Enforcing Orders Through Contempt in Madison County

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

Madison County, Ohio · London

When the other parent won't follow a court order — withholding parenting time or not paying support — you can ask the court to hold them in contempt. Contempt on a divorce order is filed in the General Division ($400 deposit); contempt on a Juvenile order is filed in the Juvenile Division ($100 deposit).

How do I enforce a family-law order in Madison County, Ohio?

File a motion for contempt in the court that issued the order. For a divorce/dissolution order, file in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas; the contempt deposit is $400 (C.P. Loc.R. 4.1). For a Juvenile (never-married) order, file the Juvenile Motion for Contempt; the contempt deposit is $100. The motion describes how the other party violated the order and asks the court to order compliance and penalties. For unpaid support, the Madison County CSEA can also enforce by wage withholding and other tools.

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

1 N. Main Street, London, OH 43140
Phone: (740) 852-9776
Hours: Monday–Friday (confirm current public-counter hours with the Clerk)
Website: www.co.madison.oh.us/departments/court_system/common_pleas/index.php

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other parent is violating a current court order.
Parenting time is being withheld in violation of the order.
Court-ordered support is not being paid.
You have already tried to resolve it and need the court to enforce the order.

Filing Fees

General Division contempt $400 · Juvenile contempt $100 · CSEA can enforce unpaid support administratively · confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776

Forms & Filing Packets

Contempt on a divorce order (General Division) — $400 contempt deposit

File a motion for contempt in the General Division describing the violation; the contempt deposit is $400. The case is referred to a magistrate, who can recommend compliance and penalties.

Madison County Court of Common Pleas — General Division — The General Division of the Madison County Court of Common Pleas (Judge Eamon P. Costello). Domestic-relations matters are referred to a magistrate (C.P. Loc.R. 6.1). Court and clerk staff cannot give legal advice or complete your forms.
Common Pleas Clerk 2026 Filing-Fee Schedule (Madison County) — The Clerk's 2026 deposit schedule: divorce $450, dissolution $300, counterclaim $450, post-decree motion $400, contempt $400, jury demand $100. A $100 Special Projects Fund fee is collected from the cost deposit on each civil action.

Contempt on a Juvenile order (never-married parents) — $100 Juvenile contempt deposit

File the Juvenile Motion for Contempt describing how the other parent violated the parenting or support order; the contempt deposit is $100.

Motion for Contempt — Madison County Juvenile — Enforces a Juvenile parenting or support order when the other parent won't comply; the Juvenile contempt deposit is $100.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction over custody under the UCCJEA. Required in any case involving minor children.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Madison County

Identify the court that issued your order. File contempt in the same court that issued the order — the General Division for a divorce order, the Juvenile Division for a never-married order.
Document the violation. Gather dates, missed payments, or denied parenting time showing how the other party violated the order.
File the contempt motion. File the General Division contempt motion ($400) or the Juvenile Motion for Contempt ($100); the court sets a hearing.
Attend the hearing. The court (or magistrate) hears the motion and can order compliance, make-up parenting time, or penalties; for support, CSEA can also enforce.

Madison County Practice Notes

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.
Support runs through Madison County CSEA. Child-support services run through the Madison County Child Support Enforcement Agency, 200 Midway St., London, (740) 852-4770. CSEA can establish, calculate, collect, and enforce support; payments are processed through the Ohio CSPC. Support is calculated under Ohio's 2024 Income Shares model.
Juvenile Division uses its own local form set. Unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting-time cases are filed in the Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Christopher J. Brown, 1 N. Main St., London, (740) 852-0760) using its local PDF forms. The court is open 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. M-F; self-represented parents reactivating a case by motion are not accepted after 3:30 p.m. (Juv. Loc.R. 3).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to reopen or modify a Madison County divorce order?: Per the General Division Clerk's 2026 schedule, a post-decree motion (including a motion to modify a decree or change custody) is a $400 deposit, and a contempt citation is also $400 (C.P. Loc.R. 4.1). In the Juvenile Division a modification of custody, support, or visitation is a $200 deposit, a change of custody for school purposes only is $100, and a contempt motion is $100. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 852-9776 or the Juvenile Division at (740) 852-0760.
What does it cost to file a custody, paternity, or support case in the Madison County Juvenile Division?: Under Appendix A of the Juvenile Local Rules, a new or modified custody, parentage, child-support, or visitation case is a $200 deposit; a motion for change of custody for school purposes only is $100; and a contempt motion is $100. Publication is $75, and a Guardian ad Litem adds a $2,000 deposit (request within 90 days, Juv. Loc.R. 25). The Clerk may demand up to $150 more if the deposit is insufficient. Fees change — confirm with the Juvenile Division at (740) 852-0760.
How is child support handled in Madison County?: Child-support services run through the Madison County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 200 Midway St., London, (740) 852-4770. CSEA can establish, calculate, collect, and enforce support; support is calculated under Ohio's 2024 Income Shares model. Payments are processed through the Ohio CSPC. Support is ordered in the General Division for married/divorcing parents or the Juvenile Division for never-married parents.
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.

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.
Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
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