires every motion to be scheduled with the Assignment Commissioner before filing, and motions are generally not set within 7 days of filing. A contempt motion filed without first being scheduled can be rejected or delayed.
Support contempt needs a current ODJFS statement. Under Rule 7.09, a lump-sum or show-cause support motion must be supported by an ODJFS arrearage statement that is no more than 45 days old. Pull the statement from Lucas County CSEA, (419) 213-3001, right before you file.
Purge conditions are the heart of civil contempt. Civil contempt is coercive — the court usually finds the violator in contempt but stays the penalty if they meet specific purge conditions (pay the arrears, restore missed parenting time, transfer the asset). Failure to purge triggers the suspended sentence.
Show-cause is exempt from the mediation requirement. Lucas requires shared-parenting plans to mediate before litigating, but Rule 13.08 excepts show-cause actions, so a contempt motion proceeds straight to a hearing rather than mediation.
Disclose any AI assistance (Rule 31). If AI was used to create or edit any document or evidence submitted to the court, Lucas Local Rule 31 requires a certification at submission describing the technology, its role, and confirming human review.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file a contempt motion in Lucas County, Ohio?: Draft a Motion to Show Cause / Motion for Contempt that quotes the exact provision of the Domestic Relations Division order being violated, attach a sworn affidavit of the facts, and request a show-cause hearing. Under Local Rule 7 you must schedule the motion with the Assignment Commissioner before filing, then e-file it through the DR e-filing portal at courtaccess.co.lucas.oh.us. The Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division is at 429 N. Michigan Street, Toledo, OH 43604, (419) 213-6850; the Clerk is at (419) 213-6901.
How much does a Lucas County contempt motion cost?: Under the Rule 2.03 deposit schedule, a post-decree motion to enforce, modify, or establish a residential-parent or parenting-time order carries a $200 deposit, while a post-decree motion to vacate, revise, or modify carries $150. Excess costs on a post-decree motion are generally taxed to the movant (Rule 2.09). If you cannot afford the deposit, file the Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit and Order. Confirm the current amount with the Clerk at (419) 213-6901.
What do I need to enforce unpaid child support in Lucas County?: A lump-sum or show-cause support motion must be supported by an ODJFS arrearage statement that is no more than 45 days old (Rule 7.09). Attach Lucas's local Schedule I (Affidavit of Income) and the IV-D Application for Child Support Services, which is required for any support enforcement matter. The Lucas County CSEA at 3737 W. Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, (419) 213-3001, maintains the payment records you will need.
Will my Lucas County contempt case go to mediation?: Generally no. Lucas County requires shared-parenting plans to provide for mediation before litigation, but Local Rule 13.08 carves out show-cause (contempt) actions from that requirement, and Rule 18 bars mediation as an alternative in domestic-violence matters. Contempt is an enforcement proceeding, so the court typically sets a show-cause hearing rather than referring the dispute to the Court Counseling mediation program.

Free Local Resources in Lucas County

Lucas County DR Division — Forms Hub (Schedules 1–5). Every Domestic Relations local Schedule form, the Uniform Ohio forms, and the filing instructions are posted free at co.lucas.oh.us/1360/Domestic-Relations-Division-Forms.
Court Counseling Department (4th Floor, Family Court Center). Established 1938 — handles family evaluations, mediation, conciliation assessments, intake services, and parenting-education scheduling through the Family Court Center.
Domestic Violence Resource Center (2nd Floor, Family Court Center). Helps petitioners obtain Civil Protection Orders. Call (419) 213-2700.
Lucas County CSEA. Child Support Enforcement Agency at 3737 W. Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, OH 43623, (419) 213-3001 — opens cases, collects, and enforces 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.
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