Civil Protection Orders in Madison County

Where to File: Madison County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You have been threatened, harmed, or stalked and need legal protection.
• You need an abuser ordered to stay away and stop contact.
• You need a fast, emergency (ex parte) order before a full hearing.
• The person you need protection from is a family/household member (DVCPO) or anyone stalking you (CSPO).

Filing Fees

No filing fee to the petitioner for a DVCPO / civil stalking protection order · same-day consideration if filed before 11:30 a.m. · full hearing generally within 7-10 court days · call 911 in an emergency

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Madison County

1. Get safe first. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Court staff and advocates can help you complete the petition.
2. Complete the petition. Use the Ohio Supreme Court standardized protection-order forms; describe the most recent and most serious incidents.
3. File with the Clerk (no fee). File with the Madison County Clerk for the General Division — there is no filing fee; if filed before 11:30 a.m. the petition is considered the same day.
4. Ex parte order and full hearing. If an ex parte order is granted, a full hearing follows, generally within 7-10 court days, where both sides can be heard.
5. Use the Juvenile Division if needed. If the respondent is a juvenile, file the Petition for Juvenile Civil Protection Order in the Juvenile Division instead.

Madison County Practice Notes

• DVCPO: no fee, filed for the General Division, same-day cutoff 11:30 a.m.. An adult domestic-violence civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31) is filed with the Clerk for the General Division and is heard by the judge or magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.2(D)). There is no filing fee to the petitioner. A petition filed before 11:30 a.m. is considered the same day, otherwise at 11:30 a.m. the next business day; if an ex parte order is granted, a full hearing follows, generally within 7-10 court days. In an emergency, call 911.
• Juvenile respondent → Juvenile Civil Protection Order. Where the person you need protection from is a juvenile, a Petition for Juvenile Civil Protection Order is filed in the Madison County Juvenile Division rather than the General Division. Confirm the current intake procedure with the Juvenile Division at (740) 852-0760.
• Domestic cases are referred to a magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.1). Under C.P. Loc.R. 6.1, domestic-relations matters in the General Division are referred to a magistrate who hears the case and issues a decision. A party may file objections under Civ.R. 53, and Judge Costello then rules on the objections and enters the final order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file for a protection order in Madison County?

An adult domestic-violence civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31) is filed with the Madison County Clerk for the General Division, and there is no filing fee to the petitioner. The petition is heard by the judge or magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.2(D)); a petition filed before 11:30 a.m. is considered the same day, otherwise at 11:30 a.m. the next business day. If an ex parte order is granted, a full hearing follows, generally within 7-10 court days. Where the respondent is a juvenile, a Petition for Juvenile Civil Protection Order is filed in the Juvenile Division. In an emergency, call 911.

Which court handles family-law cases in Madison County?

The General Division of the Madison County Court of Common Pleas (Judge Eamon P. Costello, 1 N. Main St., London) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court, and most domestic matters are referred to a magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.1). The combined Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Christopher J. Brown, 1 N. Main St., London) handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, R.C. 2151.23) and adoptions (Probate). Domestic-relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts at (740) 852-9776.

Will a judge or a magistrate hear my Madison County divorce?

Domestic-relations matters in the General Division are referred to a magistrate under C.P. Loc.R. 6.1. The magistrate hears the case and issues a decision; a party may file objections to the magistrate's decision within the time set by Civ.R. 53, and Judge Eamon P. Costello then rules on the objections and enters the final order. Confirm the current objection deadline with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776.

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.
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