Enforcing an Order in Meigs County

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

Meigs County, Ohio · Pomeroy

When the other party ignores a court order — withholding parenting time, not paying support, or refusing to follow the decree — you can ask the court to hold them in contempt. In Meigs County, you file the contempt motion in the court that issued the order: the General Division for DR orders, the Probate/Juvenile Court for never-married orders.

How do I file for contempt in Meigs County, Ohio?

File a motion for contempt in the court that issued your order, identifying the exact order being violated and how it was violated (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031). DR contempt motions are filed in the General Division case (a deposit, historically $35, applies — confirm with the Clerk); never-married contempt is filed in the Probate/Juvenile Court (a $125 fee applies, Meigs Juv. R. 37). The court can impose purge conditions, order make-up parenting time, award attorney fees, and, in serious cases, jail. Bring proof of the violation — missed exchanges, a payment history, or messages. Confirm fees with the Clerk at (740) 992-5290 or the Juvenile Court at (740) 992-6205.

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

100 East Second Street, Room 302, Pomeroy, OH 45769
Phone: (740) 992-6419
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
Website: meigscommonpleascourt.com/
e-Filing: https://meigseaccess.com/eservices/

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.

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party is violating a current court order — withholding parenting time, not paying support, or ignoring decree terms.
You can identify the specific order and how it was violated, with supporting proof.
You know which court issued the order — the General Division or the Probate/Juvenile Court.
You want enforcement (purge conditions, make-up time, fees) rather than to change the order itself.

Filing Fees

DR contempt motion deposit historically $35 (confirm with the Clerk) · Juvenile contempt $125 (Meigs Juv. R. 37) · the court may award attorney fees and costs against the party found in contempt. 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

Contempt of a DR order (from a divorce or dissolution) — DR contempt deposit (historically $35 — confirm with the Clerk)

File a motion for contempt in the General Division case to enforce support, parenting time, or other decree terms. Attach proof of the violation; the court can set purge conditions and award fees.

Motion for Contempt, Affidavit & Instructions for Service (Ohio SC Form 24) — Opens a contempt action to enforce decree obligations — spousal support, property division, and the child support or parenting time set in the case (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031).
Affidavit of Income and Expenses — Post-Decree (Local Form 24.02 B) — Required with any post-decree motion involving support, along with a new child-support worksheet (Local Rule 24.02). Obtain from the Clerk's Legal Division.

Contempt of a juvenile order (never-married parents) — $125 (contempt, Meigs Juv. R. 37)

File a motion for contempt in the Probate/Juvenile Court to enforce a parenting-time or support order. The $125 fee applies (Meigs Juv. R. 37).

Motion for Contempt, Affidavit & Instructions for Service (Ohio SC Form 24) — Opens a contempt action to enforce decree obligations — spousal support, property division, and the child support or parenting time set in the case (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031).
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you ask the court to set or change support.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Meigs County

Identify the violated order. Locate the specific order — decree, support order, or parenting-time order — and note exactly how it was violated.
Gather proof. Collect a payment history from CSEA, records of missed parenting time, or messages showing the violation.
Prepare the contempt motion. Complete the motion for contempt with the supporting affidavit, quoting the order and describing the violation (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031).
File in the issuing court. File in the General Division case (DR) or the Probate/Juvenile Court (never married), pay the deposit, and arrange service on the other party.
Attend the hearing. The court hears the motion, can set purge conditions, order make-up time or payment, award fees, and impose sanctions for noncompliance.

Meigs County Practice Notes

File contempt where the order was issued. A DR order is enforced in the original General Division case; a never-married custody or support order is enforced in the Probate/Juvenile Court that issued it (continuing jurisdiction).
Purge conditions and graduated sanctions. Contempt in Ohio is usually civil and coercive: the court sets purge conditions (for example, paying the arrears or restoring missed parenting time) the contemnor can satisfy to avoid the penalty. Sanctions can include fees, make-up time, and, in serious cases, a jail term with a purge.
Bring specific proof of the violation. Identify the exact order and how it was violated (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031). A CSEA payment history, a record of missed exchanges, or written communications make a contempt motion far stronger.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do if the other parent won't follow our Meigs County order?: File a motion for contempt in the court that issued the order, identifying the exact order and how it was violated (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031). DR contempt is filed in the General Division case; never-married contempt is filed in the Probate/Juvenile Court (a $125 fee applies). The court can set purge conditions, order make-up parenting time, award attorney fees, and, in serious cases, impose jail with a purge. Bring proof — a CSEA payment history, records of missed exchanges, or messages.
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.
How do I change a custody or support order in Meigs County?: File a motion to modify in the court that issued the order (continuing jurisdiction). DR orders are modified in the original General Division case — support motions include the post-decree Affidavit of Income and Expenses (Form 24.02 B) and a new worksheet. Juvenile orders are modified in the Probate/Juvenile Court (a $125 fee applies). Changing the residential parent requires a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding (R.C. 3109.04); changing support requires a substantial change in circumstances (R.C. 3119.79).
What is a IV-D application and how does the Meigs County CSEA help?: A IV-D application opens a child-support case with the Meigs County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Once opened, CSEA collects support through automatic wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and enforces the order through license suspension, tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. No filing fee is charged to CSEA. Opening a IV-D application is standard whenever a child-support order is issued.
How much does it cost to file a custody or support case in the Meigs County Juvenile Court?: Custody, visitation, contempt, and paternity filings are $125 each (new, re-opened, or cross/counter) under Meigs Juv. R. 37, plus a $124 original-action security deposit (Rule 12). A Guardian ad Litem deposit of $1,500 applies in private custody/parenting/visitation cases (Rule 21.11). No filing fee is charged to CSEA or Children's Services. If you can't afford the cost, file a Poverty Affidavit. Confirm current amounts with the court at (740) 992-6205.

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.

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.

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Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
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