Civil Protection Orders in Mahoning County

Mahoning County, Ohio · Youngstown

A Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (DVCPO) under R.C. 3113.31 can order an abuser to stay away, surrender weapons, and leave a shared home. In Mahoning County, the petition is filed with the Clerk of Courts at 120 Market Street with no filing deposit, and the Volunteer Advocate Legal Unit (VALU) — a Community Legal Aid project — can help victims file and attend hearings.

How do I file a protection order in Mahoning County, Ohio?

File a Petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Form 10.01-D, R.C. 3113.31) with the Mahoning County Clerk of Courts at 120 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44503 — there is no filing deposit. The court hears your sworn statement and can issue an ex parte order the same day, followed by a full hearing within about 7–10 days. Add a Parenting Proceeding Affidavit if children are involved. The Volunteer Advocate Legal Unit (VALU) at (330) 742-5856 can help you file and attend hearings, and the court's Domestic Violence Coordinator at (330) 740-2208 offers safety planning. A separate petition (Form 10.01-P) covers dating-violence situations.

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

120 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44503, Youngstown, OH 44503
Phone: (330) 740-2100
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/699/Domestic-Relations-Court

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division
300 East Scott Street, Youngstown, OH 44505, Youngstown, OH 44505
Phone: (330) 740-2278
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

A family or household member has harmed, threatened, or made you fear imminent harm.
You need the abuser ordered to stay away, leave the home, or surrender weapons now.
You want protection that can include temporary custody and support terms.
The respondent is a spouse, ex, co-parent, intimate partner, relative, or cohabitant.

Filing Fees

No filing deposit · Ex parte order possible the same day · Full hearing within about 7–10 days · VALU advocates and a DV Coordinator can help

Forms & Filing Packets

DVCPO petition and ex parte order

Filed with the Clerk of Courts, no deposit. The court hears your sworn statement and can issue an ex parte order, followed by a full hearing.

Petition for Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Form 10.01-D) — Mahoning County's petition for a domestic violence civil protection order under R.C. 3113.31, filed with the Clerk of Courts with no deposit.
Domestic Violence CPO — Ex Parte (Form 10.01-H) — The ex parte protection order the court can issue the same day on a sworn showing of immediate danger.

Modify, terminate, or renew a CPO

Motion to Modify or Terminate DV CPO or Consent Agreement (Form 10.01-K) — Used to ask the court to change or end an existing domestic violence CPO or consent agreement.
Motion to Renew CPO — Used to renew a civil protection order before it expires.

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Mahoning County

Prepare the petition. Complete the Petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Form 10.01-D) describing the abuse and the protection you need; add a Parenting Proceeding Affidavit if children are involved.
File with the Clerk of Courts — no deposit. File at 120 Market Street, Youngstown. VALU advocates can help you file and attend hearings.
Attend the ex parte hearing. The court hears your sworn statement and can issue a temporary ex parte order the same day.
Return for the full hearing. A full hearing is set within about 7–10 days, where the court decides whether to issue a final protection order.

Mahoning County Practice Notes

Free advocate help through VALU. The Volunteer Advocate Legal Unit (VALU), a project of Community Legal Aid independent of the court, walks petitioners through filing a CPO petition, files it with the Clerk, and accompanies them to hearings — Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., at (330) 742-5856 or (330) 742-5857.
Dating violence has its own petition. If the respondent is or was a dating partner rather than a family or household member, file the Dating Violence Civil Protection Order petition (Form 10.01-P) instead of the domestic violence petition.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a protection order in Mahoning County?: File a Petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (R.C. 3113.31) with the Mahoning County Clerk of Courts at 120 Market Street, Youngstown — there is no filing deposit. The court hears your sworn statement and can issue an ex parte order the same day, followed by a full hearing within about 7–10 days. The Volunteer Advocate Legal Unit (VALU), a Community Legal Aid project, can help you file and attend hearings at (330) 742-5856, and the court's Domestic Violence Coordinator offers safety planning at (330) 740-2208.
Do I file in the Domestic Relations or Juvenile Division in Mahoning County?: Mahoning County runs two separate courts. The Domestic Relations Division (120 Market Street, Youngstown) handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody, parenting time, and support that travel with them for married or divorcing parents. The separate Juvenile Division (300 East Scott Street, Youngstown, Judge Theresa Dellick, (330) 740-2278) handles paternity and custody for never-married parents, and grandparent / non-parent custody.
Can I file by mail, fax, or email in Mahoning County?: No. As of June 25, 2020, the Mahoning County Domestic Relations Court does not accept filings by fax, email, or mail directly — all filings go through the Mahoning County Clerk of Courts at 120 Market Street, Youngstown. Court staff cannot give legal advice or help complete forms. If you cannot afford the filing deposit, file a Poverty Affidavit (Affidavit of Indigency) asking the court to waive it.
How do I get emergency custody in Mahoning County?: File an emergency (ex parte) motion supported by a sworn affidavit describing specific facts that show the child faces immediate danger, in the division handling your case — the Domestic Relations Division at 120 Market Street for married or divorcing parents, or the Juvenile Division at 300 East Scott Street for never-married parents. When the affidavit shows immediate harm, the court can issue a temporary order without notice and then set a prompt full hearing. For abuse, neglect, or dependency, the Juvenile Division handles emergency shelter-care.

Free Local Resources in Mahoning County

Mahoning County Domestic Relations Court. Local forms, local rules, and filing information for divorce, dissolution, custody, support, and protection orders at mahoningcountyoh.gov/699/Domestic-Relations-Court. Court staff cannot give legal advice or help complete forms.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. The state's official 2024 Income Shares worksheet at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. Run it, print, and sign it before any hearing that sets or changes support.
Children in Between (online parenting class). An approved online parenting class for parents of minor children, completed before the final hearing. The Certificate of Completion is filed with the court.
Community Legal Aid Services. Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents of Mahoning County and northeast Ohio. Intake line 1-800-998-9454.

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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Civil Protection Orders guide — Statewide overview of civil protection orders in Ohio.
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Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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