Civil Protection Orders in Medina County

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

Medina County, Ohio · Medina

A Civil Protection Order (CPO) under R.C. 3113.31 is the fastest legal protection Ohio offers a family or household member — or a dating partner — from abuse. In Medina County, DVCPO and dating-violence petitions are filed with the Clerk of Court, Domestic Relations Division, at the Medina County Courthouse, 225 East Washington Street, Medina. There is no filing fee, the court can grant ex parte protection the same day, and a final order can last up to five years. File early: DR protection-order intake closes at 3:00 p.m.

How do I file a Civil Protection Order in Medina County, Ohio?

File a notarized Petition for Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Ohio SC Form 10.01-D) with the Medina County Clerk of Court, Domestic Relations Division, 225 East Washington Street, Medina, OH 44256. There is no filing fee, though the court may assess costs against the respondent. File as early in the day as possible — DR protection-order intake closes at 3:00 p.m. The court reviews the petition and holds an ex parte hearing the same day; if your evidence shows danger of domestic violence, the judge can issue an ex parte order effective immediately on service. A full hearing is set within 7 to 10 court days, and a final CPO can last up to five years. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

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

225 East Washington Street, Medina, OH 44256, Medina, OH 44256
Phone: (330) 725-9740
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: medinadr.org/

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

  • You and the respondent are family or household members — spouse, ex, co-parent, intimate partner, blood relative, or current/former cohabitant — OR you are (or were within 12 months) in a dating relationship.
  • The respondent has caused, attempted, or threatened serious physical harm, or committed menacing, stalking, or a sexual offense against you or a child in your home.
  • You need immediate court protection — no-contact, stay-away, residence exclusion, temporary custody, or surrender of weapons.
  • You can describe specific incidents with dates and details in a sworn, notarized petition.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for DVCPO / dating-violence petitions (court may assess costs to the respondent) · File before the 3:00 p.m. DR protection-order intake cutoff · Confirm current details with the Clerk, Domestic Relations Division

Forms & Filing Packets

Domestic Violence CPO petition (family or household member) — No filing fee (court may assess costs to the respondent)

Filed with the Clerk, Domestic Relations Division. Bring the notarized petition plus the proposed ex parte order, and any photos, texts, medical records, or police reports that corroborate your account.

Dating Violence CPO petition (dating partner) — No filing fee (court may assess costs to the respondent)

If you and the respondent are not family or household members but are in a current or past-12-months dating relationship, file the dating-violence packet — also with the Clerk, DR Division, under R.C. 3113.31.

  • Dating Violence Civil Protection Order packet (Medina draft forms) — For people in a current or past-12-months dating relationship who are NOT family or household members. The Ohio Supreme Court has drafted but not yet published statewide dating-violence forms, so Medina posts draft forms on its Forms page. Also filed with the Clerk, DR Division, under R.C. 3113.31. Tip: Confirm the current draft packet and verbatim form links on medinadr.org/forms.html before filing.
  • Ex Parte Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Ohio SC Form 10.01-H) — The proposed same-day order the court can issue on the petitioner's evidence alone if it finds present danger of domestic violence. Effective immediately on the respondent once served.

Final-hearing option: Consent Agreement CPO

If both parties agree at the full hearing, the court can enter a Consent Agreement CPO that lasts up to five years without a fact-finding on the abuse allegations.

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Medina County

  1. Confirm the relationship qualifies. A DVCPO covers family or household members; a dating-violence CPO covers a current or past-12-months dating relationship. If neither fits, a stalking/sexually-oriented-offense order under R.C. 2903.214 (Civil Division) may apply instead.
  2. Write specific facts in the petition. Give dates, locations, what happened, witnesses, and prior threats. Attach photos, texts, medical records, and police reports — vague allegations get denied at the ex parte stage. The petition must be notarized.
  3. File with the Clerk, DR Division, before 3:00 p.m.. File at the Medina County Courthouse, 225 East Washington Street, Medina, OH 44256. There is no filing fee. Arrive early — protection-order intake closes at 3:00 p.m.
  4. Attend the same-day ex parte hearing. The court reviews your petition the same day and may issue an ex parte order on your evidence alone. If granted, it takes effect immediately once the respondent is served.
  5. Prepare for the full hearing within 7-10 court days. Bring all witnesses, exhibits, and documentation. The court can issue a final CPO for up to five years, enter a Consent Agreement CPO if both parties agree, or dismiss the petition. Consider hiring counsel — the court appoints none.

