Lucas County Contempt & Enforcement Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Lucas County contempt case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Lucas County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

Hire Gavvl Law to enforce your Lucas County order

When the other party ignores a Lucas County Domestic Relations order — skipping support, denying parenting time, or refusing to transfer property — a Motion to Show Cause asks the court to hold them in contempt. Lucas is strictly procedure-driven: under Local Rule 7 the motion must be scheduled with the Assignment Commissioner before it is filed, then e-filed through the DR portal, and a post-decree enforcement motion carries a $200 deposit under Rule 2.03. Gavvl Law drafts the motion, schedules and files it correctly, and holds to one flat fee up front with full representation at the show-cause hearing.

• Scheduled before filing, the way Lucas requires. Local Rule 7 makes you schedule the motion with the Assignment Commissioner before filing, and motions are generally not set within seven days of filing — a contempt motion filed out of order can be rejected or delayed. We handle the scheduling and the e-filing through courtaccess.co.lucas.oh.us so your motion is not bounced on procedure.
• Support contempt backed by a current arrearage statement. A lump-sum or show-cause support motion must be supported by an ODJFS arrearage statement no more than 45 days old under Rule 7.09, filed with Schedule I and the IV-D Application. We pull the statement from the Lucas County CSEA at (419) 213-3001 right before filing so the numbers hold up at the hearing.
• Purge conditions, make-up time, and fee awards. Civil contempt is coercive — the court usually finds the violation but stays the penalty behind purge conditions like paying the arrears or restoring missed parenting time, and it can award attorney fees and make-up time. We frame the remedies you want and, because contempt is exempt from mediation under Rule 13.08, take the case straight to a hearing under one flat fee.

Enforcement in Lucas turns on quoting the exact provision being violated and documenting the willful violation, so we build the affidavit and log the court needs to act — Schedule II for parenting-time cases, a current ODJFS statement for support. If the $200 deposit is out of reach, you can file the Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit, and we spread our own flat fee over a payment plan so holding a non-compliant party accountable is not priced out.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the motion for contempt / show cause to enforce an order the other party is violating. You appear at any hearing.

• Contempt (single issue): $950
• Contempt (multiple issues): $1,450

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your contempt case or see payment plans & financing.

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

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division (Juvenile Justice Center)
1801 Spielbusch Avenue, 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

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Lucas County

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

Other Family-Law Topics in Lucas County

• Lucas County Divorce — Contested and default divorce filing guide for the DR Division at 429 N. Michigan Street.
• Lucas County Custody — Married parents file inside divorce; never-married parents file parentage in the Juvenile Division.
• Lucas County Child Support — Ohio worksheet, Lucas County CSEA collection, and how to modify an order.
• Lucas County Paternity — Establish parentage by Acknowledgment, CSEA, or a Juvenile Division complaint.
• Lucas County Shared Parenting — File a Uniform DR Form 20 Shared Parenting Plan in the DR Division.
• Lucas County Emergency Custody — Seek an ex parte order when a child faces immediate danger.
• Lucas County Modifications — Change a custody, parenting-time, or child-support order after a life change.
• Lucas County Protection Orders — File a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order with no filing fee.
• Lucas County Legal Separation — Divide property and set support while staying legally married.
• Lucas County Annulment — Available only on the narrow R.C. 3105.31 grounds — most cases need a divorce.
• Lucas County Grandparent & Non-Parent Custody — Relatives must prove parental unsuitability under In re Perales.

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 Lucas County family law

• Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
• Toledo family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Toledo metro.
• Lucas County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Lucas County guide.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.