Protection Orders in Meigs County

Where to File: Meigs County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Domestic Relations)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Meigs County Court of Common Pleas — Probate/Juvenile Division
112 East Memorial Drive, Ground Floor, Pomeroy, OH 45769
Phone: (740) 992-6205
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 caused or threatened you with physical harm.
• You need court-ordered protection — no-contact, stay-away, or exclusive use of the home.
• You can describe the most recent incidents and any immediate danger in the petition.
• If the person is not a family or household member, you can use the stalking/SOOPO packet instead.

Filing Fees

No filing fee or bond is charged to a DVCPO petitioner (R.C. 3113.31(K)) · stalking/SOOPO petitions also carry no petitioner fee · Meigs County Victim's Assistance (740) 992-1720 can help. Deposits can change — confirm the current amount with the Meigs County Clerk of Courts Legal Division at (740) 992-5290 (Domestic Relations) or the Probate/Juvenile Court at (740) 992-6205 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Meigs County

1. Assess immediate danger. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The statewide domestic-violence hotline is 1-800-799-7233; Meigs County Victim's Assistance is (740) 992-1720.
2. Choose the right petition. Use a DVCPO for a family or household member (R.C. 3113.31); use a stalking/SOOPO for anyone else (R.C. 2903.214).
3. Complete the petition. Fill out the Ohio Supreme Court DVCPO forms (or the Ohio Legal Help stalking/SOOPO packet), describing the most recent incidents and any threats.
4. File with the Clerk. File with the General Division Clerk at 100 East Second Street, Suite 303, Pomeroy. There is no filing fee or bond.
5. Attend the hearings. The court may issue a same-day ex parte order, then hold a full hearing (generally within 7–10 court days). A protection order can last up to five years.

Meigs County Practice Notes

• DVCPOs are filed in the General Division. Meigs County DVCPO petitions under R.C. 3113.31 are filed with the Clerk of Courts for the General Division of Common Pleas, 100 East Second Street, Suite 303, Pomeroy — (740) 992-5290. There is no filing fee or bond for the petitioner.
• Same-day ex parte order, then a full hearing. The court may hold a same-day ex parte hearing and issue a temporary order if there is immediate danger. A full hearing is generally set within 7–10 court days where both sides are heard, and a protection order can last up to five years.
• DVCPO vs. stalking/SOOPO. A DVCPO covers a family or household member. For someone who is not a family or household member, a stalking or sexually-oriented-offense protection order (R.C. 2903.214) is used instead — file the Ohio Legal Help packet. In an emergency, call 911; the statewide DV hotline is 1-800-799-7233.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost anything to file for a protection order in Meigs County?

No. There is no filing fee or bond charged to a domestic violence civil protection order (DVCPO) petitioner under R.C. 3113.31(K). DVCPO petitions are filed with the Clerk of Courts for the General Division, 100 East Second Street, Suite 303, Pomeroy. Stalking/SOOPO petitions also carry no petitioner fee. In an emergency, call 911; the statewide domestic-violence hotline is 1-800-799-7233, and Meigs County Victim's Assistance is (740) 992-1720.

What's the difference between a DVCPO and a stalking protection order in Meigs County?

A DVCPO (R.C. 3113.31) protects you from a family or household member who has caused or threatened harm. A stalking or sexually-oriented-offense protection order (SOOPO, R.C. 2903.214) is used when the person is not a family or household member. Use the Ohio Supreme Court DVCPO forms for a family/household member, or the Ohio Legal Help stalking/SOOPO packet for everyone else. Both can include a same-day ex parte order followed by a full hearing.

Which court handles family-law cases in Meigs County?

Meigs County has no separate Domestic Relations court. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, married-parent ("new") parenting cases, and DVCPOs are heard by the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas (Judge Linda R. Warner) and filed with the Clerk of Courts, 100 East Second Street, Suite 303, Pomeroy — (740) 992-5290. Never-married-parent custody, parenting time, support, and parentage, plus adoption and name change, are handled by the combined Probate/Juvenile Court (Judge L. Scott Powell), 112 East Memorial Drive, Pomeroy — (740) 992-6205. Appeals go to the Fourth District Court of Appeals.

Can I get temporary or emergency orders while my Meigs County case is pending?

Yes. In a pending General Division case, file a motion with a sworn affidavit under Civ. R. 75 / Local Rule 24.03 for temporary custody, parenting time, child or spousal support, or orders restraining violence or the disposal of property. Restraining orders are mutual. Temporary custody and restraining orders take effect immediately on filing; other temporary orders take effect 14 days after service, and objections are due within 14 days (Civ. R. 75(N)). No ex parte order issues when both parties are represented. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 and Children's Services.

Free Local Resources in Meigs County

• Meigs County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Current filing fees, deposit amounts, and local DR forms (Local Rule 24) for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment. Legal Division (740) 992-5290; https://meigscountyclerkofcourts.com/legal-division/. E-filing through Meigs e-Access (https://meigseaccess.com/eservices/); mail and in-person filing also accepted.
• Meigs County Probate/Juvenile Court. Handles never-married-parent custody, parenting time, support, and parentage, plus non-parent custody, adoption, and name change. Located at 112 East Memorial Drive, Ground Floor, Pomeroy (mailing 100 East Second Street); (740) 992-6205. https://meigscountyjuvenilecourt.org/
• Meigs County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Opens IV-D child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. No filing fee is charged to CSEA. Contact the agency to open a IV-D application when establishing or modifying support.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.
• Meigs County Victim's Assistance & DV hotline. For protection-order help and safety planning, Meigs County Victim's Assistance is (740) 992-1720. The statewide domestic-violence hotline is 1-800-799-7233; in an emergency call 911.

Other Family-Law Topics in Meigs County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Meigs County family-law attorney for help with your case.

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.

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