Medina County Practice Notes

  • No filing fee, but file before 3:00 p.m.. Medina charges no fee to petition for a DVCPO or dating-violence CPO, though the court may assess costs against the respondent. DR protection-order intake closes at 3:00 p.m., so file as early in the day as possible to get a same-day ex parte review.
  • Same-day ex parte, full hearing within 7-10 court days. The court reviews your petition and holds an ex parte hearing the same day; it may grant an ex parte order on your evidence alone or decline. Either way, a full hearing where the respondent can present evidence is set within 7 to 10 court days under R.C. 3113.31.
  • Know which division — and which court — hears your order. DV and dating-violence CPOs go to the Clerk's Domestic Relations Division. A stalking or sexually-oriented-offense protection order (R.C. 2903.214) goes to the Clerk's Civil Division, and a juvenile CPO (respondent under 18) goes to the Juvenile Clerk. Filing in the wrong place delays your protection.
  • No appointed attorney — but free advocacy exists. The court appoints no attorney for either party; either side may hire counsel. Hope & Healing (330-374-1111) offers victim advocacy and safety planning. Under Local Rule 1.07 the court speaks through the docket — check the online docket and never contact the judge or magistrates directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file a Civil Protection Order in Medina County?
Domestic-violence and dating-violence CPOs (R.C. 3113.31) are filed with the Medina County Clerk of Court, Domestic Relations Division, at the Medina County Courthouse, 225 East Washington Street, Medina, OH 44256. A stalking or sexually-oriented-offense protection order (R.C. 2903.214) is filed with the Clerk's Civil Division instead, and a juvenile CPO (where the respondent is under 18) is filed with the Juvenile Clerk. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Is there a filing fee for a DVCPO in Medina County?
No. There is no filing fee to petition for a Domestic Violence or Dating Violence Civil Protection Order in Medina County, although the court may assess the costs of the action against the respondent. Confirm current details with the Clerk of Court, Domestic Relations Division, before you file.
How fast can I get a protection order in Medina County?
File the notarized petition as early in the day as possible — Medina's DR protection-order intake closes at 3:00 p.m. The court reviews the petition and holds an ex parte hearing the same day; it may grant an ex parte order based only on your evidence. Whether or not an ex parte order issues, the court sets a full hearing within 7 to 10 court days so the respondent can present evidence. A final order granted after the full hearing can last up to five years.
What if the abuser is a dating partner, not a family or household member?
A standard DVCPO under R.C. 3113.31 covers family or household members. If you and the respondent are in a dating relationship now or were within the past 12 months but are not family or household members, Medina handles a separate Dating Violence Civil Protection Order — also filed with the Clerk, Domestic Relations Division. The Ohio Supreme Court has drafted but not yet published statewide dating-violence forms, so Medina posts draft forms on its Forms page at medinadr.org/forms.html.
Will the court appoint me an attorney for a CPO hearing?
No. The court does not appoint an attorney for either party in a CPO case — but either party may hire counsel, and an attorney is strongly recommended for the full hearing. For free support, Hope & Healing (330-374-1111) provides victim advocacy, and the Medina County Bar Association lawyer-referral service offers a low-cost initial consult. Remember Local Rule 1.07: the court speaks through the docket, so check the online docket for status and never contact the judge or magistrates directly.

Free Local Resources in Medina County

  • Medina County Domestic Relations Court. Local forms, local rules, email-filing instructions, and case information for divorce, dissolution, custody, support, and protection orders at medinadr.org. The Forms page is medinadr.org/forms.html. 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.
  • FOCUS — Family Court Resources parenting program. The court-provided parenting class for parents of minor children, prepaid through the filing deposit and coordinated by Family Court Resources (234-802-0944). Approved online alternatives are Children in Between and Two Families Now.
  • Community Legal Aid Services. Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents of Medina County and northeast Ohio. Intake line 1-800-998-9454.

Other Family-Law Topics in Medina County

Related to your cpo 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.

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Call (216) 868-8005 or email support@gavvl.com.